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.

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.

Thanks for this Drunken
I honestly do not know where the T&T person at the test centre or NHS Triage nurse at the GP surgery got their ‘information’ from then!

I’d assume that the advice is based on the idea that as a friend you might have spent an hour or two together in a more socially distanced way.
But from your description they have spent the kind of time together that a few weeks ago would only have been allowed with members of the same household.
Isolation would seem sensible for five days at least and agree the guidance doesn’t reflect changes in what we are allowed to do

The person at the Test centre is not Test and Trace staff though

The NHS nurse at the GP surgery is also not Test and Trace staff

They are coming up.with their own interpretations of the guidance and are giving out wrong information

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.

Probably best if they don’t answer questions, give out advice or explain the rules to people who call into the test centre or GP surgery then?

I think the confusion is due to it not being confirmed with a pcr test , once that's positive your son will I guarantee be told to isolate - I had to last week after jogging outside for twenty mins with a friend who had a positive pcr two days later. I'm double vaccinated as well . Track and trace will be very much on it making it clear

I never got anything on the app it was texts and calls from track and trace two hours after positive friend had told track abs trace her contacts

@dementedpixie

The person at the Test centre is not Test and Trace staff though

The NHS nurse at the GP surgery is also not Test and Trace staff

They are coming up.with their own interpretations of the guidance and are giving out wrong information

Which is awful.

Many people will rely totally on the VERBAL information they receive from their T&T centre and/or GP surgery.

Sorry last one the policy now is contacts get a pcr test ASAP as well - the result has no impact on isolation if a contact

@dementedpixie

The person at the Test centre is not Test and Trace staff though

The NHS nurse at the GP surgery is also not Test and Trace staff

They are coming up.with their own interpretations of the guidance and are giving out wrong information

The testing centres I have been to are indeed Test and Trace staff. Obviously different bods to the ones that call you to tell you to SI but still come under test and trace and should all be following the same rules!

@Thirtyrock39

Sorry last one the policy now is contacts get a pcr test ASAP as well - the result has no impact on isolation if a contact

Yes, DS was told to get tested immediately (PCR) despite having no symptoms.

They said if that came back negative his 10 day isolation would stop.

This is wrong information apparently.

If his friend gets a positive pcr track abs trace will ask him for all his contacts. They will be called and it will be made very clear what the rules are- Until pcr results come through your son needs to be careful but not isolating . This is on the government website

He
Needs to
Isolate for
Ten days and do a pcr again around the five days mark

The testing centres I have been to are indeed Test and Trace staff. Obviously different bods to the ones that call you to tell you to SI but still come under test and trace and should all be following the same rules!

You would think so frazzled!

Where ARE the experts if not at the T&T centre or GP surgery?

Many people cannot access online info. inability to read it, decipher it, understand it... whatever the reason, they rely on verbal instruction.

@clpsmum

He Needs to Isolate for Ten days and do a pcr again around the five days mark

Yes We Know

Although ‘around the 5 day mark’ is a new one.

OP, unfortunately there are flaws in the guidance and people aren’t perfect so don’t be surprised that you’ve got conflicting advice.
Your instinct was absolutely right - to stop the spread your DS has to isolate. 10 days counts from the day of his contact with his friend so he can go out on the 12th June.
Your DS should have PCR test himself and if it’s positive YOU (and the others in your household) should isolate, However if DS’s test is negative - YOU (and others in your household) could continue as usual, only your DS stay in SI.

Jumpingintosummer described the similar situation perfectly. I would follow her example.

greenlynx

Thank you
You have summarised perfectly.

Only take a pcr test if you have symptoms.

Your ds should isolate for moral reasons until friends gets a result on pcr.

If it's positive the law says DS needs to isolate for 10 days from point of contact. This is why school bubbles keep being sent home for 10 days.

He only needs to get a test if he is showing symptoms, otherwise just self isolate for 10 days.

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.

This one is the one I keep hearing people say different things about

I would assume someone from a health care setting knows what they are talking about.

And if they don't they should tell me to access the website.

@BlueDucky

*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.*

This one is the one I keep hearing people say different things about

Yes!

This confusion occurred because the guidance was written before LF tests were introduced. And the LF tests were introduced when the close contacts were restricted. No one could go out and spent the day with a friend going into restaurants and places, say 3 months ago. so they’ve only put “household members” in the guidance whereas in reality it should be “close contacts“ . The guidance clearly needs updating.

Zorinindustries

Only take a pcr test if you have symptoms.

Apparently not 🤷🏻‍♀️

If you are the person with symptoms and get a negative PCR test you can stop isolating (as long as you also haven't been in contact with a positive case)

If you are a close contact of someone with a positive PCR test then your own negative test does NOT release you from isolation as you could still be incubating it.

How long does a close contact isolate for after THEIR OWN NEGATIVE PCR test?
Still 10 days from the day of the close contact. His own negative PCR test means no one else in his family has to SI.