Since August, I have gotten nose and throat swab PCR tests at least 4 times.

1. Upon arrival to Kyiv to release me from quarantine;
2. Upon departure from Kyiv to allow me on an Emirates flight;
3. Once when there was a scare within the Kabul expat community, and several people tested positive;
4. My departure from Kabul to allow me on an Emirates flight.

I think there may have been more, but maybe my brain’s been scrambled from all the swabbing.

1. Why I took the Covid-19 Spit Test

On November 13, 2020, the State of California issued a travel advisory which stated:

Persons arriving in California from other states or countries, including returning California residents, should practice self-quarantine for 14 days after arrival.

I landed in America three days later. Having just spent 55 hours and 3 days in airports and airplanes between Afghanistan and America, I knew when I arrived I would probably be coronavirus-central.

While there is no mandatory testing requirement, either in California or the United States as a whole, I decided that I would take a test, and if negative, be released from quarantine a little bit earlier.

Enter my sister, who is a pharmacist.

And, luckily and thankfully, Albertsons Pharmacy now offers COVID-19 spit tests, which can be done almost entirely by mail! (Available in America only)

2. Covid-19 Spit Test: Remember the Incubation Period

We are all probably inundated with coronavirus and covid-19 information by now. But I just wanted to remind you all that there is an incubation period for the infection. The incubation period is from the moment you become exposed, to the onset of symptoms.

That means, if you are exposed on Day 1, most people won’t show symptoms until (on average) 5-6 days later. The ability to test positive after exposure also has this few day delay.

Honestly, that’s why these covid-19 tests to release you from an airport upon arrival are kind of moot. If you’re traveling, you’d likely get infected in transit. By the time you arrive at your destination, if you were exposed during travel, you would probably test negative, and then spread the infection.

Waiting a few days before you test helps you account for that incubation period.

For me, I arrived in America, Monday, November 16. I submitted my spit sample on Thursday, November 20.

3. How to set up and order your Covid-19 Spit Test

First things first. If you have an Albertsons Pharmacy near you, you can simply pick up the phone and call your pharmacist and go through this process.

Otherwise, if you want, ordering your covid-19 spit test online is easy enough.

1. Go to www.scheduletest.com;
2. Click on Request a Test;
3. Then you’ll be asked to answer Yes/No to these two questions:

Do you have any of these life-threatening symptoms? 

• Bluish lips or face
• Severe and constant pain or pressure in the chest
• Extreme difficulty breathing (gasping for air or cannot talk without catching your breath)
• Severe and constant dizziness or lightheadedness
• Serious disorientation (acting confused)
• Unconscious or very difficult to wake up
• Slurred Speech (new or worsening)
• Seizures
• Signs of low blood pressure (too weak to stand, light headed, feeling cold, pale, clammy skin)

If yes, you are ineligible for this covid-19 spit test, and you should immediately seek urgent medical attention.

Are you an employee that was referred by your company to be tested? 

If yes, a prompt will appear where you enter in your company voucher information.

After confirming your elibility for the test, you enter in your Zip Code in order to select how you want to receive your phosphorus covid-19 test:

• Pick it up at your local Albertsons store: $139.99 USD
• Delivery by mail: $139.99 USD + shipping ($10 Ground, $30 Next Day)

If you are displaying symptoms, do not pick up the test yourself. You can appoint a person to pick it up for you.

*If you select delivery by mail, you can select the local Albertsons nearest to you. If you have no preference, feel free to enter 92562 as your Zip for the California Oaks Pharmacy.

Just to be clear, neither my sister (the Pharmacist) nor I are affiliates or get any commissions from the sales of any covid-19 spit tests from my post. This post is informational only and is a true reflection of my experience with the Phosphorus Covid-19 Test.

4. Before you begin your Covid-19 Spit Test

Here are some things to remember before you begin your spit test.

1. Take into consideration the incubation period, to make sure you’re not testing too early. Testing too early can yield false negatives.
2. Because of the weekend work schedule of the labs, your spit samples should not be collected on Friday or Saturday.
3. Don’t eat, drink, or smoke for the 30 minutes before sample collection.

5. Your Phosphorus Covid-19 Test Kit

Contained in your “at home covid test” are:

• FedEx return envelope
• Instruction sheet
• Medical Questionnaire (i.e. current symtpoms, pre-existing conditions, medical history) – DON’T FORGET TO SIGN AND DATE
• Sample collection tube (in box)
• Patient labels (date and time of sample collection) – one (1) label for the tube, one (1) label for the medical questionnaire
• Biohazard sample bag

6. Directions for your at home COVID test

Wash your hands before you begin, and get your spit ready!

