Ladies, Gents,
Having booked a trip out to Spain over the Christmas break some weeks ago, a new regulation came in wherein a traveller would need to:
"On arrival, travellers entering Spain from the UK will not be required to self-isolate. However, from 23 November, all passengers (including children) travelling to Spanish airports and ports from ‘risk’ countries ..... [UK is currently on the list]........, as determined by the European Centre for Disease Prevention & Control will be required to present a negative PCR (swab) test taken within no more than 72 hours prior to arrival, in order to enter the country. "
The problem that I am faced with is in regards to the final sentence - the 72hrs prior to arrival [in Spain], though other factors also come into play which I will expand on.
Working backwards the test validity has a finite and limited window upon arrival in Spain. Meaning one has to allow for the flight duration, and guessing here too time zone before leaving. It also states that a test must be a PCR test - these tests, at current, are arduously long in the turn around time (if one can even get one I should add....). There is currently, from what I have read, no room for discussion on any other testing metric, meaning a PCR is the standard.
This all equates to a situation where there is high probability where having a test, sending this PCR off to the lab, gaining the result via courier services (granted this needs to be negative I dont shy away from), flying, and time zone differential all within a 72 hour window seems destined to fail - too many links in the chain and possibility of 'being lost in the post' or 'lost in the system' with sheer amounts of testing capacity required presently.
Has any kind folk experienced this, or going through the same rigmarole currently? If so HELP!
Mucho gracias