Testing positive before leaving Italy

the first thing you do is re-test.

You test initially with an Antigen test, then confirm with a PCR test.

Good advice! I’m assuming they allow you to retest? From what I gather, testing data is automatically sent to health authorities, so it seems that even with a positive rapid test, they would still contact you to begin your quarantine immediately even if you want to take a PCR test to confirm, which will take longer to get the results.

Great question as I have been thinking the same. If anyone has had first hand experience testing positive or know someone that has, I welcome hearing about the experience. Thanks

Another poster shared this NYT article from today:

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/18/travel/blindsided-abroad-vaccinated-but-testing-positive-on-a-trip-to-europe.html

A lot to think about.

Thanks for posting the link! I read it and just want to add that most travel insurance companies we looked into for this trip ALL confirmed that accommodation and flight reticketing were included under the quarantine coverage. The article makes it sounds like it’s a rarity with travel insurance, but we checked out three different companies and they all covered the cost of the hotel, meals and flight cancelation/rebooking (up to a certain amount depending on the plan). Definitely confirm with your insurance company beforehand, but that shouldn’t be something hard to find. We ultimately went with World Nomads because we’ve used it several times and have always had good experiences with claim reimbursement and customer service.

This question is similar to the one being asked about, Why the hurry to travel? You question was the number one reason we have been cancelling our scheduled trips. The probability may be low but positive test is a hassle that we simply do not want to deal with since travel is an option. For us, there is always next year. We still have trips scheduled for later this year and early next year but have no hesitation about cancelling if the situation has not substantially improved. Personally, I am not interested in lugging along the extra stuff need to quarantine. Always next year!

There's a really good thread on the France forum titled around France moving to level 4 about a family having 2 test positive (one hospitalized) both breakthrough cases.
I did not think you were "provided a hotel or food" I assumed you had to scramble and handle all of it yourself.

Hey Frank! Totally understand your concerns and trepidation and they are certainly warranted! But this thread was more so directed to people are ARE willing to travel now despite the possibility of quarantine, and what that process may look like :)

Thanks Monica! I’ll definitely check that post out.

Still curious about Italy quarantine specifics since every country is different. For example, the article from the NYT that was linked earlier in the thread mentioned that quarantine for testing positive in Greece was paid for for the government (food and accommodation). So I feel like each country will be different, and may even vary by region within that country. But this is still helpful nonetheless :)

I think you are misunderstanding this "quarantine" thing.

If you should test positive, the police don't show up at your door and force you into quarantine at gun point. You are told you test positive via either email or text. You are then supposed to quarantine. It doesn't mean you have to go to a quarantine hotel. Most quarantine hotels are for when you first enter a country and are required to quarantine. Your hotel might have rooms available and you can stay there. You'll have to make arrangements for food delivery. (It's even possible that your hotel has to make room for you if you test positive. I don't know the laws everywhere.)

As stated, the first thing you do is arrange for a second test. There have been false positives. Next, on your way back to your hotel, you can stop and get snacks. At some point, some local official will probably get in touch with you.

Remember, if you are vaccinated, the chances of you catching Covid are very slim. Very slim.

Hey Frank II - thanks for the input :) But please know that I’m not misunderstanding. I’m aware that once you test positive, you’re not taken away at gun point :) But what I’m saying is, it doesn’t hurt to have more information about next steps, what to expect, and to also be prepared because that could provide some peace of mind during your travels (it does for me anyway).

And I agree, it’s a great point to know that you should always test again if you get a positive from a rapid test! That didn’t occur to me, so that’s super helpful to know.

But that’s also why I wanted to start this post, for folks who have been through that experience to share their stories. There really isn’t much info out there about specifics.

But I can say, COVID and quarantine hotels do also exist for those who test positive before their return flight home. The limited info I found online for Italy did state somewhere that if you test positive and cannot arrange for accommodation at a hotel that will take you because you’ve tested positive (since you’ll need to disclose that), the government will take you to a designated hotel or facility that accepts people who have tested positive. In Italy, that seems to be at your own expense, of course. I’ll quickly end with a tongue and cheek comment that, in the midst of working all that out, you probably don’t want to be caught off guard and not have any snacks or clean clothes on you :)

I am interested in how this might work too. We have a trip booked to Italy (Cinque Terre first and then Sicily) in September. My husband and I are both vaccinated and understand that the vaccines provide us excellent protection from serious illness from Covid. We have no problem wearing masks where recommended/required during our trip. However with the Delta variant and breakthrough infections, mild though they may be, we know we can't leave Sicily for the US without a positive test result and would need to isolate ourselves until we have a clean test.

