Fly me to the Moon - your 3rd travel Megathread - read OP

jellies

M_Murphy57 wrote: »

At the moment ireland insist on PCRs for children arriving over age 7. That could change post 19/07 but there has been no mention that it will.

Is it just me or does it not feel a bit abusive to put children through a more invasive PCR test rather than an easier antigen test while vaccinated adults travel without a test? Cead Mile Failte how are ya.

faceman

TomSweeney wrote: »

FYI Spain to drop the nonsensical outdoor mask wearing law soon - I'm hearing from July 1


https://english.elpais.com/spain/2021-06-16/spanish-pm-announces-that-face-masks-will-soon-not-be-mandatory-outdoors.html

One of the other Spanish papers is saying that he will give authority on mask wearing to each of the regions so they can decide themselves what to do. The Valencia region health minister seems keen to maintain it outdoors until mid July.

Dr. Em

jellies wrote: »

Is it just me or does it not feel a bit abusive to put children through a more invasive PCR test than an easier antigen test while vaccinated adults travel without a test? Cead Mile Failte how are ya.

In my experience, the antigen test swab is identical to the PCR swab. Some swabbers are gentler than others, but it doesn't depend on the test.

TefalBrain

What an absolute farce all this PCR/Antigen stuff is. I'm genuinely sorry for everyone having to travel before the 19th July with a family and the unvaccinated after that.

It's like NEPHT are making it as hard as possible to leave the country in any form at all.

TomSweeney

faceman wrote: »

One of the other Spanish papers is saying that he will give authority on mask wearing to each of the regions so they can decide themselves what to do. The Valencia region health minister seems keen to maintain it outdoors until mid July.

hmm doesn't surprise me, I find it INCREDIBLE that they actually think outdoor mask wearing in this sunny heat makes any difference at all.


Pure red tape and bureaucracy ..

Skippette

faceman wrote: »

One of the other Spanish papers is saying that he will give authority on mask wearing to each of the regions so they can decide themselves what to do. The Valencia region health minister seems keen to maintain it outdoors until mid July.

I'm surprised they are still letting in people from the UK with no tests or vaccine status, especially when other countries are tightening their borders.

Would be worries as a result there might be a big rise in cases before we can get there. I know, they have to organise tests to get back into the UK which are expensive so there's probably not as many travelling, but I wish they would insist on an Antigen test for ones that are not vaccinated similar to the DCC rules.

TomSweeney

[QUOTE=Skippette;117443026]I'm surprised they are still letting in people from the UK with no tests or vaccine status, especially when other countries are tightening their borders.

Would be worries as a result there might be a big rise in cases before we can get there. I know, they have to organise tests to get back into the UK which are expensive so there's probably not as many travelling, but I wish they would insist on an Antigen test for ones that are not vaccinated similar to the DCC rules.[/QUOTE]


Exactly , penny wise pound foolish ...

Hellrazer

TomSweeney wrote: »

Is he vaccinated ?

He should be before he goes - But it will be close. AZ due his second one around the 5th August - flying out the 20th.
They are still insisting on self isolation even if he is vaccinated.

TomSweeney

Hellrazer wrote: »

He should be before he goes - But it will be close. AZ due his second one around the 5th August - flying out the 20th.
They are still insisting on self isolation even if he is vaccinated.

Madness....

Marcusm

jellies wrote: »

Is it just me or does it not feel a bit abusive to put children through a more invasive PCR test rather than an easier antigen test while vaccinated adults travel without a test? Cead Mile Failte how are ya.

The sample collection should be the same for both surely.

Tenzor07

goingnowhere wrote: »

Its the time from sample taken until you present at the immigration or other check point on arrival.

"Passport checker: Hello Passenger show me your PCR, Passenger opens phone, Date..Good..Negative..off you go and enjoy your travel.... 1 min.. gone...

Tenzor07

faceman wrote: »

One of the other Spanish papers is saying that he will give authority on mask wearing to each of the regions so they can decide themselves what to do. The Valencia region health minister seems keen to maintain it outdoors until mid July.

