The rules to travel have been a moving target. Each time we travel it's a new set of rules and new experiences. The USA has few restrictions on outbound travelers, but does restrict inbound travelers from certain countries like the UK, Europe & Canada (currently prohibited, except for certain diplomatic reasons). However the UK has it's own restrictions on travelers from the US. These rules were updated in mid-July for holders of British passports so they no longer need to quarantine upon return from the USA, if they have been vaccinated. This may seem odd, since the USA still prohibits UK citizens from coming to the USA on holiday, but it does apply in certain narrow circumstances.
We carefully reviewed these new rules and didn't see any loop-holes for US citizens going to UK as the new "Freedom Day" rules of July 19th were published. This meant we would still need to do pre-departure tests, arrival tests and more tests while we were in quarantine. We kept waiting for a clarification on the rules for US passports, but as it got closer to our departure date, we had to bite the bullet and order the box-load of tests. This box of tests included monitored electronic at-home rapid antigen tests, and PCR tests that needed to be express mailed while we were in England. In all for the both of us, these tests kits cost as much as one of our overseas plane tickets and that did not include the Day 5 (early release tests).
Box of Testing Kits for Travel
To our joy, just two days before departure, we read news that UK had also dropped the requirement for travelers from USA with American Passports to quarantine, if they were fully vaccinated. For us, if it applied, would mean 10 extra days with our family and grandchildren and no isolation upon arrival!
Some of the tests were still required, but not all of them. So we ended up paying for some of the tests we no longer needed. We did need the pre-departure tests. These were a bit different than the other antigen tests we've used. The sensor strip was electronic, with it's own batteries and power switch that when activated connected to a special app on the phone via Bluetooth. This was to support the need for a monitored test that could be done at home with nearly instant results. All very convenient, in theory.
Electronic Rapid Antigen Test Sensor
In practice, it was all still pretty bleeding edge and not very well debugged. We had some trouble getting everything connected, but had a live video-chat with the support people to get it all worked out. It eventually operated as described with some very rough user-interface design and the hardest part was the long wait while the timer counted down the required fifteen minutes before the results would be displayed. If it said positive for either of us, we would need to reschedule the trip!
Now since we went with the testing provider that was partnered with the airline we were using, we expected to have the test data passed directly to the airline through the app or at least through a back-channel between the testing provider and the airline. But no, it's not so sophisticated. Instead the testing app displayed the test results and had a secure connection to allow a download of a PDF form confirming the (negative) test results. The airline's app had no way to upload the required testing results form from the phone. Even the airline's mobile website had no way to upload the required form to our reservation. Instead we had to email this form to ourselves and then use a regular PC to access our reservation and upload from there.
Of course they recommended that we print-out everything on paper and bring it to the airport with us, just to be sure. The airport experience is so different from what it was just a few months ago. At Seattle airport the security lines were long and slow and it took us 45 minutes to get through. The airport traffic was just like any typical summer travel season with domestic flights going full speed.
Departure Airport Security Lines
Since the rules for overseas travel were so new, the airport staff were still not fully trained or quite sure of what was needed for going where. We were told conflicting messages from the baggage check-in staff and the gate staff. The domestic portion of our flight (SEA-ATL) was 100% booked with every seat taken.
International Terminal at Atlanta Airport
When we got to Atlanta, we had to go to international terminal. The terminal was a busy place with flights going to all sorts of international destinations and most of them fairly full. I wouldn't say it was operating normally, but it was quite active. Lines were moving slower than normal and our flight was delayed a full hour because they required every passenger to check-in with the departure gate and show hard-copies of all the required documentation needed by their destination. "Show us your papers." was becoming a familiar phrase. Nearly everyone was carrying a folder or binder with all these documents.
The flight from Atlanta to London was long, but uneventful. At London Heathrow we flew through customs and passport control without delays. At no point in the USA or in UK did anyone ever ask us to present proof of our vaccination - yet this was stated as a necessary requirement to avoid the self-isolation requirements.
After arrival, we were again required to do a PCR Covid test on Day 2. We completed these tests at home and dropped them in the priority post box. It was a full 97 hours later that we got the results of these tests (negative). Again it as a bit nerve racking to wait so long to find out if we were going to be required to quarantine. But we passed the tests and have been busy exploring since.
