Forum Topic

Per-departure Covid test

I do enjoy how our local ´on behalf of our government’ spoke people (apologists) get to squirm. And no doubt deny. And bleat.Earlier this week I questioned the government day 2 test approach to UK arrivals. I suggested it was flawed, cause it was. Some Tory on this site told me to stop moaning. Told me the passenger locator form approach was just dandy. No, it is not. As our government has just acknowledged.Please. Even if you like Boris, please, be realistic in your arguments. It saves much embarrassment. Oh, time for an apology Jayne. Ta

Alan Clark ● 1754d9 Comments

You are showing your own colours my response to a previous post was about border checks not pre departure checks.

Jayne Thorburn ● 1754d

Please help me by explaining your logic here. Departure, entry, border - how exactly are you splitting these hairs?

Alan Clark ● 1754d

If you follow the tread you can work it out for yourself

Jayne Thorburn ● 1753d

No, it can't be worked out. You previously claimed that the passenger locator form was an effective border control in the efforts to restrict the spread of the new variant into the UK. It is not, a pre-departure test certificate is. The pre-departure PCR test now required has to be shown at the border - or entry will not be permitted. One might think that a requirement to show a completed PLF is the same. It is not.The passenger locator form is primarily to allow agents in the UK to work out who travelled with whom and where they will reside on arrival. It is not a confirmation of being recently tested or even of having been vaccinated. Yes, you can upload your vaccine QR code but you do not have to. You can simply upload a scan of the printed vaccine certificate - but no-one checks this. So you could have uploaded a scan of your rear end and you will still obtain a valid locator form. So the PLF is in no way a control of the spread of Covid or the new variant. You can readily travel with false information on the PLF, you can travel with symptoms of Covid, you can readily move from the declared address and no-one will stop you, you can readily not take the day 2 test and no-one will follow up on it. It is a poor, flaw ridden approach.Back to the original point I made - the PLF is not a control against the spread of Covid. A pre-departure test is. This is why the UK government have belatedly put the need for a test certification in place. So I really do not understand why you earlier tried to defend the previous position of the government in relying on the PLF alone. It was self evidently a flawed approach. They acknowledged it was flawed when they changed to a pre-departure test. Please be grown up and acknowledge your own error in defending their flawed approach. It is only human to make mistakes.

Alan Clark ● 1753d

I think this pre-departure PCR/antigen is useless and a waste of travellers' money. It is too late, the Omicron variant has already spread up and down the country!

Anthony Tan ● 1753d

The original thread was about lack of check ps when entering the UK. My point and in my experience robust checks are done at checkin, one has to show a completed PLF and you can’t complete it if you don’t have a day 2 test reference., you have to show vaccination status and anything else that is required by the country you are returning too. So back to my point having had through checks at check in having another check at border control is not essential. Airlines are fined if the checks are not done hence the reason checkin are thorough. We have seen people refused boarding because they haven’t completed the PLF. I agree there are no check on people taking test but that would be extremely hard but I hope the majority of people are responsible enough to follow the rules. We do to the letter. Testing will not stop covid but if it slows it that’s better than no control at all. Everyone I know who intends to travel are super cautious.

Jayne Thorburn ● 1753d

Please read my previous post. It is very easy to present a completed, but utterly false, locator form. No vaccine info, false code for the day 2 test. It is no sort of control at all. This was made clear when the UK government moved to requiring pre-departure results. They themselves were clear about the lack of control that PLF approach provided. Are you disagreeing with the government now?

Alan Clark ● 1753d

I know the enquiry will be kicked down the road by Johnson but the profiteering that has gone on by companies like Randox and Serco ( with the support of Owen Paterson) needs to be investigated fully as should the timeliness and impact of all government decisions during the pandemic including holding parties at No.10.

Stewart Jones ● 1752d

Deary me. Why have you gone so quiet? We so loved your brazen attempts to defend the rubbish efforts of our government. You stepped in where sensible others would think ‘ooh, that’s tricky and might lead to humiliation’. Not you. You kept going and kept claiming the government approach was right. Oops, then they about turned.So did that loyalty work for you? Feeling good? Happy with your choice?I am baiting you. I do this because I really dislike people who discard decency and sense for party politics. You did and you dug your hole. A neutral observer might suggest that you were had.

Alan Clark ● 1751d