Stupid quarantine rules in Wales...do I ignore it?

[Cowbridge Blue]

Looking to visit home next month for the first time in a couple of years.

The missus and I have had 2 Pfizer jabs - more protected than most readers on here - and will arrive at Heathrow, collect a car and travel direct to extended family in England for quarantine. Since the US is on the amber list, we have to buy 2 tests each (at 170 pounds) to use on day 2 and day 8; if negative on day 10 we are free to travel into Wales.

England, however, also offers a day 5 quarantine release by purchasing an additional test and if that shows negative you've bought yourself out of quarantine (that's seems stupid but anyway...) . I've seen nothing in WAG's statements (including today's) about rules for ex-pats or visitors wanting to visit Wales so I called WAG today to check whether the 5-day England buy-out will free us to get into Wales on day 6 after arrival in UK.

Surprisingly I got a real person without too much delay (applause for that) but it was with regret that the spokesperson advised that Wales doesn't recognise the validity of the England 5-day release and, whilst appreciating the frustration of two systems running side by side the rules in Wales mean we must see out 10 days of quarantine after arriving in UK.

I recognise Wales is leading the way, data wise, in UK so Drakeford can justifiably point to the success of his Covid policy but doesn't there come a time when overkill is reached and precautions become too onerous and unnecessary?

Readers on this Board have undergone long, hard lockdowns to get where you are today in returning to normality (definitely tougher that I have here in Iowa) so my simple question is...do I ignore the quarantine and arrive back 'home' after 5 days and 2 negative tests as is permitted in England?

[Wash DC Blue]

It’s tough Mate.
I’ve not been home in 3 and 1/2 years or seen my dad in 18 months.

I think that if you’ve had the vaccines and the tests you should be able to go to Wales after England let you out.

[Cowbridge Blue]

Thanks DC, be interesting to see if my enquiry generates more interest than it has so far.

I assume WAG's rules for Wales have the force of law behind them rather than merely decisions by Cabinet or First Minister.

I have a UK passport not a Welsh one and if the rules in England are satisfied after 5 days isn't that the same as allowing English residents into Wales which I believe is now permitted?

[az city]

Thanks DC, be interesting to see if my enquiry generates more interest than it has so far.

I assume WAG's rules for Wales have the force of law behind them rather than merely decisions by Cabinet or First Minister.

I have a UK passport not a Welsh one and if the rules in England are satisfied after 5 days isn't that the same as allowing English residents into Wales which I believe is now permitted?

I went back to Wales a couple of months ago. I think you should just do the 5 day test and release in England. Assuming you're negative then surely you're treated as having just crossed the border after that? Apart from the ridiculous test costs, the biggest pain was the queue on arrival to get through immigration at Heathrow.

[rightsaidfred]

I have a UK passport too but up until a few weeks ago I couldn't travel around the UK from my home in Wales. Perhaps if you fly direct into Cardiff International airport you won't have too many problems. Good luck

[Cowbridge Blue]

I have a UK passport too but up until a few weeks ago I couldn't travel around the UK from my home in Wales. Perhaps if you fly direct into Cardiff International airport you won't have too many problems. Good luck

Thanks fred but I'm pretty sure it would still be a 10 day quarantine.
Flights - That's what we've done with KLM over the last decade; at the moment KLM are asking $2300pp and it seems they've suspended their City Hopper from Amsterdam to CWL until August. Also, having a stop-over in Europe would also initiate the 10 days as the EU are sticking with the Schengen Agreement. We're booked with Icelandair, short stopover in Reykjavik but the island is on UK's Green list. Car rental is also a nightmare with costs in crazyworld as the providers cut their fleets during the pandemic.

[PontBlue]

Wales isn't being as cavalier with people's health as Boris and following the science hence no 5 day release. I know in England the fine is £10, 000 each and its been claimed 30,000 people are checked each week to ensure they are complying.

