Was probably exposed to COVID on Sunday Dec 26th, first real symptoms (fever) on Wednesday the 29th, antigen home test today (31st) was positive. The problem is my wife and I are scheduled to fly to the Caribbean next weekend and have PCR tests scheduled for Thursday Jan 6th. I know you can still test positive with a PCR test for many weeks after infection. I found an older study that shows you have about a 50% chance of it being positive after 10-12 days. Would this likely be the same for Omicron? Hoping it would clear out of your system quicker than the old variants. Any knowledge/opinions on this?

My 17-yr-old daughter had a positive PCR test 10 days after the onset of (mild) symptoms. She only had symptoms for a couple of days (sore throat, fever). Her employer (fast food) wants a negative test before returning to work. Talked to her pediatrician and was told that repeat testing is not recommended because it can remain positive for weeks even though you are no longer infectious.

We are pretty sure it was Omicron since it was just before Christmas.

International travel accepts a documented positive test and recovery for 90 days as an alternative to a negative test. Check your destination country has a similar rule.

Quote:

---

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

Not trying to be the bearer of bad news but wife tested positive again on Day 9 (doing it for father in law). Wife had pretty mild symptoms. May be tough to get a negative that soon but hopefully you do as would be silly to not be able to when you are healthy.

fightingfarmer09 said:

---

International travel accepts a documented positive test and recovery for 90 days as an alternative to a negative test. Check your destination country has a similar rule.

Quote:

---

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

---

I've looked into that path. The website for The country we are visiting says they use the WHO standard of 10 days of quarantine (if no symptoms) or another 3 with symptoms and a letter from a a licensed healthcare provider. With the 10 days being after a positive test. We are scheduled to leave in 9 days. So probably will not work. That's why I'm hoping I test negative on the 6th…..may be my only chance other than postponing or canceling.

I'd get all the documentation anyway. Just keep getting tests during the 2 day window until you get a negative.

Then travel with the documents so no matter the results you can get back.

We have been doing this for our international coworkers.

Is a rapid antigen test an option?

ORAggieFan said:

---

Is a rapid antigen test an option?

---

Only to return to the US.
St Lucia requires negative PCR within 5 days of travel to St Lucia.

AG81xx said:

---

ORAggieFan said:

---

Is a rapid antigen test an option?

---

Only to return to the US.
St Lucia requires negative PCR within 5 days of travel to St Lucia.

---

Ouch. I'd not feel good about my odds with a PCR.

I think the Problem with the pcr test is they cycle it up way too many times so you test positive even after you are recovered?

Is a person still contagious or spreading virus after a few days of no symptoms but still testing positive with an antigen test?

No

No no longer contagious that far out so doesn't matter

It matters for him. A positive test means cancelling his trip to the Caribbean.

Well my wife and I both just tested positive from the required PCR test….even though I've been over my mild symptoms for a while and she never really had any. So today will be spent unraveling our trip and trying to reschedule.
And we just added two new "scary" datapoints to the omicron panic although it was less than an a cold for us. I guess the good news is that is 2 more cases without hospitalization or death!
Something different has to be implemented…..this isn't working for society

AG81xx said:

---

Well my wife and I both just tested positive from the required PCR test….even though I've been over my mild symptoms for a while and she never really had any. So today will be spent unraveling our trip and trying to reschedule.
And we just added two new "scary" datapoints to the omicron panic although it was less than an a cold for us. I guess the good news is that is 2 more cases without hospitalization or death!
Something different has to be implemented…..this isn't working for society

---

Sorry to hear that. I believe after this Omicron spike, if countries are serious about getting back to normal, that testing will become a thing of the past.