First day on holiday...tested positive for COVID

[PrueHal]

Unbelievable but on my first day in a European country I've tested positive for COVID.

I feel unwell and very tired but still well enough to go out and explore a bit with breaks. I bought meds and a mask.

Would you isolate if you were me? Or would you continue as normal.

We did at least have lunch outside today which hopefully helped.

Why did you bring Covid tests on holiday?

I didn't @Cinocino

Went to a pharmacy

Why did you test? Was it somehow required? You don't need to do anything

Even weirder.

No, I wouldn't isolate in your position. A mask and eating outside is enough.

I don't get why if you were going to test at all it wouldn't be before you went? You clearly weren't bothered by the prospect of spreading before you left?

I am not sure I would even test if I were you. I have been ill several times this year and filed it under "seasonal cold" every time, like I would normally do.
But if you must, look up Covid guidance for the country you are visiting. If it says to isolate, then do. Otherwise, don't.

I wouldn't but then I would not have tested either.

Do what you would do with any other “flu” type virus. Look after yourself, and minimise the chances of passing it on ..hand washing, space.. and try not to breathe on anyone. 220 people died from Covid last week, so it’s nowhere near as big as problem are previously, but, still fatal for some.

What rotten luck. In the absence of any explicit local requirements you’ll just have to use your best judgment. Good luck, rest up and hope you feel better soon.

Testing is weird, specifically going to a pharmacy to pay good money for tests even weirder.

Do what you want, there are no rules, personally I'd carry on as normal as long as I was well enough too. Be prepared though for the folks who will be along to say that anything less than a full on hazmat suit is selfish though.

No carry on. I had it in Spain last year and carried on as of I had a cold. Good hygiene, not too close to people and enjoyed my holiday

What’s weird about testing?

The first thing I would do is check the isolation rules in the country I was visiting - if they require you to isolate, that's what you should do.

If you don't isolate I would still try and limit the chance of other people getting covid - eating outside, mask when inside, avoid crowded places.

I know lots of people will say the opposite, but having seen my father essentially excluded from most indoor public places when he was undergoing chemo and couldn't risk getting covid, wouldn't want to be the person who passes covid to someone else just because I couldn't be bothered taking steps to minimise the risk for others.

If you feel like I did a few weeks ago you won't want to explore/eat out.
I had travelled for work unfortunately and was due to be doing some training but a) felt like cr*p and b) wouldn't have wanted to put my trainees at risk.
So I spent a few days in my colleague's spare room (she had it too - we'd met in the UK about a week previously and some kind soul at that meeting gave it to everyone).
I did not look at the regulations for her country as she knew them but they included masks on public transport and she had a car share for which we had to wear masks too. Same when we nipped to the supermarket.

Because it changes nothing. You're still feeling not well, you still treat the symptoms with paracetamol or whatever. Why does having a name for what is making you ill matter?

Now that you’ve tested you will feel guilty and obliged to isolate. I’d just think oh I feel a bit rough and get on with my holiday.

If you feel well enough, I’d continue as normal.

Maybe it’s my age but increasingly feel surrounded by people undergoing treatment for cancer. I don’t currently have a cold or any flu symptoms, just a general malaise that could easily be misattributed to travel yet I’m positive for Covid. I’m glad I tested so I can selfishly avoid the guilt of sharing it with less healthy friends.

I had a cold when I went on holiday. Just took paracetamol, had lemon and honey drinks and carried on with my holiday until it passed. It would never have even occurred to me to take a Covid test? There are no restrictions anymore? Why are people paying money to take a test to prove they have something which is essentially a cold? Very strange.

Testing isn’t weird - I’m immuno surpressed and was seriously ill in hospital the twice I’ve had Covid. I still ask people to test before meeting if they feel ill and am more than happy to provide the tests for them. Friends and family are more than happy to do so as they know how dangerous it is for me to catch it. So I would def mask up, hand sanitise, eat outside and try my best to not pass it around. Think of other people 👍🏻

I don’t love colds but find them less likely to make people as unwell, need as much time off work, cause diabetes and other physical problems to say nothing of the mental and cognitive impairment long covid sufferers experience.

www.thelancet.com/journals/lanres/article/PIIS2213-2600(23)00239-4/fulltext#:~:text=The%20post%2Dacute%20sequelae%20of,levels%2C%20on%20an%20unprecedented%20scale.

It's weird to decide to take a test before deciding what you are going to do with the answer.

More logical to ether decide 'if I'm positive, I'll isolate', then take the test

or

'I'm going to carry on as normal regardless of whether it's positive or negative' in which case there's no actual reason to take a test.