Safe Passage

[TheBigErn]

Would it be a good idea to get a covid test a month or so before your cruise even if you have no symptoms? DCL acknowledges that the test at the port can pick up an old virus from as far back as 90 days. If you’ve had covid and recovered, you can get a letter from a doctor indicating that you’re recovered and safe to cruise. So why not get a test, just in case you’ve had covid without symptoms? Wouldn’t it be better to know before arriving at the port?

 

[bethy]

Wondering the same thing . . . But instead thinking of getting a test a week ahead of time. None of us have had Covid to our knowledge.

 

[TheBigErn]

Wondering the same thing . . . But instead thinking of getting a test a week ahead of time. None of us have had Covid to our knowledge.

Exactly my point. What if you’ve unknowingly had it and test positive at the port? Knowing in advance at least let’s you get that doctor’s letter.

 

[bethy]

Exactly my point. What if you’ve unknowingly had it and test positive at the port? Knowing in advance at least let’s you get that doctor’s letter.

Yeah but if you read further they also say you have to bring in documentation of your previous positive test.

We've basically mapped out a back up plan for if we are turned away from the port.

 

[MomOTwins]

I think the problem is the kind of "false positive" you get from a recent recovery can be erratic--you could test 10 times and only 1 would be positive for example because there are such trace amounts of dead virus left they don't always get detected. So testing early and getting a negative does not negate the possibility of a false positive at port.

 

[TheBigErn]

Yeah but if you read further they also say you have to bring in documentation of your previous positive test.

We've basically mapped out a back up plan for if we are turned away from the port.

Of course you need a positive test

 

[TheBigErn]

I think the problem is the kind of "false positive" you get from a recent recovery can be erratic--you could test 10 times and only 1 would be positive for example because there are such trace amounts of dead virus left they don't always get detected. So testing early and getting a negative does not negate the possibility of a false positive at port.

You're missing the point. The point is you test positive before arriving at the port then get a doctor's clearance in a proper letter to sail.

 

[MomOTwins]

You're missing the point. The point is you test positive before arriving at the port then get a doctor's clearance in a proper letter to sail.

Nope, I get that point. My point was that even if you did have some lingering dead virus from a prior infection, it's very patchy whether that would be detected on your "month before" test. So you might test negative when you do the month before test and then still test positive when you get the port because the port test just happened to pick up the old traces of virus and the month-before test didn't. So it wouldn't do you any good. If you were determined to try to guard against a false positive for a prior infection, you might have to test dozens of times in order to get a positive result and doctor's note (or it might not work at all). It's a needle in a haystack thing--it's just not practical.

 

[OKW Lover]

If it makes you feel better then go ahead and do it. Just understand that you still have the possibility of testing positive because of contracting it between then and sailing date.

 

[TheBigErn]

If it makes you feel better then go ahead and do it. Just understand that you still have the possibility of testing positive because of contracting it between then and sailing date.

Well of course. I could contract it on the flight to Florida.