We got the UK Covid (what it was like and what got us through it)

Thank you for taking the time to share your story with us. I am glad you are both doing better.

Many people on the forum are wondering how claims with travel insurance are going. Did you have insurance and how has the claim process been so far?

Glad you have recovered.

Sorry, but I don’t think your diligence has anything to do with your recovery, as I know very diligent people who have been far iller than you with Covid in the past 2 months. I think it’s more down to how the individual fares with the vaccines. I know several couples where only one of them has caught Covid, despite them living, eating and travelling together.

Thanks for sharing your experience. Did you tell the place you stayed while you were sick you had Covid? Did you get an 'official' test and did you need a letter of recovery for any where you went after you recovered? If so, how did that work. Did you try to get Paxlovid? I am going through Dublin airport in September and will be extra vigilent about my masking, washing hands, etc. while transferring there.

FYI: paracetamol is Tylenol brand in the US. In European countries, people ask for paracetamol.

And, I've found that European "equivalent" to Tylenol to be anything but.

Thank you so much for your post. We are headed to Germany/Salzburg in a few months and I was starting to think about maligning plans for just this scenario. My husband won't be with me, just my daughter and our sons girlfriend, so a lot of this will fall on me and I want to make sure we do everything we can. I am going to print this out and put it with our trip planning materials.

were cramped in crowded, long lines (staffing issues) for hours with unmasked/untested/unvaccinated travelers (not required prior to many EU destinations)

How were you able to determine whether people were untested or unvaccinated. Simply because many EU destinations have dropped the testing requirements doesn't mean that people don't test themselves and most people are fully vaccinated. Besides, none of those measures preclude anyone from contracting or spreading the virus so it really is a lottery on whether you'll catch the virus and the degree of symptoms that you suffer.

To answer/respond to a few questions/comments.

Carol:

• Aww you're welcome and thank you (re: better).
• Travel Insurance: So, I'm more of a risk taker and travel a ton and have yet to get insurance (not saying I haven't had regrets, lol). My partner purchased insurance however, personally elected to stay past the day the coverage ended (not covered). Additionally this insurance would not have covered Covid if contracted during the coverage dates. Later, three prescriptions needed refilling that required a UK doctor to re-write the USA's doctor's script (not accepted at UK pharmacy but helpful for GP). We visited a GP inside the local hosp. and incurred out of pocket fees (billed) under $100. The 30-day prescriptions (refilled that day at the local pharmacy/Boots) were given as "free for Senior Citizens," (plenty to come home with). We provided passport information and are not on the National Health System (that day/that pharmacy clerk/that location maybe?). The clerk advised us that prescriptions were free for all Senior citizens, even foreigners however, OTC meds were not free.
  

Jennifer:

• Thanks! (Re: glad you recovered)
• Just passing along what the UK Pharmacist advised us re: "diligence." She specifically was referring to what she had experienced as effective recovery/treatment in this "latest round of infections." We followed her advice to the letter (hard to do when throat was so swollen and we did not want to eat but, we still did it... at times through tears) and it seemed to work well for us/our recovery/the strain we had. It can be different for anyone, of course.
• The 8 travelers in our group all recovered quickly as well (all vaccinated per the requirement at the time... just a fact, not trying to promote anything). Some companions of those that reported getting Covid, never got it at all.
• I agree that it's down to the individual. Here at home neighbors/family/friends who contracted Covid did well but, some were hospitalized/long recovery (vaccinated and unvaccinated alike).

JC:

• Good question. Well, those jam-packed lines were insanely slow, hot, and cramped and as you can imagine people were frustrated and complaining. Whatever random spot you happened to be at in that long 3-4 hour tight, snake line, a covid/vaccination discussion would kick off and hot/stressed/frustrated folks would chime in on their opinions/experiences/choices etc. We personally heard well over 10 (occasionally heated, mostly respectful) different groups/conversations where people voiced their personal choice not to be vaccinated/tested (amongst other discussions, lol). Chatting with others in our group who traveled hours earlier and later in the day, they witnessed/had similar experiences.
• I also believe the EU has a high rate of vaccinated people and what you said about it being a lottery as to who catches it. There were thousands of people in those lines (that day) so 10+ discussions might equate to low risk or a good sign? Unsure about the number of people who, like us, never spoke out... That day, there was no social distancing, lol.
  
• My report is regarding what happened to us/our group only and agree with you re: the degree of symptoms/suffering are different for everyone.

Laurie Beth:

• We told both hotels. The first place we stayed at (London, where we were flying home from) put into place strict Covid rules however, in the small town they could care less, no special rules and they were extremely sympathetic, checking in on us (need more tissues, change sheets etc.) and offering to run to the store for free, pick-up dinner, water, medication etc.
• We both got "official certified tests" and self-tested with otc antigen tests (we were curious). Note: the official test requires your passport information, and your results are reported.
• A "letter of recovery" is only required if after the waiting/recovery period (UK; 7 days) a person still tests (certified) positive. Note: We were advised (by the National Health System) NOT to take the certified PCR (blood) test as many people can test positive for weeks/months and that's not the case with the Certified (nose swab) antigen test. We followed the NHS advise.
  
• These "Recovery letters" are HARD to get in person but easy online. In person: One must get a local GP appointment or find a local hosp. who treats Covid (we were turned away at the one NHS sent us to). samedaydoctors was referred to us by the US Embassy but they had no available appointment slots. We could not find any London clinics who would take us or knew what a "recovery letter" was (we quit searching after 8 attempts). Online: You simply provide your passport, certified positive test (taken 8 days prior) to one of the online services and they review your documents, video chat you (appointment) and review your appearance/breathing etc. then email you a recovery letter. Note: some online services make you wait 10 days, so shop around!
• After we self-tested negative, we then went to the Certified clinic and paid for them to do their antigen test and give us a letter. The certified negative letter is all we needed to fly home. The day my partner tested negative, Biden dropped the requirement at midnight, lol... If all else failed (after we recovered) our back-up plan was to fly to Canada/Mexico and simply bus/train/drive/boat across the border. Perfectly legal, no testing requirements to enter USA by land or water.
  
• No one in our group reported attempting to get Paxlovid (we didn't try too either).
• Dublin airport was a breeze upon arrival for all in our group and a nightmare for most of our group upon departure (it was a bad couple of days; made the National news). Some people stayed an extra day or so and got through (bag check, security, at gate) super quick. On that busy weekend early morning was better than after 11am. By the time you go in September staffing problems may not be an issue, check online maybe?
• Honestly, I don't think you have to be any more careful at the Dublin airport than you would anywhere else. It was simply a very crowded understaffed weekend. I can only suspect some of us got Covid in this 3-4 hour overpacked crowd, but who knows? We all came through this lovely airport (and it is a nice airport) before our tour, everyone tested negative at the start of the tour (required), no one was noticeably sick on our tour, first person reported Covid 2 days after the tour ended.
  
• I hope you have a lovely vacation!

Thank you SO much for all your valuable information. I will bookmark your post to reread before my trip. I am so excited to be going overseas again. In March 2020 it was a trip to the UK I had to cancel, so this one means a lot. I agree Dublin is a great airport. In fact, Aer Lingus is my airline of choice as I love their business class and Ireland is a great favorite of mine.