When is the best time to get tested?

[ChooksAndBooks]

Friend A flies back from Spain in a few days. He intends to get tested for covid asap upon his return so he can go back to work and not have to self isolate.

Friend B is saying that this is silly and proves nothing as it can lie dormant in your body for up to two weeks and the test can come back negative during that time.

I am neither person but stuck in the middle of this disagreement. Who is right and do you have any links i can pass on?

Friend B, and if I was friend A boss I be very cross that be put my staff and clients at risk. I would put him on a disciplinary

He needs to follow gov guidelines and less isolate to the period the gov says. Friend B is correct.

It says that you should test with the first symptoms and there are a list of other reasons here. Funnily shove I've been on holiday isn't on the list.
www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/get-a-test-to-check-if-you-have-coronavirus/

Well currently it doesn't matter if you have tested negative, you still need to isolate. However, last week there was rumours that they may cut the quarantine period to 10 days if you had a negative test which was done on day 8, so there must be some science around that being the optimum time.

There is a reason why quarantine is set at 14days and routine testing not in place for those returning. It can take up to 14days for symptoms and positive test to show up. Friend B is correct and I wouldn’t want to work with friend A who is putting everyone at risk

The rule is 14 days.

They did look into reducing it as the evidence shows 94% of infections show up in the first 7 days so the extra week is catching 6%. I guess they would look in to the argument of the impact on the tourist industry versus that 6% for 7 days. It doesn’t look like the rules will change though.

Thanks. I will pass this on to him.