EMBARGOED UNTIL 00:01 09th JUNE 2021

AMBER GAMBLERS

One in three Brits do not know what a PCR Test is 

MILLIONS of holidaymakers are prepared to travel to amber-listed countries despite having to quarantine when they get back. 

A new study* found that one in five adults said they would still travel to Portugal on holiday, and to other countries on the amber list, according to research by Well Pharmacy, UK’s largest independent pharmacy chain. 

A whopping HALF of all Brits say they do not understand how the government’s traffic lights system for travel works. And one in three have no idea what a PCR test is – the lab-tested swabs needed for foreign travel. 

Currently holidaymakers going to the handful of green list destinations – including Israel, Australia and Iceland - need to take a pre-departure Covid-19 test and a PCR test on or before day two of their return. 

Arrivals from countries on the amber list will need to quarantine at home for 10 days, in addition to organising tests before and after their trip. Arrivals from countries on the red list must quarantine for 10 days in government-managed hotels. Countries on this list include the Maldives and Turkey. People should not travel there for leisure purposes. 

Gillian Stone, NHS Standards and Services Manager & Deputy Superintendent from Well Pharmacy said:  

“Even when the government reviews the traffic lights list in three weeks’ time, the message is clear: if you haven’t taken a PCR test before you go, you cannot travel abroad. 

“Understandably there is a lot of pent-up demand for people to go on holiday. As international travel restarts safely, we want to make it as easy as possible for our customers to order the Covid tests they need so they can enjoy their much needed and much deserved holiday.  

“Following the government rules and guidelines will keep us all safe and the traffic light system is in place for a reason, to stop the spread of the virus and ultimately save lives.” 

In a bid to try and make life easier for customers, Well Pharmacy has launched green and amber travel packages on their website to help the public navigate their way to a happy holiday. For more information visit: https://www.well.co.uk/coronavirus-testing/home-test-kit   

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Editors notes

Well have been offering pharmacy services for over 70 years to communities across the UK.

We are the third largest pharmacy in the UK, employing nearly 7,000 people and providing over 72million prescriptions each year across our 750 pharmacies. Our pharmacists can provide advice on getting the best from medicines and general healthcare, as well as treating minor ailments and offering a range of health and wellbeing products – all without having to make an appointment.

In addition to our pharmacies, we give customers choice, with our online service for those who want the convenience of having their repeat prescriptions delivered direct to their home – available online or as an Apple (IOS) or Android app.

We also offer a range of healthcare items for sale via our online pharmacy: shop.well.co.uk Items are available for home delivery with a one off £4 delivery charge.

Our Bestway Medhub subsidiary provides a wholesaling service for independent pharmacies, and our Wardles subsidiary provides non-medicines (eg, medical consumables such as bandages and dressings).

The Well operation is supported by our Healthcare Service Centre in Stoke-on-Trent, sending out around 90 million stock items to our pharmacies each year. This semi-automated warehouse and distribution centre allows us to use a hub-and-spoke model for prescriptions. This means some items are assembled centrally and sent to pharmacies to handout out to their patients.