HiHo

When visiting the UK you fill out a form online and the algorithm tells you what to do in regard to quarantine. As it turns out I was a key worker confirmed negative thus exempt. Obviously the computer was programmed by civil servant (someone with no appreciation of the real world)

Pulaski

In the "me" world of the 21st century, there's the flaw in everything you said.

scrubbedexpat141

Key worker? Surely you need to be based in the UK to be a key worker?

I'm desperate to get back to Blighty but 14 days locked up before I can do anything is just utterly mental.

Yeah, very true Sir.

scrubbedexpat141

We're on a precipice aren't we.

The UK government seem to just be banking on a vaccine coming soon. Talk of 6 months of lockdowns in parts is just mental. There'll be nothing left to lockdown, the town centres will be boarded up and shut.

csdf

I think we (meaning the UK) fell off the precipice a few weeks ago. It's too late now.

scrubbedexpat141

Well, the North did.

There's still hope for the South.

nonthaburi

scrubbedexpat141

We've got a few people coming back from KSA who were stuck or on business visas.

So far, they've all turned up here with negative tests, gone on the lash (don't blame them) and subsequently tested positive.
The rumours fly around that he's got it, she's got it, who was close, were you in on Monday, did you lick their hands?
Work keep it private so the office is a ghost town this week but numbers of cases are increasing in our business from barely any to at least a couple a week confirmed in each division.

Guess we're just edging towards everyone having it and hoping for the best.

csdf

I can't see any other outcome: with no testing arrivals at DXB, no quarantines, limited contact tracing and no new lockdown, the only way is up.

scrubbedexpat141

You're another who's saying there's no testing on arrival. Is this really the case? Is it only Emirates arrivals or ANY arrivals?
This changes whether Mother will come and see me.

Given the airport and the airline and the government are one and the same, this must be a conscious decision?

Millhouse

No testing on arrival from countries with reliable testing centers, no?

csdf

My bad, had a look and as of 3rd October, they issued a list of 54 countries (including US), arrivals from which require testing on arrival at DXB with mandated self-isolation until you get a result. I imagine the mandated self-isolation is as well enforced as it was in the UK.

scrubbedexpat141

Bugger, you got me excited!
Is what it is, testing on arrival and a little isolation is far more tolerable than 14 days in a hotel room or 14 days self-isolating.

Pulaski

You seem to now be reporting number patterns lock-step with most of Western Europe, and are well into the second wave of infections.

csdf

Aye, but with no sign of any return to restrictions, unlike the whole of Europe.