Corona Virus: How Are We Doing?

[classic33]

Thanks @classic33. I believe the printed versions are only valid for four weeks. It seems you are totally stuffed if you are abroad for longer. I really don't want to be enslaved by a smart phone.

Someone at the local library, yesterday, was getting the paperwork for a trip to Thailand printed off.
Return was covered by a lateral flow test, before boarding the plane coming back and another when arrives back.
Twenty-two sheets in total.

 

[ColinJ]

AND I still have cold like symptoms, sneezing and a runny nose, headaches, regular dizziness. It's not being as quick to shift as I expected it would be.

Aargh - that's how I have been feeling... LF test for me when I get up!

 

[slowmotion]

Someone at the local library, yesterday, was getting the paperwork for a trip to Thailand printed off.
Return was covered by a lateral flow test, before boarding the plane coming back and another when arrives back.
Twenty-two sheets in total.

Lugging twenty two sheets of bumf around the world seems a small price to pay to avoid having a piece of annoying technology jammed in your ear 24/7 for the rest of your life.

 

[ColinJ]

Lugging twenty two sheets of bumf around the world seems a small price to pay to avoid having a piece of annoying technology jammed in your ear 24/7 for the rest of your life.

I was aghast when my mum bought me my first ('dumb') mobile phone, but eventually I got used to the idea and eventually bought a smartphone. I'm the boss though... I typically only send about 1 text every 2 days and make two or three calls a week. I use less than 0.1 GB of mobile data in a typical month. That is just checking weather forecasts, train delays, things like that.

Heavy use of a smartphone though - yes, I know what you mean!

 

[PK99]

Lugging twenty two sheets of bumf around the world seems a small price to pay to avoid having a piece of annoying technology jammed in your ear 24/7 for the rest of your life.

I've got a small portable computer in my pocket, that I use for e-mail, browsing, WhatsApp, etc and carrying things like Covid passes, tickets, aide memoirs, shopping lists, reservations, and entry into other countries bumf.

I understand that some people use the same sort of device for voice communication. Why?

 

[classic33]

Lugging twenty two sheets of bumf around the world seems a small price to pay to avoid having a piece of annoying technology jammed in your ear 24/7 for the rest of your life.

When was the last time the battery went flat on your paper copy as well?

 

[slowmotion]

I've got a small portable computer in my pocket, that I use for e-mail, browsing, WhatsApp, etc and carrying things like Covid passes, tickets, aide memoirs, shopping lists, reservations, and entry into other countries bumf.

I understand that some people use the same sort of device for voice communication. Why?

You don't seem to understand the creeping power of complete enslavement. Just look at people out and about in public, glued and oblivious. It's actually quite weird

 

[PK99]

You don't seem to understand the creeping power of complete enslavement. Just look at people out and about in public, glued and oblivious. It's actually quite weird

Oh, I do.

Ring tones silenced.
Notifications silenced
etc

It is my tool, I am not its slave.

 

[ColinJ]

When was the last time the battery went flat on your paper copy as well?

That stops me using e-tickets! I still print out tickets at the machine at the station.

 

[CanucksTraveller]

Someone at the local library, yesterday, was getting the paperwork for a trip to Thailand printed off.
Return was covered by a lateral flow test, before boarding the plane coming back and another when arrives back.
Twenty-two sheets in total.

Are they reading old guidance or something?
Return to the UK currently requires no tests, no passenger locator form, literally nothing.

 

[slowmotion]

That stops me using e-tickets! I still print out tickets at the machine at the station.

I read an article yesterday about having a Covid travel passport on your phone, and what happens if your phone somehow throws a wobbly at the departure gate. All the airlines interviewed said they were sympathetic except........you guessed........RyanAir.

"No refunds, no free re-booking".

 

[kingrollo]

Thanks @classic33. I believe the printed versions are only valid for four weeks. It seems you are totally stuffed if you are abroad for longer. I really don't want to be enslaved by a smart phone.

I don't believe that is correct. On the NHS app (not the covid app) - you get the choice between a domestic covid pass - and a travel covid pass. The travel covid pass is valid for longer.

 

[midlife]

Can you print one out from your NHS app?

 

[DaveReading]

There's a lot of nonsense posted on the net about NHS Covid passes.

AFAIK, there is no country in the world that demands a digital version (although it can smooth things when travelling to the USA on some airlines).

There's no requirement to have the smartphone app, either - anyone can access the NHS website with a simple browser and then download, print and/or store their pass on paper.

IME, both the domestic and travel passes have a month's validity.

 

[Alex321]

Thanks @classic33. I believe the printed versions are only valid for four weeks. It seems you are totally stuffed if you are abroad for longer. I really don't want to be enslaved by a smart phone.

Why do you think having one would "enslave" you?

You can get one for less than the cost of a PCR test for countries that still require that, and there would be no need to use it for anything else.