Even with an EHIC/GHIC the government recommends taking out travel insurance for any overseas trips; EHIC/GHIC don't cover non-emergency costs, repatriation, quarantine hotels, and several other things that insurance does cover.
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Covid restrictions abroad: updates & observations
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johncrossley
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Of course, but you can't rely on travel insurance to pay out. If you need hospital treatment costing £1 million, you can be sure of being covered under EHIC/GHIC, but not necessarily under travel insurance as it is possible for your claim to be refused on a technicality. If you are willing to self insure for those other things, then EHIC/GHIC is fine. If you have medical conditions that makes travel insurance prohibitively expensive, then relying on reciprocal healthcare agreements is your only option.
So effectively an out-and-out tax on unvaccinated travel.While Non vaccinated arrivals in the UK are still required to take tests, from tomorrow they do not have to isolate if they test positive, and are only "recommended" to isolate and take a follow up PCR test.
The only requirement seems to be to give the names of the people they are living with if they test positive (if asked).
The Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Operator Liability) (England) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 2022
These Regulations amend the Health Protection (Coronavirus, International Travel and Operator Liability) (England) Regulations 2021 (“the International Travel Regulations”). They make amendments to the International Travel Regulations consequential on the revocation of the Health Protection...www.legislation.gov.uk
The government taxes a range of other activities/products/services that are considered bad for one's health, like tobacco and high-sugar drinks. I see limited difference.
There is a lack of honesty about what this is for. And if we are allow people who test positive to go about their daily lives unhindered, what basis do we have for demanding people test themselves before travelling? It is utterly unconscionable.
I am unaware of any other activity considered bad for one's health where the tax to discourage it takes the form of a legal obligation to purchase a product from a private supplier and use it (with no action arising from the use of said product), and where the penalty for refusal to do so is as extreme as being refused carriage to the United Kingdom despite being a British or Irish citizen.
Butts
Veteran Member
If you'd booked with BA the balance would be due three weeks before travel giving you an extended "make your mind up time"
Currently in the BA 1st Class Lounge at LHR on my way to Dusseldorf.
Ming Campbell is in here - the guy must never be out of Airports I seem to see him almost every time I'm at Edinburgh and now Heathrow as well !!
Currently regaling an associate about his exploits at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964.
No, it's Jet2
Class 33
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Any guesses when Germany and the Netherlands are likely to scrap all their face masks and social distancing restrictions?
Netherlands is due to scrap distancing everywhere and masks everywhere except public transport by the end of the week.
I hate this “except public transport” pattern which is appearing in a few European countries. There’s absolutely no need for it there but it stigmatises public transport as a “dirty, dangerous” place compared to all other indoor public settings.
Agreed. It is really notable how here in Switzerland, mask compliance is very high onboard trains (probably 95%, though as in the UK this tails off at evenings and weekends!), yet 90% do not wear one on the station or platform, and in shops etc.
In other words, the vast majority of people only wear one where they have to. Which suggests they are doing so purely as a 'box ticking' exercise.
There is simply no real explanation for why public transportation has been singled out for the mandate. If it is to "protect the vulnerable" why is it not also applied in other public indoor spaces? There are (sometimes limited) alternatives for both environments.
Anyway, I digress.
Jet2 do have an option to extend the payment date. I've got a holiday booked to Kefalonia in May which I am still to make my mind up on, albeit for personal reasons, and I've just had an email from them telling me about this option.
I haven't had anything. Is that Jet2 or Jet2holidays?
Edit: Just had a look on Google about it. The only problem with it is that the original terms still apply if you still decide to cancel.
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Just come back from L.A Airports both sides, 100% masks worn, and of course on the plane 100%
California have dropped mask wearing as a mandate, but the likes of Transport (Metro) and Universal Theme Park, Warner Bros tour, still require masks indoors, no mask, no entry ! 100% enforced.
California have dropped mask wearing as a mandate, but the likes of Transport (Metro) and Universal Theme Park, Warner Bros tour, still require masks indoors, no mask, no entry ! 100% enforced.
LA dropped the mask mandate two days ago.
I was at USH yesterday and they are only required indoors for unvaccinated people. That said I was encouraged once to wear one on one occasion before boarding an attraction (by a team member who was either misinformed, or mask obsessed) and I decided against arguing.
I was on the Surfliner and mask use/enforcement seemed very weak to me. I didn’t wear one for most of my journey.
