Scramble to find Covid tests for flights home could leave Brits stuck in Portugal

Posted By : Telegraf
6 Min Read

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A British family faced the unenviable task of trying to find Covid tests so they could get back home before Portugal’s coronavirus status is changed to amber.

At 4am on Tuesday Portugal will change from a green listed country to amber which means returning holidaymakers will have to self-isolate at home for 10 days.

The southern Mediterranean country was one of only a handful of destinations that was deemed safe for Brits to travel to and return without quarantine when the Government released the travel traffic light list on May 17.l.

Such is the demand to return before the Tuesday deadline that flight prices have sky rocketed and one family has spoken of the scramble to find Covid tests, which must be used to confirm a negative Covid test to be permitted on a flight home.



Scramble to find Covid tests for flights home could leave Brits stuck in Portugal
A family have spoken of their struggle to find Covid tests

Property developer Simon Smith from Stamford, Lincolnshire, was in Lagos with his wife and two young children, reports The Sun.

Despite trips to five different medical centres and the region’s main general hospital the family were unable to get tested.

The family were due to fly back at the weekend but resigned themselves to the possibility it may not happen.

“There were about 35 people in the queue, all British, and they told us, ‘the first 15 are okay, but the rest of you might as well go home because we don’t have enough tests’,” he told PA.

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Many Brits have chosen to cut their trip short
Many Brits have chosen to cut their trip short



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The family were told that a small amount of tests would be available at the airport so made plans to arrive five hours early.

“I have meetings on Friday, I can’t afford 10 days’ quarantine, it is a joke,” he said.

A seat on a Ryanair flight from the capital Lisbon to Manchester on Monday costs £339, whereas travel on the same route is available for just £75 on Wednesday.



Portugal moves from Green to Amber travel status on Tuesday
Portugal moves from Green to Amber travel status on Tuesday

British Airways is charging £348 for flights from Faro to London Heathrow on Sunday and Monday, but the price drops to £137 on Tuesday.

EasyJet is operating larger aircraft and more flights to bring people back to the UK while British Airways has also increased its schedule.



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