France moves to Amber List, NHS QR accepted

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  • chasncath
    chasncath Forum Participant Posts: 1,659
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    edited August 2021 #32

    Having nothing better to do today, I've looked further into various parts of the govt website. It's up to you to ensure that the test you've booked, and then taken, is of the correct standard. The tester has to respond to govt when it receives your sample, and what the test result is. You can't skip your responsibility as set out in the current rules. Track and Trace will be round waving £5k fines!

  • Unknown
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    edited August 2021 #33
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  • chasncath
    chasncath Forum Participant Posts: 1,659
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    edited August 2021 #34

    I'm in danger of sawing sawdust here! I was  trying to point out that just booking your pcr isn't enough: you've got to submit a test  sample for analysis. If you don't receive a test kit, you've got to take action to remedy the situation. The pcr companies are self-registering and are not subject to CQC verification.

    I can understand that the govt want to identify any new variants coming in, but my newspaper tells me that only a tiny fraction of samples are being analysed. Time to scrap 2 day pcr test methinks.cool

  • Unknown
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    edited August 2021 #35
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  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #36

    I think that’s a fair description of how the system was meant to work, but it seems to have crashed. 

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #37

    The tests, or at least processing and results don't seem particularly urgent to at least one firm supplying them! yell

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-58149951

  • Unknown
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    edited August 2021 #38
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  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited August 2021 #39

    I never expected to get over there this year M, I’d like to have done but I stopped myself from expectations of success. I think you’ve done the right thing, the poor Greeks are going thru the ringer right now without the Covid worries☹️

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #40

    Thinking the same myself, a lot can happen between now and the end of October.

    Will make plans but hope by then it won't be needed.

  • moulesy
    moulesy Forum Participant Posts: 9,402 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #41

    Not quite sure why the whole of my post was removed, Rocky? undecided

    Just checked back on the details of the Greek island holiday I was referring to - we originally booked it back in October 2019. Spring 2020 became autumn 2020 and then autumn 2021! To be honest I think it was fortuitous that we did decide to cancel it ourselves, and we did get a full refund.

    I'm still open to going somewhere later this year if all the hurdles the government seem to be putting in our way to keep us "over here" are eased, but if not, there are so many options anyway. We already have a cottage just down the road from Rhossili beach booked for next month, the equal of any European beach!  smile

  • Unknown
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    edited August 2021 #42
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  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,072 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #43

    Well my daughter came in via the tunnel some weeks ago and the process even though self isolation was still in force was relatively pain free, she ordered via Boots and yes some of the results took longer than expected to be returned but the system now does not require any sort of self isolation so you do the test on day 2 stick it in the post box and you can go whereever you like.

    If you are keen to get the result, e.g. you might be visiting people who are vunerable and even though vaxed are still playing it safe, you can call customer service give them the serial number of your test and they will tell you where in the process your test is, we had a funeral to attend so for us our daughter getting a negative result was a big plus.

    IMO testing now even if the percentages for identifying positives is not great, it could stop covid19 variants such as the Delta entering the country leading to the possibility of "Lock downs" whether they be national or localised,

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,302 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #44

    Would a French person coming here in a MH or Caravan have to undergo the 2 day test. If they do it would be rather difficult as they have no address for the test to be sent to. 

  • Unknown
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    edited August 2021 #45
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  • chasncath
    chasncath Forum Participant Posts: 1,659
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    edited August 2021 #46

    Another interesting question as yet unanswered- what happens if your LFT , from the French pharmacy, is positive? Cancel crossing? Imprisonment in local hotel? Would any local campsite let you in? 

  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,072 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #47

    Again going on my daughters experience, you order the testing kit online from your chosen supplier e.g. Boots, at any time before your departure time, you can have the test delivered by courier to an address of your choosing, daughter used our address as she has difficulty taking courier deliveries in Spain, for French MH owner it would be an address that is convenient for them.

    The test has a serial number which you enter into your locator form, i think this is an online procedure only and no doubt there are some checks and balances within the software that flags up an incorrect serial number if used.

    This is checked at immigration control, which if using the tunnel even for UK nationals it is on the French side of the tunnel, incomplete locator form and you should not be allowed to board the train or ferry i guess if that is your chosen mode of transport.

    At this point you should have your test kit with you, proceed to UK destination on day 2 take test post in a priority post box, these are at most post offices and newsagents with post office facilities. 

