Just tested positive- AAAAH! What next?

[Hanaguma]

Sorry to cross-post with 'another forum', but I am curious about WTH to do....

 

So, my wife and I are supposed to fly home to Japan on Thursday after our vacation here.  Arranged a pcr test with a clinic in Bangkok, did the test.............. phone call this morning. We are both positive! Both asymptomatic, both double dosed with with Phizer (last November), no sign of fever. Did temperature checks everywhere and was 36.5 always.  Currently staying in a nice hotel on Sukhumvit Soi 23. Told the staff and are waiting to see what happens....

Waiting to see if our hotel will let us stay here or we have to transfer to a hospitel somewhere. Visa free status will run out in 3 days also- can we sign up for an extension of some kind from quarantine? 

Bizarre situation. We dont go to parties, bars, group tours, stayed in an isolated villa on Phuket for 3 weeks..... what are our next steps?  Advice, grumpiness, scolding, whatever you want to give is fine. Looks like we will be here a while!

[MajorTom]

First of all get second tests. Exactly this happened to me recently. I was going on a visa run to Cambodia. Tested positive on pre-flight PCR test. Absolutely zero symptoms. I was told to home quarantine for 10 days.. Got a second test 3 days later: Negative. So i managed to leave just the day my visa expired. I did loose my flights and had to re-apply for Thailand pass, book SHA+ hotels etc. all over again. I was just out of the country 3 days before i returned. In this process i did another 4 tests. All negative.

 

Before I left, I tried to solve the visa situation by contacting the hospital and calling immigration hotline. None of them offered any solution. Immigration told me I could try after i finished quarantine with a medical certificate and i "might" be able to get a backtracked medical extension..

[Mavideol]

have similar problem, wife and daughter fully vaccinated with Pfizer and Moderna, asymptomatic, normal temperature, went shopping (over the week end) to Central Festival in Phuket, started to cough, running nose, they feel tired, decided to test (ATK saliva) and both show positive (1 real red stripe the 2nd stripe is light red barely visible) they are taking Amoxicillin and Paracetamol and staying at home, what to do next???

[internationalism]

hospital will move you to their hospitel. For 10 days.

Ask already now for medical certificate, an original of positive test.

You can start already travel insurance claim for rebooking flight or even for hospitel stay (very few insurance will cover, but check).

Not sure if asking for an additional pcr test will help. Depending on hospital policy, but not likely.

You can travel only 15 days after the first positive.

But if you are still positive after that time there might be no airline allowing you to board, even with recovery certificate.

 

as to amoxicillin for covid - not needed with very mild symptoms as you have. Keep antibiotics at hand, if sudden worsening

[richard_smith237]

16 minutes ago, Mavideol said:

have similar problem, wife and daughter fully vaccinated with Pfizer and Moderna, asymptomatic, normal temperature, went shopping (over the week end) to Central Festival in Phuket, started to cough, running nose, they feel tired, decided to test (ATK saliva) and both show positive (1 real red stripe the 2nd stripe is light red barely visible) they are taking Amoxicillin and Paracetamol and staying at home, what to do next???

What to do next.....   the obvious answer is stop taking an Antibiotic to counter a virus.... 

 

Other than that - stay at home, both will (should) be testing ATK negative in approximately 6 days. 

[richard_smith237]

Op [Hanagmura] - Get a second test to confirm ASAP. 

 

You don’t want to risk all the hassles on a false positive. 

 

That said: IF both your wife and yourself have tested PCR positive the probability is high that you are both positive. 

 

The difficult part is that you are not in your own accommodation and are unable to isolate at home. 

 

You will obviously be rejected from travelling (unless your 2nd PCR is negative). 

 

The ‘isolation situation’ and ‘visa situation’ is tricky. 

 

Regarding Isolation: You may be required to stay in a Hospitel for 10 days (until testing PCR negative - most will test PCR negative within 2 weeks, some rare cases do not) - your insurance may or may not pay for the hospitel isolation (that depends on your insurance). 

 

Regarding Visa: IF you have to stay in hospitel accommodation there should be links to a hospital - contact that hospital and see if they can assist with a medical exception due to testing positive for Covid-19. Also try contacting Immigration, the issue there though is actually getting through to someone who cares enough to answer your questions with anything other than come here later when you are out of quarantine (at which time you are overstaying). 

 

 

First things first, get a second confirmation test. 

 

 

 

 

[Hanaguma]

Hi; thanks for the advice. I was thinking the same, why did we  both test positive? It was a saliva based test, not nasal swab, and we both have been having a very minor cold (but no fever or any other covid-y symptoms) so maybe that threw off the test. I am sorely tempted to run downstairs to the pharmacy and at least get a couple rapid tests for us to try. Plus ask another testing clinic to send someone here to do a nasal swab test.  

