Gran Alacant Forum
Gran Alacant Forum => General Discussions => Topic started by: Derek on September 10, 2021, 20:17.
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Hi
Does anyone know where I can get tested on a Saturday?
I travel back to the UK by ferry from Santander. The ferry departs 17 hours on the Monday. I assume that the earliest I can get tested is Friday at 17.01. It would be safer to get tested on the Saturday I think.
I start the drive back on the Sunday.
Ps I have two bikes over in Spain. One being an Italian made Ebike Medium sized mountain EBike. I also have a Mondraker dual suspension mountain bike. Both unmarked and little used. Both expensive bikes but good. Anyone wants a deal 500 Euros for the Mondraker. Cost me 1,600 Euros and 1,000 Euros for the EBike. They cost about 2,500 Euros but they are a good bit of kit.
Thanks for any help.
Derek
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I see you are not flying 8) but the Eurofins at Alicante Airport is open
https://eurofins-megalab.com/en/eurofins-megalab-is-carrying-out-testing-for-covid-in-12-spanish-airports/
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The chemists on GA do antigen tests and are open on Saturdays, worth a try.
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Many thanks
I think that is the answer Kevin
Derek
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Derek I think the test has to be done 2 days before arriving at uk border not when you leave Spain I read somewhere that there is a place near the docks in Santander but if your ferry is 2 nights Saturday would be too early
This is the place they were talking about on the forum apparently it’s near the docks https://www.laboratoriodraconchadelafuente.com/
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An antigen test should be done the day before arrival in the UK. A PCR can be done 72 hours before
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Hi
No I think you are both wrong. A test needs to be done before 72 hours boarding, See here;
Take a COVID-19 test in the country you’re in. To board your transport to England, you need proof of a negative result from a test taken in the 3 days before the service departs.
Complete a passenger locator form. You can do this any time in the 48 hours before you arrive in England.
You must have proof of a negative coronavirus (COVID-19) test to travel to England.
You must take a test even if:
you’ve been fully vaccinated
you’re travelling from a country or territory on the green list
you’re a UK citizen
Type of test
The test must meet performance standards of ≥97% specificity, ≥80% sensitivity at viral loads above 100,000 copies/ml.
This could include tests such as:
a PCR test
a LAMP test
an antigen test, such as an LFD (lateral flow device) test
You must check with your test provider that the test meets the standards. You may not be able to travel if it does not.
Derek
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Your right Derek it’s all in the small print for train or plane arrivals it 3 days before you arrive at border . For journeys by sea it’s 3 days before it departs.
Never knew that but it’s all a bloody mine field
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From my experience travelling back into the UK the check in person looks at the test certificate when checking in to ascertain that it is no more than 72 hours old, I did see several gentlemen attempting to convince(bully) the lady into accepting there 5 day old tests, security advised them of the error of the ways and they were swiftly marched off to be tested. By sheer coincidence the same gentlemen seemed to struggle with the wear your mask instruction during the flight despite constant reminders.
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Hi
It looks like I am going to have a real problem.
Can someone in GA ask in the new pharmacy at the GA centre if they do Antigen tests on a Saturday please?
The ferry sails at 17 hours on Monday so I need to get the test done after 17.01 hours Friday but all the test centres appear to be closed by then.
I did think I could get a test done at the airport even though I am not flying but I think the test place is after you go through departures which is no good fore me has I haven't got a ticket for a flight.
Bloody nightmare if it is not one thing to worry about it is another.
Derek
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Derek - I have just been on the IMED Private hospital website - please check for yourself but it looks likes its open from 08:00 - 20:00 over Friday, Saturday and Sunday
They have a facility in Torrelano I thnk (it says Elche on the website)
https://testcoronavirus.imedhospitales.com/informacion?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-GB&_x_tr_pto=ajax,se,elem,sc
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Hi Derek,
Try the clinic at the Masa Square, I was in that predicament and they did me a test last thing on Friday and the result wasn't available until after they had closed so emailed me the results on Saturday with Saturdays date on.
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The Pharmacy in the GA centre does not do tests they only sell tests to do at home which are no good for travel.
I have booked the test with Imed for the Saturday morning. Thanks for all the help.
Derek
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It could well be that you won't need a test in Spain soon, Boris making an announcement on Thursday, seems you will just need a day two test in the UK.
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From 4th Oct no tests required if fully vaccinated traveling back from Spain x x x
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Not quite right Ian.
Only applies to England at present and it is only the pre departure test that is being abolished meaning the day two test still needs to be done.
Hopefully I have read it correctly.
Derek
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It's a bit rich really requiring an inward travel test when we have the worst infection rate in Europe.
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I said back in February that the whole U.K. testing policy was about putting money back in the U.K. treasury and not about health, this latest move is proof beyond doubt.
