Covid restrictions abroad: updates & observations

[berneyarms]

50% is certainly a big jump from their last estimate, but I suppose the IT cyber attack has caused lots of issues.

I don't think Ireland is '6 weeks behind' though. Wales passed 50% on the 21st of March - 9 weeks ago. The last update was with data from the 27/5 where we were on 84.9%.

''On the target to have 80 per cent of adults vaccinated by the end of June, Dr Henry said “it is hard to say” that it will definitely be met because of supply difficulties.'' https://www.irishtimes.com/news/hea...cines-in-ireland-the-envy-of-europe-1.4579771

He's saying it's difficult to tell if Ireland will get to 80% in almost 9 weeks when we are already at 85%+. Ireland will hit the same problem we did with second doses needing to be completed 'slowing' the first dose programme.

Absolutely re the 2nd dose is potentially where there may be issues, especially where it's AZ with the longer lag times between doses, but from what I can see the majority of the vaccines currently being issued seem to be Pfizer/Moderna/Johnson & Johnson with the much shorter lag times, and also Janssen (single dose). With some luck those of us in the non-AZ categories will get our second doses on time which will contribute to the rate increasing.

I have to say that you do seem to have a penchant for being negative about the Irish response. We were clearly hampered by the EU supply issues in Q1, but Q2 is happening pretty much exactly as Mícheal Martin said it would back in January. Right now in Ireland, this is very much positive news with the high uptake and the rapid rollout during May. Hopefully that will continue. Time to think positively I would suggest.

 

[SouthEastBuses]

Residents of Ireland can travel anywhere on the island of Ireland now.

Travel off the island is still illegal except for essential reasons, until July 19th.

Ahh. What we used to have until the 17th of May lol

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

It does not seem that long ago that people were singing Vietnams praises and saying why can't we be like them.

Ive always been of the view that no one can escape from this and your better off letting it flush through in as controlled manner as possible unless your a remote island like teh Falklands

 

[Luke McDonnell]

What puzzles me is why after 2 jabs are you still required to undertake the full 10 days quarantine after returning from an amber list country as these vaccines are supposed to be highly effective even more so at preventing hospitalisation and death and we know that the possibility of transmitting Covid is reduced and we have the vast majority of our vulnerable population vaccinated as well which very much mitigates the risk. Yes variants are supposed to be the concern but we already have the Indian variant in this country! Despite this I was reading online that government ministers (example Patel the other day) being put under pressure to ensure that the quarantine is enforced by the police and the border force. But the whole point of the restrictions is to protect others from harm so I see many of the fully vaccinated who have returned from an amber list country not complying with the mandatory quarantine possibly risking the heavy fine - now I have had my second jab I will feel a lot less morally obliged to comply with it - do you think we should lift it for amber list countries for the fully vaccinated and what do you think will happen if a fully vaccinated traveller ends up with a heavy fine do you think the courts would overturn it?

 

[Bantamzen]

What puzzles me is why after 2 jabs are you still required to undertake the full 10 days quarantine after returning from an amber list country as these vaccines are supposed to be highly effective even more so at preventing hospitalisation and death and we know that the possibility of transmitting Covid is reduced and we have the vast majority of our vulnerable population vaccinated as well which very much mitigates the risk. Yes variants are supposed to be the concern but we already have the Indian variant in this country! Despite this I was reading online that government ministers (example Patel the other day) being put under pressure to ensure that the quarantine is enforced by the police and the border force. But the whole point of the restrictions is to protect others from harm so I see many of the fully vaccinated who have returned from an amber list country not complying with the mandatory quarantine possibly risking the heavy fine - now I have had my second jab I will feel a lot less morally obliged to comply with it - do you think we should lift it for amber list countries for the fully vaccinated and what do you think will happen if a fully vaccinated traveller ends up with a heavy fine do you think the courts would overturn it?

Because the vaccine works, but doesn't work with 100% efficiency, but you still need to get it because it works, although it doesn't work 100%, but you're selfish if you don't get it, even though it doesn't work 100%....

Or something like that. I forget if we are on a "vaccine-works" or a "vaccine doesn't work" day, it seems to change that often in the media and from our valiant experts sitting at home on Zoom....

 

[roversfan2001]

What puzzles me is why after 2 jabs are you still required to undertake the full 10 days quarantine after returning from an amber list country as these vaccines are supposed to be highly effective even more so at preventing hospitalisation and death and we know that the possibility of transmitting Covid is reduced and we have the vast majority of our vulnerable population vaccinated as well which very much mitigates the risk. Yes variants are supposed to be the concern but we already have the Indian variant in this country! Despite this I was reading online that government ministers (example Patel the other day) being put under pressure to ensure that the quarantine is enforced by the police and the border force. But the whole point of the restrictions is to protect others from harm so I see many of the fully vaccinated who have returned from an amber list country not complying with the mandatory quarantine possibly risking the heavy fine - now I have had my second jab I will feel a lot less morally obliged to comply with it - do you think we should lift it for amber list countries for the fully vaccinated and what do you think will happen if a fully vaccinated traveller ends up with a heavy fine do you think the courts would overturn it?

