There have been three significant changes to COVID travel regs impacting Defence travel in the last few days, 2 for England(and UK by default), and 1 for USA. This is a summary with links, prior to the Wednesday Brf; any questions to AIR COVID Cell.

  1. Travel to England – Requirement for pre-departure testing from 4am, Tuesday 7 December 2021

WEF 4am, Tuesday 7 Dec 21 all people aged 12 years and over must take a PCR or LFD COVID-19 test before they travel to England from abroad.

You must take the test in the 2 days before your service to England departs. If your journey to England is a multi-leg journey, you must take the test in the 2 days before the start of the first leg.

This will apply whether you qualify as fully vaccinated or not.

Some people, including children aged 11 and under are exempt from taking the test.

Personnel travelling to Wales/Scot/NI are to check DA websites to determine any differences to the new rules for England that may impact that journey.

  1. Return to England – Requirement for pre and post-departure testing for individuals recently recovered from COVID (Convalescent Positive).

With the identification of the Omicron VoC the Defence Convalescent Exemption is no longer extant.  DAN 18 will be updated to reflect.

Gov.uk legislation Guidance for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection who do not live with the person – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) now states:

‘If you have previously received a positive COVID-19 PCR test result you are not usually advised to be re-tested within 90 days of this result. However, you should have a PCR test within 90 days of a previous positive PCR test if:

  • you develop any new symptoms of COVID-19
  • you are a close contact of someone who has been identified as a suspected or confirmed case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19
  • you are required to take a PCR test upon entry into the UK’

SP will also be required to conduct Pre Departure Tests (LFD or PCR) before returning (see point 1). If the individual has recently recovered from COVID but is no longer infectious, they should use a lateral flow device (LFD) test. LFD tests have a lower sensitivity than PCR or LAMP tests, so they are less likely to return a positive result from a historic infection. The LFD test must meet the minimum performance standards as set out above.

  1. Travel to USA – Shortened Testing Timelines

WEF 6 Dec 21, all air passengers, regardless of vaccination status, must show a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 1 day before travel to the United States. Defence Testing cannot guarantee a result in this shortened timeline, and therefore commercial testing must be utilized.  While Defence Travel Testing has generally relied on PCR testing, some HN (inc USA) will accept commercial LFD, which may provide a cheaper and quicker solution.

Once a SP has been approved to procure commercial testing (by AIR COVID Cell and CoC/budgetary authority) they should check current HN entry requirements and use best judgement to procure the most effective testing to facilitate successful travel and entry to destination. We are awaiting guidance from BDSUS re how this new ruling applies to aircrews flying into the USA.

There have been three significant changes to COVID travel regs impacting Defence travel in the last few days, 2 for England(and UK by default), and 1 for USA. This is a summary with links, prior to the Wednesday Brf; any questions to AIR COVID Cell.

  1. Travel to England – Requirement for pre-departure testing from 4am, Tuesday 7 December 2021

WEF 4am, Tuesday 7 Dec 21 all people aged 12 years and over must take a PCR or LFD COVID-19 test before they travel to England from abroad.

You must take the test in the 2 days before your service to England departs. If your journey to England is a multi-leg journey, you must take the test in the 2 days before the start of the first leg.

This will apply whether you qualify as fully vaccinated or not.

Some people, including children aged 11 and under are exempt from taking the test.

Personnel travelling to Wales/Scot/NI are to check DA websites to determine any differences to the new rules for England that may impact that journey.

  1. Return to England – Requirement for pre and post-departure testing for individuals recently recovered from COVID (Convalescent Positive).

With the identification of the Omicron VoC the Defence Convalescent Exemption is no longer extant.  DAN 18 will be updated to reflect.

Gov.uk legislation Guidance for contacts of people with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection who do not live with the person – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) now states:

‘If you have previously received a positive COVID-19 PCR test result you are not usually advised to be re-tested within 90 days of this result. However, you should have a PCR test within 90 days of a previous positive PCR test if:

  • you develop any new symptoms of COVID-19
  • you are a close contact of someone who has been identified as a suspected or confirmed case of the Omicron variant of COVID-19
  • you are required to take a PCR test upon entry into the UK’

SP will also be required to conduct Pre Departure Tests (LFD or PCR) before returning (see point 1). If the individual has recently recovered from COVID but is no longer infectious, they should use a lateral flow device (LFD) test. LFD tests have a lower sensitivity than PCR or LAMP tests, so they are less likely to return a positive result from a historic infection. The LFD test must meet the minimum performance standards as set out above.

  1. Travel to USA – Shortened Testing Timelines

WEF 6 Dec 21, all air passengers, regardless of vaccination status, must show a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 1 day before travel to the United States. Defence Testing cannot guarantee a result in this shortened timeline, and therefore commercial testing must be utilized.  While Defence Travel Testing has generally relied on PCR testing, some HN (inc USA) will accept commercial LFD, which may provide a cheaper and quicker solution.

Once a SP has been approved to procure commercial testing (by AIR COVID Cell and CoC/budgetary authority) they should check current HN entry requirements and use best judgement to procure the most effective testing to facilitate successful travel and entry to destination. We are awaiting guidance from BDSUS re how this new ruling applies to aircrews flying into the USA.