Paphos People

From 04:00 GMT on Tuesday everyone aged 12 and over will have to take a test a maximum of 48 hours before leaving.

The government said the tightening of the rules was necessary because of an increase in cases of the Omicron variant linked to foreign travel.

Every traveller coming to the UK will now have to have a negative pre-departure Covid test in order to enter the country. The change will come in at 04:00 on Tuesday, Health Secretary Sajid Javid has announced.

As well as the lateral flow or PCR test before departure, they will also need to take a PCR test before the end of their second day in the UK and have to self-isolate at least until their negative result comes back.

The move on pre-departure testing comes after the Labour Party demanded it and leaked minutes from the Sage advisory committee said such a change would be valuable.

It follows concerns about the Omicron variant of Covid, which has also led to quarantine being reintroduced for travellers from some African countries.

What is the rule for post-arrival PCR tests?
If you are entering the UK from a foreign country (apart from Ireland), you have two days to take a PCR test - a lateral flow test will no longer be accepted.

The PCR test must be booked before you travel, and bought privately from a government-approved list of providers.

While you are waiting for a result, you must self-isolate - whether or not you have been vaccinated. You can stop self-isolating if your test is negative.

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Dave
Moira And Dave

“I know that you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.”

I have to travel to the UK shortly for a funeral.

I spent ages hunting round for a PCR that wasn't a complete rip-off and looked like it was going to have a quick turnaround, rather a promise which actually meant that you could get bthe results the same, but only after you had waited a couple of days for the post office to deliver it to a lab.

Eventually I found a place located inside the Sofitel hotel at Heathrow terminal 5, which offers a test on site for £59 and is currently turning them around in less that five hours. And for those who don't like things up their nose, it is a spit test, not a nasal swab. And before anyone asks, yes they are on the government list.

Good luck to anyone travelling this Christmas.

That is interesting re the saliva test Effsie as over a year ago they asked my husband if he would be a guinea pig for the saliva test and he agreed. He had to do tbhe usual swab on tonsils and nostril and also the saliva test. They just told him his tests were negative and we heard no more and have never heard if it was being used or not so it seems it is and that it must be effective!

Interesting Poppytim

I have been given saliva test twice now when having cold symptoms
I went to the nearest test Centre to be checked by later flow / rapid test

I was told that saliva checks are very accurate

Thank you to your husband for taking part in the trials

If anyone is travelling yo the UK via Heathrow, I can thoroughly recommend Halo as I mentioned above.

Parking at the hotel is £7 for one hour, which should be enough.

Arrived there at 7:10 and was all done by 7:30. Results arrived by email and on their app just before 11:00, which I reckon was pretty good - and nothing to shove up your nose.

Merry Christmas!