I tested positive in Rome

[kayjaypea42]

Hi all.  I tested positive for Covid in a Rome airport despite feeling fine.  Here's what happens:

1.) You are escorted to a covid-positive area to await the results of a second test (to make sure it wasn't a false positive)

2.) You have the option to make arrangements for yourself or they have a choice for you.  But you have to arrange it before you leave the airport and you have to tell them where you'll be.

3.) For Americans, you have to stay 10 days from when symptoms started or from the time of the test if you're asymptomatic.  If after that time you are still Covid positive, you need to see a doctor to get a certificate of recovery.

4.) My TA advised me to not mention my C-positive result to the hotel staff, but I wear a mask everywhere.  (And I have to leave the room; there's no room service.  Also, this was the only hotel we could find on short notice).

 

So notes:

- GET TRAVEL INSURANCE

- Have an idea of a location to go to or at least minimal requirements in a venue before you go abroad, and if it applies to you, take your work computer just in case

- Perhaps consider bypassing the US test requirements entirely by flying into either Canada or Mexico and crossing the border by land.  And THEN flying home.  Had I known how this would have turned out, it would have been cheaper and easier to just do that. 

 

Rant:

The US is ridiculous in still requiring the test.  We are the only North American or European country to do so! The test is pointless, especially with the loophole mentioned above! What purpose does it serve?? Does it keep Covid out of the country? No! Does it keep Covid off airplanes? No! (Despite negative tests, my grandmother and mother had full-blown Covid when they got home...(Of the Omicron variety, not the dead in two weeks variety (I hope, OMG.), but they were able to fly (Thank God! Trust me, this would have been SO MUCH WORSE if they couldn't go home), so it's not like there was no Covid on that aircraft!)  All it does is keep US citizens from going home to recover where they can ACTUALLY isolate.  I'm sorry.  I'm just pissed off at the stupidity.  I want to go home so I can support my family and be with my dog! I've had enough cappuccinos and pasta.  I want to go home.

Edited May 23, 2022 by kayjaypea42

[pikwe012]

So sorry for you....agree about US requirements. Hindsight is 20/20.

Good of you to give heads up to others but we all think it won't happen to us ...till it does.

Hope you get through the 10days and mild covid symptoms.  

[cruisemom42]

Thanks for sharing your very useful on-the-ground experience. It's definitely better to plan ahead and understand the process.

 

I did the same when I was ending a cruise in England last month. I had a plan in place including hotel (tentative reservation for 5 days) should I have failed the test to return home. Self-quarantine in England sounds mostly like what you're doing -- you're not locked into your room but are requested to distance yourself from others as much as possible and wear a mask.  The 10-day info is good to have confirmed for Italy.

 

As for the testing requirement, not sure any of us can do anything about that, but probably felt good to get that off your chest, lol.

 

[kayjaypea42]

12 hours ago, Ride-The-Waves said:

Traveling following a positive test only does one thing: puts everyone you come in contact with in jeopardy for becoming positive.  The US requirement is designed to reduce the import of COVID and its variants.  Remember, the previous administration was adamant that COVID-19 came to the US from Europe.  Bypassing protocols designed to make people safer only increases the odds that it will spread.

 

If it weren't for the fact that you can fly within the US without a test and you can travel by foot into the US without a test, I might have agreed with you in theory.  But this rule does nothing.  The USA is the only country who hasn't lifted that requirement in North America or Western Europe.  The only thing the rule DOES do is prevent people from getting home to get the support they need.

[LoriLoriLori]

Thank you for sharing.  Good tips to get travel insurance.  

[Hlitner]

What a bummer.  Just 2 weeks ago we faced the same anxiety moment as we needed to test before flying home from Prague (we tested negative).   My only suggestion to travelers who are testing to come back to the USA is to consider purchasing a proctored home test and taking them along on your trip.  The reason (and many will say this is very selfish) is that you can test yourself in privacy and if you test positive you have more control over your options without a government looking over your shoulder.  In our case, if we had tested positive and were not seriously ill we had plans to stay at a local hotel for a few days and then retest.  The good news is that nearly all the airlines are pretty cooperative in allowing you to change flights (with no penalty) if you tell them you have tested positive for COVID.

 

By the way, we did meet one American couple (from the Detroit area) who followed a different path.  They decided to fly to Canada, spend a few days, and then take the train back to the USA.  No testing required!

 

Hank

 

 

[bennybear]

On 5/25/2022 at 8:52 AM, sgmn said:

The original variants were quite dangerous to a high proportion who caught it. Omicron isn't. Most people have a sore throat or mild cold symptoms. You can travel with a cold, cough and numerous other virus but not Omicron.

 

The death rates have been higher,. That is like a cold isn’t true for everyone . 

4 hours ago, Hlitner said:

What a bummer.  Just 2 weeks ago we faced the same anxiety moment as we needed to test before flying home from Prague (we tested negative).   My only suggestion to travelers who are testing to come back to the USA is to consider purchasing a proctored home test and taking them along on your trip.  The reason (and many will say this is very selfish) is that you can test yourself in privacy and if you test positive you have more control over your options without a government looking over your shoulder.  In our case, if we had tested positive and were not seriously ill we had plans to stay at a local hotel for a few days and then retest.  The good news is that nearly all the airlines are pretty cooperative in allowing you to change flights (with no penalty) if you tell them you have tested positive for COVID.

 

By the way, we did meet one American couple (from the Detroit area) who followed a different path.  They decided to fly to Canada, spend a few days, and then take the train back to the USA.  No testing required!

 

Hank

 

 

In Canada there is random testing upon arrival,   It’s unconscionable to fly knowing one is positive. 

[biksgirl]

On 5/28/2022 at 2:24 PM, bennybear said:

The death rates have been higher,. That is like a cold isn’t true for everyone . 

In Canada there is random testing upon arrival,   It’s unconscionable to fly knowing one is positive. 

Right?? Like we prefer you not to come to Canada to possibly spread it here Thank you!! 

[Joesantos]

Recent cruise ship to Bermuda and my wife’s got Covid-19! Last November got tested in Banff for return to Phoenix AZ $200 cost and nobody checked it out in Arizona! Same with Bermuda but each passengers had to test and pay $40 each to Bermuda to get on ship multiple times 2,400 passengers and Bermuda gets $96,000.00 per ship, Money grabbing scheme! Nobody checked out our Covid-19 cards or anything else!