Abolishing tests for entry to U.K. not in our best interests.

No, I am asking if that is what you think? Correct me if I am wrong.

On the news now, staff in hospitals off sick now up hugely, with Covid admisssions rising (250% in London since New Year).

Lateral flow tests only show positive if you have a heavy viral load. I had to stay off work mid February because the PCR said I had Covid, I did three lateral flow tests in the 10 days I was off and all of them said negative..

This in schools and lot of key businesses, and of course in care homes and other facilities for the disabled and those with special needs, etc.

Kali2

This in schools and lot of key businesses, and of course in care homes and other facilities for the disabled and those with special needs, etc.

What do you suggest is the way forward Kali2 ?

Kali2

No, I am asking if that is what you think? Correct me if I am wrong.

On the news now, staff in hospitals off sick now up hugely, with Covid admisssions rising (250% in London since New Year).

You are wrong.

Obviously. Don't know why I even bother to reply.

What have we come to? If you disagree with someone who advocates racist measures that won't even work, you get accused of god knows what all. This country's gone to hell in a handcart. I expect its fear. Or paranoia.

We have someone coming from France. Air flights, covid tests all fixed. From today the law is that if you are double vaccinated, which the person is, you don’t need to do a test before leaving only one within 2days of arrival. Until Sunday that is a PCR, then you only need a lft. So no test needed to come into this country. Yesterday this person had a negative lft. They did a pcr this morning and it was positive so they are isolating in France. Had they not done the PCR they would now be legally travelling into the UK, spreading Covid on the way.

Exactly Avalon.

Alegrais, if that is not what you meant- could you please explain what you did mean.

Huge shortages in NHS staff- and cases and admissions- and this is the moment chosen to stop testing?!?

GrannyGravy13

Kali2

This in schools and lot of key businesses, and of course in care homes and other facilities for the disabled and those with special needs, etc.

What do you suggest is the way forward Kali2 ?

Testing for all incomers to this country- Nationals or 'foreigners' (and as said, many nationals with British Passports are not UK residents, but could be resident anywhere in the world) - and continued restrictions for public spaces, social distancing, gel, masks, until Spring, better weather and hopefully, if we can be a little more patient- put this behind us.

Peak is NOT expected until 14 days- and still hospitals and other care facilities, schools, etc, etc, are under huge pressure- partly due to shortages of staff.

My original post states my point of view which is that it is wrong to drop the requirement of a negative covid test for everyone flying into this country. I feel more secure travelling in the knowledge that everyone has recently tested negative and that includes me.
I am aware that the possibility of being stranded abroad if one tests positive while away on vacation or working did prevent many from travelling and that the travel business was suffering but I know of no country which allows inbound travel without a negative test result. Has the government simply given up protecting citizens?

Agreed. Just as cases are rising exponentially, NHS at breaking point and so many doctors, nurses and carers off sick, either due to Covid or stress related issues.

Alegrais, if that is not what you meant- could you please explain what you did mean.

Well I will answer you Kali2 because I think it’s important and because I don’t appreciate being portrayed as some sort of anti-restriction zealot.

Apart from the fact that you wouldn’t get me on a plane for love nor money right now, if I was on a plane, I have said throughout all my posts on this thread that I would be happier if everyone on the plane was tested.

However, Esspee finished her first post by wondering why the government are not protecting the country by keeping Covid out. Well Omicron’s here. It was already here when we put South Africa on the red list. Anyone coming here from another country is probably more likely to catch Covid here than they would be at home, because of the high prevalence of Covid in the UK. So there is no point trying to stop people bringing it in; its already here; its running wild; people who come here need to keep to the same rules that we do. That’s what will work.

I have not advocated the removal of testing. I thought about explaining why LFTs are a more effective way of controlling spread for large populations during periods of high prevalence but I haven’t got the energy. You can read this if you really want to know. www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/05/covid-uk-follow-up-pcr-positive-lateral-flow-test

Finally Esspee, you clearly said that if they removed the requirement for testing for incoming passengers they should retain it for foreigners. No amount of rephrasing what you meant will change the fact that what you wrote was xenophobic.

Alegrias1 ditto

Alegrias1

^Alegrais, if that is not what you meant- could you please explain what you did mean.^

Well I will answer you Kali2 because I think it’s important and because I don’t appreciate being portrayed as some sort of anti-restriction zealot.

Apart from the fact that you wouldn’t get me on a plane for love nor money right now, if I was on a plane, I have said throughout all my posts on this thread that I would be happier if everyone on the plane was tested.

However, Esspee finished her first post by wondering why the government are not protecting the country by keeping Covid out. Well Omicron’s here. It was already here when we put South Africa on the red list. Anyone coming here from another country is probably more likely to catch Covid here than they would be at home, because of the high prevalence of Covid in the UK. So there is no point trying to stop people bringing it in; its already here; its running wild; people who come here need to keep to the same rules that we do. That’s what will work.

I have not advocated the removal of testing. I thought about explaining why LFTs are a more effective way of controlling spread for large populations during periods of high prevalence but I haven’t got the energy. You can read this if you really want to know. www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jan/05/covid-uk-follow-up-pcr-positive-lateral-flow-test

Finally Esspee, you clearly said that if they removed the requirement for testing for incoming passengers they should retain it for foreigners. No amount of rephrasing what you meant will change the fact that what you wrote was xenophobic.

