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Original poster

In Ireland: how to get the recovery certificate, can anyone help

23 replies

theDudesmummy · 16/01/2022 14:20

Hi, maybe I am being dim but I don't seem to be able to find the answer to this anywhere. In Ireland so looking for someone here to help.

My DS (aged 12) was a close contact of a teacher who tested positive yesterday. I did an antigen test on him yesterday and he was positive. (DH and I still negative so far). So, how do we go about getting a recovery certificate for DS (for travel purposes, for the EU cert)? We would need a private positive PCR, the webpage says. But the test centre will not allow you to come to an appointment if you have tested positive. So what do we do?

OP posts:
LookItsMeAgain · 16/01/2022 14:26

Would you not wait it out? I'm a bit confused here but if you have a positive diagnosis of Covid, then you just follow the restriction rules and wait it out until you've done two antigen tests a day apart and they both come back negative.

Is your DS due to travel soon? Why would he need the EU cert if he is a minor?

Sorry about the questions but I don't quite understand the issue

Original poster
theDudesmummy · 16/01/2022 14:36

Yes, we were planing to travel in about a month. But I see now that the EU cert is only for over 18 so does not apply to him. So he would just have to have a PCR test done before we travel, as we did last year, I guess. Sorry for the silly question, I did not realise the cert was only for adults, as when we travelled last year he had not been vaccinated so we knew he had to have a PCR anyway.

OP posts:
LookItsMeAgain · 16/01/2022 14:49

Exactly. U18's don't use the Covid Cert though they do have to be vaccinated. My DD who is 15 can't upload her vaccination status and have it on her phone (as far as I'm aware) so she carries around the stupid card that they gave her at the vaccination centre with her status on it.

What'll be more important will be that neither you nor your DH become infectious or come down with Covid in the next few weeks as a result, because that would put a dent in your travel plans if you're still in isolation/restricted movements when you're planning on travelling.

Original poster
theDudesmummy · 16/01/2022 15:06

The travel plans are not set, just whenever we feel like it (need to travel to England to fetch something basically, but can do it whenever).

But now I have looked at the rules for coming back to Ireland and it says that anyone over 11 would need a vax cert or recovery certificate (or have to have a recent PCR test). For now it won't be a problem as his second vax was less than six months ago so vax cert still valid. But what about for travel later in the year? I had hoped he would have booster by then, but he can't now for three months. So I suppose it would have to be PCR test if we want to go away before he gets his booster?

So I am still wondering, how does anyone get a certificate of recovery, if you cannot go to the test centre when you have Covid?

OP posts:
LookItsMeAgain · 17/01/2022 08:37

Basically the HSE is saying that if you need a negative test for travel purposes, you need to pay for that - i.e. get a private company to do the test.
That would be arranged through your GP (I'd imagine) or your GP would be able to recommend where to get a PCR test done. It will not be covered by the HSE (though you may be able to claim back some of the tax on it at the end of the year if you submit your receipts to the Revenue Commissioners).

There isn't a thing (to the best of my knowledge) called a certificate of recovery. You either have Covid or you don't. If you have it, you ride it out until you don't have it any more (based on the restrict your movements and close contacts etc. guidelines).

LookItsMeAgain · 17/01/2022 08:39

Sorry - I spoke too soon - there is a recovery certificate but it isn't issued by the HSE, it's issued by the Government and you can apply for one here:
covidcertificateportal.gov.ie/en-US/issue-recovery-cert/

Original poster
theDudesmummy · 17/01/2022 19:33

I know about that page to apply for the recovery cert, that is exactly what I was talking about, but you have to have a positive PCR test to apply, and we can't go to the PCR centre because they don't allow you to come in if you have Covid! It's really quite a Catch-22. I would be perfectly happy to pay for a PCR test if we could get it, that is no issue. Have done it several times with DS for travel.

I phoned the GP this morning, he couldn't help at all. So it does not look like there is any way to get a certificate of recovery for DS.

OP posts:
Sweetmotherofallthatisholyabov · 17/01/2022 19:36

You should be able to bring him to a hse testing centre if he's had a positive antigen- just not a private I imagine.