We will be staying in Airbnbs in Sicily. I read the fine print on the general Airbnb website. They make it very clear that we can't check into an Airbnb with a positive covid test result so another airbnb isn't an option. What I can't find is information about where/how tourists are supposed to isolate themselves if they do come down with covid before a flight home? Where does Italy/Sicily stash these people?

Here is an older article about Italy's covid hotels that provides a small glimpse of what one might expect.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/irenedominioni/2020/11/23/life-inside-italys-covid-19-hotels/?sh=4710c45f2386

Lovetotravel,
Thanks for starting this thread! I’ve also been trying to find out as much information about what happens should either of us test positive as my husband and I will be in Croatia and then Italy this fall. We return home from Italy, so the possibility of quarantine is a big concern of ours.

One thing I would appreciate is finding out what insurance companies you’ve found that pay for accommodations in the event of a quarantine. Most companies that I’ve found do not. The only one I did find is Trawick international, and their reimbursement seems limited while the cost of the policy is high. Otherwise, most companies I’ve found cover trip Interruption or trip delay - that is, prepaid costs and the change of fees, but not the cost of the accommodations and other expenses. I spoke with an agent at Insure My Trip and this was what I was told and I did some research on my own as well which pretty much bore this out.

SOTL - thanks for posting the link! Bring that it’s from a year ago, I’m sure some things have changed, but it was nice to hear that things like laundry service and such were an option. 😊

Paulesue - I can’t remember the names of the travel insurance companies we looked into (my husband actually did all the calls and emails to ask what the trip interruption/quarantine coverage actually covered). But we ended up booking with World Nomads. There are two policy options when you get your initial quote, and we went with the higher knew (I think it’s called the Explorer plan), which covers up to $10,000 in trip interruption. Quarantine is listed as a trip interruption event, and we called and emailed (to get in writing) that COVID quarantine for a positive test before arriving home was covered. They specified accommodation, meal costs and flight re-booking as all being covered. These will be claims, of course, and are reimbursed after you submit a claim, so you’ll have to pay outright in the moment. But it will certainly help. We’ve used World Nomads quite a bit for traveling and we’ve never had a problem submitting claims for reimbursement. Hope that helps!

And just a friendly reminder that most people are testing negative to come home, so chances are, you won’t need it. But if you’re anything like me, I like to be prepared as possible :) So far no one has chimed in with experiences of testing positive/quarantining, which is good! If you haven’t already, read the NYT article that was posted earlier in this thread for a bit of additional insight (just remember to not let it scare you - it was just stories for only a few people compared to the hundreds or thousands testing negative to come home).

Thanks so much for your quick response, LoveToTravel!

Unfortunately, we’re not eligible for World Nomads as my husband is 74, and they cover only up to 70. It does seem to be an excellent company for those who are eligible.

I, too, like to prepare for any eventuality, and unfortunately, most travel plans don’t cover quarantine accommodations, or, if they do, like Trawick, they are very expensive.

I do agree - most people seem to be doing fine and the decision to travel really comes down to one’s personal risk level. I’m pretty sure we will go but I’m waiting to see what happens at the end of the month.

Thanks again!

Paulesue - Ah, yes, that does limit your travel insurance options. I apologize, I didn’t realize. If I can, I’ll see if my husband can remember the other companies we looked into before going with World Nomads, but I would assume it will be a similar situation :(

One thing suggested in the NYT article is to get tested before you leave, even if it's not required by your destination. With the fairly low vaccination rate where I live, plus the current level of community spread, I'm a LOT more likely to catch it here than in Italy. Of the 3 times I've gone into the office since this all started, I've gotten a "congrats, you've been exposed to COVID" follow up email twice. I'd really rather postpone a trip than be sick on vacation and expose other people.

No worries, LoveToTravel! If your husband remembers the name of an insurance policy, that’s great. If not, thanks for trying!

Alice, good idea. I was thinking about doing that and will do it with enough time that I can cancel everything without penalty.

Per Frank II. "Remember, if you are vaccinated, the chances of you catching Covid are very slim. Very slim."

I would say you are more at risk of getting into a wreck while driving to the airport to start your trip.

Ed

Hello! My wife and I have a trip booked for late September to Florence and Siena. Our travel insurance (World Nomads Standard Plan) clearly covers quarantine expenses, just for anyone's information (I know this doesn't apply to some).

Yes, great tip that you should get tested prior to leaving. I should mention that my husband and I planned to get a PCR test before we left as well, and then also bring some at-home tests in case we start to feel symptomatic somewhere, and can't get a PCR test right away. We plan to get a rapid test to board our flight, and then a PCR test upon arrival back in NY a few days after we get home.