Vaccine passports are still rigorously enforced, which is extra pointless in the US as they have no way of verifying.
Personal opinion only, as someone who regularly visits Greece.
I would expect it would be dropped. They do not want to suffer a third bad tourist season and I suspect will do all they can to attract tourists. In 2020 and 2021 the lockdowns ended around Easter (which is later than ours as it's Orthodox, sometimes in May) so I would expect the current restrictions to end then.
Obviously I do not know this for certain, but Greece has significant economic problems and I suspect will not want to make them worse. However I do not accept responsibility if I am completely wrong and restrictions continue.
More generally, with all that is going on in Ukraine I suspect more countries will see the restrictions as increasingly pointless in the scheme of things, and will quietly drop them.
Yes, indoors at Universal, the staff that were at the Metro Stn, were tackling people for masks, and the airport was strict too (and airport shuttle)
USH did say to us, the overall mandate had been dropped, but they were keeping it for the time being (that was on 23rd)
Now vaccine passports, they did seem a bit all over the place, not one place we eat at, asked for one, the Hotel did not want one for check in, but did if we wanted to eat a meal there.
Universal: Checked Passport, I.D AND Negative test, (VIP tour), we left the Park later had the arms stamped, and of course had the entry lanyard /ticket etc, when we came back later, they demanded to se the 'passport' again, even though they must have known we had shown it earlier by our tickets ! when we did a 2nd visit 2 days later......no checks whatsoever on anything, although indoor attractions still wanted said masks worn.
We were looking at New York over Easter. Disappointed to see that indoor activities are closed off for children between 5 and 11 unless they are double jabbed.
Given that in the UK they are only just offering single jabs to this age group then - even if we were going to give our 8 year old the jab - this puts a stop on the trip. I believe that New York is the only place in the States which is mandating this .
Given that in the UK they are only just offering single jabs to this age group then - even if we were going to give our 8 year old the jab - this puts a stop on the trip. I believe that New York is the only place in the States which is mandating this .
bengley
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Ludicrous
This requirement is due to be removed March 7th according to https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/0...s-cases-vaccine#new-york-mask-mandate-schools
Tesco and Dunnes Stores, the two major Irish supermarkets have removed all mandatory mask related signage, and have not replaced it with any form of signage encouraging masks to be worn. This is in stark contrast to Northern Ireland, where Tesco have switched to the same signage as in England, and Dunnes Stores never removed their mandatory mask signage.
More generally, the only mask related signage remaining in my local town is in some but not all pharmacies, businesses which do not open on Mondays, and businesses which are generally terrible at taking signage down.
Around 40% of staff and 60% of customers on average are continuing to wear masks (and 0% in many businesses), with an even spread across genders and ages, which is much better than in Northern Ireland on the day the requirement was lifted there.
The absolute polar opposite of what I expected, I must admit.
There does seem to be an unusual trend, where in countries which went straight from "masks mandatory" to "no manage or advice", only a very small percentage of people now voluntarily wear masks.
This is in stark contrast to the likes of England, where masks have become a politicised issue, with numerous hardline scientists (many of whom of course have no virus/pandemic related credentials) decrying the scrapping of the mandate. And hence wearing a mask is seen by some as a way of indicating that they "know it's not over" etc.
I agree; I think a significant number are wearing masks for the sole reason that our government is loathed (beyond any rational degree) by a significant number of people, and Boris Johnson told them they no longer had to.
In Disneyland Anaheim, where masks have not been mandatory indoors for a few weeks and all other mitigations removed, you would have to look closely to spot anything different from 2019. Masks are worn (even indoors) by (at most) 5-10% of visitors, and by 100% of cast members (employees).
I think it’s a disgrace that workers are pressured by their employers into wearing masks, especially where their customers don’t; but unfortunately unions appear to remain strongly pro mask and therefore unwilling to stand up for their rights.
Butts
Veteran Member
Does that include at Airports ?
Yes, although airports may keep mask mandates as a matter of policy (as in England). There is no apparent indication on any of the major airports' websites or social media feeds of whether or not they are continuing to require masks.
Butts
Veteran Member
I was at three Airports over the weekend on an aborted trip to Dusseldorf.
Edinburgh & Heathrow almost 100% compliance.
Birmingham 50% - if that outwith Security.
One up to the Brummies !!!
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