This is why test and trace won’t work

[Baggiegirl]

My husband has just been sent a new Covid Absence policy from work. They’re being told that if they are contacted by Test and Trace they must have a test and if negative return to work!! He has replied pointing out this is incorrect but heard nothing back.
Also anyone who is isolating due to test and trace will only get SSP. So most people will simply go to work and say nothing.
Apparently his is not the only workspace with this incorrect information. It really doesn’t bode well

That’s right.

I’m a teacher and this is our guidance fro. Dfe:

“if someone tests negative, if they feel well and no longer have symptoms similar to coronavirus (COVID-19), they can stop self-isolating. They could still have another virus, such as a cold or flu – in which case it is still best to avoid contact with other people until they are better. Other members of their household can stop self-isolating.”

So, as long as you rest negative and are well you can stop self-isolating.

*test

The above info only applies if you have symptoms though. If you don't have symptoms but have been contacted by test and trace then you have to isolate for 14 days as that's the incubation period.

A negative test could be wrong if you are still in the incubation period

Test and trace is different advice to symptoms though.

Test and trace is if you have been in contact for more than 15 mins you have to self isolate for 14 days. Not the household just the person who was in contact with the confirmed positive case.

If you have symptoms and get a test which is negative you can return to work immediately or when you feel better. If its positive then its stay home for 10 days.

There are too many selfish people and no government financial support in this country for test and trace to effectively work. Cases will rise as people will refuse to self isolate for 2 weeks and lose money, or miss out on xyz.

No, the government guidance on their website for track and trace is that even if you are negative you should complete the 14 days as you may be incubating the virus.

Op is talking about someone whos been contacted eg in a pub at the same time as a positive tester.
The 2nd post is about someone with symptoms that tests negative?

Re the op I would agree with the work place if everyone that is ever contacted by track and trace who then tested negative had to still isolate no one would ever be going to work once cases rise?

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/nhs-test-and-trace-if-youve-been-in-contact-with-a-person-who-has-coronavirus/

Explains that even if you have a negative test you still isolate for 14 days from the contact with the person with covid 19 as that's the incubation period.

@dementedpixie - You’re right, my mistake.

I am really going to read up on this before I return in Sept!

OP is correct: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/nhs-test-and-trace-if-youve-been-in-contact-with-a-person-who-has-coronavirus/.

There are certain exemptions, this is the list:
www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules/coronavirus-covid-19-travellers-exempt-from-uk-border-rules.

HOWEVER several countries believe they are getting a lot of cases through these exemptions, particularly agricultural workers but others too. So at some point I expect there will be a review of the list. I didn't pay enough attention to remember which countries / roles have caused issues, but Google will know.

Yes the advice for test and trace is to isolate for 14 days. I think I’m particularly worried about this as my husband is returning to work from shielding.

14 days if you've been in contact with someone but is that the same as everyone that test as trace phone, and do you have to be less than 2mtrs/ 15 min etc.

So big pub, test and trace phone 100 people there on the same day as a positive test, do all 100 have to isolate for 14 days after a negative or just those that have had "contact"

Wow so much misinformation in this post and scarily it's coming down from employers. OP is correct you must self isolate for 14 days if contacted and a negative test is pointless. The 14 days isolation is because of the incubation period and your test would be negative and yet might still get it from the positive contact.
I agree with you OP this is EXACTLY how it's gonna spread. People/employers aren't reading the guidance properly

@Dadnotamum72 - I don't think they'd call 100 people, just the ones within 2m for over 15 min.

@Baggiegirl - he isn't on an exempt list for some reason then? If need be, he can report to HSE that the employer is giving out incorrect advice. It might just be that they've seen the email and thought "oh crap, I need to recheck, tell management, make absolutely sure everything else is right and approved by someone else..." and therefore didn't get round to replying yet.

My DH's work had to deal with this. We both read the guidance differently (him from a negative result me from having been in contact). The company lawyers went with 14 days regardless of the negative test (although medical friends say the test would show at any point if there was an infection). My company are doing 14 days... But the message on the NHS website is easily confused...

I agree op is right.
Though i would like it if people maybe those with significant risk and say a lot of contacts could test after 7 or 14 days so that if they are asymptomatic or incubating it the positive can be used to start tracing their contacts or say closing a school bubble.
Also because in a household ops dp would be isolating due to positive contact but op wouldnt so by on average day 5 op could have it and be contagious herself from eg day 3. If say she were a teacher thats 30-hundreds exposed. Imo so it stops dp spreading it outside the home but his family can for as long as it takes for him to get symptoms up to 14 days or indefinitely if he is asymptomatic. I guess it's limiting his contacts to family but with say 3 family members that is spread to maybe 1/3 might catch it. But they may then be at school with 30 kids so 1/3 of them getting it is 10.

@Keepdistance
You are meant to isolate in the household if you have been in contact with someone who has subsequently tested positive. In the vast majority of cases the virus is only infectious a couple of days before symptoms and this will be several days after contact meaning on the whole the majority are contacted before they will be infectious.

If you have to isolate for 14 days even if you get a negative test, then whats the point of the test to start with? Sure I am missing something somewhere, but I cannot make sense of that at all?

Negative test plus not been in contact with confirmed case- no isolation (logic being it's another illness etc)
If you have been in contact with a confirmed case, you need to isolate in case you are incubating.

The point of testing is identifying people who've caught it off asymptomatic people.

Isn't there the possibility of 20% or so false negative with the tests?

Demented pixie is correct. If you have been contacted by nhs test and trace the direction is you must isolate for 14 days. Because that is the incubation period for this particular virus.

If you have a positive test you must isolate for 10 days, if after the 10 day period you feel well and don't have a fever.

Guidance is available from gov.uk/covid

People contacted by track and trace shouldn’t be going for tests unless symptomatic that’s the guidance

As most asymptomatic don’t show positive and you still have to isolate so no point

The testing positive applies to symptomatic people only

Asymptomatic people shouldn’t be getting tested film stop but merely doing the 14 day isolation