Thank you for replying. May I say that I never 'portrayed you as an anti-restriction zealot'.

I was looking for compromises Alegrias1 to at least partially protect the people flying by ensuring that some passengers with COVID would not be allowed to board. Ideally it should be everyone who is tested and that is my preference.
The government is making changes to protect the travel industry with no thought of how this impacts on citizens. Who knows when the next variant will enter this country?

There would be absolutely no point in testing people who are not British citizens but not testing British citizens. Everyone getting on a plane needs to be tested before they embark. It’s to protect the other passengers and the crew.
Frankly I don’t understand what the government is playing at. I’ve heard somewhere, think it may be a news programme but not sure, that all restrictions in England, are going to be dropped in February. Just why?

Probably because the corrupt Tory government thinks it will make them popular maddyone.

I guess the virus has travelled so far the UK has just given up trying to control it. I think that will happen here,too,eventually. The worry is that it mutates yet again and those poor people trying to access hospital beds just won’t be able to. I wouldn’t go near the uk these days , especially if they allow unvaxxed people to travel. 23 hours plus in a nasty germy test tube doesn’t appeal.

nanna8

I guess the virus has travelled so far the UK has just given up trying to control it. I think that will happen here,too,eventually. The worry is that it mutates yet again and those poor people trying to access hospital beds just won’t be able to. I wouldn’t go near the uk these days , especially if they allow unvaxxed people to travel. 23 hours plus in a nasty germy test tube doesn’t appeal.

Well my sister, twice, and GD have both visited the U.K., both live in Europe, one country has nearly as high levels as we have, both fully vaccinated. Both remained well throughout, neg per both here and on return home. Both flew. Suppose it depends on how careful you are with precautions.

nanna8

I guess the virus has travelled so far the UK has just given up trying to control it. I think that will happen here,too,eventually. The worry is that it mutates yet again and those poor people trying to access hospital beds just won’t be able to. I wouldn’t go near the uk these days , especially if they allow unvaxxed people to travel. 23 hours plus in a nasty germy test tube doesn’t appeal.

Yes and wonder why it has travelled so far, because people became blasé and stopped being so careful maybe. Then again a very precautionary Germany, covid passports, compulsory mask wearing, also finds their numbers rising too. So who knows what is the right way to handle this,

Lincslass

nanna8

I guess the virus has travelled so far the UK has just given up trying to control it. I think that will happen here,too,eventually. The worry is that it mutates yet again and those poor people trying to access hospital beds just won’t be able to. I wouldn’t go near the uk these days , especially if they allow unvaxxed people to travel. 23 hours plus in a nasty germy test tube doesn’t appeal.

Yes and wonder why it has travelled so far, because people became blasé and stopped being so careful maybe. Then again a very precautionary Germany, covid passports, compulsory mask wearing, also finds their numbers rising too. So who knows what is the right way to handle this,

Quite - unfortunately there are no easy answers but it is such a long flight for us the risks are increased. If it was only a couple of hours or so away I would risk it. Our first trip since all our lockdowns will be up to Brisbane and then across to Norfolk Island which is quite short, about 2 .5 hours to Brissy and then same again to NI, so 5 hours. I can cope with that ! We are so damn far from everywhere here ,sadly. ✈️

maddyone
I don’t think it will be February, but I don’t think it will be too long now.
I thought this was afoot when we didn’t have a lockdown at Xmas. Now we have the lowering of travel restrictions.
Most people are not challenged for not wearing masks.

Well my feeling is that we absolutely should not be loosening restrictions at this point. I simply don’t understand why the government seem to be happy to allow the virus free run of the country. If restrictions are removed it’s almost like saying that it doesn’t matter how many people get sick because the NHS can cope with it. So tough if you happen to be very ill with the virus. In any case, the NHS can’t cope now because they’re sending troops into the hospitals now. If restrictions are removed and people are allowed to go to work with the virus the consequences are unthinkable. In my humble opinion.

As I said somewhere else I am not anti-restrictions. But we are not at the same place we were a year ago, or even six months ago. At some point we are going to get to the situation where we have to allow normal things to happen, or we are going to live under restrictions forever. I don't know if now is the time, and I'm very glad I'm not the politician who has to decide.

If you look at somewhere like France, where restrictions are very strict, they have a higher incidence than here. Implementing restrictions that have no effect at all is not a zero sum game, the restrictions affect people's lives as well.

Interesting article on the NHS from the BBC's voice of reason, Nick Triggle.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-59909860

I don't understand any of it, moreso with the QA's being sent into hospitals. An LFT at the very least would give all passengers a little sense of security? I really don't fly, haven't been on a plane in years, but understand people with family and friends abroad need to travel. I feel for those who worked in the travel industry, very hard times for them and other professions. Perhaps it's because if you have been vaccinated they feel you don't need an LFT/PCR? You can still catch it or pass it on though. Sorry, thinking out loud, more than anything.

The dropping of the testing before being allowed to board a flight to the UK will apply to vaccinated and non vaccinated equally Pepper59.
As a result you leave the UK in a plane where everyone has tested negative then have to return in a plane where everybody could be positive for covid as there is no requirement for a negative test result to board a flight to the UK.
Even if Omicron is not as serious Delta a new mutation can occur at anytime and the UK is going to allow people to travel here without being tested until day 2 after arrival.
Madness.