Do you need to isolate after a negative test result for family member?

[Supertree]

My 4 year old seems to have had a cold for the past few days - snotty nose and sneezing, but no coronavirus symptoms so I’ve been carrying on a normal. This morning he woke up and was coughing a lot. It was a dry cough. I thought it might have just been because he’d been lying down or just woken up or something but I had to make a decision by 8am as that’s when my eldest leaves for school, and he was still coughing every few minutes or so. So we’re now self isolating and have just managed to book a test for today.

His coughing has lessened and is now only a couple of coughs an hour. I think he is still supposed to be tested? I’ve informed the schools of self isolation so will need a negative test anyway or need to isolate for the full two weeks. I’m assuming it’s related to his cold and expecting a negative result.

Are the rest of us able to also stop isolating if he tests negative? I’m assuming so but not actually sure!

Yes as long as no one develops symptoms.

Yes, if you’re isolating because someone had symptoms you can stop if they’re negative.

Yes, that's fine.

We had similar here, coughing for maybe an hour (maybe 4 times with a good few coughs) booked a test, kept off school not a single cough since but now waiting for a result. Feel like I was maybe a bit premature in booking the test!

He’s now coughing a lot more again so think I was right in booking the test. I always doubt myself when it comes to knowing when to get medical advice or keep off school and this situation is just so perfect for second guessing. Thanks for the clarification, just dreading the test itself now. He is a particularly stubborn child and is not going to respond well to me trying to put a swab up his nose...