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

Dr. Em · 07-06-2021 09:36AM

M_Murphy57 wrote: »

If your child is over 6 you will need a PCR test to get them back to Ireland, which is much more invasive than antigen. If you font think theyd cope with one then you need to reconsider your trip unfortunately.

More invasive? Have they changed the way they swab for the antigen test? I've had two antigen tests by private providers (last one taken three weeks ago) and they did the horrible nose and throat swab. I couldn't actually tell the difference between the antigen and the PCR, except that their sealed sample bags had different labels.

M_Murphy57 · 07-06-2021 09:41AM

Dr. Em wrote: »

More invasive? Have they changed the way they swab for the antigen test? I've had two antigen tests by private providers (last one taken three weeks ago) and they did the horrible nose and throat swab. I couldn't actually tell the difference between the antigen and the PCR, except that their sealed sample bags had different labels.

Edited.

This is either not correct or your experience is non standard

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/testing/antigen-testing-for-covid-19.html

( in other countries school children are administering them themselves in class)

Marty Bird · 07-06-2021 09:45AM

M_Murphy57 wrote: »

So the only difference is time and cost?

Didnt realise that, I assumed antigen would also be less invasive (given in other countries school children are administering them themselves in class)

I’m only going on my personal experience of the antigen test I received in work, and it was only a rub of the nostrils didn’t take a sample from my throat.

Marty Bird · 07-06-2021 09:46AM

Feria40 wrote: »

Scroll down on this webpage (it's the portal for Spain's locator form):

https://www.spth.gob.es/

Antigen or PCR is how I read it

I’m not see antigen when it gives you the link for risk countries, you get this.

REQUIREMENT OF A NEGATIVE PCR/TMA TEST IF YOU TRAVEL TO SPAIN FROM A RISK COUNTRY/AREA

M_Murphy57 · 07-06-2021 09:54AM

Marty Bird wrote: »

I’m only going on my personal experience of the antigen test I received in work, and it was only a rub of the nostrils didn’t take a sample from my throat.

Hse own website describes antigen as a nose test only. Perhaps the other poster got a very over zealous tester but I think nose only for antigen is the standard

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/testing/antigen-testing-for-covid-19.html

Feria40 · 07-06-2021 10:01AM

Marty Bird wrote: »

I’m not see antigen when it gives you the link for risk countries, you get this.

REQUIREMENT OF A NEGATIVE PCR/TMA TEST IF YOU TRAVEL TO SPAIN FROM A RISK COUNTRY/AREA

https://www.spth.gob.es/faq?tab=2

"What COVID-19 diagnostic tests are accepted for entry into Spain?

2 types of tests are allowed, with negative result:

Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), which detect the genetic material of the virus (RT-PCR, TMA and RT-LAMP).

Rapid antigen detection tests (RATs), which detect the presence of virus antigens. The tests accepted are those authorised by the European Commission, which can be consulted at the following link.
These tests must have been carried out (taking of the sample) 48 hours before arrival in Spain."

Dr. Em · 07-06-2021 10:21AM

M_Murphy57 wrote: »

Hse own website describes antigen as a nose test only. Perhaps the other poster got a very over zealous tester but I think nose only for antigen is the standard

https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/testing/antigen-testing-for-covid-19.html

Private providers might be doing it differently for travel. Randox still says it is a nose and throat swab for the rapid antigen test and one of mine was at RocDoc and that was nose and throat too. https://booking.randox.ie/

Marty Bird · 07-06-2021 10:29AM

Feria40 wrote: »

https://www.spth.gob.es/faq?tab=2

"What COVID-19 diagnostic tests are accepted for entry into Spain?

2 types of tests are allowed, with negative result:

Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), which detect the genetic material of the virus (RT-PCR, TMA and RT-LAMP).

Rapid antigen detection tests (RATs), which detect the presence of virus antigens. The tests accepted are those authorised by the European Commission, which can be consulted at the following link.
These tests must have been carried out (taking of the sample) 48 hours before arrival in Spain."

Ah ha. See it now thanks great news I’m not due to travel until Aug so was hoping for a change by then. Randox is €49 for the test.

