My partner's returning to the US! How… does this work?

July 20, 2020 1:45 PM

After a stint in Germany, my partner's flying back to San Francisco in a month. What's the protocol in terms of COVID-19?

So: I don't think I've had it, never had symptoms. I don't think she's had it either. Her city in Germany has a (relatively) low infection rate and my city also has been on top of prevention.

But that still leaves the risk from two long flights and time in airports. My general inclination around this era is to be more cautious - started wearing masks early, have severely limited interactions, etc.

Quarantining together would be the most relationship & socially-simple thing to do. My apartment isn't quite large enough to quarantine from each other for two weeks - we could stay in different rooms, but there's only one of everything. Her staying in a hotel for a few days and getting a test? Staying in a hotel for two weeks?

They're all bad options, but that's normal now.

My anxiety level around getting or spreading the virus is high, the cost factor isn't significant, the weirdness of potentially being in the same country but separated is high… what do I do?

posted by tmcw to Human Relations (5 answers total)

I spoke to a physician friend whose spouse runs the ICU at a major metropolitan hospital about a similar scenario. This scenario would involve one partner traveling to visit the other, and both of them have been diligent about mask usage and social distancing. We discussed it because the non-traveling partner has a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment, so keeping physically distant in the apartment would be nearly impossible.

Her recommendation was as follows: wear a mask at all times while traveling, and be diligent about distancing and hand washing. If everyone else on the plane is also masked, the traveling person would isolate in a hotel for 5-7 days, get tested, and then come to the apartment if the test was negative. If the travel presents a higher-risk scenario, such as planes full of people without masks, or someone coughing on the traveler, then the traveler would isolate for the full 14 days.

IANAD, my friend is a doctor but not your doctor, and your risk tolerance is up to you, but that hypothetical course of action worked for my level of risk tolerance.
posted by bedhead at 1:58 PM on July 20, 2020 [3 favorites]

If she is coming TO the USA, the chances of getting is are relatively low. I would have her isolate for 5 days in your house, but you don't need to isolate (more than usual, wear a mask always, don't go to the store, etc). If she doesn't show symptoms, you guys are clear.
posted by bbqturtle at 2:41 PM on July 20, 2020

New Zealand puts incoming travelers into a hotel for two weeks upon arrival. The only Covid outbreak they’ve had in many weeks has been from some travelers who broke quarantine.
posted by Tell Me No Lies at 3:07 PM on July 20, 2020 [3 favorites]

I think the most socially responsible thing to do is for her to shut herself away for two weeks, and if she shuts herself away with you it seems only right you too should keep out of public for two weeks so that neither of you risk spreading the virus. The risk you’re taking is then all yours as opposed to everyone’s. That means stocking up and getting your home delivery game on.

The personal risk is a bit of an open question: I couldn’t tell you how likely it is to catch the virus in transit. Clearly your partner is willing to take the risk - the odds you catch it are lower than hers since she has to have caught it first to give it to you. You could ask her how she decided what to do.
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 8:36 PM on July 20, 2020 [1 favorite]

i am an epidemiologist but i am absolutely not your epidemiologist and your local guidance may be different. i'm also an idiot, and i'm not a clinician nor an infection control person. so, like, take this with a grain of salt. you should abide by your own jurisdiction's guidance.

in my jurisdiction, you could call our COVID helpline (or email) and ask for advice. we would probably tell you it's okay to call -- but actually you could just pretend like you're in my jurisdiction and call our helpline, if you don't have one in SF.

the scenarios are:
- she is asymptomatic and has COVID from local transmission where she is.
- you're asymptomatic and have COVID from local transmission.
- she picks up COVID from traveling. it seems like the most probable transmission scenario among these three. i have no idea what that likelihood is, i would say pretty low if pressed but like, huge uncertainty there (and anyone who gives you certainty is a liar -- it depends on masks and how full the flight is and and and).

the most cautious thing to do in this scenario would be to treat her as if she had an exposure to a known COVID patient (strict quarantine for 14 days). you could include yourself in that quarantine, which would mean both of you not leaving the house for 14 days. we would also recommend she get tested between days 5–9 of the exposure, but that's specific for my city. this plan is what the CDC recommends.

this is pretty blanket guidance, but with the travel exposure, there's so many unknowns (not even things that vary, but things she can't know or observe). i wish i had something less severe to offer you, but this is the best advice we have for now.
posted by quadrilaterals at 8:28 AM on July 21, 2020