The quarantine requirements are ultimately just nationalistic willy waving from the populist PM we're unfortunate enough to have calling the shots. Even for non-vaccinated people, with all the tests that have to be taken pre- and post-travel, quarantine requirements are stupid. And variants still get in, so they don't even work!

It's just one of the many pointless regulations we've had to endure throughout this pandemic.

 

[Cdd89]

Because for some reason we are obsessed with the idea that border controls must be “100% effective”, usually egged on by Team Zero Covid. I do support testing (or a vaccine passport) for travel from countries with high case rates, but once someone has tested negative they are a low risk; they may have been unfortunately missed but equally so might that person with a hacking cough on the tube who never bothered to get tested.

 

[island]

I wager there’s a lot more Covid spread in the four hours people spend in rammed immigration halls than there is prevented by obsessively quarantining nearly everyone coming in the country.

Quarantines are more politically acceptable because they’re a way to put down foreigners and people who are daring to holiday abroad rather than in the UK.

 

[ExRes]

Quarantines are more politically acceptable because they’re a way to put down foreigners and people who are daring to holiday abroad rather than in the UK.

Talk about over dramatic, this is the same country that was being panned for not introducing immediate quarantine for foreigners coming into the UK

 

[Mintona]

No new countries added to the green list today.

It’s never going to end.

 

[joncombe]

No new countries added to the green list today.

It’s never going to end.

And Portugal to be removed.

 

[Bantamzen]

And Portugal to be removed.

That just means more people will be ignoring self-isolation rules.

Edit: You know this could be a good opportunity to force the government's hand. We all bugger off on holiday, then "self-isolate" when we get back, and in the process completely bring the country to a standstill.....

 

[221129]

And Portugal to be removed.

When is this from?

 

[duncanp]

That just means more people will be ignoring self-isolation rules.

Edit: You know this could be a good opportunity to force the government's hand. We all bugger off on holiday, then "self-isolate" when we get back, and in the process completely bring the country to a standstill.....

I think the government doesn't want anyone to go on holiday until the end of this month.

By the time of the next review of the list in three weeks time, the government is due to decide not only on which countries will be on which list, but whether the rules for each list need to be changed.

So you could find the arrivals from a green list country don't need to take any tests at all, or if they do then a lateral flow test will suffice.

The problem is that the testing system cannot cope with too many countries being on the green list, as there isn't the capacity, and there have been reports of people paying several hundred pounds for tests that have not been delivered and/or not processed in time.

Nor can the UK border force cope with checking everyone on arrival at the airport. They have half the usual number of people on duty due to "...social distancing requirements..." at a time when checking each passenger takes a lot longer due to the silly Passenger Locator Form that everyone has to complete.

Both these two issues will have to be rectified before large scale international travel can recommence.

 

[Freightmaster]

No new countries added to the green list today.

It’s never going to end.

As has been said before, all this (including masks, etc) will only "end" when the population realise that they are
being brainwashed by the Government and start refusing to comply with restrictions en masse, but if things like
YouGov polls are anything to go by we are still a long way off that point yet, sadly...



MARK

 

[Bantamzen]

When is this from?

Probably almost immediately, cue even more people rammed into immigration queues.

Honestly this is getting beyond a joke now, if a country is happy to receive us then the government should be happy to let us go without this charade. Its all pathetic political gesturing again.

I think the government doesn't want anyone to go on holiday until the end of this month.

By the time of the next review of the list in three weeks time, the government is due to decide not only on which countries will be on which list, but whether the rules for each list need to be changed.

So you could find the arrivals from a green list country don't need to take any tests at all, or if they do then a lateral flow test will suffice.

The problem is that the testing system cannot cope with too many countries being on the green list, as there isn't the capacity, and there have been reports of people paying several hundred pounds for tests that have not been delivered and/or not processed in time.

Nor can the UK border force cope with checking everyone on arrival at the airport. They have half the usual number of people on duty due to "...social distancing requirements..." at a time when checking each passenger takes a lot longer due to the silly Passenger Locator Form that everyone has to complete.

Both these two issues will have to be rectified before large scale international travel can recommence.

To be blunt, tough. If the testing regime or border control cannot cope, get rid of the RAG system. We are wasting shedloads of money on these tests, money that should now be going back into our healthcare system or even helping poorer nations secure vaccines. We are well on the way to mass vaccine based protection, its time to stop this utter nonsense.

But frankly I think if the restrictions aren't removed in 3 weeks, the travel companies will just stay stuff the government and ramp up operations to any countries without strict border restrictions. And people coming back will ignore self-isolation and the whole thing will just rattle apart. If the government wants any credibility at all in any of this, June 21st is the last chance to rescue it.

 

[joncombe]

When is this from?

From Tuesday

 

[221129]

From Tuesday

Of course it is. Well unless The Home Office are going to pay for my extra tests or payout to cancel my trip I won't be isolating for sure.

