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One of Britain’s biggest travel testing companies has warned of delays to PCR test deliveries over Christmas, potentially throwing festive travel plans into disarray.
Qured announced that Day 2 PCR tests with an arrival date between December 20 and January 3 are “unavailable due to postal closures.” This could impact returning travellers, given that they must now self-isolate until receiving a negative result. Meanwhile, a Day 2 & Day 8 test package, for unvaccinated travellers, will not be possible if they arrive between December 14 and January 3.
The company also warned that the turnaround of returned swabs will be much slower. In a website statement, Qured said: “The last day to post your PCR samples for arrival at the lab before Christmas is December 22. If your travel plans allow it, we urge you to post your sample earlier to avoid potential Royal Mail delays or to use our Expedited Courier service if you’re within the M25.”
The company added that “any tests posted after December 22 are extremely unlikely to be delivered until December 29”.
The Covid testing market has come under fire in recent days with former Competition and Markets Authority chairman, Lord Tyrie, branding it a “rip-off jungle”. He told the BBC: “It appears that some of the worst practices: misleading online advertisements; overpricing; unacceptably poor service among them, are still widespread.”
Scroll down for the latest updates.
Europe’s digital Covid vaccine certificates explained
Credit:
NurPhoto
As the Government brings in vaccine passports for large events, as reminder of the latest rules for European green passes in France, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Spain, Greece and Germany – and how to get one.
Everything you need to know about domestic Covid vaccine passports
While international holidays were not impacted by last night’s Plan B announcement, your domestic travel might look a little different if it includes attending any large events.
The Government is pressing ahead with mandatory coronavirus vaccine passports for some events in England. From Wednesday December 15, the NHS Covid Pass on the NHS App will become mandatory for entry into nightclubs and other settings where large crowds gather.
These include unseated indoor events with 500 or more attendees, unseated outdoor events with 4,000 or more attendees and any event with 10,000 or more attendees.
The smartphone passes, which show whether a person has had a vaccine or a recent negative test, have already been used for entry into some large events and in overseas travel since vaccines have been widely available.
Matthew Field has the answers to all your questions here.
Slovakia eases lockdown – but only for vaccinated
Slovakia will loosen some lockdown restrictions for vaccinated citizens, health minister Vladimir Lengvarsky has announced.
Non-essential shops and some services for those vaccinated against Covid will reopen on Friday. However, unvaccinated citizens will remain in lockdown until January 9.
It is hoped that the two-tier restrictions will act as an incentive for more people to get the jab. Slovakia remains one of Europe’s least-vaccinated countries, with only 46.5 per cent of its 5.5 million population double-jabbed.
Travellers cancel December trips over testing fears
A raft of travellers have cancelled December holidays due to the increased testing restrictions.
Gillian Rodgers, 61, a retired civil servant from Durham, told the i newspaper that she postponed a trip to Gran Canaria next week due to the new Day 2 PCR rule, which requires travellers to quarantine until they receive a negative result, meaning she could end up isolating on Christmas Day.
“It just felt like the right thing to do given the increased risk and proximity to Christmas,” she said.
Omicron Covid cases could soon exceed one million a day, says Sajid Javid
Omicron cases could exceed one million a day by the end of this month, on the current trajectory, the Health Secretary has said.
Sajid Javid said the actual number of infections of the variant already in this country was likely to be close to 10,000 – a figure 20 times higher than that which has been confirmed.
He told the Commons: “Although there are only 568 confirmed Omicron cases in the UK we know that the actual number of infections will be significantly higher.
The news follows comments from head of the WHO, Dr Tedros, who said travel bans are unlikely to be effective to halt omicron’s spread now it has been widely identified.
“I’m also pleased that France and Switzerland have lifted their travel bans on Southern African countries and I urge other countries to follow their lead to France and Switzerland,” he said. “Merci beaucoup.”
What happened yesterday?
A recap of the top stories.
- England to move to Plan B – but no changes to international travel
-
Airlines slam omicron restrictions
-
Vaccine passports for children could see tourists desert New York
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Covid test market branded ‘a rip-off jungle’ by former competition regulator chair
Now, on with the latest travel news.