    Job done

  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,072 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #48

    Panic!!!!!, you would be required to self isolate in France i guess, where, could be a big problem, as far as i am aware the French are not using hotels to force people to self isolate, best hope your friendly camp site owner will allow you to self isolate for 10 days undecided, you will not be allowed to board the ferry etc, as you must produce a negative test, one of the gambles you take i guess undecided, and it could be that the test has given a false positive, they are quite common, and even if you have another test which is negative a negative does not override a positive.

    If France goes onto the red list you would be required to find a safe haven for your LV, and fly back and self isolate in a government hotel, not sure which airports you can use but I think Euro T went thru this scenario some time ago.

    Still wanting to go overthere ???

    p.s. also in France you now need a green card to enable access to most public places e.g. bars, restaurants, not surfe re campsites and Mr M has said he will be sending the police and army out on to the streets to ensure people do actually have a valid green card, not sure what hoops you have to jump thru to get one

     

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #49

    A forum friend is taking a box of DIY antigen tests and will only go for the official test to depart France when she is sure she will test negative.

    But if her DIY test is showing a positive result I think she will isolate where she is on her final small rural French campsite until she tests negative, and only go out to pick up click and collect groceries from ELeclerc Drive.

    Neither she nor I could think of what else to do, Does anyone else ?

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #50

    From what I can find  out it just says if you test positive while in France you must self isolate. It doesn't state where. No mention of hotels or anything else. 

  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,072 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #51

    Nope....and i guess much of this would be the same for Spain, or even worse as you will have probably left your friendly campsite with an understanding owner a couple of days before arriving at the ferry, i guess you could just play dumb and stay on a local site without letting on until you became negative, good idea to take DIY antigen tests.

    my daughter in East G has had 2 false positives, one taken by the hospital before admission for minor surgery undecided and one at school where she teaches, she has spent more time self isolating than teaching 

  • Tammygirl
    Tammygirl Club Member Posts: 7,957 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #52

    We are taking some of the nhs lateral flow tests with us and plan to do them before return and also during the holiday.

    We are still sorting paperwork out for the Green pass, Scotland currently do not have a  digital version  that we can up load to the French site. We have been in touch with our MP who happens to be John Swinney now responsible for all things Covid in Scotland. His office informs us that a digital one is being worked on but as yet no date known.

    OH has found a work around that hopefully will be ok.

    One by one we are sorting through all the things that will need to be done. Still not overly confident about getting a test done in France to return to UK.

    So many things could go wrong I'm starting to think is it all worth it. I know if we decide to not go then I will be kicking myself but if we do go will I be on edge all the time we are away. 

    We are not due back until the end of October as we planned on going to Spain,  now that's off is the end of October to late should we be bringing the date forward. So many questions going round in my head. 

    With numbers still going up in France is it wise to go, maybe we should go to Germany instead they are on the green list that would be better. We still have to come back through France though so if they went Red that wouldn't work. What to do.

  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,072 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #53

    It is a dilema, we should have travelled back with our daughter thru France and into Spain at end of July, car only, staying in Spain in daughters holiday cottage for approx 1 month, after weighing up all the pros and cons we decided there were too many hoops to jump thru and some factors you could not possibly deal with until the event happened in which case it would probably be too late, in the event daughter stayed with us for longer and we took the decision not to go. For us it was the right decision, but each to their own laughing

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #54

    Native French speaking BIL has put off going to see relatives etc. Hoping things will ease off later, health issues complicate things for him. It's a personal decision about what feels right for you.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,302 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #55

    So many things could go wrong I'm starting to think is it all worth it. I know if we decide to not go then I will be kicking myself but if we do go will I be on edge all the time we are away.

    The on edge bit was a significant part of our decision to postpone.

  • Rufs
    Rufs Club Member Posts: 4,072 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #56

    But think of the benifits cool

  • Linda ayr
    Linda ayr Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited August 2021 #57

    very interested in original post by Valda. I am loathe to download the Tousanticovid app..is it mandatory? I have paper copies of vaccine status...plus digital ones on nhs app. Valda post seems to indicate that anyone checking with french app could pick up QR code and declare valide anyway. Is that so ? Or if not will paper copies be accepted in cafes etc? Any help gratefully accepted! My 6 yr old phone wont download any apps anyway..it would all have to be on my husbands phone..nightmare!!

     

  • Unknown
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    edited August 2021 #58
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  • Unknown
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    edited August 2021 #59
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  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #60

    Follow the link on the gov.uk site about French travel this takes you to the fr.gov site and details about the app (in English.) 

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited August 2021 #61

    Sorry I lost the link whilst I was posting the details are >HERE< The app link can be seen on these details.  (IF you decide to downoad it) But Valda has suggested what to do so it's just another app that isn't compulsory.