 

[Watershed]

Of course it is. Well unless The Home Office are going to pay for my extra tests or payout to cancel my trip I won't be isolating for sure.

They may try and issue a FPN/take details if you refuse to pay for the additional day 8 test upon return. Of course, only if they enforce it...

 

[221129]

They may try and issue a FPN/take details if you refuse to pay for the additional day 8 test upon return. Of course, only if they enforce it...

Can Border Force issue FPNs?

 

[Ascotroyal]

Of course it is. Well unless The Home Office are going to pay for my extra tests or payout to cancel my trip I won't be isolating for sure.

You wont be the only one. My brother is due to go to Portugal in a weeks time and wont be isolating. I expect a lot of people will be feeling the same.

Yesterday Portugal confirmed a further 724 cases of coronavirus and one further death. Seems a joke to take it off the green list except its not a funny one.

 

[TravelDream]

It's deja vu from last year all over again.
You'd think the government would learn lessons, but they never do.

Also, what I don't get is how some places like Malta have both a lower Covid rate and a higher vaccination rate yet still aren't on the green list.

 

[joncombe]

Can Border Force issue FPNs?

What is the process? You return to the UK do the border force require you to pay for the PCR test then? If so, do you receive it then or is it later sent to your address?

If the answer is you have to pay for the PCR on arrival and it is sent to your address (as I suspect might be the case), then I think there is a law that there is a "14 day cooling off period" if you purchase something you haven't seen (unless it's bespoke). It would be a brave person to try it, but I wonder what would happen if you paid for the PCR on arrival go home and later cancel it under the "cooling off" legislation (Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013). Does the law give power of arrest in this case?

 

[MikeWM]

So it seems we're in a much worse position for restrictions than last year, despite all the vaccinations. Seems a little odd, doesn't it?

 

[Bantamzen]

So it seems we're in a much worse position for restrictions than last year, despite all the vaccinations. Seems a little odd, doesn't it?

But new variants, we have to be scared of the new variants, otherwise how else will the experts keep their media limelight??

Edit: And added to the red list......

Afghanistan

What an utter farce this system is, that I do agree with Labour. Where we disagree is that I don't think the rest of the world be treat like lepers, although frankly Labour treat most of this country the same way.

 

[MikeWM]

But new variants, we have to be scared of the new variants, otherwise how else will the experts keep their media limelight??

...even the ones that don't actually exist, like the 'Nepal' one on the cover of today's Daily Mail...

Seriously though, if this summer is worse than last *despite* vaccinations, why think next summer will be any better? Or five summers from now? Or fifty?

 

[Bantamzen]

...even the ones that don't actually exist, like the 'Nepal' one on the cover of today's Daily Mail...

Seriously though, if this summer is worse than last *despite* vaccinations, why think next summer will be any better? Or five summers from now? Or fifty?

Like I said earlier, the tourism industry and travellers will just start ignoring the government, just in the same way we have mostly as a population been ignoring more and more of the #covidsafe rules, regulations and petty bureaucratic ideas from every little wannabe-dictator in the country. I do wonder if this is also by design, the government too scared to actually relax on tourism just leave it to the population then shrug their shoulders and say "they just won't listen".

 

[Dent]

Like I said earlier, the tourism industry and travellers will just start ignoring the government, just in the same way we have mostly as a population been ignoring more and more of the #covidsafe rules, regulations and petty bureaucratic ideas from every little wannabe-dictator in the country. I do wonder if this is also by design, the government too scared to actually relax on tourism just leave it to the population then shrug their shoulders and say "they just won't listen".

Individuals are much more free to ignore silly rules, but it is much more difficult for businesses.

 

[MikeWM]

Like I said earlier, the tourism industry and travellers will just start ignoring the government, just in the same way we have mostly as a population been ignoring more and more of the #covidsafe rules, regulations and petty bureaucratic ideas from every little wannabe-dictator in the country. I do wonder if this is also by design, the government too scared to actually relax on tourism just leave it to the population then shrug their shoulders and say "they just won't listen".

But that depends on whether they use that increased civil disobedience as an excuse to do as you say, or as an excuse to ramp up enforcement. Wasn't the dreadful Priti Patel going around a couple of weeks ago saying she was going to start sending police around to peoples houses to check they were obeying quarantine?

 

[Bantamzen]

Individuals are much more free to ignore silly rules, but it is much more difficult for businesses.

Its not illegal to travel to any of the Amber countries, and airlines are already starting to fly to some again.

But that depends on whether they use that increased civil disobedience as an excuse to do as you say, or as an excuse to ramp up enforcement. Wasn't the dreadful Priti Patel going around a couple of weeks ago saying she was going to start sending police around to peoples houses to check they were obeying quarantine?

What Patel said is that enforcement officers (read council workers) would be sent round. The Police couldn't hope to handle the volume, and the enforcement officers will just be ignored. Sure some people will get fined, but the system will get swamped if it isn't already. That's why I think this is all be design, the government are simply trying to back away from responsibility of decision making.