1. Spit until the amount of saliva (not bubbles) reaches the fill line – honestly the hardest part of the directions!!
2. Close lid tightly by pushing down hard on the funnel lid until you hear a loud click.
3. Unscrew the funnel from the tube.
4. Use small cap to close tube tightly.
5. Shake the capped tube for 5 seconds.

And now you either arrange for FedEx to pick it up or ask someone to drop it off at your FedEx shipping site! Remember, you should not be collecting your samples on a Friday or Saturday, due to the labs being closed on weekends.

7. Results of my Albertsons Covid Test

I asked my mom to drop off my COVID-19 saliva test at the local FedEx on Thursday, November 19. By Monday, November 23, I received the following email results:

Woop woop! Negative! Thank you, Albertsons, for your at home covid test! Watch out world!!

8. Parting thoughts on my experience with the Covid-19 spit test

In the end, I received my negative result one week after I landed in the US. Given that many states have voluntary or mandatory self isolation / quarantine (varying between 10 – 14 days), taking the at home covid test “released me” from quarantine a few days early.

As a brief recap:

• Monday, November 16, arrive in US;
• Thursday, November 20, collect spit sample;
• Monday, November 23, negative result!
• Monday, November 30 – California 14-day self-isolation release date.

Time saved: one week! But at the cost of $140 USD.

For me, it was worth it so that I could spend Thanksgiving with my family! And, let’s be blunt – zero humans alive enjoy the nose and throat swabs. For a significantly less invasive way to test whether you have covid, look no further than your neighborhood Albertson’s Pharmacy!

So for now, until the highly anticipated vaccine becomes available to the masses, I’ll choose the covid-19 saliva test over a swab any day of the week. But not only that, the ability to finally have an at home covid test is something to celebrate! Way to go Albertson’s!

A big thank you to my sister, the Pharmacist, who set all this up for me!

That’s it for now! Until next time, everyone stay home, stay safe and wear your mask!

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Now that you’ve tested negative, and only if it’s allowed by your government, how about taking a socially distant road trip? Top tips on how to road trip safely during covid-19, here!

Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

Click on the blue icons below to follow her on social media!

lanniesfoodandtravel.com/index.php/about-me/

1. My life in Scotland during COVID-19

As you all may know, I have been in Scotland under lockdown since March. Scotland is arguably one of my favorite places in the world, and being here but unable to go out and see the sights was challenging. I’m always yearning to do more and to see more. On the other hand, my friend and I had our share of local adventures and culinary delights. Life inevitably had its ups and downs, as is expected. But for the most part, life is simple. Quiet.

On July 15, Scotland moved into Phase 3 of reopening, which meant that hospitality and tourism opened, with restrictions, and indoor dining with distancing could resume. (For the record, Scotland and England, as well as Northern Ireland and Wales, all have different guidelines for reopening. So don’t assume that all the UK is the same.)

With my time in Scotland potentially coming to a close soon, and my friend’s family visiting from England, I set out for a solo road trip adventure around Scotland. Taking some long overdue annual leave days, and hoping to write about Scottish tourism along the way.

Coronavirus-based travel restrictions change day by day. Before you begin to plan a road trip during COVID-19, make sure you are following local rules and guidelines! And if you’re in the US, how about taking an at-home covid test before you set out just to make sure you’re negative?

2. Planning a Road Trip during COVID-19

First thing’s first. Take all the safety precautions.

2.1 Mask up

Ok, this is in no way political or infringing on peoples’ rights, and is only my personal opinion… but WEAR A MASK. In Scotland currently, when in shops, it’s mandatory. Wherever you are, follow masking guidelines, not only to protect yourself but to protect others too.

It’s probably a good idea to get a few masks, so you can wash them and rotate them often.

The other day, I accidentally sneezed while wearing my mask. GROSS, but this is exactly why you should wear a mask. To contain your germs so you don’t accidentally spread it. (I promptly washed my mask that night so it wouldn’t be disgusting for too long.)