Masks outdoors.. ridiculous .. Greece has the same rule, walking around in 30c heat in the breeze with a surgical mask on which you've had in your pocket for most of the day and is all sweaty etc....
Just walk around with a bottle of water and say you're drinking if asked...

TomSweeney

Tenzor07 wrote: »

Masks outdoors.. ridiculous .. Greece has the same rule, walking around in 30c heat in the breeze with a surgical mask on which you've had in your pocket for most of the day and is all sweaty etc....
Just walk around with a bottle of water and say you're drinking if asked...

Thats what I do in the zoo here when I take my kids there, all the security staff are doing in BCN zoo are walking around telling people to put their masks on properly even if there nose is exposed, they leave you alone if you have a coffee/beer/water cup tho.






joke.

M_Murphy57

TomSweeney wrote: »

But surely they have to follow the EU laws on this ?

We had this conversation yesterday on this thread and no one could figure out if the EU minimum age for testing was 6 or 12. Do you have a link to somewhere it definitively says the EU law will be 12 ie no countries can ask for tests younger than that? (As opposed to minimum is 6 so ireland of course chose 7 as the cutoff when most other states picked 12)

I'd absolutely love it to be 12, I just couldnt get that confirmed

M_Murphy57

Tenzor07 wrote: »

"Passport checker: Hello Passenger show me your PCR, Passenger opens phone, Date..Good..Negative..off you go and enjoy your travel.... 1 min.. gone...

I know someone personally who was turned around at the gate because their test was 30 minutes out of date.

They do check the time.

Tenzor07

M_Murphy57 wrote: »

I know someone personally who was turned around at the gate because their test was 30 minutes out of date.

They do check the time.

Sounds like bad luck really, for the sake of 30 mins is crazy...

josip

Thephantomsmask wrote: »

...
Funny how they manage to change it a month ago but only notify staff a month later. It also references that Ireland will be operating the DCC from July 18th so I take it to mean the new circular expires then.

How can the state expect 'buy in' and 'willing compliance' from their citizens when they continually use all kinds of sh1t housery to prevent/discourage travel?

Thephantomsmask

josip wrote: »

How can the state expect 'buy in' and 'willing compliance' from their citizens when they continually use all kinds of sh1t housery to prevent/discourage travel?

Apologies, I deleted my post you were replying to when I was editing it. 100% agree

Yup, they are trying their best to obfuscate things just like the green list last year, initially telling us we were still banned from green list travel and quietly changing that with no updated circular. My line manager (HSE) received the updated circular 022/2021 yesterday saying that, as of 10th of May, employees arriving into Ireland from non-designated states may return to work after the 5 day quarantine and negative PCR test and those from designated (MHQ) states must complete the 14 days quarantine but will be allowed WFH between days 5 and 14.

Funny how they manage to change it in May but only notify staff a month later. It also references that Ireland will be operating the DCC from July 18th so I take it to mean the new circular expires then.

Chris_5339762 wrote: »

Public sector block on travel is still in place.... no non essential travel until the 19th. You have to inform your employer if you are going abroad and must book leave for the 14 days upon your return.

You cannot work from home by default during this time.

1) If you do not avail of the HSEs Day 5 PCR test, then you must stay at home for 14 days and cannot WFH.
2) 2) If you do avail of the HSEs Day 5 PCR test, you cannot WFH for Day 1 - 5, but can WFH for Day 6 - 14. You still cannot go back to work from day 6 - 14. They have openly said that this is "in addition to" the general government requirements.
I can still see a "no non essential travel" or some other restrictive **** for public sector staff come the 19th July. I can't see them opening the floodgates. There'll be something.

Of course this would the thrown out of court very quickly, but no-one has taken this policy to court yet.

faceman

Skippette wrote: »

I'm surprised they are still letting in people from the UK with no tests or vaccine status, especially when other countries are tightening their borders.

Would be worries as a result there might be a big rise in cases before we can get there. I know, they have to organise tests to get back into the UK which are expensive so there's probably not as many travelling, but I wish they would insist on an Antigen test for ones that are not vaccinated similar to the DCC rules.

