So you’re trying to get back to the US and you just tested positive for Covid-19? Fun times. Been there. Here's the situation...

The US is one of few countries still requiring a Covid test to enter the country for US citizens (and foreigners). So if you’re traveling abroad, know you’re still taking a significant risk that if you come down with Covid, you’re going to have a hard time getting home.

People fake tests...all the time...

I have talked to countless people that aren’t bothering to get tested. They’re simply taking old negative test results or test results from friends, swapping out some info, and using those to get on flights home.

I couldn’t find any evidence of US citizens getting caught faking tests. At the airport, your test results are briefly and sloppily checked by airline employees.

Rebook your travel for at least a few days out.

I didn’t want to deal with the anxiety of not knowing when I was going to get home, so I opted to just book a room for a week. This bought me some time not to stress how or when I was getting home.

You can ride it out and wait for a negative test result.

You only need a negative rapid test to get back into the US. I was on day 7 and still testing positive with no symptoms, so this can be painful. Stock up on some at-home tests from a local pharmacy, test yourself daily.

Get a doctor's note

A simple google search for “Covid Recovery Letter” will yield lots of teledoc. After symptoms are "gone" they’ll write you a recovery letter that will substitute for a negative test.

Most of these testing centers required negative tests to be from 7-10 days prior, but Evivia asked how old my symptoms were and they accepted a test from only 5 days prior as my symptoms started 10 days before I was slated to leave.

In the UK, there are no masks mandates in the airports or on planes. You don’t need a negative test to enter. Covid cases seem to be pretty rampant. They just shut down hundreds of flights there in the last week due to airline staff calling out sick....

Getting stuck abroad with Covid is not fun. Hope this guide on what to do helps the next sick and weary traveler. Good luck and happy traveling!