Testing After Recovery from COVID Infection

[Uncle Sugar]

I have a curiosity question concerning taking a COVID test (such as the current requirement within two days of embarkation) when the person concerned had been infected with the virus about two months before cruise commencement. This assumes the person had been fully vaccinated earlier (before infection) and subsequently experienced complete recovery after testing positive. A problem occurs due to the fact that after recovery, remnant viral materials which are no longer transmittable to others are still in the body. According to the latest CDC guidance regarding international travel dated August 25, 2021, the following is applicable:

 

        "If you recovered from a documented COVID-19 infection within the last 3 months, follow all requirements and recommendations for fully vaccinated travelers 

        except you do NOT need to get a test…. People can continue to test positive for up to 3 months after diagnosis and not be infectious to others.”

 

Regarding international air travel, the latest CDC guidance on this subject states the following:

 

       “All air passengers coming to the United States, including U.S. citizens and fully vaccinated people, are required to have a negative COVID-19 test result no more

       than 3 days before travel or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the past 3 months before they board a flight to the United States.”

 

My question: How does this guidance apply to cruise ship passengers? Will such people be excluded from the current 2-day testing requirement? The CDC recognizes that people who have recently recovered from COVID can still test positive, even though they do not pose a danger to others. Any thoughts?

 

 

[caribill]

You need to ask Princess this question.

[donswife]

This is from the Princess FAQ page about the testing policy:

 

Exceptions may apply for asymptomatic guests that have tested positive for COVID-19 in the 90 days prior to embarkation, but not less than 10 days prior to embarkation, and are fully recovered. Guests will need to provide a letter of recovery from their doctor and, laboratory test results that were taken at least 10 or more days prior to embarkation, and not older than 90 days.

 

That little word "may" is concerning, and if this situation actually applies, I would definitely call.  At work (skilled nursing/rehab) anyone who has tested positive doesn't have to get tested for 90 days.

 

[MamaStang]

We have this situation going on in our house.  Husband tested positive on 12/3 and we have a 1/14 cruise.  Several calls to Princess have only come up with them telling us to get a letter of recovery from our doctor in case he still has a false positive test just prior to embarkation.  The words "exemptions MAY apply" is unclear and they really didn't have any definitive answer as to whether the letter will get him on the ship for certain.  Am going to purchase a home kit and try it at the end of this month just to see for ourselves whether he is testing negative yet.  Would put our minds more at ease.

[Buckeye10640]

16 minutes ago, MamaStang said:

We have this situation going on in our house.  Husband tested positive on 12/3 and we have a 1/14 cruise.  Several calls to Princess have only come up with them telling us to get a letter of recovery from our doctor in case he still has a false positive test just prior to embarkation.  The words "exemptions MAY apply" is unclear and they really didn't have any definitive answer as to whether the letter will get him on the ship for certain.  Am going to purchase a home kit and try it at the end of this month just to see for ourselves whether he is testing negative yet.  Would put our minds more at ease.

Good idea to pre-test. I was worried about this too and tested 6 weeks post covid (3 weeks pre- cruise) and was negative. I really did not want any surprises 2 days before cruising. Good luck.