After 22 hours of travel at London Heathrow Airport
1. We had pre-ordered our COVID tests before the new rules went into effect, so we were charged for the pre-departure, Day 2 and Day 8. If you're fully vaxxed in the US or UK, you no longer need the Day 5 or Day 8 tests, so make sure you get just what you need.
2. Our flights were cancelled and rebooked three times by the airline (Virgin & Delta)! The airlines schedules are quite unstable. We spent over 7 hours on the phone to handle the rebookings - have patience and be prepared for slow service.
3. The US airports are at typical summer capacity (very busy). We had to wait 45 minutes to get through security (SEA).
4. Any domestic (connecting) flight is going to be 100% booked. No empty seats and masks are still required all the time.
5. Our overseas flight was 80-90% full. This is so different than it was just last May when we flew with only 10% of the seats occupied or last November when the crew outnumbered the passengers. The First, business and economy+ sections will fill up first. The flight had a high load of business travelers and families with small children. (Again a more typical mix as if it was pre-pandemic, compared to the last 3 times we flew. )
6. On departure, they checked and rechecked all that we had all the required UK paperwork. Everyone had a full binder of everything needed. Be sure to print a boarding pass, they weren't taking the digital boarding pass, because they needed to write notes on the boarding pass with the paperwork inspection.
7. They NEVER asked nor requested any proof of vaccination. (You do make a declaration on the UK Locator form, but that's it.)
8. At LHR the passport control station went fairly fast, considering several full flights arrived at the same time (term 3 @ 9AM). I passed through the electronic checkpoint with no trouble and never had to speak with anyone. Becky's didn't read correctly, so they redirected her to the manned station, but it was no trouble. Again, there is no check on the UK side for any vaccination records, but I would recommend bringing your CDC form if you have it, just in case.
What a long strange trip we've been on. Normally we try to keep our posts short and upbeat. Sorry if this post is a bit of a downer, but like Blues music, it is meant as an expression of sad times. Sorry for my ranting and rambling or if it's a bit long. It is meant to be a multimedia experience, so be sure to take the time to enjoy the music, the video and external links.
Let's start with some Blues music written for these times by Van Morrison and performed by Eric Clapton.https://youtu.be/DirL4RI1448
It’s been nearly a year since we’ve been on some form of
lockdown or another and it's beginning to wear us down. It began last March when Governor Inslee banned
non-essential travel (whatever that is), along with the closing of all indoor dinning effectively closed down our
business. Do you remember "Two Weeks to Flatten the Curve"? Of course the 2-weeks stretched out to 4 weeks, then to six weeks and then months. Things started to loosen up in Washington by late last summer, but by then the damage
had been done and we closed our business at the end of September for good.
This latest lockdown has been more serious and intense.
Most all shops, restaurants and pubs are closed now as are all hotels, motels,
campsites, B&Bs, schools, churches, events, and most anyplace were humans
might gather. There are endless reminders across all media to “stay home”. We’re
frequently reading news stories about the fines issued to those who dare break
the lockdown by eating take-away food in their car, or drinking coffee while on a walk, or just gathering with another family for a birthday party.
Now the lockdowns have seriously destroyed the economy where ever they have been imposed. The more restrictive the lockdowns, the greater the impact on the economy - this should be obvious. Of course it is the small businesses that suffer the most, while the big corporate giants gain from the exclusive market. In UK, the economic impact has been the worst in over 300 years, making it worst than the great depression! (source). For anyone who has done any digging into the science behind lockdowns, they will quickly see that the lockdowns are not effective in controlling the virus, yet all they do is strengthen political power and control over society while destroying lives and the economy. Here is an article that summarizes thirty peer-reviewed, published scientific papers reaching the same conclusions. https://www.aier.org/article/lockdowns-do-not-control-the-coronavirus-the-evidence/
Deserted streets during lockdown in Cosham, UK
We also see first hand the impact on the children as they suffer from the closure of school and the denial of any ability to see or meet with friends. We've seen it in our own grandchildren at a park when they saw someone they recognized from school. The reaction was as if they had been locked in a cave for years and were suddenly released and came across a familiar face. Our grandson spotted a classmate from a distance at the park and just stared at him for some time. Then finally, from across the park he gained enough courage to call out: "Hey, are you Joshua?" Experts recognize this harm being done to school kids of all ages. In England they have a formal position of a children's ombudsman. He recently said:
"My biggest problem is the regression of children across the board. The impact on their self confidence, their ability to trust the system and the adults that run that system.