Hi Ed - Yes definitely! I think that's why we're not super fearful about traveling right now since Italy isn't a "hotspot" as of now. The chances of a positive test are slim if vaccinated. This thread isn't meant to scare anyone, but just have some insight into what happens should you actually test positive and have to quarantine in the country before coming home since there really isn't a lot of clear or detailed info about that yet. And it's always a possibility, even if a small one. But yes, good to reiterate that chances of a positive test if vaccinated are slim! And should you get a positive with a rapid test, other people have pointed out that you should retest as soon as you can, or confirm with a PCR test if doing rapid testing.

LoveToTravel564: I totally agree. My wife and I were in China and Tibet for the months of September and October 2019. We always wonder what we were exposed to on that trip especially in Tibet. Travel at any time has risks, you just need to take them into account when making your plans.

<< Remember, if you are vaccinated, the chances of you catching Covid are very slim. Very slim.>>

I’m not minimizing the value of vaccinations but what we don’t know at this point is how many people contract asymptomatic covid with the Delta variant. So while it’s absolutely true that if you’re vaccinated, the likelihood of becoming severely ill or hospitalized is very low, we still don’t know how many people are positive who are vaccinated but are asymptomatic. And it’s testing positive, and not being ill, that we are tested for when we return to the US. We know that the Delta variant is far more contagious than earlier.

Given the number of people who report that they have traveled and returned without testing positive, I’m more reassured. But I also don’t think one should assume that they are fine just because they are vaccinated. Both my husband and I are fully vaccinated, but the reports of “breakthrough” virus give us pause. Will we go? - probably- but will also be very careful with maintaining careful safety protocols.

Funny how breakthrough cases are not really a thing that I can see here in Europe - at least they are not talked about in the media like in the US.

Paulesue - That is a good point. And of course, only you can decide if it’s worth the risk for you. I’m sure in the next few weeks, even, we will hear more about how many vaccinated people are contracting the virus without being symptomatic. As of right now, since that is the only data we have to rely on, they’re still saying that if vaccinated, you’re far less likely to get infected (and therefore, test positive), especially if you mask up and take all other precautions available to us. I think we all recognize there’s a chance you will test positive, though, which is why I wanted to start this thread so that we can do our best to prepare for that small chance, and not have it be such a surprise once that test result comes in.

I think we can all agree there is a level of risk when you travel right now, but I would love to redirect the conversation back to anyone who can share insight or experiences as far as what happens when you do test positive before returning from Italy :)

There is data becoming available on breakthrough infections from Israel and the UK. The numbers are apparently quite high, based on vaccine efficacy figures I've seen. I would urge folks to check current articles from news sources they trust. The situation is very different from what we thought it was even as recently as July. I'm referring to all infections, including asymptomatic, not just folks who get significantly ill.

hoping someone can respond who has tested positive in Italy prior to returning to their home when a negative test is required. ie. do you have to quarantine, how soon can another test be taken...... tx

Take a look at the r/travel subreddit on Reddit.com. Someone who tested positive in Italy is posting about their quarantine experience. It’s realllyyy making me rethink our upcoming trip.

Others are now reporting their experiences on that thread as well. It has brought up a lot of info I didn’t consider.

TravelIsFun - Thanks for posting! This is really helpful and interesting.

A couple of takeaways from this reddit thread:

1. This couple definitely had COVID BEFORE arriving in Italy since they developed symptoms their first day. They did multiple tests (including PCR) before arrival in Italy leading up to their trip, and generally speaking, they had pretty terrible luck with when they finally got symptoms and a positive test. This particular situation is going to be extremely rare, but I think it's good to be aware. It's good to note that testing before you leave is a really, really good idea. We plan to take at-home tests about a week before leaving, and then doing PCR tests 2-3 days before leaving. I know this isn't full-proof, as this couple has shown us, but it will definitely help.

2. I'm not sure what kind of travel insurance these guys had, but like I've said a lot on this thread already is that you must confirm details with your insurance company about what they will and will not cover for quarantine. Not sure why this couple "thought" accommodations would be covered, and then they weren't. But, ours has confirmed they provide full coverage up to $10,000 under any circumstance surrounding a positive COVID test while traveling, including accommodation. They also said that their hotel was a more expensive one ($1,000/night). So if you just see "This is going to cost us more than $10,000 just in hotel costs" in the thread, please remember that is only their particular situation. None of our accommodations ended up costing us more than $300/night so our insurance will more than cover us, even if our quarantine is somehow extended more than 10 days. If you can't get travel insurance that will cover this, I would honestly reconsider going unless you can afford the additional costs out of pocket. I feel like that would be too stressful for anyone to enjoy their trip at that point, but that's just me, and I know everyone's different.

3. If you can't stay at your current accommodation where you test positive for any reason, it sounds as though Italy does have COVID hotels they will send you to, at your own cost.

