The Covid-19 travel testing rip-off has returned after firms on the Government’s approved list of providers listed cheap PCR tests for under £1 – before customers clicked through and found the real price was 200 times higher.
When searching by price, the cowboys will list a low-cost fake to show up at the top. But when consumers click on the link they’ll find that it is unavailable and the next closest to the average price.
In one case as company was advertising a test for just 30p on the Government website in an apparent attempt to lure in travellers, but this was in fact unavailable on the provider’s website with the next cheapest at £59.
After being criticized for failing to do enough to verify the listed prices, the Department of Health and Social Care removed many providers from this website.
Francis Ingham (director of Laboratory and Testing Industry Organisation), the trade association for Covid testing businesses, stated that “Cutting out the Cowboys increases public trust in testing and will help us all through Covid.”
It comes as families stuck in red list nations trying to get home could have to wait until 2022 – with no availability at London Heathrow quarantine hotels for a group of two adults and two children for the rest of this month.
Family with one child and two adults will need to wait at least a week before next Monday. Single adults or couples who have more than one person must wait until Wednesday.
Quarantine hotels cost £2,285 for ten days or 11 nights for one adult in one room, then £1,430 for an additional adult or child over 11, and £325 for a child aged 5 to 11. For children below five years of age, you don’t have to pay.
While waiting for UK space, the government is expanding its offer of quarantine hotels. This means that families will have to spend hundreds of more pounds on their hotel stays abroad while trying to increase the number of available rooms.
Heathrow passengers arriving at Heathrow will be transported to Milton Keynes, Luton and other destinations by bus. Concerns have been raised that the situation could get worse after Nigeria has been added to the red-list.
Ministers face a backlash about the introduction of Covid pre-departure travel tests, amid concerns that over a million could become stranded overseas just three weeks prior to Christmas.
MailOnline was contacted by a spokesperson for DHSC, who stated that testing companies charging low prices in order to attract customers to their services.
Last Tuesday, passengers arrived at London Heathrow Airport as new travel restrictions were introduced by the Government.
It is not possible to verify prices on the Government site of travel testing companies that is managed by the UK Health Security Agency, part of the Department of Health and Social Care.
One child and two parents looking for quarantine room space in a hotel. This means that they will have to wait at least a week before next Monday.
‘The government has taken action to drive down the cost of tests for international travel, with the average price of a Day 2 test now under £45 with many available for £20. UKHSA continues to be our partner in monitoring public issues and promptly taking action when necessary, such as striking down companies.
Non-compliance with minimum standards and failure to adhere to accreditation deadlines can result in companies being removed from Government approved lists.
This process involves two strikes. Providers who do not provide an adequate service will be removed from the Government List. If private providers have taken the corrective steps and submitted evidence to the DHSC, they may be reinstated onto the government list.
The travel industry has come to the defense of the Government, which made a drastic U-turn and required travellers to undergo testing before returning to Britain. This move could threaten to ruin the holiday plans for millions.
The Tory MPs stated that the change to the rules will cause a major blow to the industry. A leading scientist adviser to Government claimed the crackdown would not make any’material differences’ in the Omicron variant’s spread.
Tomorrow’s move means that travellers must provide negative results before being allowed to board their flight home. Positive travelers will need to be quarantined abroad.
Sources within the Cabinet said that some researchers and officials had suggested going further, insisting that travelers be quarantined at home for eight days upon their return.
According to the source, if it were up to the Health ‘Blob, this would have been more disruptive.
Sources in the industry predicted that more than 1 million Britons would be rushing to obtain a test, to avoid becoming stranded.
Paul Charles is a certified travel specialist. He stated that it was difficult for people living abroad to get tests. This is a weekend and many places are closed so these individuals had no reason not to consider the necessity of a test for their return trip.
“People will be effectively left stranded as they are unable to get the necessary tests.”
He said, “Tens to thousands of jobs in the travel industry are at risk.” This is why no support measures were ever announced. This is a sign of how arbitrary these policies can be.
Following a week of ministers insisting that no pre-departure test would be required, the government made its U-turn. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps stated that ministers didn’t want to “kill off” the travel industry again in a podcast interview, which was recorded Wednesday.
Wednesday’s science minister George Freeman stated that further travel testing would bring down the economy.
According to a source, Chris Whitty was the chief medical officer and made a strong case to Ministers. This included a South Africa-to-Norway flight in which 11 people had Omicron.
Dominic Raab, Justice Secretary of Justice, insisted the pre-departure testing were not prohibitive but admitted it would only make a marginal difference to the spread and acceptance of the new variant.
Professor Mark Woolhouse advises the Government’s Sage committee and said the time was not right to prevent the spread. “I believe that it may be a matter of closing the stable door once the horse has bolted,” he said to the BBC’s Andrew Marr show.
Omicron, as it appears, is present in the UK. If there is community transmission, which is evident, it will be that transmission that drives the next wave. The time is too soon to make any material changes to the Omicron wave’s course, if one exists.
A further 86 Omicron cases in Britain were reported by the UK Health Security Agency on Sunday. The total now stands at 246.
Henry Smith, Tory MP and chairman of Future of Aviation Group of MPs said the new testing program was a’massive blow’ that would ‘hit our economy, jobs, as well as place vital industries in danger just at the time they are looking to recover.
He said, “These restrictions come without any financial support or employment assistance is completely unacceptable. The Government should announce a complete package of measures within the next days to control testing costs and reduce the cost of the tests.”
“Above all, they must justify why restrictions are necessary and the plan for their removal as quickly as possible.”
Tim Alderslade (CEO of Airlines UK), stated that the constantly changing industry measures made it impossible to plan.
“It’s premature to reach millions of passengers or industry before we have the complete data.” He stated that there is no clinical evidence.
Karen Dee (Chairman of Airport Operators Association) stated that pre-departure screenings are a major barrier to travelers.
Alistair Rowland (chairman of the Association of British Travel Agents) stated that the industry is in fragile decline.
“Since last week, the demand for booking holiday vacations in future seasons has fallen by over 50%,” said he. “There is no consumer confidence,” he stated.
Which? Rory Boland is a travel editor. He said, “Constantly changing rules in the last-minute leaves passengers paying the price.” Some destinations make it difficult to get tests within such a short time.
For those that have tested positive for HIV in another country, it is important to follow the local guidelines. It is likely that you will be required to either quarantine at your current hotel or government accommodation.
Quarantine is an expense that travellers may have to cover in certain countries. Some travel insurance companies can assist with this. To rearrange their flights, travellers should check out the airline’s flexible booking policy.
Nigeria has been added to the Travel Red List after 21 Omicron variant cases were reported in England. These Omicron cases were associated with travel to Nigeria from West Africa. Only British, Irish, and resident Nigerian nationals will be permitted into the UK from 4am this morning. They will also be required to be quarantined in a Government-managed hotel.