SHARE
COPY LINK
For members

TRAVEL

UPDATED: How to book that ‘Day Two’ Covid-19 test if you’re travelling from Denmark to the UK

The UK government has published its list of 'cheaper Covid travel tests' for arrivals into the UK from countries including Denmark. But don't get too excited.

Arriving passengers at Heathrow Airport in June 2021. The UK's 'Day 2' Covid-19 test requirement switches from PCR to antigen tests on October 24th.
Arriving passengers at Heathrow Airport in June 2021. The UK's 'Day 2' Covid-19 test requirement switches from PCR to antigen tests on October 24th. Photo: Hannah Mckay/Reuters/Ritzau Scanpix

The UK government has relaxed travel rules for arrivals from the EU — but there are still restrictions and testing requirements in place. The testing rules are also set to change.

At the beginning of October, the UK government scrapped its amber list and switched to only green or red – all European countries are on the green list.

For countries like Denmark who were on the green list under the old system, the rules remain the same for fully vaccinated arrivals but have become more strict for those who are not vaccinated.

Under the current rules, fully vaccinated arrivals from Denmark no longer need to take a pre-departure Covid test.

Travellers do, however, still need ‘Day 2’ tests on arrival – but from October 24th these can be antigen tests (known in the UK as lateral flow tests) rather than PCR tests- The new tests went on sale on Friday, October 22nd.

When do I need to book my “Day Two” test? What has changed about the test type?

You need to include proof that you have booked a “Day Two” Covid-19 test on the passenger locator form. All passengers, including children over the age of 5, have to take a test on or before ‘Day Two’ after their arrival in England. Anyone who fails to take this Day Two test faces a fine of up to £2,000.

The passenger locator form, required for all arrivals into England, cannot be completed without a reference number from a test, booked through one of the UK government’s approved list of suppliers.

And, yes, even if your stay is a short one, before you travel you will need to book and pay for tests for Day Two and – if required because you’re not fully vaccinated at the time of travel – Day Eight.

Until now, the Day 2 test were required to be PCR tests, but this switches on October 24th to rapid tests which can be done at home — known in the UK as lateral flow tests.

Travellers have been complaining for months about the extortionate prices and terrible service afforded by the Day 2 testing system, and the switch to lateral flow tests should make these cheaper – in theory.

You do still, however, have to use a test provider from the list of approved government suppliers and the test must be booked and paid for before you leave Denmark.

While broadly similar, Covid-19 travel, quarantine and testing rules are slightly different if you’re heading to ScotlandWales, or Northern Ireland

Since the beginning of October, fully vaccinated arrivals do not need to take a test in Denmark and show it before boarding their flight (or train or ferry). 

People who are not vaccinated (or who do not meet the UK government definition of vaccinated) will have to quarantine for 10 days on arrival, this can be done at a private home and you do not need to go to a hotel. In addition, they will have to book and pay for both a Day 2 test and a Day 8 test before leaving.

How to book a test? 

Tests must be booked from a company on the government’s list of test providers in England and Northern Ireland here. It should be noted that until October 24th, this test should still be a PCR test. From October 24th, the Day 2 test becomes a lateral flow test. This is a test you do at home with no need to send the sample to a lab.

However, this must still be booked in advance and from one of the approved government suppliers.

The UK government published its updated list including lateral flow tests on Friday, October 22nd and initially this looked good, with several tests listed at £20 or under.

However when we tried to book one on Friday lunchtime, none of the sites listing tests at or around £20 were actually selling them at that price – some sites said they had no tests available, while others only listed options to purchase the considerably more expensive PCR tests.

It remains unclear whether this will change in the days to come.

The new system should, however, eliminate the earlier problem of long waits for results.

An inconvenient aspect of the system is that you also have to book individually for each passenger that requires a test.

Compare this to Denmark, where free rapid tests are offered on arrival at airports, with a fresh negative result given to travellers before they get to border control, and where tests are then available to travellers for free at drop-in centres across Denmark. 

For anyone used to the efficient testing system in Denmark, the UK set up will appear completely bonkers.

When do you need to take the “day two” PCR test? 

For test and quarantine purposes, the day of arrival is counted as Day Zero. The following day is Day One, the day after that Day Two, and so on, so “Day Two” is in fact what many people might consider “Day Three”. 

Short stays

So, what if you’re staying in the UK for less than two days? You still need the Day 2 test, because the passenger locator form cannot be completed without the booking reference, and you cannot enter England without the form.

