What happens if you catch COVID whilst overseas?

[Pushka]

If one is truthful it provides some incentive to have already had COVID before travel.

Just said tonight having both had triple vax that with a May trip planned for UK for sons delayed wedding reception, well, yes. Timing is good assuming we will all get it anyway. Just need the Omicron version.

 

[big_RED]

When I checked into the medi hotel in SYD

Do you mind elaborating on why you had to check into this hotel? Was it because you weren't vaccinated and had returned from overseas? Or you had COVID overseas, recovered, but they still made you go to the hotel?

 

[big_RED]

You need to find a doctor immediately and begin a record of positive test, symptoms and treatment so they can write a letter confirming your recovery.

100% he has missed this and I hope he was able to make it home or find out about this before he rescheduled his flights!

 

[PineappleSkip]

Do you mind elaborating on why you had to check into this hotel? Was it because you weren't vaccinated and had returned from overseas? Or you had COVID overseas, recovered, but they still made you go to the hotel?

I honestly don't know why I qualified. I am fully vaxxed, never tested positive. My quarantine was extended from 72 hours to 14 days as close contact of an omicron case (everyone on my flight was). Omicron was new, unknown, may have super virus powers that could infect a whole plane, and therefore is really scary. I never tested positive but might as well have had the plague. I got the option when I rang NSW Health and asked if I could move into somewhere cheaper for the balance of my days. Criteria could have been any, or any combination, of these

1. 72 hours isolation was announced when I was inflight to Australia
2. double hotel bills (Mrs Pineapple had come down from Qld to meet me while we spent 14 days in NSW)
3. close contact
4. close contact of a variant of concern
5. no fixed address in NSW
6. this new omicron thing is really scary
7. this guy with a scary variant wants to move to another hotel
8. Rydges Sydney Airport is freaking out because there is a guy with a scary variant staying there (they were)
9. sounds like a nice guy and has a sad story

The little collection of paper I received on arrival was marked 'community referral'. I stayed for the cost of my medicare number.

 

[big_RED]

My quarantine was extended from 72 hours to 14 day

Wow that's tough!!

 

[PineappleSkip]

Wow that's tough!!

Well, originally I was flying into BNE and doing 14 days and paying for it, so 14 days and not paying for it wasn’t so bad.

 

[Polz]

I have just tested positive while in the UK, due to fly home on the 6th.

Triple pfizer, with booster mid December. Feel fine, except for a sore throat.

Does anyone know a best estimate on when to reschedule flights? How long will it take to test negative.

Also, will I be allowed back int he country until its post 14 days? What about my family if they're a 'close contact'

 

[Must...Fly!]

I have just tested positive while in the UK, due to fly home on the 6th.

Triple pfizer, with booster mid December. Feel fine, except for a sore throat.

Does anyone know a best estimate on when to reschedule flights? How long will it take to test negative.

Also, will I be allowed back int he country until its post 14 days? What about my family if they're a 'close contact'

You need to get to a doctor asap and start documenting your infection so you can have a proof of prior infection. You may continue to test positive for months.

 

[PineappleSkip]

Bummer. Triple vaxxed => minimal symptoms, those shots weren’t wasted.

Not sure what is required to certify recovery in UK, apart from recovery itself, but the airline (which one) you’re flying will have their own rules, as well as Aust. Your travel insurer might also be able to advise.

cheers skip

 

[justinbrett]

You need to get to a doctor asap and start documenting your infection so you can have a proof of prior infection. You may continue to test positive for months.

The positive PCR test is the proof of prior infection. Then you just need the day 14 recovery certificate.

i doubt a doctor wants to see you whilst you’re infectious and don’t need care for the sake of record keeping.

 

[Polz]

The positive PCR test is the proof of prior infection. Then you just need the day 14 recovery certificate.

i doubt a doctor wants to see you whilst you’re infectious and don’t need care for the sake of record keeping.

Do I need to produce a 14 day recovery certificate if I have a negative PCR? Is this just in case i continue to test positive?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Do I need to produce a 14 day recovery certificate if I have a negative PCR? Is this just in case i continue to test positive?

Correct

 

[big_RED]

You will need the Day 0 PCR positive test results as the Australian government needs to know your 14 day quarantine window.

As stated above the airline highly likely needs this as well plus other documents.

As you could be "shedding" the virus for up to 6-8 weeks you therefore need a doctor's cert prior to departure statng you haven't had symptoms in the last 72hrs (I believe within the 14 day quarantine window).

