Will British Travellers to France Pose as Lorry Drivers to Avoid PCR Test Bill?

A reader has drawn attention to the likelihood of some people posing as lorry drivers to avoid paying hefty PCR test fees.

According to the Government’s website, lorry drivers and hauliers can now get tested while on the road.

This means that they can travel from services to services between drops and get tested according to the following rules.

When to get tested

You will need to take at least three tests, if you will be staying in England for 10 days or longer.

You must take the first test within two days of your arrival. The day of your arrival is counted as day zero.

You must take the second test three days after your first test and the third test three days after your second test.

So if your first test is on day one, your second test will be on day four and your third test on day seven.

If your first test is on day two, your second test will be day five and your third test on day eight.

Apparently, these tests are free.

I wonder what will happen if they put France on the “red list”, as Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden seems to be considering… I suspect if you are a haulier you will still be able to come in from France – otherwise, where will all the food come from?

As has been seen from a previous LS post where the author set up a “removals” company and went skiing, one thinks this could be open to abuse.

I live five minutes away from the 24 hours South Mimms testing centre – I do wonder what is to stop me from getting free tests. Also, I wonder if van rentals will start popping up as members of the public suddenly become hauliers to find a reasonable excuse to go abroad!

Stop Press: In England, Lloyds Pharmacy is cutting costs for PCR tests to the bone by undercutting Boots by (wait for it!) £1! Its now only £119 per test with them, which means the cost of the PCR tests you’ll need to go on a trip to France has been slashed from £360 to £357. Bon voyage!

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21 Comments
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awildgoose
5 years ago

Sand in the gears, sand in the gears.

RickH
5 years ago

I must admit I’m wavering.

The Covid Crap has now reached such a level of insane absurdity that those devising it can’t be capable of intentional conspiratorial behaviour. It is so f.ing stupid in all its aspects that only totally incompetent morons would come up with it. Surely?

Mind you – it also becomes more difficult to defend the suckers who fall for it.

I think I’ll become a fictional ‘Nigerian’ who needs a short term loan – the proceeds should allow me to buy a private island away from the shit-show, given the vast available pool of gullibility.

karenovirus
5 years ago
Reply to  RickH

I’m surprised there was not more reaction to the announcement that going abroad to attend to the sale of a property or the ‘upkeep’ of a rented property was allowed since that gives carte blanche to anybody with a second home abroad to travel at will.

RickH
5 years ago
Reply to  karenovirus

I have given up trying to find ant consistency …. except on that one, it’s an exception that will suit the circle of mates, won’t it?

Again – confirmation of the synthetic, stupid and self-serving all rolled into one.

10navigator
10navigator
5 years ago
Reply to  karenovirus

Here on the Costas, estate agents are sending out ‘viewing’ appointments for properties at the ‘prospective buyers’ request. Plenty of (thus far) non-Brits are availing themselves of the wheeze to travel here.

iane
iane
5 years ago
Reply to  RickH

Yes indeed – I always wondered how anyone (other than Bozo and Hangcock, and a few of their colleagues, of course) could fall for any of the scams to which I am frequently exposed!

karenovirus
5 years ago

We don’t get many ‘out & about’ reports these days but, according to my weather app, this evening is set to be sunny and warm until gone 8pm.
I would urge fellow sceptics to head out to their local park or public open space to see to what extent people are obeying the latest clutch of pointless restrictions and to what extent the police are trying to uphold them.

No hugging/kissing.
Keep 2 metres apart
6 people maximum
Two households maximum.
No going inside anyone elses house.

I daresay there are others.

RickH
5 years ago
Reply to  karenovirus

My OH has been out and about and reports the countryside and parks brim-full, with little obvious heed being paid to the bollocks. Lots of traffic.

How are you doing, BTW?

BurlingtonBertie
5 years ago
Reply to  karenovirus

My rugby loving friend came round on Friday evening to watch the 6N France v Scotland match 🙂

steve_w
5 years ago

“Sophia Sleigh of the Evening Standard asks the PM if he can categorically rule out a full lockdown?
The PM says “yes but with at least two very important provisos“.”

ie No

iane
iane
5 years ago
Reply to  steve_w

Spot the ‘at least’ in case something else is needed!

arfurmo
arfurmo
5 years ago

Doesn’t matter -everything is free now -school meals, school LF tests, furlough .

epythymy
epythymy
5 years ago

Bbc currently reporting on the lighthouse labs. Finally catching up with lockdownsceptics circa October 2020

iane
iane
5 years ago
Reply to  epythymy

With, it seems to me, the implied idea that people are getting negative tests incorrectly!

dj
dj
5 years ago

I was about to “recklessly” follow the arrow to the test centre, until I thought “better not just dive in, need to confirm I’m allowed

Major Panic in the jabby jabbys

yeah but, no but yeah but – the free LFTs dont pass for over priced PCR tests

BJs Brain is Missing
5 years ago

If you don’t believe that vaccine passports have been in the pipeline for a while now, and despite official denial, just look at this… And from the EU website itself.

https://ec.europa.eu/health/sites/health/files/vaccination/docs/2019-2022_roadmap_en.pdf

dj
dj
5 years ago

Unfortunately it looks like I voted for the worlds only surviving brain donor!!

dj
dj
5 years ago

Hurrrrahhh…. I can sit in a garden. Thank you boss, I’m shaking the bush boss

Judy Watson
Judy Watson
5 years ago

Just so i have this straight in my mind.
If you are a European haulier you can come into the UK and presumably drive around and get your three PCR or LF tests for free?

So how come as a UK tax paying ex-pat who will be coming from outside a ‘red zone’ I have to pay for the privelege of two tests at the cost of 220quid.

As the whole of this sh1t show goes NOTHING makes sense.

GCarty80
GCarty80
5 years ago

During the first lockdown were there any politicians seriously arguing that we should use it as an opportunity to phase out accompanied truck-borne cross-Channel trade altogether, relying entirely on container ships or aircraft as Australia and NZ do?