THESE ARE TESTING TIMES

IT is still unclear when we will be able to travel from Scotland to overseas holiday destinations, However, it is reasonable to hazard a guess that once we can travel again there will be rules regarding tests and jabs.

■ COVID tests with a negative result, taken 72 hours before travel, will almost certainly be required for all those returning to the UK. Such tests are also likely to be needed before visiting most countries.

■ BOTH these requirements are probable whether you have been vaccinated or not. It is still early days on international agreement on ‘vaccine passports’.

■ YOU cannot go through the NHS for Covid tests for travel abroad. Instead, you must buy a test, which will cost from around £100 to more than £200.

■ FOR almost all countries you will need a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test. Some will allow antigen tests.

■ CHECK the rules of the country you are visiting on the ‘entry requirements’ section at gov.uk. Crosscheck with the country’s tourist website.

■ TO PURCHASE a test, try Boots (boots. com/covid-19-testing) or Superdrug in conjunction with Melio Health (meliohealth.co.uk/products). Boots tests cost £120, with results in 48 hours. Superdrug tests cost £149, with results in two to three working days. In Turkey, the cost of a test is about £25. Why can’t it be that cheap for us?

■ PLENTY of private clinics offer tests, but make sure that whichever one you use is approved by the UK Accreditation Service.

■ TESTS take about 15 minutes. Make sure that a ‘fit to fly’ certificate is included in the price.

■ WHEN returning to the UK, tour operators and travel agents should be able to help with booking tests 72 hours prior to travel.

■ IF YOU are travelling with stopovers on a long journey, you should get a test within three days of your final departure point to the UK.

■ FOR details on return requirements, see ‘Coronavirus testing before you return to England’ at gov.uk or the equivalent pages at gov.wales, gov.scot and nidirect.gov.uk.