Five days ago the Health Secretary announced the introduction of pre-departure Covid tests for returning travellers. Even fully vaccinated travellers now have to take a test before arriving in the UK. It’s a huge blow to consumer confidence in travel but also a pretty heft hit to our confidence in the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps. Just 48 hours earlier, he had told the Telegraph that such testing wasn’t going to happen. It would undermine the industry, he said, claiming that the Government did not want to “kill off the travel sector without knowing that you need to.”

Clearly Mr Shapps is so completely out of the loop that we must remember to take his future pronouncements with a barrel full of salt. But he is absolutely right that pre-departure testing is a major psychological problem for travellers.

Why pre-departure testing is so stressful and how to cope with it

The stress comes because the consequences of a positive test are so serious. Not just because it means you have Covid, but because you will almost certainly be stuck abroad for at least an extra 10 days, depending on local rules and how long it takes to get a negative result. Even if you don’t have to be admitted to hospital, you face the expense and organisational challenge of finding somewhere to self-isolate – and cater for yourself – while you may be knocked sideways by the infection. 

There is not much you can do about the testing issue – you have to take one and live with the risk and the consequences. If you do test positive, however, forewarned is forearmed. Here’s what to do if your test returns a positive result, whether abroad or in the UK.

What should I do if I feel unwell on holiday?

The best thing is to travel with some lateral flow tests so that you quickly determine if it might be Covid. If it is, see below. If you don’t have your own test kit with you, it is normally straightforward to arrange a test locally. There is further advice at Public Health England’s TravelHealthPro (travelhealthpro.org.uk) site.

What if I test positive while abroad?

If any test shows up positive while you are away, you will obviously have to delay your return to the UK and will immediately fall under the rules and requirements which apply where you are staying. Assuming you don’t need hospital care, you will have to self-isolate and different countries vary – even different regions – have different rules. If you are travelling with a tour operator, it has a duty to help you comply with these and help organise alternative accommodation – though it isn’t obliged to cover the costs.

If you are travelling independently, your hotel should help you understand the rules and, perhaps, find alternative accommodation if it can’t continue to host you. If you aren’t staying in a hotel, you will have to sort things out for yourself. Government advice on what to do, given on gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice and travelhealthpro.org.uk, may help.

For Spain, for example, the link gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain explains that you must self-isolate in your accommodation and call a helpline for advice (the numbers and full details are given at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/spain/coronavirus).

The cost of such arrangements vary hugely, so it’s a key point to consider when choosing a travel insurance policy – see below.

What sort of quarantine do I face if I test positive?

Isolation programmes vary greatly around the world. Some countries require you to stay in your current accommodation at your own expense, while others ask that you move to a government facility, paid for by the state. Meanwhile, newly reopened Thailand transfers all positive cases to hospital, regardless of symptoms. Check the Foreign Office [gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice] page of the relevant country before travelling for more information. 

What if I have contact with a case while abroad?

TravelHealthPro says: “If you have been in contact with a known Covid-19 case, follow relevant public health advice (if available), and speak to your healthcare provider or travel insurance company as soon as possible for further guidance. If you are required to quarantine or self-isolate by local authorities, you should expect to do so in the country you are in.”

What if I catch Covid on holiday in the UK?

VisitEngland, the English tourist board, has issued guidance on what to do if you fall ill on a domestic holiday and warns that an accommodation provider can refuse your stay if you are showing Covid symptoms. 

It says: “Have a plan in case you get ill while away – especially if you are travelling on public transport and need to get home quickly.

“If you develop symptoms whilst on holiday, please arrange a test using your holiday address. You must notify your accommodation provider immediately. If you are staying or travelling with others, they must also self-isolate and take appropriate action based on your test result.

“[If you test positive] If you feel well enough to travel, you should return home as quickly and directly as you can, using private transport.”

It advises the following: 

• It is important that you do not use public transport.
• Test results are issued by text or email so if you feel unwell, you do not need to wait for your results, but you must return home the most direct way, by private transport.
• If you feel so unwell that you cannot travel, or if you cannot avoid using public transport, you should continue to self-isolate (including those travelling with you) and call 111 for further advice.
• Accommodation providers are not obliged to provide self-isolating facilities so you will be liable for any additional costs incurred.

Will travel insurance cover any isolation costs?

Most will cover you for medical treatment if you fall ill with Covid while abroad, but the cost of accommodation for self-isolation is a different question. The TravelPlus policy from PJ Hayman (pjhayman.com) covers any extra transport and accommodation (up to a similar standard to your original booking) if it is medically necessary for you to extend your stay after the date you were going to return to your home. With a maximum amount of £2,000 per insured person if you have to extend your trip because you have tested positive for Covid. AllClear (allcleartravel.co.uk), Staysure (staysure.co.uk) and Campbell Irvine (campbellirvinedirect.com) also offer cover for this.

Reader Service: It’s more important than ever to have holiday cancellation insurance. Learn how to get the right travel cover before you go.