90 day recovery status?

[Pixarfans]

Wait for approval with the 90 day recovery documents. Stressful, but I guess better then waiting at port. How long does it take?

 

[n2mm]

You are very welcome. My husband's doctor's office does not use letterhead so his note was written on a script pad page that had all the pertinent info.

MJ

was this acceptable? This is the type of note we got from our doctor to excuse my husband from jury duty because of his illness and under doctors Care a few years ago and the court accepted it. Not that I need it, but just absorbing all this info. Yesterday on social media people were posting their doctors are refusing to write letters, so they were sharing a link from some “internet” doctor who will write you a note for $75. And so it begins…… I can guarantee our doctors would not write us letters if we tested positive. All we would get is a lecture on why we should not be cruising at this time.

 

[Me'Me 9]

was this acceptable? This is the type of note we got from our doctor to excuse my husband from jury duty because of his illness and under doctors Care a few years ago and the court accepted it. Not that I need it, but just absorbing all this info. Yesterday on social media people were posting their doctors are refusing to write letters, so they were sharing a link from some “internet” doctor who will write you a note for $75. And so it begins…… I can guarantee our doctors would not write us letters if we tested positive. All we would get is a lecture on why we should not be cruising at this time.

Our personal physician is writing the letters for the family members who were sick with covid, no issue there. Perhaps this is more challenging for folks who don't have a regular doctor per se. That's a shame your physician wouldn't write you a letter stating you had covid and had recovered. It's not like you are asking him to falsify documents, right ?

FWIW, my family was scheduled to cruise in January.
One of the 18 in our travel party came down with covid the week we were to depart and couldn't sail, so we all rebooked. Four more ( not in the same households as the first person ) got covid in the subsequent weeks without being on a cruise or any other mode of public transportation or vacation. It's literally everywhere, including cruise ships.

 

[mmouse37]

was this acceptable? This is the type of note we got from our doctor to excuse my husband from jury duty because of his illness and under doctors Care a few years ago and the court accepted it. Not that I need it, but just absorbing all this info. Yesterday on social media people were posting their doctors are refusing to write letters, so they were sharing a link from some “internet” doctor who will write you a note for $75. And so it begins…… I can guarantee our doctors would not write us letters if we tested positive. All we would get is a lecture on why we should not be cruising at this time.

Yes this was accepted by Safe Passage. I honestly don't know why doctors are reluctant to write letters if you are recovered and perfectly healthy. I could see if you were trying to do something shady but if you needed a note to go back to work after covid would they have a problem writing a note then? Why shouldn't you go on vacation if you are recovered.

I have also read that many doctors don't want to these types of notes. Do they think they will get in trouble if some people onboard happen to get sick?

MJ

 

[mmouse37]

Wait for approval with the 90 day recovery documents. Stressful, but I guess better then waiting at port. How long does it take?

I uploaded the positive PCR test and the doctor note at noon and by 8pm my husband was cleared to sail. This was on the 18th and we sailed on the 22nd. His test was on the 8th and results came in on the 11th. His doctor appt was on the 18th. As soon as he got home I uploaded the info. You have to have a test no later than 11 days before your cruise (or I should say it has to be 11 days or more from your cruise date). Can't be 10 days or 9 days, etc. before your cruise.

MJ

 

[Pixarfans]

I uploaded the positive PCR test and the doctor note at noon and by 8pm my husband was cleared to sail. This was on the 18th and we sailed on the 22nd. His test was on the 8th and results came in on the 11th. His doctor appt was on the 18th. As soon as he got home I uploaded the info. You have to have a test no later than 11 days before your cruise (or I should say it has to be 11 days or more from your cruise date). Can't be 10 days or 9 days, etc. before your cruise.

MJ

We are good on dates/timing, thanks! My upload this morning was too blurry, so 3 of the 4 of us were rejected. Scanned and resubmitted, now waiting again. And no my husband (who is clear) will NOT be going without us

 

[mmouse37]

We are good on dates/timing, thanks! My upload this morning was too blurry, so 3 of the 4 of us were rejected. Scanned and resubmitted, now waiting again. And no my husband (who is clear) will NOT be going without us

They let my husband stay with me while I tested. Funny as they handed him a test kit too and I said he was 90 day recovered but they never checked the QR code. Different people checked the QR Code a few times before we got to testing area but the tech took my word for it that he didn't have to test.

MJ

 

[Timandalicia]

We are good on dates/timing, thanks! My upload this morning was too blurry, so 3 of the 4 of us were rejected. Scanned and resubmitted, now waiting again. And no my husband (who is clear) will NOT be going without us

This is a good point. The only trouble I have heard of was legibility. It’s important that the documents are clear to read. Anyone reading this thread should note that. I used JPEG for that reason. But they accept pdf etc too of course.