I think the fine in Wales may be lower than the fine in England.

[The Bloop]

Whether you want to try to have an earlier test or not, I doubt you'll be able to get out of the hotel. Pretty sure your onward destination will need to be confirmed, so the 5 day option wont be available.

[PontBlue]

If arriving in the UK direct from Iceland the clocks starts ticking as soon as you depart on your flight to Iceland so that will help

[PontBlue]

Here's the guidance https://gov.wales/rules-foreign-trav...-covid-19-html

[A Quiet Monkfish]

If the 'rules' stated you had to stick a carrot in your ear, would you do it ? So long as you're not harming anyone do what you want. None of us are getting any younger.

[bobh]

If the 'rules' stated you had to stick a carrot in your ear, would you do it ? So long as you're not harming anyone do what you want. None of us are getting any younger.

It's people like you wot cause unrest.

[A Quiet Monkfish]

It's people like you wot cause unrest.

And we can't have that, can we.

[Des Parrot]

do I ignore the quarantine and arrive back 'home' after 5 days and 2 negative tests as is permitted in England?

Well I’ve learnt something new, I had no idea about the 5 day test not being recognised in Wales, I had my latest yesterday. I’ve continued to travel regularly (& legally) throughout, I’ve done about a ten fights and must be roughly 30 tests. I’ve also never filled in a Wales specific locator form!

For tests, I’d shop around, I’m now using a company called Dante, £58 per test, £174 total for the 2,5 & 8 for home tests

[Hilts]

Looking to visit home next month for the first time in a couple of years.

The missus and I have had 2 Pfizer jabs - more protected than most readers on here - and will arrive at Heathrow, collect a car and travel direct to extended family in England for quarantine. Since the US is on the amber list, we have to buy 2 tests each (at 170 pounds) to use on day 2 and day 8; if negative on day 10 we are free to travel into Wales.

England, however, also offers a day 5 quarantine release by purchasing an additional test and if that shows negative you've bought yourself out of quarantine (that's seems stupid but anyway...) . I've seen nothing in WAG's statements (including today's) about rules for ex-pats or visitors wanting to visit Wales so I called WAG today to check whether the 5-day England buy-out will free us to get into Wales on day 6 after arrival in UK.

Surprisingly I got a real person without too much delay (applause for that) but it was with regret that the spokesperson advised that Wales doesn't recognise the validity of the England 5-day release and, whilst appreciating the frustration of two systems running side by side the rules in Wales mean we must see out 10 days of quarantine after arriving in UK.

I recognise Wales is leading the way, data wise, in UK so Drakeford can justifiably point to the success of his Covid policy but doesn't there come a time when overkill is reached and precautions become too onerous and unnecessary?

Readers on this Board have undergone long, hard lockdowns to get where you are today in returning to normality (definitely tougher that I have here in Iowa) so my simple question is...do I ignore the quarantine and arrive back 'home' after 5 days and 2 negative tests as is permitted in England?

If your going to England follow their rules

Then follow the rules in Wales.

[cityhammer]

If the 'rules' stated you had to stick a carrot in your ear, would you do it ? So long as you're not harming anyone do what you want. None of us are getting any younger.

Is the correct answer!

[surge]

What are you planning on doing once you're in Wales? If you're going through the process described then sticking to your very small crowd, who are then going to take a test/isolate after you leave, and remain outside in fresh air the risk to other people is going to be much smaller compared to spreading yourself between a large number of people and going inside when the risk would be greater.

You've described being able to buy yourself out of quarantine as stupid mind. I'd much prefer you to follow the rules of the local country but recognise it's very difficult sometimes.

[xsnaggle]

Shirley if you land in uk (Heathrow) and conform to the quarantine rretrictions placed on you there, then you can travel anywhere in UK.
Last time I looked there was not a border checkpoint on the Severn bridge, Severn crossing or the M50 so when you drive home who is going to know?
As long as you feel that you are clean and clear just do it.

