Totally confused now (Sorry, it’s a Covid one)

[DoesSheDoesntShe]

DS met up with his friend yesterday. They spent the entire day together in town. Ate out together and went shopping.

Today DS’s friend took a Covid test for work and tested positive. No symptoms.
The friend’s colleague also tested positive today. DS does not know the colleague.

DS has tested negative as have I.

DS’s friend is isolating
DS’s friend’s family is isolating.

We have different information from different people:

1. DS should isolate for 10 days (online info)
2. DS does not have to isolate if he tests negative as he is not a family member - but, he can if he wants to (the test centre DS’s friend went to - he asked what his friends should do)
3. As number 2 (NHS worker)

So, what does DS do? Isolate or not?

AIBU to think WTH? Conflicting advice or what?

If you work for the NHS or KNOW the actual rules please please reply!

I thought DS needed to isolate for 10 days and now don’t know what to think.

I think he would be a close contact so would need to isolate.

It's so ridiculously confusing. Given the length of time your DS was with his friend and the activities they did, I think he should SI. It will take a few days before he'd test positive and by then he could have infected others.

He will have to self isolate as he has been in close contact with a positive case.

DS needs to isolate for 10 days. A test is meaningless here as if infected he would still be in his incubation period and can still become positive and pass the virus on.

I assumed isolate but
I just don’t understand the conflicting advice!

NHS worker AND Covid centre say only family members isolate. DS should only isolate if his test is positive... ?!£&@?!

He's a close contact so needs to isolate I'd have thought

@Madwomanuptheroad29

DS needs to isolate for 10 days. A test is meaningless here as if infected he would still be in his incubation period and can still become positive and pass the virus on.

Which is exactly what I thought...

I guess now restrictions are easing they should really go over the guidance for isolating again.

Isolate. My daughter was a close contact of someone who tested positive, she had to isolate for 10 days.

Was it lateral flows you all took? Possibly his friend needs it confirmed by PCR but I would still isolate.

@BlueDucky

I guess now restrictions are easing they should really go over the guidance for isolating again.

I think so too. Seems like the NHS worker and Covid centre have different info.

Isolate. He was only exposed yesterday, the incubation period is at least 5 days so the negative test today would be inconsequential.

@Feelingbad2

Was it lateral flows you all took? Possibly his friend needs it confirmed by PCR but I would still isolate.

Yes- friend took 5 tests (!) All positive. It will be confirmed in 48 hrs with the other test.

It was the person at the test centre who said only family has to isolate.
Test and trace, track and trace (whatever it’s called) was not actioned. DS’s friend told them he had been with friends.

The friend needs to take a PCR test, until then his household needs to isolate. If the PCR test is positive, then he will be asked who he has been in close contact with and then Test and Trace will contact those people (probably your son) and ask them to isolate. It's all laid out here:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing/test-results/positive-test-result/

If I were your son, I would isolate until his friend gets his PCR result.

You can see why I’m confused! Hopefully!

If they both have the app then once he gets the positive PCR test the friend will get a code which should hopefully then tell your son to isolate.

@DoesSheDoesntShe

You can see why I’m confused! Hopefully!

Yes, it's not been made clear.

I think it's pretty clear on the website?

Looks like the confusion is about lateral flow vs PCR having different procedures.

Lateral flow - only family isolate, person gets PCR to confirm

PCR positive - test and trace is triggered which designates DS as close contact who has to isolate.

God knows why gov have never put out a general message to public that if you know you've been in contact, isolate until you know more. Test and trace can take days or even never actually kick in which is a disgrace.

If the PCR test is positive, then he will be asked who he has been in close contact with and then Test and Trace will contact those people (probably your son) and ask them to isolate.

It does not say anything about that.
However, it does say something about ‘if you have had a test because you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive’.
So, My DS needs a Lab test.

I assume track and trace will kick in if the PCR gives a positive result. Is it only family who have to isolate with positive LFT?

Looks like the confusion is about lateral flow vs PCR having different procedures.

Lateral flow - only family isolate, person gets PCR to confirm

PCR positive - test and trace is triggered which designates DS as close contact who has to isolate.

Definitely this!

Except, the advice from test centre and NHS worker was:

‘PCR positive - test and trace is triggered which designates DS as close contact who has to isolate ONLY if they then test positive’

@ineedaholidaynow

I assume track and trace will kick in if the PCR gives a positive result. Is it only family who have to isolate with positive LFT?

Yes. I need to book DS a test.

NHS staff have been given conflicting advice for ages. Firstly DH was told to turn off test and trace. He was also told not to isolate after a patient he treated was positive, he carried out a procedure in very close proximity too!