Confused - covid related

[Tizzy2344]

Please don’t respond in any negative way, this is a genuine question!

DS headteacher has gone into a 2 week isolation as been in contact with someone whose tested positive and other teachers have also done the same meaning some bubbles have had to be at home. Headteacher has made it very clear on email that he and the staff isolating do not have any symptoms and it’s just a precaution.

My question is why can’t they just book a test and then return if it’s negative? Especially as none of them are displaying any symptoms. I’m thinking it might be as not everyone displays symptoms, not sure what’s your opinions? Surely other staff would have been in contact with the staff being asked to isolate? Why are some isolating and some not?

Because there is an incubation period in which they would test negative and have no symptoms, but then go on to display symptoms (potentially) and become contagious.

Because they could still be incubating the virus, it only shows if they have it at that point not if they will develop it.

Probably because he would be breaking the rules if he just got a test and came back in. Don't you know the rules, honestly? If he's been a close contact of a confirmed case he needs to isolate for two weeks. He could test negative today and be positive tomorrow, infecting your dc.
Don't know the the other staff, it will depend how close a contact they have been of a positive case. They will have been advised what to do.
Why would teachers follow different rules to the rest of us?

Because they can be incubating it, and then be contagious for 48 hours before they get any symptoms. By which time the damage would be done if they continued mixing.

Because the rules are if you have been near someone who has tested positive you isolate for 14 days.
Why would teachers do something different ?

Not all teachers see everyone else during the day.
If i tested positive I have been in contact with 1x teacher, 1x ta and 1x lunchtime supervisor. That leaves the headteacher, deputy, 3 other teachers, 3 tas, multiple Sen assistants and multiple other lunchtime supervisors. Were in "bubbles" just in case we do have a positive, our bubble can isolate and the school can remain open.

Staff even have staggered lunchtimes to limit bubble crossing in the staff room!!

How do people not understand this after the last few months?!

As said above, it's for incubation purposes.

@starrynight19

Because the rules are if you have been near someone who has tested positive you isolate for 14 days. Why would teachers do something different ?

This!

Why do you think teachers would have a different set of rules to follow to the rest of the population, OP?

Because there's a two week incubation period.

A negative test doesn't free you from that.

Because the positive test could take 14 days to show for someone without symptoms...how many people would they come into contact within those 13 incubation days?

Possible outcomes for different people:
Day 3 test negative
Day 4 symptoms and test positive

Day 12 test negative
Day 13 symptoms and test positive

That's why if you've been a close contact but you don't have symptoms yourself you isolate for 14 to see if you develop symptoms, if you do you get a test to confirm covid, if you don't show symptoms in the 14 days you carry on and go back to work etc.

Tests are only if you have symptoms. And you only isolate if been in contact with someone who tested positive. Not if you have contact with a contact