..to question why we have to isolate for ELEVEN days not TEN?

[AwesomeNameChanging]

Hi, have namechanged for this.
DD symptoms (Head cold) started Tues 20 July, positive LF test on Saturday, positive PCR test yesterday.
By all NHS guidance 20th is day zero, 10 days isolation ends 23;59 this Friday 30 July.
But apparently the gap between symptom onset and PCR was too long. Track & trace have counted back 5 days from PCR and used Weds 21st as day zero, therefore we have to isolate until 23:59 on Saturday.

Can anyone point me to the NHS guidance or the law where this ‘Count back from PCR’ is set out please? It was news to me.

Thank you

I don't know officially but that's why if there are symptoms you go straight for a PCR not lateral flow. Could have saved yourself some days!

I agree Wombat - if I had known I would have made arrangement to get PCR sooner. We thought it was just a cold - NHS symptom list has not been updated. And she only took LF as part of regular school testing, otherwise we wouldn’t have even considered covid.

Ok I have found it in the The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Self-Isolation) (England) Regulations 2020

It would be helpful if it was more widely known. And encourage people to get tested sooner.

Why on earth didn’t you take her for a PCR the same day she got a positive on a LF test?! I treated positive Monday morning on a LF and had a PCR within 2 hours

So you waited four days to do a lateral flow test? you’ve only got yourself to blame. Suck it up!

And I can’t get over “didn’t even consider covid” I mean, really?!

There is a bit of a lag there (and I see why you name changed)

It's an extra day. I'd just suck it up. Hope you DD is alright.

The cold might not have been COVID (and your testing decisions suggest you thought it wasn't).

Come on, though, everyone knows that with the Delta variant, symptoms are now just any "cold-like symptoms", and you are advised to get a test even if it's not any of the 3 main old COVID symptoms.

But then again, I'm suspicious that the Delta variant may produce different results at the times that old variants would have shown positive. Who knows, though....

everyone knows that with the Delta variant, symptoms are now just any "cold-like symptoms*

I thought it was any symptoms at all...

People are being encouraged to get tested sooner and delta variant symptoms have been being reported as similar to a cold for at least 8 weeks. Count back from PCR was also introduced a while ago. This info is readily available as you have found upthread. What more are you expecting PHE to do??

@Purplelion

Why on earth didn’t you take her for a PCR the same day she got a positive on a LF test?! I treated positive Monday morning on a LF and had a PCR within 2 hours

It can depend on test availability in centres that you can get to. DS symptoms started late Tuesday night, all test slots were already booked for Wednesday so we had to wait for a test on Thursday, and then results came in Saturday morning. So thats nearly 4 days between symptoms and test result.

Well that’s right , you can’t go from day of symptoms but not take a test for days. You didn’t take lateral test till Saturday then Positive yesterday so why you think you can cut a day out. Is it really a big deal when it’s Wednesday tomorrow so more than half way past isolation considering you’ve only just had a positive test .

I really hope you weren't as irresponsible as this about isolating at first and didn't let her go out and spread her 'just a cold' from the date symptoms started but I'm assuming you did.

I cannot fathom how people are still this inept. I'm embarrassed for you.