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Original poster

My friend has Covid but is meant to be coming for Christmas

20 replies

garlictwist · 12/12/2020 06:11

My friend had a positive Covid test ten days ago and her isolation ends on Sunday. She hasn't been very ill at all but many of her colleagues who also tested positive have been. Her main symptoms are a cough and a loss of taste and smell.

She is due to come and stay with me for Christmas on the 23rd.

I'm worried she will still be contagious. I know that science decrees she won't be, but how do they really know? Don't people continue to shed viruses for a while, even after they have recovered?

I can't cancel her as she is my oldest friend and has no one else to spend Christmas with, but I am secretly kind of dreading it as I know I will be worrying about it.

Is there any way I can be sure she's no longer contagious?

OP posts:

Frenchdressing · 12/12/2020 06:13

23rd is ages away. I think the infectious period will be well over by then.

evenmoreforthemoor · 12/12/2020 06:15

How does Science really know?

Through rigorous testing done over a long period of time on many people.

BefuddledPerson · 12/12/2020 06:22

I would not be worried about this, and I have been called a coronaphobr on here.

She'll be over three weeks since her positive test.

I think the only caveat is if still actively unwell e.g. fever.

I have been sticking to NHS advice as our doctors don't know everything yet - but they definitely know more than me.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Covid-19

AverageHuman · 12/12/2020 06:26

Ask her to take another test? Ive heard of a patient. testing positive weeks later but i dont know if they were infectious

UseOfWeapons · 12/12/2020 06:39

You can still test positive and not be infectious to others, as the most used COVID tests cannot distinguish between live and dead virus cells. A second test will tell you nothing.

In the NHS, staff can return to work after a positive test after completing the same self isolation, without a repeat test, as can anyone other member of the population. PHE would not have made these guidelines for safety, had they not not been sure people would no longer be a risk.

I think you’re worrying unnecessarily, and I’m sure that your friend would be the first person to decline your invitation had she had any doubts. You are far, far more likely to catch it from another source than from your friend.

Woodifer · 12/12/2020 07:38

This is actually the safest scenario for you. She’s had it and recovered vs thinking she doesn’t have it and accidentally coming to yours while asymptomatic. My friend who has recently had covid feels able to visit her parents this Xmas for this reason, where as we won’t risk it.

BefuddledPerson · 12/12/2020 07:41

@Woodifer

Yes agree with this.

TheGriffle · 12/12/2020 07:42

Just to add she may still have a cough when she comes to you, she won’t still be infectious though. Just don’t treat her like a leper if she’s still coughing as that symptom can linger.

Original poster

garlictwist · 12/12/2020 08:11

OK, thanks everyone. Perhaps I am just worrying unnecessarily.

OP posts:

HallFloor · 12/12/2020 08:15

If it was just a couple of days after the isolation period, I might agree but as a PP says, she'll be one of the safest people you could meet by Christmas.

nosswith · 12/12/2020 08:22

I think the test beforehand is the best option. As a friend I hope she would understand.

BiscuitDrama · 12/12/2020 08:28

I don’t think a test will help, I’ve been told you can test positive for many weeks after, but not be infectious. That sounds a bit vague and unlikely. I’d look into that before getting her to take and waste a test though.

I would be thinking she’s one of the safest people to have around. My GP questioned whether I still had a fever, that was all, in terms on infectiousness.

Also bear in mind that a lingering cough after covid is not an indicator of infectiousness.

Original poster

garlictwist · 12/12/2020 08:31

There's no point her taking a test because it shows positive for 90 days after you've had it, or so I thought?

OP posts:

IamHyouweegobshite · 12/12/2020 09:17

I've recently had covid, retesting won't help as it could say that she's positive, but not infectious, she'll then have to isolate again. If she has a temp/fever she is still infectious. As long as she had neither of those for 48hrs she's not infectious.

EmilySpinach · 12/12/2020 09:18

@Woodifer

Agreed.

Retiremental · 12/12/2020 09:22

@garlictwist

OK, thanks everyone. Perhaps I am just worrying unnecessarily.

You are.

Retiremental · 12/12/2020 09:23

@garlictwist

There's no point her taking a test because it shows positive for 90 days after you've had it, or so I thought?

Current evidence shows some people continue to test positive for up to 90 days.

RainingBatsAndFrogs · 12/12/2020 09:32

Part of her actual infectious period will have been before she got the test results.

You have absolutely nothing to worry about. The country is being run, in part, by people who have had COVID with mild symptoms and gone back to their daily lives after the isolation period.

Your friend’s dates leave a big margin.

Stop worrying and start looking forward to your Christmas.

SquishySquirmy · 12/12/2020 09:33

She really should not be infectious by then!
(She may still have a cough though).
In fact she will probably be one of the safest guests to have this Christmas.
But if you're really worried, could she take a test once she's better?
A negative will confirm she is no longer infectious.

SleepingStandingUp · 12/12/2020 09:38

Her positive was 10 days ago so she was probably poorly before that. Her isolation ends on the 13th which will def be 14 days and she is then coming 10 days later.

Even if she was shedding for a short while afterwards, it will be an extra 10 days on to of what they're saying is necessary.

But honestly if you're going to be disinfecting after her, making sure she's doesn't sit by you and paranoid if she swallows her Turkey the wrong way, you'll both have a miserable time and might be better off cancelling

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