What happens if you catch COVID whilst overseas?

[Telezacski]

Nope this is incorrect, if you have a recovery certrificate from a doctor (7 or more days after diagnosis) you do not actually need a negative PCR or negative RAT to fly to Australia.

Sorry I should have said you will still need to take a test (flight or for certificate) and for 99.9% of people getting a negative RAT test is easier than a recovery certificate. RAT’s don’t pick up shedding only PCR do - which is how my wife tested positive on return but a check of the results deemed the results shedding (no viral load).

The rules will have changed and likely change per country but in January in Fiji we could only get the medical certificate if our son had failed the tests.

So whilst technically what you are saying is correct the reality is the Dr will test you, if you fail, dr gives you a certificate but this takes time (we were advised four days). I also understand that flying with a certificate requires a few more hurdles in terms of notifying the airline.

So I’d always advise someone to go and get a RAT, if this is negative, save yourself the time and money of getting a certificate. I’d also add if time is of the essence now isn’t the time to holiday o/s - hopefully when this new wave has passed this will all be behind us.

Edit - by fail tests I mean still positive

 

[masterpabu]

Thought I'd share my recent experience with travelling to/from the US using a Covid recovery certificate. My husband and I got our recovery certificates from our local GP a week before our flight to LAX late Feb flying with Fiji Airways, we made sure our GP included everything that the certificates needed by both the CDC and airline's requirements.

Honestly we didn't have any issues at check-in at either end, if anything it was quicker checking in for our flight back to Sydney last weekend, the check-in agent just gave our recovery & vaccination certificates a cursory look over before printing out our boarding passes - though while waiting to check in I did watch the Qantas counters and they seemed to do a much more thorough look at documents averaging about 4-5mins per travel party, did see some people sent to the back of the line which I imagine was for missing a document or something

 

[N860CR]

Really have to laugh… there is clearly no international standard so these tests are pointless. Had a nurse come to conduct an in room PCR; very easy, slight nose rub and the stick went back into the same plastic packet and into her bag. First name only was written on it. Who knows how many others were in there…

Comes back negative - 24 hours after a positive RAT. As good as impossible, but they produced a valid certificate for travel. I know which company I’ll be using next week!

The whole thing is nothing more than a show. I feel sorry for those who get stuck with the more dramatic episodes.

 

[Telezacski]

I think the emphasis and importance comes and goes, pretty sure everyone in associated industries (especially medical) are tired and overworked and probably happy for this to end.

IMO the value placed on the rules will change as waves come and go.

 

[N860CR]

I think the emphasis and importance comes and goes, pretty sure everyone in associated industries (especially medical) are tired and overworked and probably happy for this to end.

IMO the value placed on the rules will change as waves come and go.

I feel sorry for those who have had their livelihoods ruined by these idiotic restrictions. Not those in health who have needed to do their jobs and, of late, had easy access to additional overtime if they desire it.

 

[Sydney BE]

Really have to laugh… there is clearly no international standard so these tests are pointless. Had a nurse come to conduct an in room PCR; very easy, slight nose rub and the stick went back into the same plastic packet and into her bag. First name only was written on it. Who knows how many others were in there…

Comes back negative - 24 hours after a positive RAT. As good as impossible, but they produced a valid certificate for travel. I know which company I’ll be using next week!

The whole thing is nothing more than a show. I feel sorry for those who get stuck with the more dramatic episodes.

Where did you get tested? I'm due to go on my belated honeymoon in a couple of weeks and honestly the test prior is giving me anxiety attacks. I'm triple vaxxed, never had covid and not all that worried if I do get as I have no other health problems but the idea of having to cancelling everything when weve gotten so close definitely makes me nervous.

 

[N860CR]

Where did you get tested? I'm due to go on my belated honeymoon in a couple of weeks and honestly the test prior is giving me anxiety attacks. I'm triple vaxxed, never had covid and not all that worried if I do get as I have no other health problems but the idea of having to cancelling everything when weve gotten so close definitely makes me nervous.