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The latest rules were posted yesterday on a pinned post on our Facebook page 8)
https://www.facebook.com/AlicanteHolidayVillas/
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Jazzed up a little by the Government re
Fully vaccinated travellers will NOT NEED an expensive Day 2 PCR
Reason you do not need a PCR test presently.
Derek
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It's a bit rich really requiring an inward travel test when we have the worst infection rate in Europe.
We only have the worst infection rate because we are doing 4 times as many tests as anywhere in Europe .To count as a covid case or death you have to test first .
The uk total excess deaths which includes all deaths whether covid or not is lower than most of Europe , which proves that there are many more cases and deaths in all of Europe than are being recorded .
Unfortunately the covid cases is a very easy stat to look good at if you don’t test
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Fully vaccinated travellers will NOT NEED an expensive Day 2 PCR
Derek
All travellers will still need the day 2 PCR until at least the end of October ( they need to ensure the half term revenue ) regardless of if they’re double jabbed.
Incidentally, expert medical who were the cheapest day two at £28 have now been removed from the government list along with a few others. The cheapest one you’ll find now is around the £50 mark.
So it’s still costing nearly as much to return to the U.K. as it was previously, only difference is all the moneys going into the U.K. and not some to the departure countries.
It certainly provides more freedom mind you, you’re free to board the plane with covid, then wander around the U.K. for two days infecting others before you have to take the test.
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Well just shows how confusing the rules are first Ian had it wrong and now you have. You do not need a PCR test either for the pre departure test or the day two test. Go to the government web site and check before becoming an expert on the subject just like I am. :-\ antigen test being the cheaper test is what is required.
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You also have the price wrong. I have just paid £40.
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Not nearly the same. Day two remains exactly as it was and you save 40 Euros by not needing the pre departure test. Hard to twist this into no savings really 🙂🙂
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I am sitting on the ferry to Santander right now what a bore. Just had cold curry. How the poor live. Nearly did not make it. Found out the hard way that there are two ports in Plymouth having joined the queue at the wrong port. Got myself out of that mess. Found the right port and fell asleep whilst waiting to load. Woke up to find the other cars had boarded. However finally made it on broad.
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We have done the Plymouth to Santander Ferry crossing a couple of times and didn’t realise there were 2 terminals either, and we live close to Plymouth 😂
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Expert Medical were still advertising their £28 Day 2 test yesterday. No longer needing a pre-departure test before leaving Spain will save me €35/40 a time.
Derek, I did Portsmouth - Santander a few years ago. I had the satisfaction of watching all the badly behaved, cocky, 'we own the place' school kids who left Portsmouth throwing their guts up over the Bay of Biscay. At that point I decided there was a God. :-)
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Am still confused, what is the day 2 test when arriving back in UK, where do I get it, can u use the home testing kit ?
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Am still confused, what is the day 2 test when arriving back in UK, where do I get it, can u use the home testing kit ?
Hi Ian you cannot use the nhs tests for day 2 you have to buy one. Up until 3rd Oct it has to be a pcr test after that a lateral flow / antigen test will do. Again you have to buy them I use testing for all which are posted to you then you post them back and get result texted to you. . You need the unique number they give you after you have paid to put on your uk locator form before you arrive at border control.
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Hi Spurs, isn't the 4th October the date from which you don't need a pre departure test but you still need a day 2 pcr test in UK until late October when that day 2 test becomes a lateral flow test which if positive has to be followed up by a free pcr.
PCR remains as the day 2 until after the October half term as Pewster already alluded to.
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True Dave I managed to confuse myself there
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With all these p.c.r or lateral flow tests I think I will stick to Blackpool. I wonder what happens if you don't take a day 2 test back from Spain, when I am hiding in Blackpool !
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Expert Medical were still advertising their £28 Day 2 test yesterday. No longer needing a pre-departure test before leaving Spain will save me €35/40 a time.
I believe the above company have been removed from the government list. I had no issues with them but seems many did. Their web page will still open up but unable to order any kits.
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Hi Sookie,
I got as far as the checkout on their site just to check it was still £28 with no add-ons. Other cheap sites add p&p and a handling charge so the finished price is not the advertised price.
I didn't order one as I'd already paid £43 with Randox before I saw Pewster's post.
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That’s probably why they got removed off the government list. I think it worked out at £35 with postage.
A few people I know have used this company. Think they charge £40
https://nwp-online.co.uk/
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I've used Expert Medical twice and the price has been £35.99 which includes £7.99 postage. In my experience they were useless but I don't care because I just want the cheapest code for my locator form.
The Government reasoning for pcr tests was to be able to sequence positive tests for variants but by their own admission only 5% of positive tests were sent for genomic testing thereby giving the lie to that reasoning. A cynic could surmise it's all about restricting travel, money for Boris's mates and vat for the exchequer.