COVID - should I cancel Holliday?

[Whowherewhywhat]

Hi, unfortunately both my DS and I got positive PCRs last week.
To cut a long story short, does anyone know how long after you’ve had symptoms / positive PCR test, will either a LF or PCR test continue to show positive?
I ask, as both our isolation periods end this Friday 15th Oct but we are due to fly on holiday on the 23rd Oct and whilst I am double jabbed so I won’t need a PCR before I fly, my DS isn’t as he is 16 (he had the jab booked for the day he got a positive!).
Do you think a PCR is still likely to show positive then? Trying to work out whether to cancel holiday or not? Thanks

For traffic please 😊

Some countries accept a certificate of covid recovery but I dont know the details of it. Worth looking up before you cancel.

afaik, 10 days after your positive you are safe to return to (whatever currently is defined as) normal social contact levels.

My daughter has tested positive this weekend - we were due to fly out for half term but my husband researched it and found that you can test positive for some time after so we have cancelled as it would show up on her pre departure test. I personally wouldn't risk it.

Don’t you just have to prove that you’ve recently had covid?

You can test positive for up to 90 days after a positive PCR, so it any be worth finding out if the positive result is a way forward to show status.

Some places will accept your PCR Covid result notification as a recovery certificate within a certain amount of time. The best would be to check the government website and check the entry requirements for the country you’re travelling to.

He might still test positive in two weeks, he might not. Will your travel insurance cover you if he does still test positive?

Also as FawnFrenchieMum says - most of Europe accept a recovery certificate.

It depends on which country you are travelling to

FWIW, my daughter tested negative the day before her 10-day isolation period came to an end.

Thanks, we are going to Tenerife, so I think he needs a PCR test, I don’t need one as I’m double jabbed, it’s more confusing , for someone under 18…. but thanks, it’s looking unlikely I think that we should go ( it’s also hubby and other DD and DS, all of whom are negative so far) , feel so sorry for them when we have all been so careful for the last year dnd a half and held off doing anything….

I tested positive on 2nd Oct - didn’t feel too bad, just like a cold, am double jabbed. Today is my last day of isolation, I did a lateral flow yesterday and it was negative! Felt like my “cold” had gone after 5 days or so and then felt a bit fuzzy headed for 2/3 days after. When I took the lateral flow yesterday I felt back to normal. So that’s my experience but obviously could be different for others!

Hi we are in similar situation but just with child positive and going to canaries

Problems so far……

Canaries don’t accept recovery certificates from the UK. I think you also can’t get them for kids anyway in Uk, but not sure for over 16
We found a graph which said 20 ish days after first testing positive the chances of positive PCR are about 20/25%
If you get another positive pcr, even if done privately for travel, you have to self isolate for 10 days again
Each person who travels has to declare that they haven’t been in close contact with a case in previous 14 days….

So we look like we are cancelling…..if anyone has any bright ideas to the contrary I would love to hear them!

Oh wow you have to declare you haven’t been in close contact within last 14 days of travel? If that’s the case we definitely can’t go then I assume? Where do you have to declare the 14days info please?

I am still trying to get final confirmation

But it’s for the travel form for Spain and mentioned here ( you don’t complete this until 48 hours before u fly so not seen that actual part of if form)

www.spth.gob.es/faq

Sorry it’s actually under the health requirements section on the same page for some reason I can’t link to thar

We’re in this position too, due to fly on 28th, DS became ill over weekend, done a positive lateral flow. Just waiting on. PCR, absolutely gutted. @sleepwouldbenice I can’t see the bit about close contacts for 14 days?

Some countries allow a certificate of recent covid.

Also, it may well come out negative. Most people's seem to. It's just that some can say positive for a while.

DD's friend was really concerned about this as she tested positive in her previous departure test before she came home after a year working abroad. She flew home on day 12, her PCR was negative,

@Angrynellie

We’re in this position too, due to fly on 28th, DS became ill over weekend, done a positive lateral flow. Just waiting on. PCR, absolutely gutted. *@sleepwouldbenice* I can’t see the bit about close contacts for 14 days?

sorry its the other tab on the link I put, the tab called "complete your FCS form and get your QR code"

It says

"What do I do if I have symptoms of acute respiratory infection or fever, or have been in contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19? Can I fly?
If you have any of these symptoms: fever, shortness of breath or a cough, or have had contact with a confirmed case of COVID-19 in the 14 days prior to travel or have been diagnosed with COVID-19 within the past two weeks, you should abstain from going to the airport/port and contact the health services in your country of origin"

I spoke to someone medical about this recently who works on the testing scheme. He said a LF won't show as positive but a PCR might - and trouble with the latter is that it triggers a new mandatory quarantine period every single time you get a positive

Find someone negative and do their nostril!! If you’re recovered who is going to know?!

If you declare having been in contact with a Covid case in the last 14 days the Spanish QR code (passenger locator form) will be what they call a “red code” and it is very confusing as you will be allowed to fly but then will be stopped by Public Health at the airport and if you test positive you will not be allowed in. Quite confusing; I don’t understand why the “red code” allows you to fly if then they can stop you and send you back to the UK…
It happened to me a few weeks back although I was allowed in (I am Spanish, I think I would have allowed in anyway with an antigen test at the airport) after showing my test and trace PCR results and vaccination certificate but have complained because I think the “red code” is ridiculous and because they wasted one hour of my time.
However, if you lie, it is an offence… not sure about prosecution but the fine is not a joke.

@Angrynellie

Questionnaire to get the QR code to travel to Spain. There’s a very specific question about contact with a Covid case in the last 14 days.

Maybe I need to clarify that I was angry and have complained because when I obtained the QR code recommending me not to travel I contacted Public Health in Spain and got confirmation in writing that I would be allowed in because I was vaccinated and had had two negative PCRs since the day I was in contact with the Covid case (which had been someone in an almost empty flight from Rome 12 days earlier). The guys at the airport did not want to accept my negative PCRs and the letter from their own colleagues!

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