A Minnesota nurse was fully vaccinated months before going on vacation to Mexico, but she is now quarantined in a small hotel room after testing positive for Covid-19.
NBC News partner KARE 11 reported that Delano’s Diane Schmidt has been unable to leave her hotel room in Mexico since Thursday.
According to the report, Schmidt flew to Playa del Carmen on March 27 for her daughter’s senior trip. Two other mothers and their daughters joined Schmidt.
Although Schmidt, a nurse practitioner at Children’s Minnesota, has been fully vaccinated since early January, she opted for the hotel’s $ 30 COVID insurance policy, which covers a person’s hotel accommodation, including room and food, for an additional 14 days – and she’s glad she did.
Schmidt told KARE 11 that she “got a sore throat” on Monday and “coughed a little bit” on Tuesday, although she said it was okay, and she thought it was from sleeping with the air conditioner on. . She experienced some sinus pressure on Wednesday, but still didn’t think it was COVID.
However, on Thursday, as she went for her Covid-19 test, as required by the CDC in preparation for her return flight home on Saturday, she was called very shortly afterward and told she tested positive, KARE 11. Schmidt reported has since been in quarantine.
Schmidt said, “This could take a week and a half if I really have to stay that long.”
Schmidt said that although she took precautions and wore a medical-grade mask, she likely contracted the virus in flight.
Since the end of January, the CDC has demanded that travelers flying to the US from abroad do not have their flight tested more than three days before departure. Passengers must provide proof of a negative test before boarding, the news outlet reported.
The Minnesota Department of Health has identified 222 breakthrough vaccine cases.
While the NBC News affiliate reported that more than 1.8 million Minnesota minuses received at least one vaccine dose, the Department of Health reported 222 cases of vaccine breakthroughs on April 2.
It is still possible to contract the virus after receiving a vaccine. Current vaccines are “very effective” in protecting people from serious diseases. And, according to the CDC, “there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that fully vaccinated people are less likely to have an asymptomatic infection and may be less likely to pass on SARS-CoV-2 to others.”
Consider this if you plan to travel.
Although Schmidt was the only vaccinated person in her group, the report said she was the only one to test positive. Despite that, Schmidt said she would still highly recommend the vaccine. She hopes that sharing her story will help other people considering a trip.
She warns potential travelers to consider whether that vacation is worth quarantining as it is, in a very small room with a security guard standing outside the door 24/7 and unable to leave.
The CDC recently updated its travel guidelines for fully vaccinated people and says they can travel in the US and abroad. The CDC added that when fully vaccinated people travel within the US, there is no need for COVID testing or post-travel quarantine. This is as long as the Covid-19 precautions are taken while traveling.
Schmidt said a doctor planned to come over on Tuesday to retest her, noting that each COVID test costs about $ 100.
“You could test positive and you could get it, and now I’m looking forward to possibly being here 19 days after my arrival,” Schmidt said.
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