Wrinkly runner · 07-06-2021 10:43AM

M_Murphy57 wrote: »

If your child is over 6 you will need a PCR test to get them back to Ireland, which is much more invasive than antigen. If you font think theyd cope with one then you need to reconsider your trip unfortunately.

Thank you.Just turned 6 so it looks like the antigen test will be required to travel to Spain and none returning.
I was hoping there would be a easier method of testing children with special needs.

07-06-2021 11:24AM

Marty Bird wrote: »

The test for children is just like the antigen test just a light rub in the nostrils my son got one back a while ago.

Not for mine it wasn't. She definitely got the 'jabbed in the brain' version

Corholio · 07-06-2021 11:48AM

Randox antigen test in Belfast City airport is throat and nose swab.

General Toilet · 07-06-2021 12:19PM

Got my digital green cert today. Happy days.

07-06-2021 12:24PM

faceman wrote: »

a) Certificate of vaccination
-The vaccines accepted are those authorised by either the European Medicines Agency or for emergency use by the World Health Organisation.
-The certificate must have been issued by an authority of the country of origin at least 14 days after full vaccination.
-The certificate must contain the following information: country, authority that issues the certificate, name and surname of the traveller, date of vaccination (with indication of the date when the last dose was administered), type of vaccine and number of doses administered.

It’s all here.

http://www.exteriores.gob.es/Embajadas/DUBLIN/en/Embajada/ServiciosConsulares/Pages/Covid-19-Travelling-to-Spain.aspx

Yeah, but will the little card that we are issued suffice? It's not exactly a certificate.

naufragos123 · 07-06-2021 12:32PM

Feria40 wrote: »

https://www.spth.gob.es/faq?tab=2

"What COVID-19 diagnostic tests are accepted for entry into Spain?

2 types of tests are allowed, with negative result:

Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), which detect the genetic material of the virus (RT-PCR, TMA and RT-LAMP).

Rapid antigen detection tests (RATs), which detect the presence of virus antigens. The tests accepted are those authorised by the European Commission, which can be consulted at the following link.
These tests must have been carried out (taking of the sample) 48 hours before arrival in Spain."

I'm sorry but I'm getting a little confused. I'm travelling to Spain this week. This is what I'm confused about:

The mention of 48 hours. I thought the test had to be within a 72 hour window of arrival, has that changed?

Will they now accept antigen from all passengers?

Also, there is something about fully vaccinated passengers not needing a test from today. However, how does a passenger from Ireland prove that they are vaccinated?

Sorry again but it's hard to get clear information. I was happy with the plan to get my PCR the day before travelling and I'm wondering if despite being fully vaccinated, I should just go with that plan as it might be the safest bet?

Thanks so much to anyone who can provide a bit more clarity.

07-06-2021 12:46PM

Dobbytoes wrote: »

Yeah, but will the little card that we are issued suffice? It's not exactly a certificate.

Whatever the official position is, I can see clearly a situation in which the individual at Spain border control wont accept a little unofficial looking card. They can be belligerent at the best of times. Until we have a widely recognised app with a QR code, I'd still be getting a PCR test

Tazz T · 07-06-2021 01:19PM

General Toilet wrote: »

Got my digital green cert today. Happy days.

What was the procedure?

dashoonage · 07-06-2021 01:19PM

General Toilet wrote: »

Got my digital green cert today. Happy days.

What country are you in ? App or how did it work ?

General Toilet · 07-06-2021 01:39PM

dashoonage wrote: »

What country are you in ? App or how did it work ?

Bulgaria, they simply printed it out for me. Big QR code for verification.

dashoonage · 07-06-2021 01:43PM

General Toilet wrote: »

Bulgaria, they simply printed it out for me. Big QR code for verification.

That's great. Hopefully they can issue them here before 19th july and not have to wait till then to get them

Anyone know when we can get ours here ?

Feria40 · 07-06-2021 02:00PM

naufragos123 wrote: »

I'm sorry but I'm getting a little confused. I'm travelling to Spain this week. This is what I'm confused about:

The mention of 48 hours. I thought the test had to be within a 72 hour window of arrival, has that changed?

Will they now accept antigen from all passengers?