 

[Timandalicia]

Wait for approval with the 90 day recovery documents. Stressful, but I guess better then waiting at port. How long does it take?

2 days for me.

 

[Snowwhyt]

Well this is awkward for me. It is 89 days until I sail. I got Covid on day 91, Took a rapid test on day 90. Of course I have to be special/extra and have some sort of dilemma. So I’ll have to get a PCR test I’m guessing. So I wonder what days they’re going to count? The day of my first symptom, the day of my rapid test, or whatever day I get the PCR test?

 

[lanejudy]

whatever day I get the PCR test?

The positive test must be within 11-90 days prior to embarkation to request a 90-day recovery exemption. Get the test. Then go see the doctor. In the meantime - get well and I hope you stay a mild case.

 

[Pixarfans]

my girlfriend and I used MDanywhere, because my Primary Physician wrote me letter, but was not able to sign it. We specified that it needed to be signed, and for some reason the Doctor had no way to sign it and fax it over. I had the complete letter, but did not want to risk it without a signature.

So, we scrambled and tried our luck with Telehealth. It was $70 per person for the letters from MDanywhere. You have to upload a picture of your ID and the Positive PCR test with your full name, date of positive test, person that reviewed the test, and lab name. There’s a 4 or 5 page questionnaire to fill out as well. They ask the day you first had symptoms and write your Safe To Travel Date according to that. The letter arrives within an hour or two as a message on your account.

We submitted my girlfriend’s first and it was approved the next day, but we were only Clear To Arrive, not Clear To Sail. After we submitted mine (a week later due to Primary Physician issue) it was approved within 2 hours and our group status changed to Clear To Sail.

Hope this helps. We were really stressing about it, so hope this alleviates some stress for people.

Thank you for this info! Doctor wrote a note but didn’t include the correct wording. They are so busy/understaffed that they are not responding to my request to adjust. This gives me some piece of mind that I have an alternative if the doctor can’t rewrite.

 

[ambula603]

My fully vaccinated and boosted (where applicable) family tested positive on some at-home antigen tests after we had an exposure. Because we all had mild symptoms, we didn't see a doctor or get any further testing (other than my husband who had to get a PCR to work from home) and we stayed home for the full 10 days. Now we are all healthy and back at work/school (and I am catching up on Disboards!) and just seeing the details about this 90-Day exemption.

I am guessing we are out of luck since we didn't get a PCR (aside from DH).

What should we do now? I thought about making appointments to have a PCR before we leave just to be sure it would be negative (and then if it IS positive, trying to apply for the exemption). What date would I need to do that?

If it were you, would you do that or just hope for the best and test at the port? I do have a handful of at-home tests but I don't think I understand how sensitive they are compared to the port tests. If we are all negative on the at-home Antigens, does that mean we have a good chance to be negative at port?

Thanks for any advice...

 

[lizzyb]

My family and I all have had coves this week. Hoping we will still test positive Sunday so we can qualify for this.

 

[Scalemaster34]

My fully vaccinated and boosted (where applicable) family tested positive on some at-home antigen tests after we had an exposure. Because we all had mild symptoms, we didn't see a doctor or get any further testing (other than my husband who had to get a PCR to work from home) and we stayed home for the full 10 days. Now we are all healthy and back at work/school (and I am catching up on Disboards!) and just seeing the details about this 90-Day exemption.

I am guessing we are out of luck since we didn't get a PCR (aside from DH).

What should we do now? I thought about making appointments to have a PCR before we leave just to be sure it would be negative (and then if it IS positive, trying to apply for the exemption). What date would I need to do that?

If it were you, would you do that or just hope for the best and test at the port? I do have a handful of at-home tests but I don't think I understand how sensitive they are compared to the port tests. If we are all negative on the at-home Antigens, does that mean we have a good chance to be negative at port?

Thanks for any advice...

NO.... go get the PCR test now! Was over two hundred that didn't sail with us... not sure how many canceled last minute vs at the port. But I would not want to experience that.

If negative now you should be good. If positive and you haven't passed the 11 day mark, go get a note to submit with your test results to safe passage and you'll have no worries.

I was positive just 12 days before, did an online doc visit and got a note - really expect them to ask for an antigen test a few days later... but they didn't (I was fine as it had already been three week... but they had no proof of that - guess they assume that with eleven days from positive to cruise I should be Well?). Submitted the test and the note and Safe Passage approved within a few hours. Had read on RCCL they were not taking "online" doctor notes... But no issues with Safe Passage.