"There could be a serious backlash in relation to that in the future, it's hard to predict what that will be, but I certainly think the children, the young people of this generation are going to have a real serious look at how we dealt with it as adults, how our systems supported them and provided the support they need. And I think they're going to look into that and say we failed."
Another unintended consequence of the UK lockdown has led to an outbreak of something called "Fly-Tipping". This is because the lockdown orders have placed limits on visiting the public dump to at most once per week, per household. (Fly Tipping is an English term for illegal dumping or gross littering.) During this lockdown, private contractors have been allowed to continue their business. Many of these home re-modelers are required by the council rules to remove rubbish daily from any worksite. Yet, at the same time, they are prohibited from taking it to the dump any more frequently than once per week. So what do you suppose is going to happen? Huge piles of rubbish and construction debris are being dumped along roadways, in parks and nature areas illegally. We've seen some of this around ant it looks really awful.
All this stress and anxiety builds until it becomes Lockdown Fatigue. This condition has starting gaining attention with the news and psychologists. Here's a short video on the subject that was recently in the news. https://youtu.be/mVlzPtXj1AI
Why is this lockdown so different?
As we walk around in our confined space and routines, we see signs on the few shops that remain open like grocery
stores that say only one person per family is allowed in at a time. These rules have lost all sense of reality as
they don’t actually limit occupancy. Everyone who wants to shop with a partner, still finds a way around the rules so the
rules simply add to the stress of shoppers.
So now when we got to the grocery store they only want one shopper per household. They have bouncers at the doors trying to enforce this but it doesn't really work for us. We try and do our grocery shopping once a week. We don't have a car so we walk and we have to carry everything we buy home. It is impossible for one person to carry everything by themselves. So now we enter the store separately, shop at a distance but then pay and bag our stuff together. I mean really, what can they say. We have been rebuked a few times but we try to just smile and look innocent.
Recently we had to have some notary work done by a
solicitor. The solicitor’s office was closed due to the lock-down, but we found
one that was willing to do a “drive-through” notary service. Where they asked us
to park in their parking lot and wait with masks on for the notary to come to
our car. Without getting out of the car, we signed papers and handed them over.
The notary goes back inside with the papers and returns them a few minutes
later with the required seal.This process
cost us $200, for something that would typically be a free service at the bank back home.
Another way they restrict travel is by the closure of all public toilets and forcing key businesses to keep their customer toilets closed. On one occasion where we were shopping at one of the
(essential) big-box hardware stores for some items to refurbish our flat, Becky
needed the toilet.But of course because
of COVID, all the public toilets are closed, even those normally available to
customers in private businesses. So we’re
half an hour from home and there is no place to use a restroom. We are forced
to cut our shopping trip short and go straight home.I can’t imagine the difficulty that parents
with small children must face in that situation.
One day while walking home from the grandkids house, we
decided to pick up a burger at the McD’s that we walk past every day.They have been doing a booming business with
the drive through and we haven’t had a burger since we’ve been here. We walked
up to the shop and found that the main entrance and lobby were closed and only
the drive-through was open.Restaurants
are permitted to be open for take-away food only during this lockdown, so we
were quite surprised by the choice that McDonalds had made.
Instead we walked up a block and went to
another little coffee shop/bakery that is selling take-away sandwiches at lunch
time. They had a sign out front restricting entrance to one person per
family.So I went in with Becky’s order
and found that they were sold-out of the sandwich she wanted.So there I am, inside the coffee shop,
shouting out the door to Becky, who’s waiting on the sidewalk out front: “He
they don’t have the chicken-bacon sandwich, what do you want instead?”B: “What do they have?”Me:“Only
something they call a Cajun chicken sandwich, or BLT”.And so because she had to remain outside we had to adjust the order based on what they had
available by shouting back and forth. It
seems comical, thinking back but at the time was quite stressful.
The music industry and all performing artists have also been hurt dramatically by the lockdown. One musician who has been writing a number of songs about this in protest has been Van Morison. You may remember him from some of his hits like Brown Eyed Girl (1967), or Moondance (1970). Yes, he's still busy writing music which he continues to perform along with others. Here's another one of his recent works. The one is called No More Lockdowns, performed by Van Morrison. https://youtu.be/K45rNKfBmUY
To end this post on a more upbeat note, some people have been using creative skills to fight the lockdown-fatigue. This video was posted by a talented family who has made a great parody video about the lockdown. Have a watch: https://youtu.be/vYmSAMcwXA8