[Cowbridge Blue]

Shirley if you land in uk (Heathrow) and conform to the quarantine rretrictions placed on you there, then you can travel anywhere in UK.
Last time I looked there was not a border checkpoint on the Severn bridge, Severn crossing or the M50 so when you drive home who is going to know?
As long as you feel that you are clean and clear just do it.

Thanks to all who've contributed, I'm pleased not to have much in the way of negativity to my attitude which matches that described by xsnaggle above. The main point at issue is that England and Wales have different requirements to deal with the same problem. They are both looking at the same data but come out with different conclusions on how to handle with it. A number of people I've spoken to at home feel the First Minister has often taken a different, and less progressive, view from Boris just to demonstrate Wales can and will be different with the outcome being the same just a few weeks behind Westminster. If that's correct it must have been very frustrating at times for you all.

Particular thanks too to Des Parrott for recommending Dante for the testing kits, I'll be on to them and have them send what we need to our English destination.

[surge]

Thanks to all who've contributed, I'm pleased not to have much in the way of negativity to my attitude which matches that described by xsnaggle above. The main point at issue is that England and Wales have different requirements to deal with the same problem. They are both looking at the same data but come out with different conclusions on how to handle with it. A number of people I've spoken to at home feel the First Minister has often taken a different, and less progressive, view from Boris just to demonstrate Wales can and will be different with the outcome being the same just a few weeks behind Westminster. If that's correct it must have been very frustrating at times for you all.

Particular thanks too to Des Parrott for recommending Dante for the testing kits, I'll be on to them and have them send what we need to our English destination.

While I aimed to appreciate the difficulty of your situation and tried to focus on what causes greater risk/how that can be managed within my message as well as commenting on the rules, I am now disappointed your chose xsnaggle's answer as one to highlight after they said "As long as you feel that you are clean and clear just do it." That's been a huuuge problem in how the virus has spread and is a completely irresponsible suggestion. TLG is right on that issue.

Regarding your comparison between Mark Drakeford and Boris Johnson: FFS, do people really believe something so simple? Drakeford has taken a more cautious approach without fearing sounding negative (big differences to Boris) which hasn't always been fun or successful but he wasn't the one who sent school children back for one day during winter when over half the deaths were recorded or refused to support hungry children over school holidays.

I'm disappointed your second message hasn't expressed how you're going to take extra steps to minimise the risk when breaking the rules and instead tries to make it out to be a Wales v England thing which is not helpful and, imo, inaccurate.

[Igovernor]

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[Allez Allez Allez]

Thanks to all who've contributed, I'm pleased not to have much in the way of negativity to my attitude which matches that described by xsnaggle above. The main point at issue is that England and Wales have different requirements to deal with the same problem. They are both looking at the same data but come out with different conclusions on how to handle with it. A number of people I've spoken to at home feel the First Minister has often taken a different, and less progressive, view from Boris just to demonstrate Wales can and will be different with the outcome being the same just a few weeks behind Westminster. If that's correct it must have been very frustrating at times for you all.

Particular thanks too to Des Parrott for recommending Dante for the testing kits, I'll be on to them and have them send what we need to our English destination.

FFS.

xsnaggle isn't a doctor is he? But, he said something you want to hear, and that's good enough for you.

Currently 91% of cases in the UK have been of a form that has been imported in from India. No doubt brought in by someone who thought they were clean.

The fact you had 2 vaccines is neither here nor there. It improves your chances of not getting sick, but it is not known that it suppresses transmission. In other words, you may contract the Delta virus while you are here, and then export it back to the US, all the while not ever once being sick, or having so much as a symptom thanks to the vaccine.

You, singularly, don't pose a huge degree of risk of starting a cluster of cases in Wales. But, add in you and many others who have the same attitude, and the risk grows for us all.