This cert is needed as you need a negative PCR 72hrs prior to departing for Australia, and highly likely you won't be negative so you need that doctors cert.

Links are here for Government and Qantas - have a very thorough read:

Inbound international travel

Australia's border continues to reopen. Find out what you need to do to be able to travel to Australia.

www.health.gov.au

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/coronavirus/vaccination-exemptions-medical-clearance.html#past-positive-clearance

Hope you and the family aren't feeling too bad!

 

[Amanad78]

His experience is interesting but also doesn't mention the most significant and important factor once you test positive.

You need to find a doctor immediately and begin a record of positive test, symptoms and treatment so they can write a letter confirming your recovery. There's a very real chance that after 2 weeks and symptom free you continue to shed virus and therefore positive on PCR test. How you could reliably do this I do not know, and an still investigating. I am assuming an Australian GP will not do a privately billed consult to anyone outside the country.

Or countries stop this whole negative test thing first but I wouldn't count on that

It is very difficult to get registered with a gp in the uk if you are not already registered, and when if you are it's very difficult to actually see a dr.
I am dreading seeing that faint line. So far so good, been here since Xmas day and had 1x pcr and 6x lateral flow all negative. Departure pcr is tomorrow
I've seen friends or family almost every day and been to a few cafes but feel I've been as careful as I can be. All my friends and family have done a lateral flow before seeing me ❤
If I get stuck for an extra 2 weeks accommodation won't be an issue but I'll need to get home to my husband and teenagers before school goes back...

 

[Polz]

It is very difficult to get registered with a gp in the uk if you are not already registered, and when if you are it's very difficult to actually see a dr.
I am dreading seeing that faint line. So far so good, been here since Xmas day and had 1x pcr and 6x lateral flow all negative. Departure pcr is tomorrow
I've seen friends or family almost every day and been to a few cafes but feel I've been as careful as I can be. All my friends and family have done a lateral flow before seeing me ❤
If I get stuck for an extra 2 weeks accommodation won't be an issue but I'll need to get home to my husband and teenagers before school goes back...

We've tried to be careful, extended family members started to have symptoms and we had to suggest they get tested....I caught it 3 days after they tested positive....argh!

 

[Amanad78]

We've tried to be careful, extended family members started to have symptoms and we had to suggest they get tested....I caught it 3 days after they tested positive....argh!

I hope you get a neg PCR quickly, or can get the letter easily enough.
Maybe being triple vaxxed you won't shed the virus for as long? Are the lateral flow tests still showing positive?
Hope you're feeling ok.

 

[ethernet]

What of boosting Vit D + Vit C + more (Zn) etc? Where are these minimization studies?
Then we have Japan - doing something - but not reported in the press because it is controversial. I wanted to have my booster tomorrow, but no-one answered the phones. (Hint - India R factor real strong) time to not gamble and have booster asap.

Obviously I suspect a good proportion of the population will not pay $10-$25 for a RAT test and just shuffle into service providers, doubts and all. Again, where is the study on positive pax having covid boosters and effects? Crickets.

 

[Polz]

Thanks everyone. Just one more question, it I get tested today, Monday 03/01? Can the letter be dated Monday the 17th or does it need to be dated the following day (18th). Just trying to make sure I don't mistime the 14 days.

Trying to work through which of 2 flights to book. Thanks!

 

[big_RED]

it I get tested today, Monday 03/01? Can the letter be dated Monday the 17th or does it need to be dated the following day (18th). Just trying to make sure I don't mistime the 14 days.

The Australian Government website says "a statement to the effect that, on the day the [doctors] certificate is provided:
it has been at least 14 days since there was a first positive result of a PCR test and"

I interpret the day of positive test to be day 1. But I myself have added +1 day to this to be safe and have used the 1st positive result day to be day 0 instead.

The wording on all these websites doesn't make this easy!

 

[Telemachus]

It is very difficult to get registered with a gp in the uk if you are not already registered, and when if you are it's very difficult to actually see a dr.

I agree entirely it can be an uphill struggle registering with a GP in the UK - whether you're a local or a visitor. However, despite availability of reciprocal healthcare for Australians I think being registered is worthwhile if you’re staying for several weeks or months rather than days. I am in the process of doing so, in large part as a contingency plan for testing positive pre-return to Australia and needing a recovery certificate and/or other support from a GP.

I’ve resurrected a long dormant NHS number and am waiting to hear whether the local GP practice will accept me. There is the option to register as a temporary patient for a stay of under 3 months i.e. you don’t have to be a resident and show proof of local address.