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Original poster

Travelling after recently having COVID

83 replies

timetoboard · 04/07/2021 09:35

Hi all

I'm currently isolating after a positive covid test last Sunday, I've been asymptomatic and not had any symptoms luckily so quite confident I will be able stop isolating after Wednesday.

I was due to fly to Italy on Tuesday for work which obviously can't happen but my employer still wants me to go as soon as possible. They have asked me to go for another PCR test on Thursday morning (NHS one booked online) and if that come back negative they will arrange for me to get a private one on Saturday with the aim to fly on Sunday. Obviously I shouldn't really be booking an NHS PCR test for this reason but surely there's a good chance this could still come back positive? And obviously any private tests I do after that?

I can't find anything online but what on earth are you supposed to do if you need to travel and you have recently had COVID? Reports suggest you can get a positive test for up to 90 days but I can't find any information on how you travel if you can't get a negative PCR test? I know with the test events in the UK people who have had COVID in the last 180 days could attend but I can't find any information on whether Italy accept a recent positive case instead of a negative PCR?

Just wondering if anyone has experienced this or can point me in the right direction of some information regarding travel after COVID? I've looked on the NHS website/gov.uk/Italian embassy and can't find anything!

OP posts:
Original poster
timetoboard · 04/07/2021 09:36

Also before anyone mentions the 5 day quarantine in Italy, I have an exemption that means I don't need to do this so that isn't an issue.

OP posts:
feliznavidad2 · 04/07/2021 09:38

Agree that it's very likely you'll test positive, you can remain positive on both lateral flow and PCR tests for up to around 90 days.

Good luck and hope someone who has a solution/experience or similar situation comes along quickly.

Tinysalmonswimminginastream · 04/07/2021 09:39

You can't do another PCR or LFT for 90 days after a positive test because the original positive can still show up.

feliznavidad2 · 04/07/2021 09:42

I think it'd also be queried/frowned up getting a Covid test performed at this point when you've recently already tested positive - it skews the data, and effectively, you would be required to treat it as a 'new positive'.

CasparBloomberg · 04/07/2021 09:43

I have the nhs app. And like you say it shows my positive test and provides a covid pass for natural immunity so I can go to an event like anyone who had 2 jabs (as having it means I missed my 2nd jab and can't get it just yet).
Anyway underneath this pass heading on the app is one for a travel pass. I however don't know if Italy aren't accepting this. Would this be an option?

I read that pcr can still show positive as can pick up fragments of dead virus and treats that as a positive. LFT supposed to be okay though I think.

Original poster
timetoboard · 04/07/2021 09:46

@feliznavidad2

I think it'd also be queried/frowned up getting a Covid test performed at this point when you've recently already tested positive - it skews the data, and effectively, you would be required to treat it as a 'new positive'.
Gosh I hadn't even thought of this! Definitely not going for a PCR at a normal test centre then.
OP posts:
Original poster
timetoboard · 04/07/2021 09:48

@CasparBloomberg

I have the nhs app. And like you say it shows my positive test and provides a covid pass for natural immunity so I can go to an event like anyone who had 2 jabs (as having it means I missed my 2nd jab and can't get it just yet). Anyway underneath this pass heading on the app is one for a travel pass. I however don't know if Italy aren't accepting this. Would this be an option?

I read that pcr can still show positive as can pick up fragments of dead virus and treats that as a positive. LFT supposed to be okay though I think.

Yes this is what I'm hoping but can't find anything online about whether Italy accept this!
OP posts:
annabell22 · 04/07/2021 09:49

I had a colleague who was positive, isolated, came back to work as usual, 3 weeks later had a pcr for travel purposes and it was still positive. She had to cancel her plans.

Original poster
timetoboard · 04/07/2021 09:50

Thanks all I'm going to speak to the person who arranges all our travel tomorrow and say I'm not comfortable getting a PCR on Thursday, I want to find some info about travelling with 'natural immunity' that I can forward to her so if anyone else knows where any official information is then please do let me know Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
timetoboard · 04/07/2021 09:51

@annabell22

I had a colleague who was positive, isolated, came back to work as usual, 3 weeks later had a pcr for travel purposes and it was still positive. She had to cancel her plans.
It's typical this is the first time I'm travelling for work since March 2020 and I've managed to get COVID at just the wrong time! I'm sue to travel a lot over the coming months so it's potentially not just this trip which is going to be affected.
OP posts:
Geamhradh · 04/07/2021 21:55

