All travellers returning to the UK should take a ‘day two’ Covid take a look at after arriving dwelling.
Vaccinated holidaymakers can now e book a lateral circulation take a look at (from a personal testing supplier) to tackle – or earlier than – the second day of their arrival dwelling, as a substitute of a extra expensive PCR take a look at. You can’t take an NHS take a look at on your day two take a look at.
Travellers might want to take a photograph of their lateral circulation take a look at and reserving reference equipped by the non-public supplier and ship it again to them to confirm the end result, or take a take a look at on the airport they arrive into.
This might not be the one take a look at you could take. Sure nations nonetheless require even double-jabbed arrivals to point out proof of a latest destructive Covid take a look at on arrival, whereas unvaccinated should take exams to achieve entry to nearly all locations. Examine the Overseas Workplace web page on your vacation spot earlier than you go.
If unvaccinated, additionally, you will must take a pre-departure take a look at as much as 72 hours earlier than travelling dwelling. Moreover, you need to nonetheless take a PCR take a look at on your day two take a look at, and one other on day eight, and self-isolate for ten days.
Right here, we break down how the respective exams work and what to look out for when reserving one within the coming months.
How do I get a lateral circulation take a look at for my ‘day two’?
On October 22, the Authorities released a list of approved testing companies. Costs for a lateral circulation take a look at at present common at round £20, however some suppliers supply pick-up exams for £15, and on the highest finish exams value £39.
When will my day two lateral circulation take a look at arrive?
Most firms will ship your take a look at by publish inside 24 to 48 hours.
What do I do with my day two take a look at affirmation code?
Maintain this protected. You’ll need to place this in your Passenger Locator Form in an effort to journey again to the UK.
When do I must take the day two take a look at?
Arrival day counts as ‘day 0’, that means ‘day two’ is the third day after arrival again. In case you land on a Monday, day two is Wednesday. Misleadingly, you do not want to take the take a look at on day two, however somewhat by day two. So you’ll be able to take the take a look at as quickly as you land, if you want.
What do I do as soon as I’ve taken my take a look at?
You will need to take {a photograph} of your take a look at end result and ship it again to your take a look at provider (your organization will give directions after you’ve paid on your take a look at) who will affirm the end result. If destructive, you want take no additional motion. If constructive, you need to isolate, register your end result with the NHS and take a PCR take a look at as quickly as potential. Contact your take a look at supplier for recommendation.
What if I’m vaccinated however have already booked a day two PCR take a look at?
That’s advantageous. You’ll be able to take the day two PCR take a look at, and don’t must take a further lateral circulation take a look at after October 24.
Do youngsters must take exams for journey?
Completely different nations have various entry guidelines for kids. Many, together with France, Spain, Portugal and Greece require unvaccinated youngsters over the age of 12 to have taken an antigen or PCR take a look at earlier than arrival.
By way of returning to the UK, all youngsters over the age of 5 should take the day two lateral circulation take a look at. Beneath 18s can take a lateral circulation take a look at, no matter their vaccination standing. Kids don’t must take the pre-departure take a look at, earlier than travelling again to the UK.
What if I’m not vaccinated?
In case you are not vaccinated, you need to take a PCR test for your day two. Costs for these vary from £20 to £399. You’ll be able to both publish your take a look at again to the clinic, or take this in a centre.
