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]

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

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]

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

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?

[rightsaidfred]

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

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

[PontBlue]

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

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.

[Cowbridge Blue]

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

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.

[The Bloop]

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

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]

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

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]

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

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

[A Quiet Monkfish]

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

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.

[Des Parrot]

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

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

[az city]

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

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.

[bobh]

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

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.

[Hilts]

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

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.

[A Quiet Monkfish]

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

It's people like you wot cause unrest.

And we can't have that, can we.