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. |
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. |
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! |