As in all other years, it is very likely that unexpected return travel (as a result of an Early Return or Temporary Program Suspension) will become a reality for some, on program. An additional consideration which must be reviewed is whether or not the country of origin requires a negative Covid-19 PCR result within 72 hours of departure from the host country. Many countries currently have this travel requirement in place.
A few things to consider:
- Any PCR test (unless deemed medically necessary) is not covered under the AFS Medical Plan and is the responsibility of the student and sending parents.
- The Area Team Crisis Plan includes a section which is dedicated to listing local medical centers which can yield a negative PCR test turn-around time to accommodate return travel within the required 72-hour window.
It will be important for the local team to know where in the team they can go to obtain this test should an unexpected or involuntary return become a reality for their hosted participant.