Concerns raised over PCR testing for foreign travel

Travel bosses in York say it may price families out of holidays.

Author: Benjamin FearnPublished 7th May 2021

There's frustration in York over the amount of Covid testing that may be needed once foreign holidays resume.

It's as an announcement is expected today from the Government on the traffic light system for international travel.

The bosses of BA, Jet2 and easyJet say making vaccinated travellers have a PCR check is 'illogical'.

David Carruthers is from Connexo Travel in York, and says more clarity is needed: "Most people are still being very cautious. We are booking people for next year and the year after, but in the short term it's early days.

"When they've announced the green, amber and red system I do find it very frustrating that they're asking people to be tested.

"We can do PCR tests - they're ÂŁ45 each. It's a big drop from where they were, but it's still quite a steep amount of money if you have a family of four, for example.

"Further down the line, places like Greece and Cyprus have said you don't need to be testing when going out if you've had both vaccinations. However, we need evidence of that - which I believe will be on the NHS app.

"When you return back to the UK you'll have to have a test on day 2, and that's for green country visits. That's where the main frustration is, because if it's a green country then surely they shouldn't have to have a test.

"If there's any question about how safe a country is then you don't put it in green; you put it in amber.

"If you're in amber then that means you have to quarantine at home when you come back, and the red zone means you have to quarantine in a Government hotel and pay the money for that; most people want to avoid that because it won't be cheap".

David goes on to say that it's 'difficult' to predict the next steps, but thinks some countries may be more open to visit: "We get the feeling that certain countries are doing quite well such as Portugual and Malta.

"Even the USA is doing quite well because of their vaccination programme. Those countries may possibly be green, and the other positive factor is that the Government will look at islands separately.

"For example, if the Spanish mainland is not a place you can travel to they'll look at places like the Canaries, Gran Canaria or Tenerife and check the rates there.

"It's the hope that if the rates are low on one island it won't stop people visiting there just because of higher rates on other islands.

"I think we will see an increase in people wanting to get away. I don't think we'll get a boom, as much as I'd love that.

"I think people will start to go to the green destinations, and if there are no problems then confidence will slowly build over the Summer and the school holidays. We may see an increase, but it's not going to be a normal Summer.

"Hopefully there'll be just enough to keep us going as a business".

Last week, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps confirmed the NHS app was being looked at as a possible solution and that he was working "with partners across the world to make sure that system can be internationally recognised".

The NHS app - not to be confused with the NHS Covid-19 app - is used to book medical appointments, order repeat prescriptions and already displays any vaccines a person has had.

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