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Original poster

New travel PCRs - what if you've just had covid??

47 replies

Tinysnickers · 27/11/2021 19:18

We are supposed to travel to the inlaws at xmas. Last 3 sets of flights over 2 years have been cancelled due to lockdowns here or there.
We can still go with new day 2 PCR tests BUT DS and I just had covid. At travel we'll be 60 days from positive. So if we do a day 2 pcr there's a Chance it will still be positive from previous infection. The NHS say not to test for 90 days unless new symptoms. So what are we supposed to do?
And even worse, we can't prove DS was positive because his PCRs went to the dodgy lab. We subsequently got texts telling us results likely incorrect. But he was positive on multiple LF and then I got it from him, so we know he had it, we just have no way to prove it.
I don't know what to do Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
Tinysnickers · 27/11/2021 19:19

And yes we could just not go. But we'll lose the flight money, and who knows when we Will ever go. Grandparents not getting any younger...

OP posts:
TedGlenn · 27/11/2021 19:30

Weren't you running that risk anyway with the existing day 2 LFTs?

Have you also considered what new testing regimens the country you are visiting will require before entry? I'm anticipating this will probably change too 😞

TakeYourFinalPosition · 27/11/2021 19:34

I don’t think there’s any exceptions at the moment… so I’d presume that if either of you test positive, you won’t be able to go. Best case, as you can prove you had Covid, you might find a loophole… but if you can’t prove your son did, I don’t think there’s any hope that he’d be able to travel, really.

Could grandparents come to you? I guess it’s not the ideal, but it might mean you can all be together?

Otherwise, I’d be preparing that you’ll likely be at home. I am sorry.

rewardacrosstrack · 27/11/2021 19:36

My DC had covid in early October confirmed by pcr. Last weekend they were admitted to hospital with bronchiolitis (due to unrelated cold from nursery) and had to have another pcr test before going up to the ward and it was negative, so hopefully you will be ok as will have had a longer break between covid and the test than us.

InTheLabyrinth · 27/11/2021 19:38

Just go.
If, big if, it comes back positive on your return, deal with it then (unless you are about to say a child is in an exam year).
Go see your family.
Have a back up plan on return incase you all need to isolate (so, supermarket order booked).
Have a fab Christmas with your family. Who knows what travel will bring over tye winter. It could all change again, and be fine on your return.

TedGlenn · 27/11/2021 19:43

If you don't mind throwing money at the problem, take private PCR tests now to see if you are still showing positive.

TheElderleyBrothers · 27/11/2021 19:44

We are doing an ONS Covid survey, child was positive on PCR's for only two weeks, by the third week day 21 she was negative. You would be very unlucky to be positive after 60 days.

Hippywannabe · 27/11/2021 19:46

Had covid early September, had 3 positve lfts this week and 2 negative pcrs.
You should be fine.
(Disclaimer, I am in the SW)

NotDonna · 27/11/2021 19:47

I agree with labyrinth
It’s highly unlikely you’ll have those pesky lingering fragments and worse case scenario you’ll have to isolate for 10 days (at home). Depends if you’ll be able to take time off work. If so, I think it’s worth it to see g’parents tbh.

goldfluffyclouds · 27/11/2021 19:48

Can you do an lft on yourselves now and see what it shows and then take it from there? The 90 days is cautionary but apparently some people very quickly go back to negative...
Also maybe if you feel the need shop around for the cheapest private pcr? Having just had a positive pcr through a private travel provider - I am not remotely convinced that the information ever goes to track and trace and if it did you could evidence your positive tests and you were doing it well ahead of your travel so you could plan accordingly

Franklin12 · 27/11/2021 19:55

Yes, do the lft’s as a first pass and then take it from there.

BluebellsGreenbells · 27/11/2021 20:01

It stars ALL travelers to isolated until PCRs test proved negative BUT NHS states no PCR necessary if you’ve had Covid in the last 90 days

OP is asking if they’ll be an exemption for those who’ve had Covid recently.

Watapalava · 27/11/2021 20:05

Just do PCR via post - you dont actually have to 'perform' test to get negative result. Just open it and add to liquid

Original poster
Tinysnickers · 27/11/2021 20:11

@TedGlenn

Weren't you running that risk anyway with the existing day 2 LFTs?

