What to do if you test positive before flying home?

[DeltaWardog]

My concern is really an asymptomatic infection, as I've seen it reported that vaccinated people can incubate the virus in their nasal passages without actually getting sick. However this can cause them to test positive since they are actually infected and contagious, but the virus is not making them sick since the vaccinated immune system is preventing the infection from taking hold. Since I'm vaccinated with THREE shots of Pfizer (long story) I feel like that's the most likely scenario for me. Definitely not trying to game the system or get on a plane while I'm infectious. Getting stuck in Cozumel for an extra week or two is certainly not the end of the world, although it will suck to not be able to dive during that time. I'm just trying to be prepared to minimize the scrambling should it happen.

 

[JenLoves2Dive]

For Covid testing the PCR test is both MORE sensitive and MORE specific than the antigen test in all testing scenarios. It’s just more expensive and access is more limited.

It is very easy to get the PCR test here. There are plenty of places that do testing.
These are just a few, but your best options:

International Hospital - Avenida Rafael Melgar and Calle 5 Sur
(+52) 987 872 1430
https://www.facebook.com/SSSChamberCozumel/

Hospital Médica San Miguel- Calle 6 Norte between Avenida 5 y 10
(+52) 987 872 0103
https://www.facebook.com/hospitalmedicasanmiguel

CostaMed Hospital aka CMC- Avenida 50 bis and Calle 1 Sur.
(+52) 987 872 9400
https://www.facebook.com/CostamedCozumel/

Amerimed Islamed Hospital Cozumel - Adolfo Rosado Salas and Avenida 85
(+52) 987 869 5555
Hospital Amerimed Cozumel

LaClicsa Laboratories - Avenida 30 and calle 11 next to famacia Ahorra.
(+52) 987 116 7405
https://www.facebook.com/Laclicsa-Laboratorios-103824124724063/

Great lab and they quickly email results. You can speak with the tech, Victoria Machorro directly. I have known her for many years. She's not just a tech, she is a scientist with a masters in mircrobiology and studies infectious diseases. Speaks fluent English.

 

[Kimela]

When we were there last month I got a bad enough case of hay fever that I lost 3 days of diving and went to the International Hospital for care. Of COURSE I was worrying I had covid - even though I'm vaccinated - and staying in a rental for two weeks with no contingency plan. Not worried about the dogs back home because I don't think our vet would turn them out on the street, but I had no idea where we would have gone if we were positive and had to finish our quarantine AFTER if it extended beyond the rental period. I think this is a legitimate concern and we will definitely look into options when we return.

In the past year and a half I have read about only ONE tourist testing positive in Cozumel. I'm not sure what that means.

 

[cozcharlie]

It is very easy to get the PCR test here. There are plenty of places that do testing.
These are just a few, but your best options:

International Hospital - Avenida Rafael Melgar and Calle 5 Sur
(+52) 987 872 1430
https://www.facebook.com/SSSChamberCozumel/

Hospital Médica San Miguel- Calle 6 Norte between Avenida 5 y 10
(+52) 987 872 0103
https://www.facebook.com/hospitalmedicasanmiguel

CostaMed Hospital aka CMC- Avenida 50 bis and Calle 1 Sur.
(+52) 987 872 9400
https://www.facebook.com/CostamedCozumel/

Amerimed Islamed Hospital Cozumel - Adolfo Rosado Salas and Avenida 85
(+52) 987 869 5555
Hospital Amerimed Cozumel

LaClicsa Laboratories - Avenida 30 and calle 11 next to famacia Ahorra.
(+52) 987 116 7405
https://www.facebook.com/Laclicsa-Laboratorios-103824124724063/

Great lab and they quickly email results. You can speak with the tech, Victoria Machorro directly. I have known her for many years. She's not just a tech, she is a scientist with a masters in mircrobiology and studies infectious diseases. Speaks fluent English.

Ditto on Victoria at LaClicisa. I think they may be slightly more expensive that the other labs (think they charge 800 pesos, and I believe I have seen some slightly cheaper) but I got referred to her through a property manager and I gladly pay a few dollars more. Easy to deal with and she is very responsive.

 

[drk5036]

Keep in mind though that even if you’ve “got yours” (vaccine wise), you can still catch it and spread it just as effectively as someone that hasn’t been vaccinated.

This isn’t quite up to the current understanding. It is still helps prevent people from catching COVID. But If you are a unlucky breakthrough case (which is indeed rare), at that point 1) you’re less likely to show symptoms but 2) you can still spread it.

Vaccination is still the best method, by far, that we have to protect ourselves and others.

 

[jonhall]

But If you are a unlucky breakthrough case (which is indeed rare), at that point

Not sure what the numbers are, but unfortunately I know one of the unlucky rare ones. He was vaccinated back in April. Had a fever and a really bad cough. Fever left but still coughing some - he is quarantining in a bedroom. Not sure the exact day he tested positive but we were made aware on Aug. 2. He feels better but still tested positive today, 6 days later. It can happen.

 

[mediumone]

Laboratorio de Análisis Clínicos del Dr. Simi

This is where we went -15th between Juarez and 1st - $400
Printed results in 1 hour. Had to wait less than 5 minutes for the tech.

 

[Barnaby'sDad]

This isn’t quite up to the current understanding. It is still helps prevent people from catching COVID. But If you are a unlucky breakthrough case (which is indeed rare), at that point 1) you’re less likely to show symptoms but 2) you can still spread it.

Vaccination is still the best method, by far, that we have to protect ourselves and others.

By “spread it just as effectively,” I mean that if you are one of the rare breakthrough cases, your viral load can be just as high as someone that isn’t vaccinated (despite you not having symptoms), so you can spread it just as easily as someone that isn’t vaccinated.

Agreed.

 

[DeltaWardog]

unfortunately I know one of the unlucky rare ones. He was vaccinated back in April. Had a fever and a really bad cough. Fever left but still coughing some - he is quarantining in a bedroom. Not sure the exact day he tested positive but we were made aware on Aug. 2. He feels better but still tested positive today, 6 days later.

This is exactly what I'm trying to be prepared for. I appreciate you sharing this so other people know it can and does happen. Yes it's rare but I think it would be foolish to just assume it's impossible.

 

[jonhall]

Yes it's rare but I think it would be foolish to just assume it's impossible.

I agree. As a person who also likes to be prepared, I want to have at least an idea of what I would do if a positive test would come back for me, my wife, or the friends we travel with.

In the plus column, I've yet to read of someone sharing an experience from Cozumel where this has occurred to them or someone they know (or even a 2nd or 3rd hand account.) I'm also fortunate enough that if I had to stay and quarantine, it would not be a financial burden - I'm not rich, but could cover a stay if needed. Being retired, I wouldn't have to get home for anything.

Did read about experiences of a few others in MX who tested positive: Mexico travel: COVID-positive tourists stranded under CDC testing rule

When it gets closer to my Coz trip in Nov., as well as a Cabo trip in Jan., my considerations and plan to prepare if one of us tests positive would include:
* Are my wife and I willing to spend extra days in a hotel where we could be in separate rooms if one test is positive and one test is negative?
* Would we both stay or would the one with the negative test go home?
* Doe the hotel I'm staying at offer onsite testing and an extended stay for a positive test (they did earlier in the pandemic.). If required to stay in 2 separate rooms, what rate will be charged?
* If the hotel doesn't offer an extended stay (I think they have to come up with something), what are hotels that can be easily checked into - if tested at the beginning of the 3 calendar days before flight home, it will give time for preparing.

We all want to think it is unlikely to happen to us, but there is no harm in trying to be somewhat prepared.