‘I am glad to meet my parents’: Guardian readers on relaxing travel rules | Coronavirus

[ad_1]

The ministers announced that fully vaccinated travelers residing in the European Union and the United States will no longer need to be quarantined for 10 days upon arrival. UK From an amber country.

According to the new regulations that took effect at 4 a.m. on Monday, such passengers are still required to undergo a negative test before departure and two days after arrival. But you don’t have to take the test on the eighth dayThree Guardian readers explained how the relaxation of travel restrictions affected their plans.

Jakki Lewis Evans, 43, is a public relations director from North London. He moved to Arizona in 2017 and is looking forward to his first trip to the UK in early September in the past two years.

Jackie and her parents Victor and Tyrell Lewis at their wedding in October 2020. Photo: Jackie Lewis Evans/Guardian Community

“The new rule without quarantine relieves some of the pressure and reduces costs. I know we want to limit the spread, and I still need to do some tests instead of the five tests I have to do in eight days, including release on the fifth day The optional test for the company, and the flight back to the United States, which is ridiculous and cost more than 500 pounds.

“I am very happy to meet my elderly parents, my brothers and nieces, and all my friends. I got married in San Diego last year, but none of my friends can fly — my parents and brothers can only fly because they A dual citizen like me.”

Jakki had to reschedule her journey from May to October. “My uncle and cousin both died during that time, and I couldn’t fly back. I even wrote to [the transport minister] Grant Sharps.

“The pressure and panic of whether I can come back, thinking that I will be continuously chased by contact trackers, calling, texting and appearing at my door, plus the mixed information about the test—time and method—has been mentally harmonious. Emotionally exhausted. Now some of them will disappear, which is a huge relief.”

Nicki Winton, 63, from Brighton, is also pleased with the changes in travel rules, even though these changes came too late for her.

“I have been in Greece during the pandemic, where I have a house. I was going back to the UK yesterday, but due to the absurd policy of the UK government, EU residents who are fully vaccinated are not allowed to pay hundreds of pounds without being quarantined. I decided to cancel this trip due to the absurd policy of entering the country in the case of PCR testing fees.

Nicki Winton
Nicky Winton hopes to return to his home in England as soon as possible. Photo: Nicki Winton/Guardian Community

“I planned to go on a camping holiday with my daughter in Cornwall, but I investigated all the costs. As a pensioner, I cannot afford the nearly £400 test cost-more than the cost of my flight. want more.”

Winton also wrote to her congressman, who wrote to Sharps on her behalf, but was not happy.

“I want to ask why I was discriminated against because these rules do not seem to be based on viruses.

“I will try to plan a new trip soon, although it is very difficult to talk about Greece being put back on the Amber Plus list.”

The relief of Neil, a 41-year-old Englishman living in Vienna, Austria, has not yet arrived. He will fly to Northern Ireland with his wife and four children next week to visit his parents. Although the infection rate in Austria is extremely low, the family still needs to be quarantined for 10 days after arrival.

Neil, 41, hopes that Northern Ireland will also relax the quarantine requirements for vaccinated EU travelers.
Neil, 41, hopes that Northern Ireland will also relax the quarantine requirements for vaccinated EU travelers. Photo: Neal/Guardian Community

“I kind of hope that Northern Ireland will make similar rule changes as soon as possible; the decentralized administration usually lags a week or two in making such decisions.

“Since May, my wife and I have been completely drugged. In Vienna, we have a PCR test every two days, which is free, and we wear FFP2 masks everywhere-until recently it became a legal requirement .

“I haven’t seen my parents for two years because I had surgery and restrictions after cancer. My parents are in their 70s and are always at risk of a last visit.

“The current requirement is that, despite the availability of adequate and recognized vaccines — I have Pfizer, and my wife has AstraZeneca — and pre-flight PCR, in addition to self-isolation for 10 days, we must also quarantine on day 2. PCR was performed on the 8th day.

“The test cost is £150 per person, multiplied by five. The youngest child is exempt. Someone is making a good profit.”

[ad_2]

Source link