Pre return covid test

[soupdragon]

Greetings all

Fingers are still well and try crossed for early June.
With that in mind does anybody know if the medical centre in the village is a permitted testing site for pre departure tests before a return to the UK or is a trip over to Rhodes required?

Cheers Tom and Rose

[carol]

Hi Tom and Rose, hope you are both keeping well.
At the moment it seems the answer to your question is that nobody knows, it is unlikely that we will be able to be tested in Halki but things could change, we are definitely keeping everything crossed as every day we are hearing new reports, rest assured as soon as there is anything definite I will post on here, what we really need is for Greece to be in the green zone and then things will be easier.
Best wishes Carol.

[soupdragon]

Apr 29, 2021 11:37:33 GMT carol said:

what we really need is for Greece to be in the green zone and then things will be easier.
Best wishes Carol.

Amen to that.

I wonder if there's a possibility of a rapid test on arrival at the airport prior to the homeward journey? Would make the holiday just a little more relaxing.
It will be what it will be though

Cheers Tom and Rose

[Liz]

There has been a few discussions on this lately and at the moment no you can't get a test on the island .. there is a clinic just outside Rhodes town that does them for a capped fee of 60€, If the Sebbecco runs regularly then you could probably use their bus service from KS to Rhodes and get the test and return within a few hours - I think various ideas have been put forward re the testing , personally I'm hoping for lateral flow testing to be accepted on return especially for fully vaccinated travellers - Quarantine is not an option for me

[carol]

Thanks Liz, I am still waiting for my second jab, unfortunately I am in the age group that is seen at our GP, have just had a letter delaying it again, I am not happy☹️😷 really hoping they get something sorted out quickly for this testing or I can see a lot of people being put off going not only to Halki but to Greece.

[soupdragon]

I read this...

www.tui.co.uk/destinations/info/entry-requirements
link
Option 4 on the list.....
Seems to indicate that a self administered 30 min type test is the one to be granted access to your homeward flight, then the obligatory PCR once home. No mention of if it needs to be done by a medically trained person and if the result needs to be registered anywhere?

Cheers Tom and Rose

[Liz]

If you do a lateral flow test it has be registered on the .Gov site to get an official result and if you have a PCR test your result also comes via them by text or email ( or both ) .. at the moment on .GOV lateral flow is an acceptable test to return but its the logistics of getting a PCR test on return - for quarantine purposes you have one on day 1 and day 8 ( available on the NHS ) or you can pay on day 5 for a test to release .. My own thoughts are that as we are all being encouraged to do lateral flows twice a week and they are readily available then if they are acceptable for the asymptomatic general public then they should be acceptable for the asymptomatic traveller ... I just want to know one way or another now

[soupdragon]

My concern isn't really the booking of tests that would be needed before and after the holiday but the one that enables you to board the homebound flight. Who does the test, where that test is to be done and, if on a package trip is it sorted out by the travel company?
As has been said though, there's a lot of speculation and little in the way of genuine guidance so time will tell but the clock is ticking quickly towards 2nd June

Cheers. Tom and Rose

[soupdragon]

Looks like Tui have updated that testing page, either that or I didn't notice it at the time. A rapid flow test is the one required prior to returning home.
Also a link on Olympic's website to a "testing partner" says that you take their test away with you and partake in a video call to the supplier when you do the test, presumably so they can verify that everything is done correctly and you are who you say you are.
So £39 each for the rapid flow and £45 each for the PCR test within 2 days of return, £168 all in. I'm seriously tempted when I think how much extra the cost may be next year. This is presuming Rhodes/Halki is on the green list 🤞

Cheers Tom and Rose

[Liz]

Well , we have postponed our trip for another month .. hopefully by then Greece will be Green and all the testing palaver will be sorted and straightforward

[soupdragon]

We've just rearranged ours for next year, July of all months. I hope the heat isn't too oppressive.
We were part of a large family holiday a couple of years ago in August. The heat was horrible 🥺
So fingers crossed

Cheers Tom and Rose