Also, there is something about fully vaccinated passengers not needing a test from today. However, how does a passenger from Ireland prove that they are vaccinated?

Sorry again but it's hard to get clear information. I was happy with the plan to get my PCR the day before travelling and I'm wondering if despite being fully vaccinated, I should just go with that plan as it might be the safest bet?

Thanks so much to anyone who can provide a bit more clarity.

PCR is 72 hours with Antigen being 48 hours I think*

scouserstation · 07-06-2021 02:35PM

Wrinkly runner wrote: »

Thank you.Just turned 6 so it looks like the antigen test will be required to travel to Spain and none returning.
I was hoping there would be a easier method of testing children with special needs.

Might be worth contacting dept of tourism/travel about this, I reckon children with special needs should be exempt from getting this test, especially if travelling with 2 fully vaccinated adults

josip · 07-06-2021 03:09PM

General Toilet wrote: »

Bulgaria, they simply printed it out for me. Big QR code for verification.

Can you post a pic of the QR code here so that we can see what it looks like?

TefalBrain · 07-06-2021 03:45PM

dashoonage wrote: »

That's great. Hopefully they can issue them here before 19th july and not have to wait till then to get them

Anyone know when we can get ours here ?

Think i read last week in one of broadsheets it's expected to be in place before the end of the month. Will 100% be ready for the 19th anyway

M_Murphy57 · 07-06-2021 03:48PM

josip wrote: »

Can you post a pic of the QR code here so that we can see what it looks like?

That's probably not a good idea?

faceman · 07-06-2021 03:54PM

Dobbytoes wrote: »

Yeah, but will the little card that we are issued suffice? It's not exactly a certificate.

If it contains the relevant info then it will suffice

Tenger · 07-06-2021 04:07PM

General Toilet wrote: »

Bulgaria, they simply printed it out for me. Big QR code for verification.

Bulgaria is one of the 7 EU members that started issuing them last week.
Germany, Poland, Croatia and Denmark are among that group (can't recall the other 2)

Meanwhile no info among HSE resources on how we can get ours.
I'm fully vaxxed (from a non-EU country but with an EU approved vaccine) but have no way currently to register myself as such with our national Heather service.
I want to get my Green Cert ASAP in order to travel.

stephenjmcd · 07-06-2021 04:10PM

Tenger wrote: »

Bulgaria is one of the 7 EU members that started issuing them last week.
Germany, Poland, Croatia and Denmark are among that group (can't recall the other 2)

Meanwhile no info among HSE resources on how we can get ours.
I'm fully vaxxed (from a non-EU country but with an EU approved vaccine) but have no way currently to register myself as such with our national Heather service.
I want to get my Green Cert ASAP in order to travel.

I'm pretty sure you won't get a green cert for vaccination issued by Ireland. You need to be vaccinated by the HSE to get one.

You won't register yourself it'll be based on the HSE vaccine records & they haven't vaccinated you

yer man! · 07-06-2021 04:14PM

Just got my second vaccination appointment booked for 14 days prior to my flight to Ireland, fingers crossed all goes well and i can visit the parents restriction free. Will be interesting to use the EU green certificate all the same

naufragos123 · 07-06-2021 04:24PM

faceman wrote: »

If it contains the relevant info then it will suffice

I'm with the poster who was dubious about our little vaccination cards. I know it should suffice but Spaniards, though lovely people, can morph into the worst of bureaucrats when it suits. I really would be stressed relying on that card and would prefer to enter with an official test.

Can I ask you, faceman, as you know about Spain. Are they now accepting antigen as well as PCRs? And is the window for PCR still 72 hours? Thanks so much.

eltonyio · 07-06-2021 04:39PM

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/air-traffic-to-recover-to-43-of-2019-levels-report-predicts-1.4586696

Why is Irish journalism so poor on tourism/ travel related topics during the pandemic? This article comes out with:

A ban making “non-essential” travel illegal and quarantines demanding that passengers from the US and several EU countries stay in hotels for two weeks, are among tough measures that remain in place in the Republic.

Maybe I'm really lazy, but I'd love to read articles that I could be confident are accurate. It's 10 days dince the last EU countries and USA came off the mandatory hotel quarantine list.

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

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