So you must pay for a test even if you will no longer be in England when the time comes to use it.

Fully vaccinated

Also be aware that the UK government’s definition of ‘fully vaccinated’ is not the same as Denmark’s.

You need to have been vaccinated with a UK approved vaccine – Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca or Johnson & Johnson – and be at least 14 days from your final dose.

After much confusion, the UK has finally agreed to recognise as vaccinated people who had a ‘mixed dose’ – ie one AstraZeneca and one Pfizer.

Danish health authorities meanwhile recently warned of potential travel issues for people originally vaccinated with the Johnson & Johnson jab in Denmark who have since received a single Pfizer dose as a booster, a practice recently introduced in the country. This has potential implications for travel to the UK.

READ ALSO: Denmark warns Johnson & Johnson vaccinated over potential border refusals after booster

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

TRAVEL

Explore Austria: Mauer, a charming wine-hiking spot on Vienna’s outskirts

Catch the very tail-end of the wine season and autumn foliage in one of the lesser-explored corners of the Austrian capital: Mauer.

Explore Austria: Mauer, a charming wine-hiking spot on Vienna’s outskirts
Beautiful views and cosy taverns await you on the edge of Vienna. Photo: Catherine Edwards

Wine-hiking is an autumn must-do in Austria. There’s the official Wine Hiking Day (Weinwandertag) that usually draws in big crowds, but it’s also possible to follow the routes through beautiful scenery and wine taverns on your own.

Mauer in the southwest of Vienna is one of the routes that is mostly frequented by locals.


The footpath takes you through scenic vineyards. Photo: Catherine Edwards

You can reach this part of the 23rd district using Vienna’s public transport, and you have a few options. From the Hietzing station on the U4 line, you can take the tramline 60 or bus 56A. The former will take you either to Mauer’s central square or you can get off earlier at Franz-Asenbauer-Gasse to start the hike. If it’s too early in the day for wine just yet, you could start your day at the small and charming Designo cafe (Geßlgasse 6).

Otherwise, the residential area itself doesn’t have much to see, but keep an eye out as you wander between the taverns later — there are some beautiful buildings.

To start the hike, head west along Franz-Asenbauer Gasse, which will take you up into the vineyards, growing some red wine and Vienna’s specialty Gemischter Satz or ‘field blend’, which as the name suggests is a mixture of different types of grapes.

Photo: Catherine Edwards

The paved road takes a left turn, but the hiking route follows a smaller path further upwards. Here you’ll have magnificent views over the whole of Vienna.

If you stick to the official hiking route (see a map from Weinwandern here) you can keep the whole route under 5 kilometres. But more adventurous types don’t need to feel limited.

You can also follow the Stadtwanderweg 6 route (see a map here) either in full, which will add on a hefty 13 kilometres, or just in part, and venture further into the Mauerwald. If you do this, one spot to aim for is the Schießstätte, a former hunting lodge offering hearty Austrian meals.

EXPLORE AUSTRIA

In any case, you should definitely take a small detour to see the Wotrubakirche, an example of brutalist architecture from the mid-1970s built on a site that was used as a barracks during the Second World War.

Not far from the church is the Pappelteich, a small pond that is not only an important habitat for local flora and fauna, but a popular picnic spot for hikers. Its only water supply is from the rain, and due to climate change the pond has almost dried out in recent years, prompting the city to take action to boost its water supply by adding a permanent pipe.


The church is made up of over 150 concrete blocks. Photo: Catherine Edwards

What you really come to Mauer for, though, are the Heuriger or Viennese wine taverns. 

The most well-known is Edlmoser (Maurer Lange Gasse 123) which has previously been named as the best in Vienna. Note that it’s not open all year so check the website, but in 2021 it should be open between November 5th and 21st, and is also serving the goose that is a popular feature on Viennese menus this time of year.

Tip for translating Heuriger opening times: look for the word ausg’steckt, which is used by those taverns which aren’t open year round. They will also often show that they’re open by attaching a bunch of green twigs to the sign or front door.


Buschenschank Grausenburger. Photo: Catherine Edwards

Also worth visiting are cosy Buschenschank Grausenburger (Maurer Lange Gasse 101a), Heuriger Wiltschko (Wittgensteinstrasse 143 — located near the start of the hiking route, this is a good place to begin your tour) and Heuriger Fuchs-Steinklammer (Jesuitensteig 28).

SHOW COMMENTS