 

We don't even eat in restaurants- usually we got take out food and ate at our Airbnb. Drove a rental car. Private tours only. No boozing or nightlife.  This makes no sense. 

[Calvin1976]

This was the replied from a PCR test center/clinic when I asked if my PCR tested positive: ????

 

[mtls2005]

1 hour ago, Hanaguma said:

my wife and I are supposed to fly home to Japan on Thursday after our vacation here.

What are the requirements to fly to Japan?

 

Are you Japanese citizens? Carry Japanese passports?

 

All customers entering Japan, including customers of Japanese nationality, will not be allowed to land in Japan unless they submit a valid certificate of a negative COVID-19 test result. If you cannot confirm a valid certificate during the boarding procedure, we will refuse boarding according to the instructions of the Japanese government.

 

https://www.ana.co.jp/en/jp/topics/coronavirus-travel-information/immigration/#restrictions_entry_into_japan

 

 

Looks like you need to sit and wait?

 

 

[Hanaguma]

Hi, my wife is Japanese, I am a permanent resident on a lifetime visa.  Lived there for more than 20 years.  I am so tempted to get a "second opinion" test done at another clinic and see if it is still positive before deciding on anything. 

 

The hotel we are at now is not an official "hospitel" but it is an SHA Plus.  Told the front desk our situation at noon and they have not said or done anything.  We gonna get kicked out I wonder? 

[Hanaguma]

...and now we are in a quarantine hospitel.

 

Whisked away in a van this evening at 700pm and deposited in the former Novotel on Soi 34.  Here to stay for anything from 3 to 10 days.... depends on whether we test negative on Day 3 or Day 5 or the staff wasn't too clear on it.  Sooner we can go home the better.

[internationalism]

you can enter japan minimum 14 days after positive test so you can use recovery certificate on arrival.

ask them tomorrow for, at least, medical certificate.

if you try to enter on the first negative certificate, you risk having positive and get another 14 days quarantine in japan

[ebean001]

all 3 friends went like this...home tested positive. sore throat, no temp, weak for 2 to 3 days. home test again on 3rd day...negative. then negative, negative. each was vaccinated with 2 shots. I think many get the virus and never know it. I have a riend who never tested. had the above systems and thought it was a cold. finally after 4 days they tested negative. 

[rwill]

17 hours ago, Mavideol said:

have similar problem, wife and daughter fully vaccinated with Pfizer and Moderna, asymptomatic, normal temperature, went shopping (over the week end) to Central Festival in Phuket, started to cough, running nose, they feel tired, decided to test (ATK saliva) and both show positive (1 real red stripe the 2nd stripe is light red barely visible) they are taking Amoxicillin and Paracetamol and staying at home, what to do next???

Amoxicillin will not do anything for a viral infection.  Antibiotics kill bacteria not viruses.  They are probably better off taking some Fatalaijone, which is supposed to have some antiviral properties.  Most pharmacies carry it too.

[micmichd]

17 hours ago, internationalism said:

hospital will move you to their hospitel. For 10 days.

Ask already now for medical certificate, an original of positive test.

You can start already travel insurance claim for rebooking flight or even for hospitel stay (very few insurance will cover, but check).

Not sure if asking for an additional pcr test will help. Depending on hospital policy, but not likely.

You can travel only 15 days after the first positive.

But if you are still positive after that time there might be no airline allowing you to board, even with recovery certificate.

 

as to amoxicillin for covid - not needed with very mild symptoms as you have. Keep antibiotics at hand, if sudden worsening

Antibiotics won't help against virus infections. 

[richard_smith237]

8 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

...and now we are in a quarantine hospitel.

 

Whisked away in a van this evening at 700pm and deposited in the former Novotel on Soi 34.  Here to stay for anything from 3 to 10 days.... depends on whether we test negative on Day 3 or Day 5 or the staff wasn't too clear on it.  Sooner we can go home the better.

Hope it’s comfortable. 
 

Have you both been given a confirmation RT-PCR test?

 

Question: you mentioned that your initial positive test was a throat swab not a nasal test. That’s confusing. Was it a antigen test ( ATK / lateral flow test ) I.e. with an instant result on a strip, or, was it an RT-PCR test taken at a clinic or hospital with lab results returned much later ?

 

What are the costs of the Novotel Hospitel if you don’t mind me asking? And is your insurance covering the cost of isolation ?
 

 

 

 

 

[Ralf001]

Wow, they whisked you off to a covid prison based upon just a saliva ATK ?

