What If You Test Positive Prior to Flight Back to U.S.?

I'm curious about this answer too! Also it would be great if someone could point to travel insurance they recommend in case this happens. I'm fully vaccinated but I'm getting worried with breakthrough cases with the Delta variant

Very interested in responses to this as well!

Hi -- Been thinking about this as well with a trip coming up in several weeks. The first thing would be to get a second test due to false positives -- and probably make a second test the more accurate/expensive test.

Beyond that, most articles I found said you would have to find a place to quarantine, but that's where things get light on details. I would think you should be able to retest every few days, and if you get a negative result -- head home. Although a last minute flight change might be pricey.

So insurance would come in handy, but most of the base policies exempted COVID-19 issues when I looked into a month ago. COVID coverage is available, but was substantially pricier.

There was this article from a couple of days ago which has someone else's thinking on the issue: https://thepointsguy.com/news/travel-abroad-positive-covid-test-us-what-happens/

So I'll just keep checking until the departure date.....

Kurt

I just posted this same subject in the Italy forum. I'll be watching here for France responses too. I know each country/airline could be different.

You might consider this option- not necessarily cheap, but certainly provides peace of mind.

https://covacglobal.com/

I suggest going over to insuremytrip.com and looking. They even have a filter to show you which policies will cover you for Covid. And it’s not near as many excluding as you think. The other thing I’ve discovered is if you read the policy it doesn’t exclude the pandemic even though it may not come up on the Covid list.

I do not ensure the price of the trip. I’m OK with that so what I’m trying to get id medical only and it would cover me if I can’t get on a plane for some reason. That makes it a lot cheaper, say the price of your trip is zero or $500 that will keep the cost your insurance way down

I purchased the tour company's Guest Protection (travel insurance) when we booked the tour so I know we have some coverage and could actually pay a little more and receive more. However, it's hard to know what you'd need without knowing what bills could be coming. Right now we'd get up to $2,000 to cover a possible longer hotel stay but at the hotel we end the tour at that won't go far especially if we are both confined to the room. If we can (or would be forced to) move to a less expensive option and one of us can go out to forage, that changes the possible costs a lot.

CJ, $2000 to cover quarantine costs is the most I’ve seen. My possible quarantine will be in Switzerland so that money won’t last very long. I was going to see if I could quarantine in a tent. 😊

I’m not sure about France, but Switzerland allows for a retesting on day 7. But, all the info. I have found is for Swiss residents, so I’m not sure if the same rules would apply for US tourists. I would think they would want us out of the country ASAP if we test positive.

Carrie, we'll be in Switzerland just before the France tour and I haven't seen any requirement for testing, etc to go between the two countries. I guess I should be grateful it isn't the other way around potential cost wise. Was sooooo hoping the US would drop the requirement before our tour. We have until 24 Sep when our flights home are scheduled.

I found some info. from the French gov. on the length of quarantine. Looks like it is 10 days if you test positive. Scroll down to WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I HAVE THE VIRUS?

https://www.gouvernement.fr/en/coronavirus-covid-19

Not sure if this same time would apply for tourists testing positive.

There’s still a chance things could change prior to your late Sept. flight back to the US. I doubt it, but you never know. My flight back is on Sept. 19th and I know I’ll be checking for any changes.

And I think it's a good sign that we're not hearing about people having to quarantine prior to coming back to the US. That tells me it's not happening a lot.

Carrie,

Looks like it is 10 days if you test positive.

So what happens if after 10 days of self-isolation, you still test positive? Somehow, these guidances are never thorough enough.

Not sure if this applies to France but I'm in several Italian FB groups and one person posted that he was traveling with a large tour group in Italy and upon testing to return home 5 tested positive. They have to stay in a government provided room (at a Sheraton) supposedly at the government's expense for 10 days. They retest in 10 days and if still positive have to quarantine for another 7 days. Not leaving the hotel room. Meals delivered to them. This is in progress now so I haven't heard what happens after 7 additional days but it sounded like they could fly home at that point if no symptoms.

If you are still testing positive after the 10 days you may be very unwell. Getting home may be less important than getting well.