PCR tests required for incoming travellers from 'high-risk countries': A convenient alternative to quarantine

TRAVELLERS to Spain from countries with a recent high incidence of Covid-19 will be required to show a negative PCR test result at the airport – a new move to keep the nation safe from outside contagion without having to place restrictions on visitors.

Although the UK is still one of the countries that requires anyone arriving from Spain, including British residents who have been on holiday there, to quarantine for 14 days – even with a negative PCR – Spain has opted to go down the testing route instead.

Having to quarantine effectively prevents tourism altogether, since it is extra time that a traveller has to take off work as annual leave, unless he or she already works from home, and is also extremely inconvenient as it stops them from carrying out essential errands, like grocery shopping.

But a PCR test showing a visitor or returner does not have the virus is a better guarantee – even after a completely symptom-free quarantine period, the traveller may still be Covid-positive, but asymptomatic and able to pass it onto others, yet if they are known not to have the virus at all, they cannot infect anyone else.

Already, some countries, such as Malta, are requesting travellers from Spain and various other nations take a PCR test no more than 72 hours before arrival, and have the results to hand either in digital or paper format.

Spain has also set the 72-hour criteria, to allow time for results to filter through – any less and the traveller may end up having to cancel a flight if a delay in their reception crops up.

Although it is quite feasible for a person to be tested and then catch the virus before the results arrive, it is recommended that anyone planning to travel makes arrangements to stay as isolated as possible between testing and flying, if they can.

A PCR test takes under a minute, and results are typically sent by email within 24 to 36 hours.

The process is unpleasant, as the swab has to be inserted some considerable distance up the person's nasal passage, but is only in place for 20 seconds, meaning the sensation stops just before it starts to become unbearable – and, in any case, is very worthwhile, since 20 seconds of pain is far less traumatic than the virus itself and far less inconvenient than being unable to travel.

PCR test requirements for entering Spain do not apply to land borders, only to those travelling by sea or air, which means anyone who lives in Portugal, France, Andorra or Gibraltar and works in Spain, or the other way around, will not have to obtain one for their daily commute – neither will anyone living in the north African enclaves of Ceuta or Melilla and working in Morocco, or vice versa, have to do so.

They will become compulsory from November 23, and anyone who cannot present a negative result upon arrival will be fined and have to undertake a test there and then.

It is not clear how much the fine will be, but it is unlikely to be an economically-viable option to decide to pay the fine and have the test on arrival rather than to pay for it at the point of departure.

The tests are not compulsory for visitors from every single country – only those considered to be 'high risk' at the time of travel.

For EU member States, these are countries coloured 'red' on the European 'traffic-light' map, which indicate they have an accumulated contagion incidence of 25 to 150 cases in two weeks or a 'positivity' rate of 4%.

In the case of third countries – it has not been confirmed whether this applies to the UK, or will do so after the end of the Brexit transition on January 1 – 'high-risk countries' will be considered those deemed as such by World Health Organisation (WHO) criteria.

PCR tests are only free of charge at the point of use for those who either have symptoms compatible with Covid-19 or are summoned for screening as a result of having been in close contact with a known positive.

But private clinics everywhere are offering them, at varying prices, and a local provider can be found easily through an online search.

The debate is still in full flood about whether Spain will offer them at high-street pharmacies – this is not yet the case, but the pressure is on.

A petition has been launched on Change.org by a qualified pharmaceutical technician who says that the fact high-street chemists' far outnumber GP and hospital resources and can be visited immediately and without appointment means over-the-counter on-site testing would drastically relieve pressure on State medical services.