Testing period now extended from 5 to 8 days

[Lemons1571]

No idea why this has not been publicised better, but you can now get tested in the first 8 days after symptoms.

It’s on the nhs website and gov.uk

By the 8 day point, won't you be basically better in most cases? Assuming it takes a couple of days for symptoms to show also. I don't really understand why people would test at all, if they would be covid free by the time they got the results anyway?

So their families could stop isolating?

I suppose your close contacts could isolate for a while? I do agree it’s a bit horse and stable door in terms of stopping the spread.

It gives a few days grace for the beleaguered testing system?

It's that they've worked out a sufficient percentage are getting a positive test by the 8 day stage, rather than a recommended approach.