Returning to Portugal?

[Geoff]

Have heard the following from the NHS APP Service desk:

"The Government, with the NHS, is working on providing individuals with the means to demonstrate their COVID-status through a digital and non-digital route, and is working with experts to put security and privacy at the core of this approach. Use of the NHS App is being considered as part of the digital route.

As part of this consideration, the COVID-status is anticipated to take information from a central database and not from your GP health record which your practice gives you access to.

Please note that the COVID-Status feature is not yet available on the NHS App and the information you can see currently in your medical records will likely not be used to prove your COVID-status"

So, fingers crossed for May 17th promised release....

[widge]

Portuguese government allegedly going to make an announcement today !

State of Calamity extended until 30th May but it might make an exception for tourists from UK.

In doing so they open the door for the football fans to do their thing in Porto - many prefer that they are only allowed to visit for 24 hours and kept in a "bubble" whilst in Porto, others don't want them to visit.

[widge]

https://news.sky.com/story/amp/fresh-un ... y-12305909

[Geoff]

Fingers still crossed for 1 June.....

[widge]

Geoff, as a property owner you have a legitimate reason for "essential travel". Just make sure you have some proof of ownership with you when you travel.

[Geoff]

as a property owner you have a legitimate reason for "essential travel".

Interesting, though not sure I'd want to push that with the Portuguese Border people....some friends of ours with property in Spain ( & Portugal) were denied access at the border , even with such documentation.

Unless it's clear, we'll postpone....thought we had to do this by May 18, but just noticed you can do this wit EJ up to 2 hours before flight, re-asssuring.

[Geoff]

Well, good news is that Portugal is open to UK from 17 May despite being in EU ( ? Pexit perhaps?).

https://www.visitportugal.com/en/conten ... d-portugal

Bad news is that everyone over 2 years needs a PCR test within 72 hours of boarding...no mention of digital vaccination passports being accepted, unfortunately.

With our boarding at 4.20pm on 1 June, the bank holiday, and Easyjet/Randox having a lst collection of 1600 on the saturday, looks as if we won't be going, sadly.

[carolyn]

Believe that there is still some discussion going on re vaccine passports.
Try Boots for a test - £99 Looks like you order the test and then book an appointment and take it along to a Boots store where the test is conducted and then sent off.
You might just make it

[Skiingbuffy]

What’s wrong with this one?
https://www.boots.com/myhealthchecked-a ... 9-10295700

[Geoff]

Believe that there is still some discussion going on re vaccine passports.
Try Boots for a test - £99 Looks like you order the test and then book an appointment and take it along to a Boots store where the test is conducted and then sent off.

Portuguese spokesperson on BBC Today said they had changed minds about vaccination passports and require a PCR test....some mention that it might change in June ( perhaps when the EU vaccination passport is due). The Boots £65 one has to be returned in post , so that's not going to happen over a b/h weekend. The Boots £99 needs up to 48 hours : with a 1620 flight, that's cutting it fine, even if they work over the w/e. easy/jet/randox have a 12-24 hour turnround for £60 , but dropoff in Bristol closes at 4pm, so we'd have to do it Sunday morning....would be tight but perhaps possible.

But then there's the question of another £300 for a couple of weeks...

[RichardHenshall]

... no mention of digital vaccination passports being accepted, unfortunately. ...

It's interesting that vaccination is good enough on arrival to Madeira, according to your link, though quite how they will police it is unclear or whether the airlines will still require a test for boarding.

[sue2215]

We had our PCR tests done yesterday and should receive the results by 10pm this evening, at the latest 48 hours. We went to Express testing in Brent Cross, there are several locations to choose from however we wanted an early evening test, the procedure was quick & efficient. As far as I know they’re open every day and cost £80 per person.

[Geoff]

We had our PCR tests done yesterday and should receive the results by 10pm this evening, at the latest 48 hours. We went to Express testing in Brent Cross, there are several locations to choose from however we wanted an early evening test, the procedure was quick & efficient. As far as I know they’re open every day and cost £80 per person.

Thanks Sue....they are one of the few that don't seem to have an early evening cutoff , so useful if you have an evening/late afternoon flight...

[sam]

What’s wrong with this one?
https://www.boots.com/myhealthchecked-a ... 9-10295700

You do it at home so cannot be verified that it is yours. You will need evidence of where and when the test was done. So this is not suitable for Fit to Fly.

[Geoff]

You do it at home so cannot be verified that it is yours. You will need evidence of where and when the test was done. So this is not suitable for Fit to Fly.

One would think so ...might the website says :

"Easy to use, gentle nasal swab, suitable for general testing or Fit to Fly*, results within 24-36 hours of lab receipt.
*This means you will receive a Fit to Fly certificate with this test."

However, it needs posting back by Royal Mail...so by the time its delivered to lab & tested, there may not be much ( if any) of the 72 hours left....