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.

And the thing about getting a negative pcr makes no sense. Covid takes an average of 5 days to show infection from exposure. Average not a given. So a day or two after it's going to be negative.

I think you are correct - the system is ridiculous. It’s always had huge holes in it.
I was a close contact for 4 people at work. Non of them named me so I was told I had to go to work (in schools) even though I could have worked from home.
I protested and spoke to the head of two schools who both said unless track and race told you to isolate you need to come in. Thank goodness I didn’t develop symptoms but I could have silently spread it.

The relevant part from the guidelines on the government website:www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-and-trace-how-it-works

If your test is positive, you must continue to stay at home for at least 10 days and we will get in touch to ask about your contacts since they must self-isolate. If your test is negative, you must still complete your 10-day self-isolation period because the virus may not be detectable yet – this is crucial to avoid unknowingly spreading the virus.

@BlueDucky

The talk about cutting short the 10 days if DS himself has a negative PCR is what confused me yes I thought he still had to isolate but you wouldn't.

Have you heard about ‘cutting isolation short’? I hadn’t!

If you're picking the thing apart then yes your ds is free to go and infect lots more people until the pcr comes back positive. But since you know he's positive it's a no brainer that he needs to isolate.

DH is currently on day two of isolation. He was with a friend for under 1hr on Monday morning. Friend tested positive on Tuesday. DH is therefore a close contact. Track and trace got in touch, requested DH take a test (negative result returned yesterday afternoon) however regardless he has to isolate for the ten day period. Had he tested positive DC’s and I would have to isolate too. As it is they are free to go to school.

Ps. The system is so flawed as relies on the honesty of the individual who can be under pressure from workplace to minimise and lie.

I think the confusion over cutting isolation short is related to holidays (if you have a negative test 5 days after returning then you don’t have to continue isolating) and I think people are assuming it’s the same rules. But obviously there’s different rules if you’ve been in close contact with a positive case and you then do actually have to do the 10 days.

Advice is still for close contacts to isolate for ten days.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/if-youre-told-to-self-isolate-by-nhs-test-and-trace-or-the-covid-19-app/

It can take up to ten days to get it, that’s why the period is ten days. You can’t get out of isolation early with a negative test because you (your DS) could still get it in this time.

Your nurse friend is confused. Maybe they have different rules for work.

Ni advice is pretty clear on it

"You will also be asked to continue to self-isolate if you have been identified as a close contact of a confirmed case even if you have received a negative test result, because it can take up to 10 days for the symptoms of infection to develop."

All close contacts here are now being asked to take a pcr test once identified as a contact but regardless they still have to isolate. If they test negative they continue to isolate but rest of their household doesn't have to.

Op just ignore what you/he have been told in person.

Website is clear - if friend gets positive pcr test then DS isolates for 10 days and gets tested if symptomatic. EVEN IF negative, he still does the full 10 days

@dementedpixie

The relevant part from the guidelines on the government website:www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-and-trace-how-it-works

If your test is positive, you must continue to stay at home for at least 10 days and we will get in touch to ask about your contacts since they must self-isolate. If your test is negative, you must still complete your 10-day self-isolation period because the virus may not be detectable yet – this is crucial to avoid unknowingly spreading the virus.

demented I was reading this on-line guidance yesterday. It’s the most detailed page on there. Muddled in with much vaguer pages on the same topic.

If your test is negative, you must still complete your 10-day self-isolation period

Test and trace staff didn’t say this and neither did the NHS triage nurse. They said DS would be able to cut the 10 day period short.
That’s why I was confused and started the thread! 😅

@DoesSheDoesntShe

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 will count as a close contact but England was trialing a new system. Has he been contacted by track and trace yet?

@myfuckingfreezer

Op just ignore what you/he have been told in person.

Website is clear - if friend gets positive pcr test then DS isolates for 10 days and gets tested if symptomatic. EVEN IF negative, he still does the full 10 days

DS is isolating so it makes no difference really.

No wonder the virus continues. What about people who don’t name their contacts? Miss a few out? Or Follow the ‘wrong’ advice from T&T or GP triage nurse?