How are you ordinarily exempt from the 5 day quarantine?
All the information is on the Italian govt website. www.salute.gov.it/portale/nuovocoronavirus/dettaglioContenutiNuovoCoronavirus.jsp?lingua=english&id=5412&area=nuovoCoronavirus&menu=vuoto

Geamhradh · 04/07/2021 22:01

More info here.
www.thelocal.it/20210623/italy-new-quarantine-rules-uk-travel/

Original poster
timetoboard · 04/07/2021 22:02

[quote Geamhradh]How are you ordinarily exempt from the 5 day quarantine?
All the information is on the Italian govt website. www.salute.gov.it/portale/nuovocoronavirus/dettaglioContenutiNuovoCoronavirus.jsp?lingua=english&id=5412&area=nuovoCoronavirus&menu=vuoto[/quote]
I've got an elite sports exemption (I'm far from being an athlete Grin but still covered by it), thanks for the link but I can't see a way to translate into English? The Italian embassy website only has information on the quarantine and entry requirements with no mention on entering after a recent positive case.

After more searching this afternoon it seems you just cannot travel abroad after having COVID...

OP posts:
user1477249785 · 04/07/2021 22:06

I'm interested in this too because I think I might be in a similar situation. Please update if you find out any more!

Original poster
timetoboard · 04/07/2021 22:09

@user1477249785

I'm interested in this too because I think I might be in a similar situation. Please update if you find out any more!
I will do! I realised I know someone else who is due to be going tomorrow and has also just had covid and they have been told by their company that they definitely need a negative result, so they have been for a private test today and currently waiting for the result. I'll be interested to see what the outcome of the test is but obviously could still be different for me.
OP posts:
Geamhradh · 04/07/2021 22:10

Oh sorry, I clicked on the "English" bit on the govt website but it must have reverted back somehow. If you go to the top of the page, there's the language option.

Geamhradh · 04/07/2021 22:10

I think you do need a negative result though, which can be PCR or LFT.

ChristmasCovid · 04/07/2021 22:14

Yes - don’t take another pcr - if positive it will put you back in the system and you will be required to re isolate.

Original poster
timetoboard · 04/07/2021 22:21

@Geamhradh

www.salute.gov.it/portale/nuovocoronavirus/dettaglioContenutiNuovoCoronavirus.jsp?lingua=english&id=5412&area=nuovoCoronavirus&menu=vuoto&tab=6

See if that works

Thanks was on my phone and couldn't see how to translate but worked it on the iPad, it certainly looks like the only way is a negative test which is rubbish but not much I can do about that.
OP posts:
Keepgoing88 · 04/07/2021 22:31

I’m really interested in this. We are due to go on holiday in 2.5 weeks. We have all got Covid and isolation finished in 1 week. I don’t see how we can do the return to UK tests as we will probably all test positive despite being recovered from
Covid! Saying that though my son who caught Covid first is out of his isolation tomorrow, we did a lateral flow test on him and it’s negative

TheTeenageYears · 04/07/2021 22:52

You also need to factor in the requirement for a negative test to return to the UK as well. Family experience of positive, positive, negative, positive in 5 week period - travel nightmare. Countries have different thresholds for a positive result so even if you test negative in the UK you may test positive in Italy. Some countries will or at some point accepted proof of recent infection but the variants have knocked most of that on the head and there is absolutely no way of entering the UK without a negative test.

Blueberry40 · 04/07/2021 23:18

My DS in same situation- currently has covid (for the second time) which he must have caught a few days after he managed to get his first jab. Due to be working in Crete for 6 weeks over the summer- supposed to be flying in 2 weeks.

We have a private PCR booked but I’m expecting it will be positive and the only other exception seems to be if you have had covid in the previous 2-9 months before travel so there seems to fe a grey area up to 2 months after where this doesn’t count.

Twokitstwokats · 04/07/2021 23:31

This really worries me. In general. If we want to travel we will need a negative test. But the Delta variant is everywhere and many people won't know they have had it. So what if you test positive but actually had Covid ages ago?

endlesscraziness · 05/07/2021 00:39

I flagged this with public health the other day as as a hospital we risk assess whether a positive close to a previous positive is actually genuine or dead virus. However public health won't do this, they'll also make you isolate again.

I did remark to my public health consultant colleague that they're going to need new rules because of travel PCR test!

Ps don't be a twat and get an NHS test. If your boss is desperate to get you to travel he needs to pay for it

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