Good NY Times article on getting stuck overseas

Hi, I am unable to open the article beyond the first few seconds. If anyone is able to share the key points, that would be appreciated- thanks!

Can’t see this as NYT is blocking it. They used to provide 2-3 free articles per month.

Tried to copy and paste the article in its entirety but Rick Steves site indicates that I've exceeded the number of characters allowed. Sorry!

I got as far as the woman “having to extend her stay 22 days until she tested negative before she could return” before the blocker kicked in. I would have written something like, “ woman fails to become knowledgeable about certificates of recovery and wastes time and money waiting for a negative test….”

I have to wonder if the rest of the article is like this??

No, it's not -- it does have some useful information.

Try your local library. You may have online access to the NYT, as well as other newspapers and magazines.

I read that article, which just reinforces that one needs to know what to do and have a plan before the trip. The person cited didn’t understand the procedure and didn’t have a plan. The article also is beneficial for the links it provides. IMO

Getting Stuck overseas is one more compelling reason to buy Travel Insurance that has you covered for that possibility.

The woman in the article tested positive in Amsterdam.

I'll paste in the pertinent bits in a few posts:

Feeling fine, yet still positive. What now?

While most people are likely to test negative within 10 days of a positive coronavirus test, for some it can take weeks or even months, according to the global health partnership Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. If you find yourself in that position, and feel well enough to travel, you can return to the United States but will need to obtain “documentation of recovery.”

For this documentation, there are six pieces of information you must provide:

• The type of coronavirus test you took.

• Evidence of positive results (“invalid” or “inconclusive” results are not accepted).

• Your name on the test results, which must match your identification.

• Where the test was taken, such as the name of the clinic or laboratory. If you self-tested, you can supply the brand name.

• The date the test was taken, which must be within the last 90 days.

• The test result must be accompanied by a letter signed by a licensed health care provider or a public health official stating that you have recovered and have been cleared to travel. This can be your health care provider in the United States.

More information can be found on the C.D.C.’s airline checklist.

Will my airline accept my document of recovery?

Most airlines flying to the United States accept paperwork that meets the C.D.C.’s requirements for documentation of recovery. If you are traveling through a third country and plan to leave the airport, however, check the local guidance as some governments may require a longer period of isolation or have other restrictions.

“Understand the rules for the country you’re departing from and understand that those rules may change,” said Erika Richter, the senior communications director of the American Society of Travel Advisors, a trade organization. “Travelers should plan to bring with them printed copies of all their paperwork so they can present it to the gate agency,” she said. “You’re really at the mercy of the gate agent upon check-in, so keep that in mind.”

Some travelers have also found it useful to print out the C.D.C. guidelines for certificates of recovery to present to the gate agent, she added.

Will travel insurance cover additional costs if I test positive?

It depends on the type of insurance. The U.S. Travel Insurance Association recommends that travelers concerned about the potential disruption to their plans after testing positive should investigate policies that include sickness and quarantine coverage, and also determine if there are any limits to those benefits.

Some policies will cover lodging costs beyond your scheduled return date but may not cover the full 10 days you are required to isolate (you can compare policies on review sites like Covertrip). If you are worried that you could get stuck for even longer as you try to obtain a certificate of recovery, then you might want to opt for a higher level of coverage.

Many travel insurance plans cover the costs to see a physician in order to obtain the documentation of recovery under medical expense, trip interruption or travel delay, according to the Travel Insurance Association. Under most policies, trip interruption coverage also covers charges for flight change fees.

But travelers should understand that plans often have a daily maximum trip delay limit, and the policy may not cover all costs associated with an extended stay, according to the association.

I'm not sure why it was deleted, but someone posted in this thread a link to Italy's Health Ministry with their guidelines stating isolation is 7-21 days and you must have a negative test to end isolation. Only after 21 days if you are still testing positive can you leave isolation without a negative test. So, it seems much stricter than the US guidelines.

Has anyone seen or read anything different from official sources? Obviously I myself have read news stories of travelers in Italy leaving after 5 days with the help of a recovery certificate through a telemed service, but it would seem this is TECHNICALLY not permissible by the Italian government. It seems it's not really being enforced by the government and really you are just at the mercy of the airline if they will let you board or not?

What does everyone think?

Hi, original poster here. Wanted to let you know that I added a new link to the article and i think this one will work. I may have done something wrong in the method I used previously. See my post at the top for the new and hopefully improved link -- if anyone is interested.

Link works now. Thanks!

Thanks, James. I so wish I'd been more careful when I originally posted. I'm going to blame it on my 2nd booster shot yesterday and running a fever.

Thank you for providing a link that makes the article available! After reading it, I am now scared to travel to Germany as I have planned for October because there is always a chance I could be exposed to somebody who has Covid. I’m also traveling alone with a disability in my back. I need to be able to walk every day. Last, the potential added expenses scared the daylights out of me.

james said:

"I'm not sure why it was deleted, but someone posted in this thread a link to Italy's Health Ministry with their guidelines stating isolation is 7-21 days and you must have a negative test to end isolation. Only after 21 days if you are still testing positive can you leave isolation without a negative test. So, it seems much stricter than the US guidelines. . . ."

@james, yes I am confused as well. I would infer that it is against Italy's rules (for example) even to leave isolation to go to the airport, a public place. The five day thing is a US policy for entry, and doesn't seem like it should override local authorities. And it seems like people are getting their internet-doctor-provided certificates as soon as they can, without any confirmation by a local doctor's examination. I understand that people can always find ways to get around the rules, and Italy might be happy to be ado of you, but it seems wrong.