 

[Timandalicia]

My fully vaccinated and boosted (where applicable) family tested positive on some at-home antigen tests after we had an exposure. Because we all had mild symptoms, we didn't see a doctor or get any further testing (other than my husband who had to get a PCR to work from home) and we stayed home for the full 10 days. Now we are all healthy and back at work/school (and I am catching up on Disboards!) and just seeing the details about this 90-Day exemption.

I am guessing we are out of luck since we didn't get a PCR (aside from DH).

What should we do now? I thought about making appointments to have a PCR before we leave just to be sure it would be negative (and then if it IS positive, trying to apply for the exemption). What date would I need to do that?

If it were you, would you do that or just hope for the best and test at the port? I do have a handful of at-home tests but I don't think I understand how sensitive they are compared to the port tests. If we are all negative on the at-home Antigens, does that mean we have a good chance to be negative at port?

Thanks for any advice...

If you took a pcr test and tested positive, it would have to be 11 days before your trip. Your doctor does not have to wait after the 11 days to write you the note. It just has to say that you aren’t sick and that you won’t be contagious on that 11th day. My doctor wrote the note on day four but it stated that I won’t be contagious on day 11.
So if it is 11 or more days before your trip, get a pcr test right away. Then get your doctor’s note.
If you are leaving in less than 11 days, I would cross my fingers and not take a test. Because if you tested positive you are required to disclose that, unless you are good with lying to anyone who asks if you’ve tested positive for Covid in the last (however many) days.

 

[Timandalicia]

NO.... go get the PCR test now! Was over two hundred that didn't sail with us... not sure how many canceled last minute vs at the port. But I would not want to experience that.

If negative now you should be good. If positive and you haven't passed the 11 day mark, go get a note to submit with your test results to safe passage and you'll have no worries.

I was positive just 12 days before, did an online doc visit and got a note - really expect them to ask for an antigen test a few days later... but they didn't (I was fine as it had already been three week... but they had no proof of that - guess they assume that with eleven days from positive to cruise I should be Well?). Submitted the test and the note and Safe Passage approved within a few hours. Had read on RCCL they were not taking "online" doctor notes... But no issues with Safe Passage.

I couldn’t find that they were more than 11 days out in their post. Are they for sure?

 

[Timandalicia]

My family and I all have had coves this week. Hoping we will still test positive Sunday so we can qualify for this.

Why wait until Sunday to get pcr? Get it now. Or is Sunday 89 days until your trip?

 

[Sarahslay]

My fully vaccinated and boosted (where applicable) family tested positive on some at-home antigen tests after we had an exposure. Because we all had mild symptoms, we didn't see a doctor or get any further testing (other than my husband who had to get a PCR to work from home) and we stayed home for the full 10 days. Now we are all healthy and back at work/school (and I am catching up on Disboards!) and just seeing the details about this 90-Day exemption.

I am guessing we are out of luck since we didn't get a PCR (aside from DH).

What should we do now? I thought about making appointments to have a PCR before we leave just to be sure it would be negative (and then if it IS positive, trying to apply for the exemption). What date would I need to do that?

If it were you, would you do that or just hope for the best and test at the port? I do have a handful of at-home tests but I don't think I understand how sensitive they are compared to the port tests. If we are all negative on the at-home Antigens, does that mean we have a good chance to be negative at port?

Thanks for any advice...

Had the same thing happen to my family, I was actually reading this thread for just this kind of case to see what someone had done. However, what I have decided to do since I don't sail till beginning of April is to go in a week or so and get a PCR, if it's still positive after several weeks of being well then I'll know I'm in trouble with teseting positive further down the line and will go see a doctor. Unfortunately we moved here last year, I had found a doctor but he ended up being horrible and had to fire him from my care several months ago, so I'm once again without a doctor. I'll probably end up going to one of those online/telehealth ones to get a note.

 

[RedHead0186]

Yes this was accepted by Safe Passage. I honestly don't know why doctors are reluctant to write letters if you are recovered and perfectly healthy. I could see if you were trying to do something shady but if you needed a note to go back to work after covid would they have a problem writing a note then? Why shouldn't you go on vacation if you are recovered.

I have also read that many doctors don't want to these types of notes. Do they think they will get in trouble if some people onboard happen to get sick?

MJ

Because the letter is supposed to state that you are "clear to sail." There's liability tied up in that statement. It's not just saying that you tested positive for COVID-19 and recovered, it's also saying they are verifying you are clear to sail. Depending on how they are writing that letter (did they do an actual physical, or just over the phone, or . . .?), they might not actually know if you are clear to sail (what if you had tested positive and then got COVID-19 again right before leaving?). So some don't want to make that "clear to sail" statement (probably especially if they did not see you in person to verify your health status).