UK government’s Covid scheme for travellers gets off to chaotic start

UK government’s long-awaited test to release scheme, designed to allow travellers to cut quarantine, was embroiled in chaos on its first day of operation after the last-minute publication of 11 private providers, most of whom appeared unable to offer the service on Tuesday morning.

Airports, many of which have had testing centers in place for weeks or months, were perplexed at being left off the Department for Transport’s approved list, as they reported a surge in bookings in the run-up to the festive season.

Meanwhile, approved providers advised travellers that tests would have to be posted and results given within 48 hours of receipt – likely cutting the period of self-isolation from 10 days to eight, rather than the five days the scheme promised.

The DfT was understood to be attempting to speed through approval of airport testing centres on Tuesday to rectify the lack of availability.

One airport source said: “The rapid test is not yet approved, but would cut self-isolation to five days – that’s what we hoped would be the situation from today. Unfortunately, the government hasn’t even managed to get a list who could do it in eight days. Given the small numbers of passengers travelling now, you’ve got to question the procurement.”

Among the 11 companies published at 7.11pm on the eve of the scheme, Same Day Doctor said it had been overwhelmed and could no longer take bookings or respond to emails. Another, Halo Verify, said test kits were out of stock. Some other providers’ websites appeared to have crashed on Tuesday.

The test to release scheme was first announced by the transport secretary, Grant Shapps, in October, when a taskforce was set up to address the concerns of the travel industry and attempt to cut the then 14-day quarantine period.

Michael Smith, a UK citizen residing in the Netherlands, arrived in England on Monday via Eurotunnel after testing negative two days earlier, hoping to take advantage of the new regime to visit his mother, who has dementia.

Instead, he found himself waiting to discover the identity of approved providers – and then unable to book a test after contacting them all.

“It looks like a fiasco,” Smith said. “I’m stuck in a Travelodge near London. I thought five days, and I’ll be out. But of these providers, most are not ready, and they are all by post – it’s going to be almost 10 days anyway.”

Source – https://www.theguardian.com/