Pre-Departure Testing Mandatory For All Passengers Travelling To UK

The UK Government on Tuesday announced that starting from 15th January all inbound passengers to the United Kingdom will have to show a negative Covid-19 test report before departure.

All inbound passengers arriving in the country by ship, plane, or train will have to take a test up to 3 days before departure and provide evidence of a negative result before they travel.

The pre-departure testing is an extra requirement that applies to all passengers, including those traveling from a travel corridor country, apart from those on a very short list of exemptions.

This extra layer of protection is in addition to existing self-isolation requirements.

Robert Courts MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport, Government of UK, said, “We will establish the standards that tests must meet in regulations. this will include that the test must be of a diagnostic-standard test such as a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, and could in some cases include LAMP and lateral flow tests within set limits.“

“we’ll provide clear guidance and advice to passengers regarding testing standards and capacity… Guidance will be available to passengers and carriers on what to look for to assure tests and the results provided meet the standards required. we’ll keep test standards and innovative testing technologies under review.”

Besides, the UK Government will also set out the information passengers will need to have with them at check-in and the UK border to show they have had a qualifying negative test. this may include set data fields that test result certificates must include.

All information on test requirements will be made available to passengers and transport operators through guidance on GOV.UK.

Passengers traveling to England from the Common Travel Area (the united kingdom, Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey, and Guernsey), won’t be in the scope of the regulations.

Children under the age of 11 will also not be required to complete pre-departure testing.

There will be a very restricted number of exemptions, including haulers to allow the free flow of freight, and air, international rail, and maritime crew.

Also Read: New Zealand To Require Negative Covid-19 Report Before Boarding