Travellers in UK quarantine complain Covid tests are failing to arrive on time
Some are receiving compulsory test kits after 10-day quarantine period has ended
March 3, 2021
Travellers arriving in the UK have complained about delays in receiving their compulsory coronavirus test kits.
Some international arrivals have said they are still waiting for test kits to arrive despite finishing their minimum 10-day quarantine period. The rules state people must be swabbed on day two and day eight of their 10-day quarantine.
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Almost all arrivals are required to book the £210 ($293) test packages ahead of their departure to the UK.
Travellers from the "red list" of 33 countries – including the UAE – are exempt as they must enter hotel quarantine.
People who do not take the tests could face a maximum fine of £2,000.
The UK government outsourced the scheme to private company Corporate Travel Management, with travellers required to book the package directly through the company’s booking website.
Travellers have taken to the company’s social media pages to complain of significant delays in deliveries and poor service.
Tony Cherian wrote on Twitter that he had still not received his test kit after 12 days.
Dashaun Campbell wrote on Facebook that he was still waiting on day nine of his quarantine period.
“This is not on,” he wrote.
Tania Lanyon said some travellers had missed flights because of the delays.
“You are not supplying the test kits that have been paid for, desperate people can’t get hold of anyone via phones, they are just not answered, emails are just not answered, people are told they will be called back when they do get through, but no calls are returned,” she said.
Another suggested that incomplete testing over the quarantine period was breaking the law.
“You will be an accomplice to this act if you do not rectify the situation,” Del Mehat wrote.
Tasadaq Hussain said he had booked a testing package for his wife, who was returning from Pakistan.
He tried to reach the company when the tests did not arrive but experienced difficulties getting through to anyone.
"I was on hold for an hour-and-a-half without an answer," he told the BBC. "We kept trying every day."
Mr Hussain said he created a Twitter account and eventually received a response from the company after eight days.
Updated: March 3, 2021 10:11 PM
