King's Pharmacy
How to End your Isolation Early with Test to Release
COVID-19 has burdened each of our lives over the past 18-months. However, with life now slowly returning to normal and travel being resumed, this summer has seen a vast number of people travelling across the globe, using the regulations on the government website. However, we understand that a ten-day quarantine period may not be feasible. That’s why the Test to Release scheme was proposed as a way to reduce the potential amount of time quarantining for those who are not infected. The Test to Release scheme is applicable to those who have travelled to a country or territory on the amber list, and can reduce the time required to quarantine from ten days to five days, if the test comes back negative.
Updated 6/12/21
What is the Test to Release Scheme?
Under this scheme, you can opt to pay for a private COVID-19 test on day five of your quarantine if booked prior to your return to England, as information of this test must be entered in your passenger locator form. A private test provider will have to be paid for each individual test required, including children of all ages who opt into the Test to Release scheme. Testing can either be done at home, with a test kit being sent to your home address, or you can attend a testing site.
The government website details that even though you are quarantining, you are permitted to leave your home to either post your completed test or to travel directly to and from the testing site. If you choose not to take part in this voluntary scheme, you will be required to quarantine for the full ten days following your arrival in England. It is important to note that even if you participate in the scheme, your day 8 test will still be mandatory.
How to get your Test to Release in Birmingham
If you live in the West Midlands, Kings Pharmacy is now offering home testing kits for COVID-19 PCR testing in Birmingham and the surrounding areas. Said testing is necessary for travelling, as well as being eligible for the Test to Release scheme. The test will tell you if you are infected when taking your sample, and your results will be available online within 24 hours from the date the sample reaches the lab. We also offer the necessary day 2 and 8 tests required on your return to the UK from abroad. If you are fully vaccinated, you must take a day 2 test and isolate until you get a negative result on day 2. However if you are not fully vaccinated, you must take both tests. You are also required to isolate for the full 10 days, regardless of your results.
Regardless of your vaccination status, you must also take a PCR test before you return to the UK. Also, if you come into contact with a suspected or confirmed Omicron case, you must isolate for 10 days regardless of your results or vaccination status.
You can find out further information about day 2 & 8 tests we offer here, as well as current red list regulations:
Day 2 & 8 Testing Day 2 PCR & Fit to Fly Antigen Tests Current Regulations
To purchase a PCR test, you can simply visit us in Birmingham and get a self-test kit prior to your travels. The kit needs to be registered online and the sample taken in accordance with the instructions provided. You can take the test from the comfort of your own home and post the sample using the provided guaranteed next day postage supplied.
Don’t get caught out – visit us and get your Test to Release in Birmingham cut your isolation short!
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