Have you also considered what new testing regimens the country you are visiting will require before entry? I'm anticipating this will probably change too 😞

No, we are both negative on LFTs since about day 10. But PCRs stay positive a lot longer, they don't look for the same thing.
OP posts:
Original poster
Tinysnickers · 27/11/2021 20:13

@TakeYourFinalPosition

I don’t think there’s any exceptions at the moment… so I’d presume that if either of you test positive, you won’t be able to go. Best case, as you can prove you had Covid, you might find a loophole… but if you can’t prove your son did, I don’t think there’s any hope that he’d be able to travel, really.

Could grandparents come to you? I guess it’s not the ideal, but it might mean you can all be together?

Otherwise, I’d be preparing that you’ll likely be at home. I am sorry.

The problem is not going, its coming back. We can go with no issues. OH and kids are nationals of that country and I get in with them so they'll let us in pretty much whatever the restrictions are. We currently don't need any tests at all to go as OH and I both double vaxed and kids are under 10. It's the new day 2 test on return that might result in completely pointless isolation.
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Hairbrush123 · 27/11/2021 20:13

Honestly? I would just go. It isn't a 100% guarantee it'll return positive once you come back. Can you WFH? If your child does not have any important exams coming up then I would definitely go. What are the travel restrictions like to the country you're visiting?

I don't think there will be exceptions for previous infection - can't you be reinfected with a new variant? Good luck either way and let us know what you do!

Original poster
Tinysnickers · 27/11/2021 20:15

@Hippywannabe

Had covid early September, had 3 positve lfts this week and 2 negative pcrs. You should be fine. (Disclaimer, I am in the SW)
Wow, in that case surely you have covid? It would be unusual for LF to remain positive for that long if my understanding is correct. But italian studies showed positive PCR for up to 90 days.
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Original poster
Tinysnickers · 27/11/2021 20:19

@TedGlenn

If you don't mind throwing money at the problem, take private PCR tests now to see if you are still showing positive.
I already thought of that but it doesn't work, if we are still positive we'd get 10 days now instead and we're only a month on so it's likely. I can't find a private provider who won't inform track and trace of a positive.
OP posts:
Original poster
Tinysnickers · 27/11/2021 20:20

@Watapalava

Just do PCR via post - you dont actually have to 'perform' test to get negative result. Just open it and add to liquid
Won't that come back inconclusive though? And then you'll still have to isolate as no negative result.
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JustLyra · 27/11/2021 20:21

I would wait and see what the detail of the PCR thing is.

Apparently the new variant is easily detectable in the PCR tests because it shows a "strange" result.

There's a chance that the 10 day thing will end up being only for people with that variant for precisely the reason you mentioned.

Watapalava · 27/11/2021 22:06

No

If you literally open test and add stick straight to liquid it comes out negative

EileenGC · 27/11/2021 22:12

@InTheLabyrinth

Just go. If, big if, it comes back positive on your return, deal with it then (unless you are about to say a child is in an exam year). Go see your family. Have a back up plan on return incase you all need to isolate (so, supermarket order booked). Have a fab Christmas with your family. Who knows what travel will bring over tye winter. It could all change again, and be fine on your return.
This is what I'd do too, if you can afford to isolate again on return, if the tests come back positive.

If that's not even an option you'd contemplate then I guess no, don't go.

Reallybadidea · 27/11/2021 22:12

I have been having 2 weekly covid tests for work and had covid in October. The one at 12 days was still positive, but none of the others have. I think it's really unlikely that you'll be positive at 60 days.

Original poster
Tinysnickers · 27/11/2021 22:54

Problem is, if we don't go we lose £500 of flights.
If I have to isolate due to historic infection then kids have to do wraparound care because of OH work hours - that's another £160 between the two of them. Ds will have his birthday in isolation - last year was in lockdown so he was looking forward to having an actual birthday this year.
But if we cancel, who knowa when we will actually get there. Flights were cancelled the last 3 times we tried over 20 months and there are no flights at all march - December, it's a winter only route.

OP posts:
Original poster
Tinysnickers · 27/11/2021 22:56

@Watapalava

No

If you literally open test and add stick straight to liquid it comes out negative

On a pcr? Surely they would know as they'll detect no dna from any source. If you are negative normally you'd still have human dna cells on the swab.
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