2.2 Prepare to disinfect

What is that Boy Scouts motto? Always be prepared? (Ok, maybe that’s not actually it, but that’s what it is in my head…)

Originally, I thought about getting one of those UV lamp or cases in order full disinfect my phone, keys, etc.  First, I couldn’t get the one that I wanted. Then, there were just too many options on Amazon, with not a huge amount of reviews either.  Third, to be honest, what do I know about UV rays and disinfecting?  It seems like a huge stretch to be carrying around, either a UV wand or box, and not being a science-enough person to know whether or not there would be side effects of running around zapping UV into things…

So, in the end, I decided to stick with what I do know – and that’s the simplicity of anti-bacteria hand wipes and hand gel.   (And, some hand cream so my hands don’t become brittle and fall off due to all the disinfecting.)

I bought two packs of anti-bacteria hand wipes (biodegradable – earth friendly!  And nice smelling, too!).  One would remain with me in my purse, and the other would reside in one of the compartments in the car.  Just in case.

Additionally, I also bought a 500 mL pump bottle of 70% alcohol, anti-bacterial gel.  It fit just perfect for the cup holder in the rental car.  And to be honest, there could not be a more perfect place for it.  Basically, if I am out of my car (for gas, for a coffee, for groceries, for anything, really), the first thing that happens when I enter that place is sanitize my hands at the hand sanitizer station inside their doors. When I re-enter my car, I sanitize my hands.  And just for good measure, once a day, I take my handwipes and wipe down my phone.

3. How clean is your rental car?

I rented a car from Enterprise Rental Cars.  Don’t ask me how, but it ended up being a Jaguar XE.  Excitement!!  So, when going over the rental stuff, the attendant assured me that everything in the car had been sanitized and cleaned.  But then he drove the car over to me.  (If you’re thinking that defeats the purpose, that’s why I have my bottle of hand sanitizer!)

When I got to the car, there was a plastic sleeve over the steering wheel, which I promptly removed.  I did a once over with the main surfaces with my hand wipes, just in case.  Mainly, the steering wheel, the gear shift (which in this Jag, is a knob), the a/c and other buttons, and the screen. 

Plus, if you’re like me and sanitize after getting in and out of the car, you are literally good to go!

4. How Scotland tourism is dealing with COVID-19

So far, what I have noticed, is that when you enter into an indoor space, a shop, a restaurant, a gas station, the first thing you do is use hand sanitizer that has been set up inside the door.  Masks are required in only shops. That means you don’t have to wear them in restaurants. 

Most shops have a one way walking track that you have to follow.  Some of the smaller shops have a queue outside the door, as they can only let in a few people at a time.  So when one person exits, the next can enter.  I don’t really find any of this to be particularly annoying.  

Sometimes I forget to put on my mask, but then I’m literally the only person who is uncovered and then it becomes blatantly obvious.  So just do the damn thing and put it on, you know? It’s really not a big deal.

At some point on my road trip during covid-19, I hopped on a ferry (with my car) out to the Inner Hebrides. CalMac, the ferry company, takes covid-19 very seriously. When we boarded, an attendant brough each of us to a seating area. The lounge seats with tables had a good distance between each other. Some seats were in rows, with alternating rows roped off to ensure adequate distance.

The general rule was, if you were sitting at your seat, you don’t need a mask. But if you walk around the ship, masks on. Of course, hand sanitizing stations are plentiful. Currently, food and services are not offered during the ferry ride, so bring your own snacks!

As for lodging, the three different places I’ve stayed at so far have all newly installed hand sanitizing stations. They are located directly inside the front door, and depending on the communal space, throughout the property. Two of the places were bed and breakfasts. Hosts and hostesses either wore face masks or face shields when in close proximity (i.e. serving me food or showing me to my room). Or, check in and check out is done behind a screen or just via an envelope with my keys/room bill. I’ve managed to feel safe and super sanitized at all of these places!

Parting Thoughts

At first, I was a little apprehensive about taking a road trip during covid-19. But, I think I prepared well, and that lifted some of the anxieties. I think it helps tremendously that Scotland (and its business owners) take re-opening seriously.

So many local businesses rely on tourism and consumers in order to recover. As much as you’re scared to go, they’re scared their businesses or livelihoods may not survive. The sad fact is that many businesses are unable to reopen due to the restrictions and the distancing guidelines. So, now more than ever, whenever you can, support local business!

Going on holiday now is completely a personal choice. And I understand and respect people’s decisions one way or the other. Hopefully my experience can shed some light on how to road trip safely during covid-19.

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Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

Click on the blue icons below to follow her on social media!

lanniesfoodandtravel.com/index.php/about-me/