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Covid testing when returning from Rome, Italy to the US

Posted by (Columbus) on

Thanks so much to all who have posted on this, but I am still confused. My husband and I (both fully vaccinated) are travelling to Italy in late October (and yes, I realize the world could up-end itself again, but given that we have done the right thing {get vaccinated} I am no longer willing to wait to travel). I've already received very helpful tips about making Sorrento our home base and riding the train to Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Positano. Thank you!

Here's my question - we are flying Delta to and from Rome's Fiumicino Airport. We will test in the US before we board, complete the correct paperwork to leave the US and bring our CDC issued vaccination cards, but where and when do we test so as to return? I've seen a lot of posts about just going to a pharmacy? We are leaving Sorrento on November 1 to return to Rome. Our flight leaves on November 2 from Fiumicino. Do we get tested in Sorrento? If so where, and what kind of test, and how do we get the results? Do we get tested in Rome at the airport right before our noon flight? Or is that cutting it too close? A test at the Rome airport before we leave would be ideal, but is it practical?

We're not fearful about going to Italy, as I said we're vaccinated and have our N95 masks, I'm just completely flummoxed about the when, where's and how's of testing to return to the US. Any guidance is much appreciated! Thank you!

Posted by
7549 posts

The answer to your testing questions are Yes.

You may get tested in Sorrento, Rome, or at FCO.

Most, or at least designated, Pharmacies perform the test. For returning to the US, any type of test will work, from the instant test to a full lab PCR. The tests at the pharmacy, as reported by others, takes a couple hours for results, you show up take the test, then they hold your passport until results are in. I assume the test at FCO is wait until results. You can also do a form of self test, proctored via video, with results sent to your phone. You need a test taken within 3 days of return.

If you test positive, it sounds as though the health authorities are notified, and you are asked to quarantine immediately for 10 Days.

I suppose the question of when and where to test comes down to where do you want to be if the worst case positive result occurs.

Myself, I will be in Rome at the end of September, we will test the day before our return at a Pharmacy. For me. the hassle of trying to plan it for FCO and an unknown wait time are not worth it, plus it leaves it up in the air where we will be asked to quarantine in that event, at least in Rome, I will be in a hotel of my choosing. I have also, still waiting for a response, inquired at my hotel if a needed quarantine is required, if I can do it there.

Posted by
7838 posts

Test 72 hours before the flight in Sorrento. Ask your local hotel concierge where in Sorrento.That way if you test positive you can give yourselves time to retest before the flight or if you are negative, you can relax the last few days without the need to get a Covid test hanging over your head. I just returned from Italy and had a little anxiety as I got closer to the return date from just thinking about the need to get the test done.

Posted by
98 posts

Thanks so much! We'll ask the hotel in Sorrento for a recommendation for testing. I appreciate knowing the rapid test is acceptable.

Posted by
99 posts

Hi Mari,
I have another suggestion for you. Why don't you pre-purchase your trips via Delta's partnership with Ellume? Then you can do it on your phone via a wifi connection from the comfort of your hotel. We just did this on our trip to come back from Portugal (flying KLM and Delta) and it worked well. We pre-scheduled our appointment times before we even left the US to we knew we had easy times for the test.

https://news.delta.com/new-rapid-covid-testing-options-coming-delta-purchase-and-pack-smooth-us-re-entry

I'm happy to share more about the experience if that would be helpful.

Posted by
99 posts

You are most welcome. We ordered our kits and they came a couple days later. Just make sure you follow their instructions (a couple apps to download before you leave the US- not a big deal). It gave us a HUGE peace of mind to not have to figure it out when we got there. Plus this way we knew exactly when we would take the test as we preschedule the appointment. One less thing to figure out, right?

In hindsight, I wish I would have scheduled back to back appointments for my hubby and instead of at the same time. The wifi wasn't strong enough to have 2 video calls at the same time in the place we were staying. So mine was a bit dicier as the connectivity for me wasn't as good. But they guide you through the whole thing. The instructions from Ellume are nice and clear, just read them closely and follow along. Video monitoring part while we took the test. I wish I had hubby hold my phone while I opened the packages, as they have to watch you do it for the monitoring. It's hard to hold a phone and open packages at the same time. ;o)

And we had results back in 15 minutes. And was easy to then just download a PDF from the app (when you go in the test results there is a button to download to your phone). We used this in the airport on our phones. We did not print it out, just used our phones and handed the phone over to the person that needed to check it. I was super nervous doing this, but it really was a straightforward process if you read their instructions carefully. And a big relief to do it this way! Good luck on your trip- I think you are going to have a wonderful time!

Posted by
98 posts

One last question - if you have another second. Do the tests have to be stored at a particular temperature? Thank you!

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