Middle_Seat

I have two American friends, both experienced travelers and fully vaccinated, preparing for a self-directed hiking trip to Italy. They don't have family or friends there. If one or both test positive the day before returning to the US, what happens?

I'm not finding anything about this scenario in the wikis.

SEPT 25 UPDATE: My friends both tested Negative in Italy using their BinaxNOW kits and are back in the US.

DrinkSlinger

If a passenger has tested positive for COVID-19, and then tests negative, can that passenger travel?
- Individuals with known or suspected COVID-19 should self-isolate and NOT travel until they have met CDC’s criteria for discontinuing isolation.

What if I have had a COVID-19 vaccine or have tested positive for antibodies? Do I still need a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19?
- Yes, at this time all air passengers traveling to the US, regardless of vaccination or antibody status, are required to provide a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery.

What happens if I test positive?
-People should self-isolate and delay their travel if symptoms develop or a pre-departure test result is positive until they have recovered from COVID-19. Airlines must refuse to board anyone who does not present a negative test result for COVID-19 or documentation of recovery.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019...travelers.html

Kgmm77

I think this is one where the moral compass should kick in well before the legal obligation.

DrinkSlinger

As we have seen in the past 18 months, a lot of people seem to lack a moral compass, nor do they care about other people’s well-being.

michael1023

eh...good luck? prepare for any and all scenario, such as an extended stay wherever they are staying, medications, work obligations, etc...

nomiiiii

While others are talking about morality and ethics, I'll stick to what they can practically do assuming they don't have a moral compass and are just concerned with the actual rules.

First, how did they test positive - was it because they tested in an Italian pharmacy/European lab? If yes, then their passport information will be in the system and authorities would know if they try to leave the country etc specially by plane (by train/car no one checks borders). So most likely they'll have to stay put. Typically there aren't many checks around isolation requirements, but if they try to fly out etc their passport could be flagged.

But, if they used the USA BinaxNow teledoc method for testing then their positive result will be confidential and opaque to the European authorities, so EU won't know about it. This way of testing positive opens up a few options that won't be necessarily possible if they tested positive through a lab with their passport info attached. In this scenario, they could be fully unethical and break the law and get a fake test result to fly back to US (this would also be illegal, so not recommended at all even though some folks do it).

An alternative allowed by the rules way is to fly to Mexico (without a transit/stop in USA), since Mexico does not require a negative test result specially if vaccinated. And then walk into USA through San Diego or El Paso (USA does not require test result at land border for US citizens). This way is fully allowed, but people always say its unethical/immoral so your friends can decide.

A third option is to simply extend your vacation and go through Europe explore other countries (the vaccination serves as a health pass so their positive test result is irrelevant as far as rules are concerned because they have a health pass in terms of their cdc card, they'll be able to travel around Europe).

A fourth option is to keep doing the antigen tests a few more times in case it was a false positive.

Of course the ethical and moral option is to find a 2 week airbnb and isolate, but know that less scrupulous options exist.

mpatti

A more risk adverse strategy is to purchase travel insurance that has trip interruption coverage for illness while on your trip, and that covers quarantine. Travel Insured is an example that offers coverage for US travelers. Then financially you should be okay to delay trip home, change flights and extend hotel, get care if needed.

I cannot stress enough to maybe take all vitamin and other protocols/regimens your doctor recommends with you in event you do test or get Covid, to get travel insurance, and if you don’t have the flexibility of vacation time for extending the trip and might be pressed into doing something “immoral” then DONT GO!

the810

They will have to self-isolate. That means arranging accomodation (ideally extending the one they're staying at at the time of test), going there and staying there until the isolation period is over. That's all. Food should be arranged a deliverdelivery.(By the way, I really don't thing passports are flagged upon positive test. One, that would be too sophisticated, two, no one cares if an infected person leaves the country.)

dcmike

This is part of the risk you take upon yourself when traveling internationally currently. We did a trip VIE-HER-KEF-VIE (with several connecting flights) and, with Iceland requiring a test for entry which we would have to take on Crete, realized we could get stuck in Greece if we tested positive there. It was a financial risk - and one we had to feel comfortable with before we booked. If your friends aren't comfortable with the fact they may get stuck in Italy, they shouldn't travel internationally currently.

TBD

Oh nooooo
Stuck in Italy.....

sbgmiles

I have a friend who is a US citizen who lives in Austria and is not vaccinated. Her son who is vaccinated tested positive at the Munich airport right before his flight home to the US. They wanted the names of everyone that they had been in contact with. He was required to remain in Austria and self isolate until he tested negative. Four days later, he tested negative and was free to leave. Because he had been staying in her home, my friend was required to isolate for the full 10 days even though she did not test positive.

Stripe

With a positive test you won't be able to check in for the flight to the US, regardless of your moral compass. So you will have to cancel and rebook for a later day, perhaps at a higher cost. Then you'll be at the mercy of whatever the local rules are for those testing positive. It will almost certainly involve some sort of quarantine until you can test negative. The strictness of the quarantine will vary by country. So the risks are mainly financial and time.

The only silver lining is if you can document your subsequent recovery you can save the cost of the pre-flight Covid test when you eventually return.

And yes, there are worse places to get stuck than Italy, but if you're kept within the confines of a small hotel room 24x7 for days, the shine will wear off pretty quickly.

the810

And that's why I always told everyone to never ever mention me in a contact tracing. Let me know directly and I can handle my isolation / testing myself.

Sadly, legal obligations frequently exceed the moral compass. Following the moral compass and acting reasonably can often result a fine.

There has been a case in Czechia, early in the pandemic, where one woman had to isolate for over two months after having more than 10 positive tests during the time, even though it was obviously not reasonable to presume she's still infectious. (They have changed the rules since.)

jetsetter777

(I am writing this from the American perspective.).
I was just in French Polynesia and they have a set procedure if you test positive upon arrival, but there wasn't a clear procedure for "what if americans test postiive before return?" While we were there we spoke to the US Consul who said he was currently dealing with 20 positive american cases and was trying to find them local accomodations.
We do know of someone who tested postiive before return and was able to arrange to stay in their resort bungalow for 10 days until they got a letter stating they were negative and able to fly again.

catlike

What do you mean? The responses have detailed a variety of situations, it boils down to the fact that you need to present an approved negative test prior to boarding a flight inbound the the USA. Of course people have presented alternatives but the crux of issue is you need to present a negative test.

I think the wiki covers this pretty well?