Philk

depends how long it takes to actually become official...

or maybe I'm just pissed as I just had my Day 5 test at a cost of 95GBP

Lion in Winter

Yeah, implementation date not announced yet, but I'm hoping for not more than two weeks since that has been the usual time frame for these changes. I fly on 8/16, so it's tight.

It would be annoying if you just paid for a whole load of extra tests, including the Day 8 I imagine, but there's no way to predict this stuff.

bullettoothtony

Thats me but despite the loss of money spent on tests I'd still take it! Im hoping for this to be implemented by the start of August.

Lion in Winter

Beeb has just announced it starts August 2.

bullettoothtony

Honestly, cant believe my luck. Also, the company i paid for day 5 test to release has already agreed to refund me for those tests (£198). Shout out to Hasu Diagnostic in Slough.

Lion in Winter

Nice.

And you'll still need the Day 2 one, and the travel ones, so your only surplus test is Day 8.

OhioLiz

Hi all, at long last I'm scrambling to book a trip to see my dad and I'd welcome your input/clarifications to help me book my trip. I am a double vaxxed expat / LPR: I generally fly to LHR, stay a few days in London, go to see my dad in Wales, back to London then depart. I stay in hotels as dad is in a care home. As I understand it I need to do:
1) Pre-departure test 3 days before leaving. I assume I can do this at CVS or such and bring the paper with me (with my jab card)
2) Arrival test: on or before day 2. I understand about counting days but until now hadn't noticed the 'on or before'. I wonder if I can do this at day 1.
3) Pre-departure test 3 days before return

Do you have any guidance for home test vs walk in? I'd obviously like something with immediate or quick results that can be sent to my phone. I don't have a UK phone number or easy way to print documents. My UK address will be hotels (in London then Wales)

I saw this place for testing with next day results and it's convenient for my trains.
https://www.expresstest.co.uk/preparing-for-your-test/

Am I understanding correctly / overlooking anything? I realise things may change but I'd like to book up asap and leave mid August.

Many thanks for helping this panicked but delighted expat...

bullettoothtony

We booked an in person test at a clinic (Hasu Diagnostics, Slough) for our departure test (Antigen) as it was very convenient for where I am visiting family. They advertise test results in 30min. There must be somewhere similar in Wales close enough to your place of stay. Our test was about £30 but may be a bit out of your way unless you do it there on the way back into LHR from Wales. Also, on a technical point that may need to be said, I think your return test must be done at some point in the 3 days before return as opposed to 3 days before you return. So you could take it at any point within that 3 day window.

Philk

Pre-departure test to the UK can be done at Walgreens/CVS and do a lateral flow such as ID Now rather than PCR as you get the results in an hour - you get emailed the results, print them out and take them with you
Day 2 test can be done on Day 0 so I got tested at Heathrow when I landed
Pre-departure test can be a lateral flow so can be done quickly, when I go back I'm being tested at Heathrow again, the day before I fly

John123456

I have just read some news that those in the US that had J&J vaccine, are asking to have either Moderna or Pfizer booster administered due to the Delta variant spreading all over the place.
Has the AZ vaccine finally got approved for the US market?

Lion in Winter

No. As far as I know, the US required a separate trial run of AZ in the US, and those results have not yet been given to the US government authorities, or if they have then the US has not yet granted approval.

Lion in Winter

Did you have a booked appointment at Heathrow for your Day 2 test that you put on your passenger locator form?

I'm assuming I will still have to complete one of those. Not sure if they are testing at Gatwick, where I'm landing anyway, but will be checking that out. Thanks for all the helpful info.

Philk

Yes, I had a booked Day 2 and 8 test so put that number on my passenger locator form

Looks like their Gatwick place is still open, a drive through at the car park

Lion in Winter

I'll check it out, thanks. I'll be taking the train from there, but that might work. I think Aer Lingus lands at the North Terminal, where there appears to be a testting station that's walk in rather than drive up. Or I'll just have it sent ahead to my sister's house. With no quarantine now, it's no biggie to do the one test.

OhioLiz

Cheers for that. It now seems more straight-forward and I'll aim to do the Heathrow test after landing. Appreciate the quick response and hearing about your actual experience.