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Original poster

Travelling soon after 10 day isolation

23 replies

sandcw · 03/02/2022 17:40

Hi - I got a positive LFT today after symptoms starting on Monday and negative LFTs. I am travelling to Lisbon on Sat 12th Feb.

Test and Trace is telling me my 10th day is next Thursday. The NHS app says I need to self idolate for 11 days starting from today ie test day which takes me past my departure date.

Does anyone know when I get my covid pass back on the app? (I'm triple jabbed) Bit worried it won't be on Thursday but after the 12th.

I know I have to get a lab test to be fit for travel but I'm confused what a recovery pass is and if it may help me and therefore whether I should book myself in for a PCR.....

Just trying to do a bit of forward planning here, if such a thing is possible!

Hopefully I'm neg on days 5/6 and it's all moot....

Thank you.

OP posts:
Fallagain · 03/02/2022 20:20

If you tested positive today then today is day 0, you do ten days isolation with takes you until the 13th (unless you get early release) and you are out on the 14th.

Fallagain · 03/02/2022 20:22

Unless they count it from Monday? What were your symptoms? Did you do a PCR then?

Abraxan · 03/02/2022 20:29

A recovery pass appears in your NHS once your isolation period has passed. It appears as a 4th qr code/document, usually after the vaccine ones. Some countries allow you to use it, alongside and/or instead of the testing requirement.

However, not all countries accept the NHS one - you need to check it's valid.

It also may not appear in time. Mine didn't appear immediately. It wasn't there after 2 negative LFTs but is there now. It appeared somewhere between days 10-13.

Be aware that the locator form for the country you are entering will ask you re your covid contact. You, and all members of your partner, will need to tick if you have had, or been in close contact with, covid in the last 14 days. I don't know what happens if you tick yes, or if the 14 days refers to the last day you're in contact with (for household member that could be later this week) or from the test date. It's not clear in the forms I've seen.

Original poster
sandcw · 03/02/2022 20:40

@Fallagain my symptoms started Monday so I thought that's when the days start from regardless of when positive test comes through?
I've not had a PCR at all yet and wondering if I should.

@Abraxan that's a good point about the locator form. It sounds as if even if I test negative I may get caught out by that, or my digital pass may not be returned in time?

OP posts:
Abraxan · 03/02/2022 20:43

The recovery pass used to only be given 11 days after a positive PCR test. You may need to check online if an LFT positive will now trigger the recovery pass or not.

Abraxan · 03/02/2022 20:49

I'm not sure you'll be able to rely on a recovery pass.
This is the details under mine.

It's based on my PCR result only. I did, and registered, a positive LFT the day before and this hasn't been used. I don't think it appeared until 10 days after the PCR result.

Travelling soon after 10 day isolation
Original poster
sandcw · 03/02/2022 20:50

So is a recovery pass a substitute for a vaccination certificate? Only PCRs are valid which is why I'm wondering whether I should get one. If I get one tomorrow that's 8 days before departure so sounds like that won't work anyway....

OP posts:
Abraxan · 03/02/2022 21:01

Portugal accepts antigen (LFT) results I believe, which you're more likely to test negative on ime.

itsgettingweird · 03/02/2022 21:04

Do you mean the nhs covid app?

If so ignore that!

When I tested positive I did the test and trace form which gave me day 0 and end date. They then sent a code to out into the app.

I did it the following morning and the app then gave me an isolation end date the day after! They take it from the day you enter your code. This is a fault of the app and is not the legally binding part. The dates you need are the ones which come from nhs tracing via text and/or email.

Original poster
sandcw · 03/02/2022 21:28

@itsgettingweird thank you! Yeah it's totally confusing. Problem is my covid pass which I need for travel is tied to the app Confused

OP posts:
Cookerhood · 03/02/2022 22:50

There's a difference between the NHS app with your vaccine QR codes & domestic pass & the NHS Covid pass which is the one that pings you if you've been in contact etc (if you have it switched on, if course). Your pass will disappear from the NHS one as you mentioned above.

itsgettingweird · 04/02/2022 07:49

[quote sandcw]@itsgettingweird thank you! Yeah it's totally confusing. Problem is my covid pass which I need for travel is tied to the app Confused[/quote]
If you download the normal nhs app you can get a travel pass from that. Just make sure when you do your day 5 o awards tests you log them

Original poster
sandcw · 05/02/2022 10:05

@Cookerhood @itsgettingweird thank you - understand now!

OP posts:
Dinoboymama · 05/02/2022 16:24

Check that they will allow you into the country within that time frame as some require you to be 14 days clear from the first day of symptoms or test being taken.

Kerryt96 · 07/02/2022 11:40

Hey sandcw,

How you getting on with logging the negative lateral flows day 5 and 6?

I’m in the same boat as you tested +tive this weekend on 5th and due to fly to Portugal on 18th (luckily a good few days after the 10 w/d)

Original poster
sandcw · 08/02/2022 22:18

@Kerryt96 I'm still testing positive on day 7. You probably saw that Portugal has just dropped pre-departure testing for the double vaxxed - incredibly relieved!

A friend anecdotally told me that she doesn't know anyone who tested negative before day 7!

OP posts:
ittakes2 · 09/02/2022 03:27

www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/portugal/entry-requirements

I am very sorry I think you might struggle if the below dates apply to you. If they do and you can't go and need to activate your travel insurance you might want to ask them if you need a PCR test.

If you’ve tested positive for COVID-19 in the last year, you can enter Portugal, including the autonomous regions of Madeira and the Azores, with a COVID-19 recovery certificate showing you recovered from COVID-19, no less than 11 days and no more than 180 days before you travel.

Kerryt96 · 10/02/2022 13:19

@sandcw I know I’m so relieved, I ordered a paper copy of my NHS covid pass and both travel and domestic have come today - now I can start looking forward to my weekend away 😂

Have you managed to get yours sorted?

Original poster
sandcw · 10/02/2022 16:00

@ittakes2 the text you pasted about covid recovery applies I think to unvaccinated travellers.

I've got a previous covid pass from a trip I did in November downloaded so that should do it.

OP posts:
Kerryt96 · 11/02/2022 09:51

Just a quick note - doesn’t the covid pass have a 30 day expiry date? You might need to check it.

Another update, I logged two negative tests after day 5 and my digital covid pass came back instantly 👍🏻

Original poster
sandcw · 11/02/2022 19:51

I managed to download my covid pass from the NHS app today and am off tomorrow! Won't believe it until I'm actually on the plane....! Enjoy your trip @Kerryt96

OP posts:
Cookerhood · 12/02/2022 12:28

@Kerryt96

Just a quick note - doesn’t the covid pass have a 30 day expiry date? You might need to check it.

Another update, I logged two negative tests after day 5 and my digital covid pass came back instantly 👍🏻

It updates every time you log in to 30 days in the future.
Kerryt96 · 12/02/2022 14:03

@Cookerhood yes, although if you test positive the covid pass is removed from your app for 7-10 days

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