Getting home after testing positive abroad

BASHED

Hi.  Please, please can anybody help?  My 18 year old tested positive in Zante and has been told he has to go to an isolation hotel somewhere on Zante for 10 days.  He is currently still waiting to be collected from the accommodation he was holidaying in and he has been self isolating in his room there since testing positive.  The rest of his group tested negative and he is now on his own.  I have scoured the gov.uk website and the information does not go beyond telling you that if you test positive in Greece, you will be asked by the Greek authorities to self isolate for 10 days.  Nobody can confirm when he will be collected, or that if he tests negative before the 10 days are up that he can come home, no clarity on re-entry into the UK once you've self isolated abroad, the British Embassy say follow local guidance and get answers to questions locally, but the hotel staff are his only contact and they simply say they don't know. All I do know is that the Greek authorities will pay for the isolation hotel.  We are ready to do what has to be done but just need some answers.  Any help gratefully received.  Thank you.

Sandtree

The FCO advice is that for non-vaccinated people you have to isolate for 10 days in greece and this can be at your current accommodation or you may be instructed to go to a quarantine hotel which is paid for by the greek authorities however additional expenses are your own (doesn't clarify what exactly is being paid for other than the room). There is no indication of a test to release type process being in place. Have the Greek authorities instructed him to move or are you assuming they will?

Return to the UK is as per anyone else, you need a negative test result within 3 days of your departure, they recommend that you use the less sensitive LFD rather than PCR as its less likely to be triggered by any residual virus.

onashoestring

Is you son fully vaccinated ? 

Looking at the information on uk Gov website if he is fully vaccinated he will need to self- isolate for 10 days and if not fully vaccinated then it will be 14 days .

His close contacts  are also required to self- isolate.

The Greek authorities cover the quarantine hotel costs.

Hopefully when the local authorities come to collect him to take him to the quarantine hotel they will be able to explain everything and confirm the exact day he will be leaving quarantine so you can book him a flight home for the new date.

Does he have insurance to cover that additional cost? 

Hopefully you son does not get too ill , but if he does require medical treatment the UK Government will fund treatment as usual for UK residents or insured individuals. 

Does he have his EHIC or GHIC card, if not you can contact the NHS Business Services Authority to receive a Provisional Replacement Certificate . 

I am sure you must be very worried but you will know more by the end of the day , please report back to the forum and let us know what happens . 

BASHED

Hi.  Thanks for your responses.  He has had his first jab, has his EHIC with him and does have travel insurance. (Although quite honestly, I'd remortgage to get him home.)  Since he tested positive, he was told he would need to quarantine for 10 days in Greece and that he would be collected to go to a quarantine hotel but nobody has come for him yet.  I really hope we do know more by the end of today.  I spent hours on the phone yesterday and am no further forward.  Will post when I know more.  Thanks again. 

Westin

Did they book their holiday as a package? If so they should have a contact for a Rep or ground handler who might be able to offer assistance such as local language liaison with the relevant authorities.

Another route for assistance would be via your son’s travel insurer. If he looks at his policy documents there would be a 24/7 contact number for overseas assistance.  They may well know the process for isolation and retesting, plus help with his new flight home once cleared to fly. 

silvercar

Are his travel companions isolating with him or are they getting on the original flight and coming home?

MoJoeGo

silvercar said:

Are his travel companions isolating with him or are they getting on the original flight and coming home?

I would have thought they would need to isolate as well, given they are close contacts. But I'm not an expert on Greek requirements.

OP, firstly, what a rotten situation. If it were me I'd be on the first flight out there to try and help but obviously I don't know your circumstances. What I have however heard is that the standard of Greek government isolation accommodation leaves quite a bit to be desired (not surprising as they pay for it!) so if there is any way he can stay at his current accommodation, that has to be preferable - hopefully insurance will cover it. Good luck and let us know how it goes.

BASHED

Yes, it was a package holiday but doesn't appear to be a rep in resort, just a help team based in the UK.  Travel insurer has been contacted - been given details on how to claim once he's home but they can't do anything beyond that, basically we are in the hands of the Greek authorities.  My instinct too was to fly out there but then I'd hit all the testing hurdles to leave the UK and re-enter the UK, I could even end up testing positive trying to return too, so head is trying to over rule heart on that one. Off to make more calls.....Thanks again.

Sandtree

BASHED said:

 he was told he would need to quarantine for 10 days in Greece and that he would be collected to go to a quarantine hotel but nobody has come for him yet. 

Who told him this? Isolation is mandatory, a quarantine hotel isnt unless the authorities tell you so according to the FCO.

lisyloo

Sandtree said:

BASHED said:

 he was told he would need to quarantine for 10 days in Greece and that he would be collected to go to a quarantine hotel but nobody has come for him yet. 

Who told him this? Isolation is mandatory, a quarantine hotel isnt unless the authorities tell you so according to the FCO.

So it could all hinge on whether the hotel can accommodate him?
I would guess the government facility provides when hotels cannot accommodate people (for example they are full with other bookings).

Westin

BASHED said:

Yes, it was a package holiday but doesn't appear to be a rep in resort, just a help team based in the UK.  Travel insurer has been contacted - been given details on how to claim once he's home but they can't do anything beyond that, basically we are in the hands of the Greek authorities.  My instinct too was to fly out there but then I'd hit all the testing hurdles to leave the UK and re-enter the UK, I could even end up testing positive trying to return too, so head is trying to over rule heart on that one. Off to make more calls.....Thanks again.

If local protocols permit, I wonder if the UK based assistance team could liaise with your son and the hotel to see if he can extend his stay at his original accommodation (if he likes it). Might be better for him and also the hotel staff can perhaps get to know him and arrange for meals, supplies and necessities to be delivered to his room.  Hopefully the travel insurers would cover extra costs incurred. 

The UK based assistance team may also be able to put you or your Son in touch with the British Consulate in Zante.  They can't change or influence the Greek health protocols but can perhaps dip in to help if he needs help and support.