A mobile service in Cape Town, so probably not a whole lot of help. Annoyingly, they don’t service the area I’ll need for my return PCR so I’ll need to use a path lab who are probably more reputable! Not too concerned as my RATs are now showing negative (took about 8 days).

If you’re leaving Australia, just go for a drive through PCR every three days. If you’re positive, it might give you enough of a chance to “recover” and travel on a recovery certificate. Another great use of our tax dollars!

 

[OATEK]

So, having tested positive in London on 21/3, I was able to apply for my recovery certificate today, which I have received. The next step towards being allowed to come home.

 

[Spurs10]

So, having tested positive in London on 21/3, I was able to apply for my recovery certificate today, which I have received. The next step towards being allowed to come home.

Hello Oatek...I am in exactly the same situation..have been in the UK for 4 weeks, and tested positive in my Fit for Fly rapid Antigen test yesterday (was due to fly home today).. So if I understand this correctly, as I have my offical positive test I just need to wait 7 days, and then apply for the recovery medical certificate via Medicspot? assuming no symptoms etc... They should issue the certificate which will allow me to fly home...?

 

[OATEK]

Hello Oatek...I am in exactly the same situation..have been in the UK for 4 weeks, and tested positive in my Fit for Fly rapid Antigen test yesterday (was due to fly home today).. So if I understand this correctly, as I have my offical positive test I just need to wait 7 days, and then apply for the recovery medical certificate via Medicspot? assuming no symptoms etc... They should issue the certificate which will allow me to fly home...?

That's the theory, I will put it to the test on 6/4.

 

[Lynda2475]

That's the theory, I will put it to the test on 6/4.

Are you still testing positive on a RAT? If not, probably not a bad idea to get a supervised RAT as well.

 

[Eastwick20]

Well I just got back from a holiday in London , went and got a PCR test within 72 hours and you guessed it, positive! ( I wouldn't have even known I had Covid if it wasn't for the pre departure test)

As I was originally flying in the evening, I didn't want to spend my last day running around getting a RAT test and then if positive trying to re arrange things last minute so getting the PCR test gave me 48 hours to get tickets reissued, accommodation sorted etc without to much stress.

Can confirm I used medispot.co.uk who after 7 days issued me with a certificate of recovery.

Super easy to use, filled in a online form that took 3 minutes , upload your Covid positive test , make payment ( 59 pounds ) and within 24 hours I had a Covid recovery letter saying I was fit to fly.

No problems checking in with it at LHR with the letter ( along side your original positive test ) and away you go.

 

[N860CR]

Well I just got back from a holiday in London , went and got a PCR test within 72 hours and you guessed it, positive! ( I wouldn't have even known I had Covid if it wasn't for the pre departure test)

As I was originally flying in the evening, I didn't want to spend my last day running around getting a RAT test and then if positive trying to re arrange things last minute so getting the PCR test gave me 48 hours to get tickets reissued, accommodation sorted etc without to much stress.

Can confirm I used medispot.co.uk who after 7 days issued me with a certificate of recovery.

Super easy to use, filled in a online form that took 3 minutes , upload your Covid positive test , make payment ( 59 pounds ) and within 24 hours I had a Covid recovery letter saying I was fit to fly.

No problems checking in with it at LHR with the letter ( along side your original positive test ) and away you go.

Good stuff. Glad it worked out ok. I didn’t bother with another PCR so just did a RAT 24 hours prior. It came back negative but it was 2 weeks after the first positive, so as expected. It’s certainly a bit of added stress, but given actually getting sick isn’t really of concern then it’s not the end of the world working around it.

 

[OATEK]

So, having tested positive in London on 21/3, I was able to apply for my recovery certificate today, which I have received. The next step towards being allowed to come home.

Ok, I promised to report back on the process of getting the medical certificate to fly home after testing positive. Turned up at the airport with my supervised Positive RAT test, done through Klarity. I the waited 8 days and applied for the medical certificate, this time through the Montague Clinic (all online).

Turned up at the airport and the document checker was not sure, but took them over to a QF supervisor who gave it the tick if approval. Now in the lounge waiting for the call to QF 2.