4. The couple is in good spirits, it sounds like. I mean, under the circumstances, of course. They even joke that Italy is a great place to be forced to get food delivery every day :) I'm certainly not saying that anyone WANTS to be quarantined after their vacation, but you'll have to look at from any positive angle if it happens, you know?

This is a great reminder that preparing for a quarantine is something we all have to plan for at this point. It's good to note that testing negative and coming home to the US as planned is still very likely - of the hundreds and thousands of people who are traveling right now, we're only hearing handfuls of stories of people who are testing positive, so it's good to keep perspective and know the percentage of positive tests/quarantines is very low. But you just never know, and should only travel being prepared to stay longer. If this is something you can't do, or it would be a cloud over you your whole trip, it may be time to reconsider.

I put in my first post in this thread that we plan to bring extra clean loungewear (in case we can't get laundry service), load our kindles with books, laptops with movies, and have arranged to work from Italy during quarantine if it comes to that. It brings us both peace of mind.

For us, we still plan to go, unless the infection rate in Italy starts to put most regions in the orange or red zone. Then, we will definitely reconsider and likely postpone. But right now, infections seem to be plateauing, and we plan to test/quarantine leading up to our trip.

Is there a direct link to this reddit post? I've not been able to find it and curious. TIA

This seems to be the Reddit thread in question:

https://www.reddit.com/r/travel/comments/p8qip7/takeawarningfromustriptoitalyany_tips/

Edited to add: I don't think those travelers were in a $1000/night hotel room. They are being cautious and projecting they may still test positive on Day 10 and end up quarantining for about 20 days. I think the $10,000 figure for hotel costs is based on that, which would mean they're in a $500/night room, approximately.

One other thing: In this particular case, the traveler had only finished the vaccination cycle in late May, so it's not a waning-of-effectiveness situation.

If anyone is interested, the OP of the Reddit thread said earlier today the authorities were coming to separate him from his wife since she was testing negative.

I’m sorry but some of this sounds...not truthful

Kevin,
Actually, the original Reddit post seems pretty accurate, and the couple got their 15 minutes (or 1 minute, anyway) of fame:
https://abc7ny.com/coronavirus-covid-19-travel-restrictions-italy/10971475/

Having obsessively followed travel groups from Italy (on FB and other sites), my sense is that the vast majority of people test negative and return home to the US without problems. There’s obviously no guarantee and the risk is still there but, again, it seems to be a very tiny percentage of folks who end up having to quarantine because they have a positive test.

This is an unofficial study of way too many travel sites!

Still waiting to see what, if anything, changes by the end of the month regarding travel restrictions for the EU and Italy in particular.

I agree that it’s so important to keep perspective. This is one very dramatic situation out of thousands of people who are traveling every day. It’s like saying you could get hit by a bus while traveling - definitely possible, but unlikely. And chances are, if you do test positive, even if traveling with a spouse or someone else, you will be released in 10 days. So, I’m still preparing for a quarantine, but I know the chances are very low. The news isn’t reporting on the thousands of people who are returning home with negative tests, only focusing on the very few people who do get quarantined.

I too am now impatiently waiting for news of the updated travel policy on Aug 30. Suddenly that’s my biggest concern is that we won’t en be able to travel to Italy at all! It drives me crazy that they wait until a day or two before to announce these possible changes. I feel so bad for those who have flights booked a day or two around Aug 30. Hoping that if any more restrictions are placed on the US, it’s as simple as requiring vaccination and a PCR test upon arrival. Just really hoping it’s not a mandatory 5-day quarantine upon arrival.

What if like to kniw is if u test positive, when can u go home because tests can show positive up to 3 months. I would think u get a letter saying recovered and u are on ur way 10-14 days?

I have been following a thread on another forum (it's Trip Advisor) in which a vaccinated couple took a test during a Greek trip and the husband tested positive (thus far asymptomatic). The wife tested negative; both are at a quarantine hotel (separate rooms) paid for by the government and provided food. She was very frustrated by the lack of information and concerned that their return flight was prior to the end of the quarantine period. The last update was that she was getting support from the embassy.
I agree this is a rare occurrence, but it is absolutely prudent to be prepared and know the policies of the country you are visiting. Good luck!

In my local paper there was an article a about a man from Orlando who spent 10 days quarantined in Iceland. He was vaccinated, tested negative before flying there, but the day after he arrived developed symptoms. He got tested and was positive. His wife was negative. He was put in a government quarantine site where he was fed three cold meals a day. His wife bought a return ticket to U.S. for next day.

Just wondering if anyone has recently tested positive before leaving Italy and if quarantined, for how long and did you have to change your return flight home. thankyou