Confused! Please help! (Isolation question)

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Partner of Colleague at work came down with symptoms including a high temp.

Colleague told to isolate.

Partner going for test.

Colleague has informed the workplace that even if the partner tests negative, colleague still needs to isolate for 2 weeks as it could be a false negative and partner still has symptoms.

Oh gawd I thought I knew the rules and thought if test was negative they were fine to be back at work....but now I’m totally confused!

Can anyone help?

Partner of Colleague at work came down with symptoms including a high temp.

Colleague told to isolate.

by who?

Partner going for test.

Colleague has informed the workplace that even if the partner tests negative, colleague still needs to isolate for 2 weeks as it could be a false negative and partner still has symptoms.

wrong

Oh gawd I thought I knew the rules and thought if test was negative they were fine to be back at work....but now I’m totally confused!

Can anyone help?

No that's not correct. If they have symptoms and test negative then noone needs to isolate.

Its only when you are the contact of a positive case and test negative before 14 days have passed that means you continue to isolate.

If they live together or are in a bubble / have been in close contact from 48 hours before partners symptoms appeared

Then they both isolate

Until the partners test comes back negative

Then back to work for colleague... unless colleague gets symptoms.... and then it's their turn to isolate and test!

No the colleague does not still need to isolate if the test is negative.

They do need to isolate now as they are waiting for test results but if they come back negative then they are able to go about their normal day.

Colleague and partner isolate until test results come back.

If negative they can stop isolating.

If positive they isolate for 10 days (partner) and 14 days (colleague).

Might colleague be trying to swing the lead

Yes, and a positive test from the partner - would mean 10 days isolating from first day of partners symptoms - not necessarily the test date.

For colleague, this would be 14 days.

Not sure, but definitely possible @Iwonder777.

But this is nhs and I’m presuming advice is from occ health which is why I’m confused!

I agree negative test = back to work, but I was told I was wrong by colleague and now doubting myself!

Maybe it just confusion over the guidelines.

Don't doubt yourself.

Honestly. If this was the case, everyone would be off.

It's really not.

The partner could be symptomatic with a whole host of things causing a fever.

Can your boss check this out? Even subtly lol.

Its only when you are the contact of a positive case and test negative before 14 days have passed that means you continue to isolate.

This is correct.

Yes red lock, the negative test means nothing if the 14 days aren't up after being a close contact of a positive person.

Thanks, you have confirmed what I thought and that I am not losing the plot completely!

Nope

You're not 😃

If they test negative your colleague is fine.

If they test positive, your colleague has to isolate even if they get a negative test as could be incubating