So far no impact in the Valencia region. We remain the safest region in Spain and Europe. Alicante province 14 day rate is hovering around 27-30 which is still far lower than Ireland.

TefalBrain

Brother in law and 2 friends should be landing in Spain in the next while on a golfing trip. They encountered no Gardai or questions of any type on arrival at airport at 7:30 this morning and boarded the flight with no issues. Will text later and find out how things are on Spanish side.

Barna77

I'm booking flights to Spain in September.
Now I live in hope that the "vaccine passport" application system doesn't collapse too whenever it's available

M_Murphy57

Barna77 wrote: »

I'm booking flights to Spain in September.
Now I live in hope that the "vaccine passport" application system doesn't collapse too whenever it's available

Meant to be ready on 17th july for use 19th july. You'll be fine for september

KanyeSouthEast

M_Murphy57 wrote: »

Meant to be ready on 17th july for use 19th july. You'll be fine for september

Is that when we apply to register for it? The 17th July?

M_Murphy57

M_Murphy57 wrote: »

Meant to be ready on 17th july for use 19th july. You'll be fine for september

Back to my question,does that mean do you think, a fully vaccinated person in tenerife can apply for the DCC on the 17th and use it to return to Dublin on a flight that leaves TFN at 930pm on the 18th arriving into Dub at 1am on the 19th without a pcr ?

KanyeSouthEast

KanyeSouthEast wrote: »

Is that when we apply to register for it? The 17th July?

If its to be used on the 19th,registration for it has to be before that
Where is the 17th date coming from?

josip

Marine Layer wrote: »

Back to my question,does that mean do you think, a fully vaccinated person in tenerife can apply for the DCC on the 17th and use it to return to Dublin on a flight that leaves TFN at 930pm on the 18th arriving into Dub at 1am on the 19th without a pcr ?

I would have thought that on a Dublin-bound flight, the HSE paper card cert thingy would be acceptable as proof of vaccination?

I can understand immigration at other EU countries being a bit dubious of our piece of paper, but surely Ireland (and any airline flying here) can't refuse to accept it as proof of vaccination?

M_Murphy57

KanyeSouthEast wrote: »

Is that when we apply to register for it? The 17th July?

I dont think you "apply to register" , my understanding is you just download your QR code.
Then the airlines all have an app called verified that recognises your QR code all over europe.

I thought it was instantaneous. Not sure though

mmclo

M_Murphy57 wrote: »

Nothing to indicate that we arent. It might be another week or 2 though before rte start posting clickbait about tony being "worried" to make sure people feel too scared to book last minute.

We've also to get through the antigen testing farce first.

But so far so good. I'll be on a plane that week one way or another.

I found one of the more puzzling things here that RTE seem to be banging the drum for Antigen testing, maybe our star presenters need a break from hysteria duty

josip

josip wrote: »

I would have thought that on a Dublin-bound flight, the HSE paper card cert thingy would be acceptable as proof of vaccination?

I can understand immigration at other EU countries being a bit dubious of our piece of paper, but surely Ireland (and any airline flying here) can't refuse to accept it as proof of vaccination?

Too easy to Fake I should imagine

mmclo

jellies wrote: »

Just to add to this.

The PCR test has to be taken 72 hours before arriving back in Ireland. This leads to the result that if you are travelling for less than 3 days you take the PCR test before leaving to "tick the box". Technically 100% accurate but completely useless at detecting infection during you trip.

Let's say, you are going for a week, you can take the test half way through the week, so it is only really assessing infection for half of your holiday. You could easily pick up the delta, epsilon or whatever variant during the second half and PCR would not detect it because you have already taken the test.

So while PCR might be technically a more sensitive test from a practical perspective just doesn't seem that practical or useful in the travel scenario. Particularly where short term trips are involved.

At least with antigen you are measuring infectiousness on the day so you are reducing the risk of an infection event during the flight.

True but that's why they require another one after 5 days etc (not defending it btw)