Sweetmotherofallthatisholyabov · 17/01/2022 19:37

I got the recovery very for mine last year after they tested positive in a hse testing centre, but that was March so maybe it's changed.

Sweetmotherofallthatisholyabov · 17/01/2022 19:40

Just noticed under it's just tests for under 4's or over 40's. Have you reported his positive antigen? I wonder will it record you then? Although seems like an easy way for people to get one disingenuously

MondayTuesdayWednesday · 17/01/2022 19:45

You have to go to a HSE test centre. You can book a test online. You can apply for the recovery cert 11 days after positive HSE test and then you will be emailed the recovery cert which is basically the same format as the vaccine cert with a QR code. You can apply for the recovery cert for a child of any age.

Original poster
theDudesmummy · 17/01/2022 19:57

@MondayTuesdayWednesday you have to be over 39 or under 4, and have symptoms, to book an HSE PCR test. For other ages, and those with no symptoms, they say just do an antigen test.

It says on the HSE page : If you are aged 4 to 39 and you have symptoms of COVID-19, do not book a PCR test. You should book antigen tests online instead (we didn't need to do that as we have loads of antigen tests at home)

If you have had a positive antigen test you do not need to book a PCR test. You should report your positive antigen and list your close contacts (We reported DS's positive antigen test online the day it hapoened and ourselves as close contacts. Just got some texts with links to self-isolating etc).

So no way to get a recovery cert if your manner of finding out you had Covid was by an antigen test. It seems like a flaw in the system, really.

OP posts:
Original poster
theDudesmummy · 17/01/2022 19:59

@MondayTuesdayWednesday I know you can apply for the recovery cert for a child of any age, but they have to have a positive PCR test, which is ruled out by the above information!

OP posts:
Original poster
theDudesmummy · 17/01/2022 20:01

@Sweetmotherofallthatisholyabov you cannot get a recovery cert from having a self-administered positive antigen test, that was made clear in the press (I think in the Irish Times) a couple of days ago. For the precise reason that this would be open to dishonesty.

OP posts:
Original poster
theDudesmummy · 17/01/2022 20:03

I have now found it specifically on the HSE page about antigen testing:
Reporting a positive antigen test cannot be used as proof of recovery to get a COVID-19 recovery certificate

OP posts:
MondayTuesdayWednesday · 17/01/2022 20:04

You can still book a PCR test for any age. Just book it online. They were discouraging people from booking as the system was swamped but that is no longer a problem. I know people who have had tests for their children in the last few days.

IrishMama2015 · 17/01/2022 20:05

Hi, I think you can contact your local pharmacy and advise them of your childs positive test and they will administer an antigen test and they submit it ?

MondayTuesdayWednesday · 17/01/2022 20:11

@IrishMama2015 any of the pharmacy tests I have seen are for people who are symptom free, not suspected of having covid who need them for travel.

Original poster
theDudesmummy · 17/01/2022 20:29

@MondayTuesdayWednesday thanks so much for that info, I have now booked it online! I also realise from the booking page (which I didn't click through to before because of the age restrictions as noted above) that a contact tracer should in fact have got in contact to arrange a PCR test when he was known to be a close contact, because he is in a special school. No-one got in contact yet. Anyway, he is now booked for a test for tomorrow! Thanks again, problem solved!

OP posts:
Flywheel · 17/01/2022 20:42

I was trying to get a private pcr test a couple of weeks ago when I couldn't get a hse one. One of the providers was just for travel / asymptomatic, but another provider you could book for suspected cases. I can't remember which provider

Flywheel · 17/01/2022 20:44

I think it was gosafe48

MondayTuesdayWednesday · 17/01/2022 20:50

@theDudesmummy glad you got sorted! I think many aren’t booking PCRs but the people that I know who booked them it was on the advice of their GP.

Sweetmotherofallthatisholyabov · 17/01/2022 21:23

I was about to say I'd be MASSIVELY impressed if the hse system had actual things in place to stop you booking a pcr as opposed to just asking you not to. That's brilliant - delighted for you

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