Covid Trials and Tribulations.

 

Covid test

Oh the difficulties of getting the right solution to the problem of having a compulsory Covid test on arrival on holiday from England into Belgium. Recently my son, having had two vaccinations some time ago, needed only a Covid test before travelling to see me in Bruges last Sunday after quarantine for British visitors to Belgium was axed. OR rather, abolished for visitors from England and Wales; visitors from Scotland and Northern Ireland still had/have to do the quarantine which is 

Testing for Covid.

something to do with the technology used for Covid tests in those two countries! On Day 1 or Day 2, the English visitor to Belgium must then have another Covid test. But where to go for this essential part of happy tourism? My local pharmacist supplied the name and phone number of the appropriate pharmacist in Zedelgem and an appointment was made for Monday morning and taxi booked. After the taxi ride there and back [90 euros], my hapless visitor discovered it was the Wrong Test; a P.C.R. was necessary, available only in hospitals [I think] The kind second pharmacist made an appointment for a P.C.R. at Knokke Hospital Monday afternoon, AZ St Jan’s Covid testing queue being full. SO son and I to Knokke by train as I have no car. I will spare some of the details of the afternoon which involved waits in bars; taxi rides to and from the hospital [by the pretty route through countryside, the main route being very slow due to road repairs] and a fairly tortuous procedure in the hospital to get and pay for the P.C.R. test.

The taxi dropped us off perfectly, outside what appeared to be a garage on the edge of the hospital campus. All was straightforward. Details taken by an efficient girl behind glass; stroll through to the

AZ Zeno Knokke-Heist.

adjoining room, empty save for two medics and a routine swab was taken. The surprising thing was the next requirement; we had to walk [through fierce wind and rain as it happened] quite a long path to the entrance to the hospital [superb new building] en route to the office for him to pay for the test! Help was quickly given to direct us to the appropriate office where paid 89 euros. The unexpected next move was the return of his test in a plastic bag for him to deliver to the laboratory! This turned out to be situated in the basement at the opposite side of the hospital! None of this was difficult but it did seem to fly in the face of sanity as he was supposed to isolate until he had received a positive test result. We waited for the return taxi in the tempest outside, just managing to miss the Brugge train by one minute, arriving home around 18.00 hours, cold and tired. It had taken my visitor most of the day in effort to comply with the current Covid rules during a short break of three days plus a morning!!

Ancient method of bartering.

As I don’t know the difference between a lateral flow test and a P.C.R. having assumed that there were simply ‘Covid tests’ I can hardly criticise the system here but, to be fair, it does seem opaque to the non-Dutch speaking visitor! This has strengthened my determination to stay at home as long as possible until the pandemic has passed OR until Christmas comes round, when I would like to go back to join the family over the festive season. Wonder if the Belgians will administer booster doses to the vulnerable which seems to automatically include those in their 80s. This might be useful!!

Interesting information gleaned during my son’s visit. He never normally uses or carries cash; he only carries his phone which has a slim space to store a plastic card; e-mails are out-dated and used much less; train and plane tickets are online not in the old paper versions; C.D.s are antique, only Spotify will do. This invaluable info makes me feel like a pedestrian version of the Ancient Mariner weaving my way via peregrinations in a strange land! It will soon be time to go back to live in England and speed up my e-capabilities.

Blissful Post Script

Just seen online: 

"The Compact Disc was quite a revolution when it came out ...."

[I received three as birthday presents 3 weeks ago!]

Amazon description:

C.Ds   " You know, those round shiny things collecting dust in the back of your closet. You can now exchange your C.D.s for Amazon.com Gift Cards. These can be used to purchase anything on Amazon including any of Amazon 19 million MP3s."

No longer an endangered species;
now extinct!

N