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Original poster

After being in contact with someone with Covid 19, how soon will a test show up positive if I have it too?

50 replies

Lewesq4 · 13/12/2020 19:38

I am planning on booking a private test as I have no symptoms, but have been told that a contact of mine has Covid 19. We last saw each other on Wednesday and she got her negative test on Thursday and I found out this morning - when she messaged me.

It’s been a few days since I saw her now... How many days after contact will Covid show up if I have it and am asymptomatic? Is it five?

I haven’t been told to isolate but want to get a test because it doesn’t feel right to go about normal life! (“Normal life” includes commuting on public transport into work some days - tomorrow being one of those days - and dropping my kids off at school...)

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 13/12/2020 19:40

Did she have symptoms before testing? They look at people who had close contact in the 48 hours before symptoms started.

Don't bother testing if you have no symptoms.

dementedpixie · 13/12/2020 19:42

Do you mean she got a positive test on Thursday rather than a negative test?

Your OP is confusing

CrocodilesCry · 13/12/2020 19:43

If you mean she tested positive (not negative as you've said) and you've been in close contact you must self isolate for 10 days from Wednesday.

Test and Trace should be contacting you but if you know you're a close contact then you must not leave your home - you shouldn't be waiting to be told.

You cannot go on public transport or do school drop-offs - you will likely hear from Test and Trace tomorrow.

If you do develop symptoms you may do from tomorrow but who knows - you may be lucky or you could be positive without any symptoms.

OverTheRainbow88 · 13/12/2020 19:43

Did she know she was awaiting test results when she saw you wed?

If you saw her wed and she tested negative on thurs surely she didn’t have covid when she saw you?

They say 5 days is the average time but can take up to 14.

I wouldn’t isolate or take a test unless contacted by track and trace. If they contact you you shouldn’t take a test anyway and just isolate for 10 days/ used to be 14, it’s just changed

dementedpixie · 13/12/2020 19:43

P.s. if you were in contact in the 48 hours before symptoms started then you should be isolating for 10 days (it drops from 14 days to 10 days from tomorrow)

CrocodilesCry · 13/12/2020 19:47

Not isolating because you haven't been told to yet by Test and Trace is one of the reasons we're in the mess we are.

If you have knowingly been in close contact with someone the day before they tested positive, the only moral, responsible and correct thing to do is self isolate. Like I say, you should well be contacted tomorrow if your friend has done the right thing and told T&T that she was in close contact with you on Wednesday.

I'm amazed anyone would think any different.

OverTheRainbow88 · 13/12/2020 19:50

Oh I thought OP meant she saw friend wed then tested negative on thurs but since then has tested positive; as some people get tested twice a week for work...!

dementedpixie · 13/12/2020 19:52

That's why I thought the OP was confusing. OP needs to come back and clarify

Original poster
Lewesq4 · 13/12/2020 19:55

Oh god sorry I wrote that while doing something else. Multitask fail!

She got a POSITIVE on Thursday. I saw her on Wednesday. I knew nothing about any of it.

Apparently she was asymptomatic but got a test because the Covid study app asked her to. Presumably she got her test the day I saw her, but she didn’t say anything about it - I suppose because she just did it as part of the Zoe app study thing so wasn’t worried!

The first I heard about any of it was today.

Test and trace haven’t contacted me, so I’m not “supposed” to isolate - which is what work will say to me I’m sure? Which is why I want to pay to get a test, to be on the safe side.

OP posts:
CrocodilesCry · 13/12/2020 19:56

It doesn't matter that T&T haven't contacted you. You need to self isolate for 10 days from Wednesday.

flowery · 13/12/2020 19:57

If you’ve been in contact with someone who has tested positive your work will not want you to come in.

dementedpixie · 13/12/2020 19:58

A test will not help you as you're still in the incubation period. Even if you test negative it doesn't release you from isolation early. Has she given your details to test and trace yet?

Were you in close contact i.e. within 2 metres for at least 15 minutes? Or closer than 1m for a minute?

OverTheRainbow88 · 13/12/2020 19:58

Oh that changes my advice then! I would self isolate for 10 days as you’ve been a close contact of someone who was covid positive when you met up.

Original poster
Lewesq4 · 13/12/2020 19:59

I would like to pay to get a test too, though - mainly for peace of mind sending the kids to school! Even if I isolate. Will a positive show up by now, even if I’m asymptomatic? (Which I am, I feel normal.)

OP posts:
dementedpixie · 13/12/2020 20:01

The issue is that you could test negative tomorrow but test positive 2 days later as you're in the incubation period.

CrocodilesCry · 13/12/2020 20:01

Not necessarily - that's why the self isolation period is 10 days (was 14) as you could develop symptoms over a week after you've been exposed.

DumplingsAndStew · 13/12/2020 20:01

Did she give your details to T&T? Thats ridiculous neither they nor she have been in touch before Sunday morning following a positive test on Thursday

OverTheRainbow88 · 13/12/2020 20:01

I would wait until wed, but also isolate for 10 days any way.

You feeling totally fine?

ProfessorInkling · 13/12/2020 20:01

No, that’s why the isolation period is 10 days. You could test negative on days 1-9 and still test positive on day 19. Without symptoms a test is pointless.

Original poster
Lewesq4 · 13/12/2020 20:02

Sorry dementedpixie, crossed post with you!

We weren’t any closer than 2m, weren’t in contact for long, wearing masks. We were indoors, but it was very brief.

I don’t know if she’s given my details - I will ask her! I think she’d forgotten about me, which is why I only heard from her today (I’m not sure how the test and trace contacts thing work).

I am very happy (well, ok - willing and able!) to self isolate and won’t release early even if negative. Just thinking about if the kids have it and unknowingly spreading it around school just before Christmas!

OP posts:
starrynight19 · 13/12/2020 20:02

The first person in my class tested positive on Saturday I tested positive 9 days later after being in self isolation from the day they tested positive.

Original poster
Lewesq4 · 13/12/2020 20:03

I feel completely normal - no symptoms at all.

OP posts:
OverTheRainbow88 · 13/12/2020 20:04

If you weren’t closer than 2m, wore masks and under 15 min track and trace wouldn’t consider you a close contact

Original poster
Lewesq4 · 13/12/2020 20:04

@starrynight19

The first person in my class tested positive on Saturday I tested positive 9 days later after being in self isolation from the day they tested positive.
Gosh ok! No way of knowing soon then. Cripes!
OP posts:
WishingHopingThinkingPraying · 13/12/2020 20:05

Jesus Christ, she took 3 days to let you know you had to isolate.😡