[swm59nj]

Just to comment on amoxicillin and antibiotics.  They will treat bacterial infections only.  They will do nothing for a viral infection.  

[richard_smith237]

 

17 hours ago, Hanaguma said:

why did we  both test positive? It was a saliva based test, not nasal swab, and we both have been having a very minor cold (but no fever or any other covid-y symptoms) so maybe that threw off the test.

Minor cold symptoms are covid symptoms BTW - that’s omicron for you. 

[richard_smith237]

3 hours ago, Ralf001 said:

Wow, they whisked you off to a covid prison based upon just a saliva ATK ?

 

He mentioned PCR test in his opening post, then mentioned Saliva test in a follow up post, so, the info is not clear. 
 

If they are positive they need o isolate somewhere. Anyone else can isolate at home. 

Tourists don’t have a home to isolate in and thus need to isolate in a location where the staff are fully vaccinated, have full PPE and isolation protocols in place ( Hospitel ).  This may seem extreme for a mildly symptomatic omicron and perhaps could be reduced to simple isolation in an SHA Plus + hotel… the costs are likely to be similar.

 

Ralf001 - what would you do with tourists who have tested positive? 
they are unable to travel so have to stay somewhere ? 
a hotel of their choice ? Putting other guests and staff at risk ? 
what is the solution ?

[tonray]

9 minutes ago, swm59nj said:

Just to comment on amoxicillin and antibiotics.  They will treat bacterial infections only.  They will do nothing for a viral infection.  

And you likely do more harm than good using antibiotics when not needed. Kills beneficial gut flora (bacteria) leading to stomach issues and potential to create resistant strains of bacteria that are untreatable with all but the most exotic and dangerous 'last line' antibitoics.

[internationalism]

yes, not to be taken on a whim.

However, after sometimes with covid infection, there might be also bacterial co-infection. So having them might be handy, when not able to go to pharmacy later on. 

So when multiple tests are turning negative, but worsening of symptoms, there might be bacteria.

With overwhelmed hospitals they might decline to do even the basic blood test to check for antibodies. Maybe just lung xray

[Sydebolle]

 wishing you the best of luck in getting back home to Japan; another story to tell back home I assume ???? 

[bluejets]

Second test for sure.........

[BKKBike09]

3 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

 If they are positive they need o isolate somewhere.

Curiously I was just talking yesterday to some friends who arrived here couple of days ago from Europe. They both had Covid a couple of weeks back. PCR testing on arrival at their hotel and the husband's test came back positive. After some panicking trying to get a medical certificate from Europe to prove earlier infection, hotel said "don't worry, have re-tested and now negative". I won't name the hotel but it's a fancy 5-star on the river in Bangkok.

 

Go figure. Not sure how they did a "re-test" but who's complaining. Just goes to show, though, that asking for a re-test (even offering to pay for one) might be a good idea.

[Ralf001]

8 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

.

 

Ralf001 - what would you do with tourists who have tested positive? 
 

I dont run a hotel.

 

But my personal opinion is if there is no symptoms let them continue on with their lives, all this covid quarantine malarky is utter nonsense.

[richard_smith237]

1 minute ago, bluejets said:

Second test for sure.........

A bit late now… they’re a captive audience & anything they want double-checked is now at the whim of someone else’s approval…..  they’ve ‘lost the ball’ so to speak.

[richard_smith237]

Just now, Ralf001 said:

I dont run a hotel.

 

But my personal opinion is if there is no symptoms let them continue on with their lives, all this covid quarantine malarky is utter nonsense.

You’d happily stay in a hotel that knowingly permitted covid positive guests ?

 

 

 

 

[PJ71]

Point of note - some airlines don't require PCR to travel any longer, some countries don't require pre travel PCR or PCR on arrival.

[Fat is a type of crazy]

13 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

He mentioned PCR test in his opening post, then mentioned Saliva test in a follow up post, so, the info is not clear. 
 

This is not a money making scam as implied by you. If they are positive they need o isolate somewhere. Anyone else can isolate at home. 

Tourists don’t have a home to isolate in and thus need to isolate in a location where the staff are fully vaccinated, have full PPE and isolation protocols in place ( Hospitel ).  This may seem extreme for a mildly symptomatic omicron and perhaps could be reduced to simple isolation in an SHA Plus + hotel… the costs are likely to be similar.

 

Ralf001 - what would you do with tourists who have tested positive? 
they are unable to travel so have to stay somewhere ? 
a hotel of their choice ? Putting other guests and staff at risk ? 
what is the solution ?

I concur. But as I have said before for asymptomatic cases they just need to spell it out in detail and give options so tourists know what happens and what is the worst case.