Percentage that get stuck because of Covid

Enough people test positive to make for good feature stories, but not enough that the Italian government is overwhelmed by foreigners clogging up facilities. My impression is that the number has always been a very small percentage, but the Omicron variant has created a larger number of people testing positive, but being non-symptomatic. The good news is, the variant seems to be declining.

An edit: While completely anecdotal; of the dozens, maybe over a hundred, of people that seem to have been in Italy on this board, there has only been one report of a couple people from a family of four testing positive...plus someone who had a friend do so. Europe wide, only another 1 or 2 first hand reports of testing positive, so a small percentage.

The risk is small enough that I do not worry about it in my travel planning; but I have no job that I have to be back at (or else!) and I can afford an extra 10 days or so. People do need to assess the need for insurance, and pave the plan with employers as to "what if?", and of course any other life needs (pets, housesitting, etc.)

The euplf should be provided in a link by your airline, but you can find it here: https://www.salute.gov.it/portale/nuovocoronavirus/dettaglioContenutiNuovoCoronavirus.jsp?lingua=english&id=5412&area=nuovoCoronavirus&menu=vuoto&tab=8 Keep in mind, while it is referred to as an EU form, you need one specific to Italy. There is also a separate instruction document linked on that page.

As for testing for your return, in Rome, just about any Pharmacy offers a rapid antigen test, show up, test, results in 20 minutes or so for about 25 euro, give or take.

But it sounds like you have a good understanding, keep in mind that things will likely change, so keep up on it. Also remember that there are entry requirements, and then there are internal, even local covid measures regarding masking and other restrictions.

You should be able to calm down knowing that the worst of the Omicron surge has passed. Whatever the percentage was before, it's greatly lessened now

This is why I love this forum. I needed the voices or reason this morning. Thank you. :)

I get emails from Overseas Adventure Travel, another big travel company. Recently they included this statement about their travelers’ testing experience (all over the world, not just Italy):

“Since July 2021, 11,100 travelers have joined us on 49 itineraries. Of those, 84 travelers have tested positive for COVID while on one of our trips, representing 0.8% of all travelers.”

So this is very reassuring!

The numbers are probably small, but a friend of mine flew to Spain last month. He tested negative the day of his flight out there, wore a mask on the plane and whenever indoors in public places etc and by day 5 of the trip tested positive, so despite his precautions, he did pick up Covid, so it can happen.

Slightly different situation, but one where I have statistics for. During the height of the current wave, one was 8,000 times more likely to get Covid going about their daily lives than traveling on a cruise ship. Does that mean no one got Covid on cruise ships? Of course not. It does mean that it is possible to travel and mitigate risk to a huge degree with proper protocols.

I still am not traveling overseas but am typically solo when I do. Rather than worrying and looking at odds I would spend my time on a solid "what if" list so you are prepared should you be the unlucky 1 out of whatever.
Can you miss 10 days of work?
Do you need help with pets, other house stuff?
Do you have places to stay lined up if you have to and this as well as food, etc budgeted for?
Travel insurance?
Do you know how to get medical care there?
For me having all this in place and then hoping it's not needed would better channel my worries productively.
Besides, as masks start coming off all across the US it's not like there's low risk here!

Karen gave you an excellent list of questions that will help you to prepare. Here's a bit more information: I am the person who posted about my dear friend's experience in Rome in January 2022 after testing positive just before hoping to fly home. Given his experience, if I were going to Italy this spring, I would pack in my luggage an online proctored Covid test and use that test the day before flying. I would know where I could self-quarantine for a few days if I did test positive. (My friend quarantined in his Rome hotel.) I would be in immediate touch with my physician/health care provider in the US. After a specific number of days after my first official positive test, a number set by the CDC (it may currently be 5), I would ask my US health care provider to write a letter stating that I was no longer contagious and cleared to fly and email that letter to me. I would NOT go to an Italian physician for that letter because the current guidelines for the Italian Ministry of Health are that a person is NOT cleared to fly internationally until they test negative. (My friend continued to test positive for weeks, despite never having symptoms.) Armed with a printed copy of my first positive test, and a printed copy of the letter from my health care provider, I would fly home. Those two documents are what are required by the US govt and by US airlines in order to board a flight to the US. Also, FYI, the current US govt requirement is for a test ONE DAY (not 24 hours) before your flight. So if your flight departs at 1:00 am, you will need to test during the day before your flight.

The problem with above is that not everyone will have a US health care provider who would write that letter, (diagnosing without actually examining)
Nor should they.

Where I live, telemedicine is a common and established part of many health care professionals' medical practice, especially since the pandemic began. Visits between health care providers and patients take place both by videoconferencing and by phone. The providers may diagnose illness and prescribe and adjust medication via telemedicine. In my friend's case, he had an established relationship with his physician and her NP and met with them regularly, both in person and via videoconferencing. Clearly his physician felt confident enough in her phone conversation with him, during which she reviewed his (already emailed to her) dated positive test results (from several weeks prior), and discussed his overall health and lack of Covid symptoms, to determine that he was no longer contagious and she (following CDC guidelines) cleared him to fly. Thus my point: although an Italian health care provider may not be able and willing to write such a letter (adhering to the guidelines of the Italian Ministry of Health), an American health care provider who is accustomed to providing care via telemedicine, may be willing to do so after an appropriate telemed conversation.

This question is a little like, how many people are actually pickpocketed on vacation? Some yes, all no.

As a fellow Pennsylvanian I hate to disagree with ChristineH , but as far as Covid goes, other than a test result and a temp check for someone asymptomatic, my doctor would rely entirely on my account of symptoms anyhow. Being that I would get a temp check and test on the ground with clear proof before phoning the physician, I can't see why it would be at all inappropriate.

Phred, I understand your comment, although the number of people who are pickpocketed does not have to be reported to a governmental health agency, so there would be no way to access those numbers to my knowledge, whereas the number of people testing positive for Covid in this situation must be reported somewhere. I just didn’t know how to find that information and thought perhaps someone here might.