A testing time for my daughter in Barbados

QIn September we travelled to Barbados for a family wedding with our daughter Ellie who had caught Covid-19 a month earlier, though double jabbed. As there was a chance she might still test positive on a PCR test, we asked our GP for a letter confirming her recovery from the virus. This was initially refused, so we paid a private GP for it.

Her fit-to-fly PCR test, conducted at Heathrow 48 hours before we flew, came back negative. On arrival in Barbados we were subjected to another PCR test and told to quarantine in our villa until we got the results. Ellie tested positive and was taken to the government’s quarantine centre the next day.

Everyone was lumped together in one large, mixed-sex room prior to assessment; some were already on oxygen. The nurses did not speak English and there was no sign of a doctor for hours. After making a lot of noise with the local authorities and the (initially unhelpful) British High Commission, Ellie was released after 24 hours.

Please warn other readers because, contrary to what an NHS spokesperson told you two weeks ago, it is not that rare for someone who has recovered from Covid to continue to test positive for up to 90 days. Ellie also tested positive after her return to the UK and was told by Track and Trace to isolate. Luckily she has a master’s degree in the control of infectious diseases and could explain the science to get the requirement quashed. – Rob Clark

A

Yours is one of several emails I have received from readers who found themselves in a similar position because PCR tests are highly sensitive and may still pick up fragments of the virus, which remain in your system even if you are no longer infectious. Barbados has now lowered the onarrival testing requirement and is using less sensitive lateral flow tests (see barbadostravelprotocols.com). A few countries do maintain PCR testing on arrival – including Nigeria and Israel and, randomly, Canada and Jamaica.

Most countries will accept proof of recovery from Covid-19 within the past six months for unvaccinated children and vaccinated adults where a PCR test returns a “false positive”. Unfortunately, most GPs will not issue signed letters confirming recovery, even for a fee, though they have traditionally provided this kind of fit-to-fly certification for insurers. The Mayfield Clinics (mayfieldclinic.co.uk) have an online service and charges £149 for proof of recovery from Covid-19.

Sea change: a PRC test in Barbados gave Ellie a ‘false positive’, though the island is now using the less sensitive lateral flow option