They cost and added uncertainty to the trip. And no I don't mean testing positive, I mean having to wait for the results. Yes, some places are quick turn around but not everywhere. Also, I don't like the prospect of queueing up with others who may have COVID. As someone who is immunocompromised, whose had their fourth dose of vaccine and tests weekly regardless of symptoms, I have an invested interest in not getting COVID. The other issue I have with these tests is they give you a false sense of security. Just because you tested negative doesn't mean you don't have COVID and aren't contagious. It doesn't mean you won't encounter travellers in the airport who aren't tested but do have COVID (e.g. domestic travellers, and international travellers to destinations where testing isn't a requirement).
So this is totally OT to this thread but I wanted to address this comment as a kindred spirit.
I too have had four shots as an immunocompromised person, and have, bar a few QF dom trips, kept pretty much to myself and hardly left my home trying to avoid the 'rona. And yet, last week I got it somehow (I suspect a random 'drive by' in a suprtmarket or something as I had no close contacts or people I had any more than a minute or two fleeting interaction with for weeks so can't really explain it, but BA2 is that kind of beast. Anyway I've been infused with the fun drugs and have turned the corner and it's been like a nasty cold to me.
I digress though as it's not about me.. only to your point about it's endemic and we'll have to live with it despite all the best precautions we (all of us, but specially those of us more 'at risk') do.
I do agree re false sense of security. Heck I know people who have had false positive RAT results AND PCR results (and false negative). Mine was a very solid positive RAT plus symptoms, so it was a bit of a no brainer, even if I had no obvious contact. I suppose though that PCR's are considered to have high accuracy but as discussed elsewhere one can doa PCR the day before travel, but develop within a day or two anyway post exposure (that may not have shown on PCR at a point in time).
And it's nobody's fault. However I got it it's of course not their fault (unless they were knowingly positive and supposed to be isolating, but that's a whole other thing). Of course we all know people can have mild or no symptoms and carry it and it spreads like wildfire, so I don't look at people and think oh it could be you, or you, or them... it's just out there. Now if I went to one of those covid parties, well that's on me... but given I tried most things to avoid it I am a bit annoyed that I didn't do anything fun or exciting since I got it by avoiding those things (no, I don't mean I would have gone to a covid party of course!!
).
But yes, they (the test) do cost a fair bit and it is a real impact on people for sure, as well as a PITA (and your point re waiting for results is of course very valid too).
I do personally suspect that more and more countries will follow on from UK/ Aus and now Singapore and drop requirements over the nest number of months. I am certain countries are well aware that as others drop their requirements they then become more and more outliers, and will have an economic hit if someone chooses to go to, for example, the UK rather than the US for these reasons.
Anyway I totally understand your situation given it's very much my own.. but now I've had the damn thing despite all the efforts well perhaps now is a time to contemplate a trip somewhere while I have some bloody antibodies! Lol
(it's A + DF)