And the risk?
People dying
Sectors of industries shutting down
People losing jobs
People forced to face more restrictions despite following guidelines

I have been unable to visit a relative diagnosed with cancer (even though that person has had 2 vaccines). I have been unable to visit parents who are old and vulnerable (even though they have had both vaccines). And everytime we get to a stage where I may be able to do this without risking the health of people I care about, the UK opens its borders to import in a variant from South Africa or India, maybe next time the US.

But, sadly, this has inconvenienced you and I am really sorry. Please, come into the country with other plane loads of selfish twats, and I'll keep chatting to relatives on a doorstep.

[The Lone Gunman]

Looking to visit home next month for the first time in a couple of years.

The missus and I have had 2 Pfizer jabs - more protected than most readers on here.....

That’s alright, then. As long as you’re protected, don’t worry about anyone else and forget about the rules and regulations. Just do whatever you want. OK, so we may be experiencing a global pandemic, but you only live once. If you fancy flying over here for a holiday, just do it. I know we’re being advised not to travel abroad unless it’s absolutely essential, but what’s the worst that could happen? I mean, it’s not as if the virus spreads with people travelling from country to country, is it? Personally, I reckon we should just open the floodgates and be done with it.

[Cowbridge Blue]

That’s alright, then. As long as you’re protected, don’t worry about anyone else and forget about the rules and regulations. Just do whatever you want. OK, so we may be experiencing a global pandemic, but you only live once. If you fancy flying over here for a holiday, just do it. I know we’re being advised not to travel abroad unless it’s absolutely essential, but what’s the worst that could happen? I mean, it’s not as if the virus spreads with people travelling from country to country, is it? Personally, I reckon we should just open the floodgates and be done with it.

Spoken like a true American

[Lord Dargavel]

Looking to visit home next month for the first time in a couple of years.

The missus and I have had 2 Pfizer jabs - more protected than most readers on here - and will arrive at Heathrow, collect a car and travel direct to extended family in England for quarantine. Since the US is on the amber list, we have to buy 2 tests each (at 170 pounds) to use on day 2 and day 8; if negative on day 10 we are free to travel into Wales.

England, however, also offers a day 5 quarantine release by purchasing an additional test and if that shows negative you've bought yourself out of quarantine (that's seems stupid but anyway...) . I've seen nothing in WAG's statements (including today's) about rules for ex-pats or visitors wanting to visit Wales so I called WAG today to check whether the 5-day England buy-out will free us to get into Wales on day 6 after arrival in UK.

Surprisingly I got a real person without too much delay (applause for that) but it was with regret that the spokesperson advised that Wales doesn't recognise the validity of the England 5-day release and, whilst appreciating the frustration of two systems running side by side the rules in Wales mean we must see out 10 days of quarantine after arriving in UK.

I recognise Wales is leading the way, data wise, in UK so Drakeford can justifiably point to the success of his Covid policy but doesn't there come a time when overkill is reached and precautions become too onerous and unnecessary?

Readers on this Board have undergone long, hard lockdowns to get where you are today in returning to normality (definitely tougher that I have here in Iowa) so my simple question is...do I ignore the quarantine and arrive back 'home' after 5 days and 2 negative tests as is permitted in England?

FFS just go and see your family. This situation is now beyond. I work in blood laboratories all over the U.K. and have done without pause since this all started. Amazingly biomedical scientists are not dropping down dead, I’ve not heard of a single case, that said my cousin, who is not a well man, was in the Heath and seriously ill with CoVID. If you are compromised in terms of immunity it will find you. These rules are ridiculous. We should never ever have locked down and instead chased herd immunity like we have done from the dawn of our time (literally). Get in the car and visit whoever you like because the government are under the spell of scientists who will err on the side of caution after being thrust into the limelight. The lockdown has saved nobody!!! Not a single soul from the inevitable! At best it has delayed what would have happened anyway! Hence the mortality rate hasn’t altered in any appreciable terms!