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Hypothetical questions regarding "official" Covid tests, isolation rules, etc.

Hello everybody,

I am trying to devise contingency plans for my upcoming trip (U.S. to France, Belgium, Netherlands, but nothing in stone yet). I am fully vaxx'd, boosted, and, fingers crossed, will be able to get the second booster before I go (I'm 42, so not yet eligible). I've been reading the (very) helpful threads below and checking on the various links, in addition to my own research, and I think I more or less understand, but I'm unclear how "exit" testing and a positive result would play out on the ground. Apologies in advance for length:

My (tentative) plan calls for being in Belgium 10 days out from my departure, but flying home from Amsterdam. During that time, I'll be meeting up with friends who live in the Netherlands, driving around Belgium for few days with them, and then taking the train to Amsterdam several days later.

I plan to self-test every few days and definitely do so 10 days before my departure. If it's positive, I would want to get an official test immediately to get my clock running and, fingers crossed, catch my original flight. So here is my question: What happens with that "official" test? Hypothetically, could my friends drive back to Belgium, pick me up, and drive me to Eindhoven, so I could isolate at their house, even though my clock "started" in Belgium? Or would I be on some list and be fined for leaving the country early, even though I'd be in a private vehicle? (Is this where the passenger locator form comes in?)

As I said, this is hypothetical. My friends' reasoning is that if I test positive they, having driven around with me for several days previously, they will too, and I might as well stay with them and save some money. They said that, as things stand now, they don't see why this wouldn't be legit, but they also haven't left the EU recently.

I appreciate any clarity anybody could provide, thanks!!

Posted by
403 posts

While the only country you mentioned that is also where I am traveling is France, I can thus only speak to one part of your inquiry.

We just flew from Madrid to Paris yesterday on Iberia. We had been in Spain for 2 weeks. We had two security screenings in Madrid prior to going to the gate; passport check only. I completed the passenger locator forms online before we left the US, expecting France to require those. We were never asked for the form and there was no mention of those during the flight. Perhaps that was because we entered France from Spain. Dunno!

Posted by
1605 posts

“Hypothetically, could my friends drive back to Belgium, pick me up, and drive me to Eindhoven, so I could isolate at their house, even though my clock "started" in Belgium?”
Yes, you can isolate in Eindhoven.

“Or would I be on some list and be fined for leaving the country early, even though I'd be in a private vehicle?”
You won’t be on any list, you won’t be checked when you leave Belgium by road to the Netherlands and you won’t be fined.

Posted by
301 posts

Thank you, everybody, for your helpful responses! I've always thought I was good at juggling dozens of varying details, but keeping on top of all of this is exhausting!

Caroline