Scottishskifun

No. His friend’s PCR results are due today.
LF tests and PCR tests were done yesterday.

@Jumpingintosummer

Ps. The system is so flawed as relies on the honesty of the individual who can be under pressure from workplace to minimise and lie.

100%

For example:
DS’s friend gets positive PCR today
Doesn’t name DS as a contact
DS goes about his business as normal

This won’t happen but I bet it’s happening A LOT.

@Jumpingintosummer

DH is currently on day two of isolation. He was with a friend for under 1hr on Monday morning. Friend tested positive on Tuesday. DH is therefore a close contact. Track and trace got in touch, requested DH take a test (negative result returned yesterday afternoon) however regardless he has to isolate for the ten day period. Had he tested positive DC’s and I would have to isolate too. As it is they are free to go to school.

Thank you jumping! This at least explains the advice for DS to get a test immediately even though he doesn’t have symptoms.

@DoesSheDoesntShe

Scottishskifun

No. His friend’s PCR results are due today.
LF tests and PCR tests were done yesterday.

Would wait for track and trace he will definitely be a close contact by definition if his friends PCR is positive.

I'm not sure how the trial is working or what areas are involved. If his friends PCR comes back negative then he can stop isolation. Lateral flows can occasionally create false positives.

But yes the system is reliant on people being honest or downloading the app!

It's best for him to self isolate and track and trace will confirm this soon I would think. Chances are he will have it too so I would suggest he isolated himself from you guys too and take another test in a day or so.

Your son needs to isolate, you do not. If your son begins showing symptoms then you need to isolate and he needs to get a test. However he could be asymptomatic, If I were him I’d isolate and test in a few days.

*Have you heard about ‘cutting isolation short’? I have heard of some people with children being allowed to send them to nursery if they'd got a negative PCR test and I think if you come back from holiday you can? I think they need a public ad campaign to explain it because it needs to be a simple and clear message and it doesn't seem to be at the moment if people have to look it up on a website and are being given confusing messages from people involved in the testing.

Oops bolding fail!

They are not test and trace staff though at the test centre. And the triage nurse isn't official test and trace either. The triage nurse will only have access to the same guidelines we do and is wrong. I dont know what your point is OP.

You aren't supposed to call the GP triage and ask. You have read the guidelines yourself and say you understand so I'm not sure why you felt the need to speak to the GP.

As a PP said, a LFT is like symptoms, it is not a diagnosis. I think realistically its just too much work to get everyone to isolate following a positive LFT and then not isolate following a PCR. As you've got a fair suspicion that his friend is positive it makes sense to isolate, but they cant trigger the track and trace system based on symptoms or LFTs

@Jumpingintosummer

DH is currently on day two of isolation. He was with a friend for under 1hr on Monday morning. Friend tested positive on Tuesday. DH is therefore a close contact. Track and trace got in touch, requested DH take a test (negative result returned yesterday afternoon) however regardless he has to isolate for the ten day period. Had he tested positive DC’s and I would have to isolate too. As it is they are free to go to school.

We’re in the same situation. Beginning of last week DS had contact with a positive case and told to isolate until the end of 4 June. On Monday (31st) we received an email from PHE requesting DS go for a PCR. The email was very clear that even if DS got a negative he MUST continue to isolate until the end of the 4 June.

Luckily his PCR was negative so he’s only got today and tomorrow but it’s been a shit half term for him.

@BlueDucky

*Have you heard about ‘cutting isolation short’? I have heard of some people with children being allowed to send them to nursery if they'd got a negative PCR test and I think if you come back from holiday you can? I think they need a public ad campaign to explain it because it needs to be a simple and clear message and it doesn't seem to be at the moment if people have to look it up on a website and are being given confusing messages from people involved in the testing.

I found lots of info on NHS website but the same topics are repeated all over the place with varying levels of detail!

The main conflicting messages between website, T&T staff and NHS nurse:

Who legally isolates after LF test.
A) all close contacts.
B) Just family

How long does a close contact isolate for after THEIR OWN NEGATIVE PCR test.
A) The full 10 days
B) If close contact’s test is negative isolation period can stop.