To think I DON'T need to self isolate yet?

[barnabypop]

So I went to a birthday party in a friends garden last night. One of my friends had said she hadn't been feeling well all week, tight chest, headache etc but she'd taken several lateral flow tests so thought she was fine. Well this morning she has had a positive lateral flow test and is awaiting results of PCP test.

I had given her a hug and then touched her phone as she was showing me pictures on it and was sitting next to her most of the night. However, I read on government website that even if you have been in contact with someone with Covid you don't have to isolate until track and trace get in touch.

So am I right in saying I am free to go about as normal until I am contacted by track and trace? Will I even have to isolate if we were outside?

You do realise that if you have been exposed to Covid through your friend, the virus won’t wait until test and trace contact you to become contagious?! How can we be at this stage of the pandemic and people are still looking for loopholes to avoid doing what is the right thing to do to reduce the risk of transmission?

Sorry don't know what happened up there, I am going to isolate as people said, it's morally the right thing to do. But I don't HAVE to let the government advice, which I just think is mad and no wonder it has spread so much. I have ordered lateral flow tests and will test every couple days when they arrive. I am hoping her test today comes back as negative and is a false positive however I am doubtful as she has symptoms.

Are false positives on lateral tests common?

Depends on whether you think you should "do the right thing" or actually do the right thing 🤷‍♀️

2 family members had tests on Thursday - both had results within 12 hours. We all isolated until they both got negatives.

You shouldn't have to wait long. It sounds with her symptoms and a + LFT that she could well come back with another positive. Please don't risk infecting someone else.

Are false positives on lateral tests common?
They can be but your friend has symptoms that mean hers almost certainly isn’t.

Sorry x posted.

I'm glad you've decided to do that and very sensible about doing LFT.

Although I really don't think your friend has. She should have tested earlier is she suspected it could be covid and certainly not mixed with people whilst thinking she possibly could - hence why she did LFT daily.

LFT are not for testing with symptoms anyway.

@countbackfromten

Honestly, I give up. It sounds overwhelmingly like she will be PCR positive and you have been exposed yet the tone of your post is that you won’t self isolate until told to? No wonder this virus is still spreading. No wonder my colleagues and are I watching cases numbers and wondering if we will start to see more patients in hospital.

This.

A family at our local nursery had an indoor party for their child with over thirty people (confirmed by the parent) as a result so far three families have Covid that attended the party and also passed this on to a member of staff at the nursery. Subsequently all child and staff that have been in contact are now isolating, nightmare for everyone but need to stop the spread.

You strongly implied it in the OP. Don’t play dumb you obviously realise that’s how it reads.

Why do people keep using lateral flow tests when they have symptoms? They’re not at all accurate in this situation.

My daughter is clinically vulnerable and posts like this make me so worried. I’m firmly in the ‘get back to normal’ camp, despite her vulnerability, but only if we can be confident that people will be sensible and respectful of such obvious situations such as this.

@Bagamoyo1

Why do people keep using lateral flow tests when they have symptoms? They’re not at all accurate in this situation.

The op’s friend didn’t have any of the three key symptoms the government says you need to book a PCR test as far as I can see.

The public health messaging around what should trigger a PCR test should be updated.

All that track and trace will do is ask her for any details of people she’s been in touch with and call them. It’s no different to her telling you herself and then you isolating.

I had it in March. I work in a school and every adult that I had been in the same room as tested positive. Not hugged, not stood close to but the same classroom. It spreads more easily than most people imagine.

@Bagamoyo1

Why do people keep using lateral flow tests when they have symptoms? They’re not at all accurate in this situation.

Why do people think this? I had symptoms and got a positive using a lateral flow test even though the lateral flow had come up as negative the day before. Yes you should have a PCR but I didn’t have that option at 9.30 at night.

@EastWestWhosBest my employer is looking for proof from track and trace though, that is where the difficulty lies.

Are you being serious ? Of course you need to self isolate right now. Why would you risk killing someone else ?

I would isolate and test in 4-5 days.

[quote barnabypop]@EastWestWhosBest my employer is looking for proof from track and trace though, that is where the difficulty lies. [/quote]
Oh I see, that's annoying.
You should get a text message as soon as she contacts track and trace.
I can see it from the point of view of the employer - anyone could claim their mate has it so they'll be having a week off thanks.

[quote barnabypop]@EastWestWhosBest my employer is looking for proof from track and trace though, that is where the difficulty lies. [/quote]
You need to tell your employer what you’ve told us, your classed as a close contact it could take several days for test and trace to contact you so I’d isolate. If your employer insists you come in and tbh I can believe it then you’ve done everything you can do , but like you say keep testing with those lateral tests and just be careful.

my employer is looking for proof from track and trace though, that is where the difficulty lies

One would have thought you would have led with that.

Does your employer understand that if you come in, you may have contracted it and the business will be far worse off? You’re waiting for a PCR test. In such cases, we used to have to isolate, didn’t we?… Didn’t know it had changed.

Seems a lot of employers have acted like arses during the pandemic, which has aided the spread.

Legally - possibly not.

Morally - please do. We need this to be over with as quickly as possible.

Similar situation. My friend is a hockey coach. A few of the teams tests came back positive. I got into a car with her this week and been to her house (The tests hadn't been done at that point.).
Now she is saying she does not need to isolate as she was outdoors, masked up and has received a negative test.

It doesn't matter what the rules are. You know you've been in close contact with someone with CoVid. Of course you should isolate. Tell your employer you will send the track and trace info as soon as you have it.

This is just such a dumb question.

You know you have been in close contact with a confirmed case. Of course you should start self isolating now. Waiting for T&T to get in touch doesn't come into it.

If you don't isolate now, anyone you come into contact with with also need to self isolate if you test positive in a few days time. If you can't see how bloody selfish you are being I despair.

Take some ownership and accountability for your actions!

@ChequerBoard excuse me? Wind your bloody neck in.