Fly to USA after positive test

janet_oggy

My daughter and her husband were due to fly to the States on honeymoon tomorrow but she started feeling unwell last Friday 12th so took a lateral flow test on Saturday morning which came back positive. She immediately went for a PCR test and this also came back positive, on Sunday morning. She is obviously now self-isolating for 10 days and going on the set criteria this ends at midnight next Monday (10 days after first feeling unwell), so they have re-booked their flights for Tuesday morning with British Airways at 6.20 am from Manchester to Heathrow and then 8.55am from Heathrow to New York. Obviously she will be unable to provide a negative test before she flies and will be relying on the App updating after midnight on Monday to say that she can fly but they have had mixed messages from the staff on 119 - one person told them that it was 10 days from the positive PCR test but another has since told them that it is 10 days from first showing symptoms !! 
Also there appears be confusing information State-side as one website says "once you have finished isolation" you can travel to the US whereas another mentions 14 days !!

Can someone give us a definitive answer as to whether they can fly out on Tuesday please ???

onashoestring

The cdc website says “If you recently recovered from COVID-19, you may instead travel with documentation of recovery from COVID-19 (i.e., your positive COVID-19 viral test result on a sample taken no more than 90 days before the flight’s departure from a foreign country and a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or a public health official stating that you were cleared to travel).

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html

The NHS doesn’t provide these types of letter , so they will need to pay for a private Dr’s letter to travel to USA.

janet_oggy

Okay, so as per the above, they've now contacted their surgery who have confirmed they don't issue certificates and told them to contact British Airways, which they have again done but BA have said to check the government websites, (UK and USA) which both confirm the above details - positive test within 90 days and letter required from Doctor !!!
They've spoken to 119, yet again, who have said that this whole area is currently being reviewed but couldn't help any further....AAARRRGGHH !!!

So how do they get a certificate ??

theoretica

Try asking a private GP if they will do this.

eskbanker

onashoestring said:

The cdc website says “If you recently recovered from COVID-19, you may instead travel with documentation of recovery from COVID-19 (i.e., your positive COVID-19 viral test result on a sample taken no more than 90 days before the flight’s departure from a foreign country and a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or a public health official stating that you were cleared to travel).

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html

The NHS doesn’t provide these types of letter , so they will need to pay for a private Dr’s letter to travel to USA.

Given the US's enthusiasm for bureaucracy, perhaps worth noting that this page also includes a more comprehensive definition of their specific requirements when unable to provide a negative test, under "What if I recently recovered from COVID-19?":

A letter from your healthcare provider or a public health official that clears you to end isolation, e.g., to return to work or school, can be used to show you are cleared to travel, even if travel isn’t specifically mentioned in the letter. The letter must have information that identifies you personally (e.g., name and date of birth) that matches the personal identifiers on your passport or other travel documents. The letter must be signed and dated on official letterhead that contains the name, address, and phone number of the healthcare provider or public health official who signed the letter.

onashoestring

Do an internet search to book an appointment with a private Dr who can issue Covid Recovery certificates (costs around £150 each ) for the sites that I have seen , they may not be able to do this until Day 11 . 

janet_oggy

Yeah, we've been doing some research and that's what we found too, so assuming she's well enough they may have to look at re-arranging (again) for later in the week. Cheers guys.

onashoestring

@janet_oggy , hope your daughter recovers quickly and has a lovely honeymoon ( it will be one to remember) ,
 please report back on how it went getting the Covid recovery certificate as it will be useful for others on this forum ( especially if you find a Dr  who charges less than £150 ) 

dunlop_2

@janet_oggy    I hope your daughter is recovering well.

I too recently tested positive on a PCR test. I am due to fly to the US on 3/12.  My test was on 09/11 and my Covid pass and Recovered from Covid certificates were reinstated today (19/11) 10 days post positive test.  I thought it may not update until 26/11 which is 10 days post isolation ending.  Nowhere can I find if the NHS Recovered from covid pass will satisfy the CDC requirement as a declaration of recovery.  However, I have found a company called iGP that charge £85 for a certificate of recovery.  Cheapest I have found so far.

janet_oggy

If you are now able to provide a negative test then surely you won't need a certificate of recovery ??

"If you plan to travel internationally, you will need to get a COVID-19 viral test (regardless of vaccination status) before you travel by air into the United States. You must show your negative result to the airline before you board your flight.

• Fully vaccinated: The viral test must be conducted on a sample taken no more than 3 days before the flight’s departure from a foreign country if you show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19."

dunlop_2

If you have a positive test result they do not recommend you take another test within 90 days because even after isolation and recovery it may detect the virus in your system and give a false positive. 

I asked my GP if they would provide a letter but they declined.

I have contacted Virgin Atlantic and they have advised me that the Notice of Recovery on the NHS app will not be accepted by the airline.

Now there is nothing to stop me from taking another test but then I run the risk of paying for a test and then a letter of recovery if the test proves positive.