Why is the isolation period 10 days from contact?

[NameChange37836]

Is the isolation period 10 days because:

1. If you haven’t developed symptoms in that 10 days they you are unlikely to have it, or

1. Because even if you had it, you won’t be contagious after 10 days?

Saw a family member on the day after their isolation ended. Turns out they were awaiting test results and it came back positive. They never got symptoms at all in the 10 days. Think test was done on day 7 or 8.

The likelihood of developing Covid/being infection after 10 days is very low.

It’s still a possibility, but low.

I haven’t seen the figures but most people I know who developed symptoms/tested positive was around 5 days after contact

Most people would get symptoms within 10 days (although a small percent might take up to 14 days). Its to prevent most transmission but won't prevent all of it

OFGS was hoping it was #2. So I really am just sitting and waiting to see if I get it now! I thought because he was out of isolation he wouldn’t have been contagious. Plus no symptoms.

Keep missing the T&T calls to find out how long I have to isolate for. Suddenly 10 days doesn’t feel long enough.

Your relative should have reset the isolation clock on the day of their test. It was very wrong of them to mingle whilst they were waiting for their results.

Your relative should have reset the isolation clock on the day of their test.

Wish I’d known this. I was just taking it at face value that (initial) isolation period over = fine to crack on. I just trusted what he was saying, how daft not to have checked the rules thoroughly myself. I feel like a prize fool!

@LizzieMacQueen

Your relative should have reset the isolation clock on the day of their test. It was very wrong of them to mingle whilst they were waiting for their results.

Not if they were testing asymptomatically.

Why did they take a test and then decide to go out before getting the result? That’s mad.

Because a few more people are likely to comply with 10 than 14 I think

@NoSquirrels

Why did they take a test and then decide to go out before getting the result? That’s mad.

Depending on where you live you are now allowed to take a test without isolating if you have none standard symptoms or are concerned you might have been in contact with someone positive.

@NameChange37836

Is the isolation period 10 days because:

1. If you haven’t developed symptoms in that 10 days they you are unlikely to have it, or

1. Because even if you had it, you won’t be contagious after 10 days?

Saw a family member on the day after their isolation ended. Turns out they were awaiting test results and it came back positive. They never got symptoms at all in the 10 days. Think test was done on day 7 or 8.

There's a possibility you can still test as positive up to 90 days of having COVID. If your contact was after the 10 day isolation period, there's a slim chance you could still catch it, but its unlikely.

There's a possibility you can still test as positive up to 90 days of having COVID. If your contact was after the 10 day isolation period, there's a slim chance you could still catch it, but its unlikely.

Ironically just reading a paper that said exactly that.

Did they have symptoms? If so, you are told you get a test and you isolate until you get results.

No symptoms ever. Hence he just carried on after his isolation ended.

I get that Come - I just think it’s very odd to get a test and not wait for the results. Why bother taking it, otherwise, if you’re not altering your behaviour? May as well not bother - and it’s put the OP in a situation now too.

I agree @NoSquirrels, it’s barmy. He lied and said he had symptoms to get the test. Which makes this all harder; having to navigate his lies to get the right information for me. Angry is an understatement.

@NameChange37836

There's a possibility you can still test as positive up to 90 days of having COVID. If your contact was after the 10 day isolation period, there's a slim chance you could still catch it, but its unlikely.

Ironically just reading a paper that said exactly that.

Did they have symptoms? If so, you are told you get a test and you isolate until you get results.

No symptoms ever. Hence he just carried on after his isolation ended.

What was the reason for getting the test?

If it's work related rather then symptom related I though you were OK to carry without isolating

So does your 10 days start from the moment you have been in contact with a positive case? If no symptoms and a negative test, what is likely hood of you still having it after the 10th day?

It is indeed bizarre.

He’d been in contact with someone who tested positive. But because of the way that person had found out (as they were admitted to intensive care) there was no T&T. So he was only isolating off his own back as opposed to being told to IYSWIM. The day 7 test was a panicky decision, not because of any symptoms. Guess he was less panicky a few days later!

My dsd had been with us from a Friday to Friday when there were no restrictions as such. So we'd been to soft play, parks, shopping, cinema.
On the Saturday after she'd gone home we had an email saying she had to isolate for 14 days from.. 2 Thursdays prior. So she'd been with us out and about etc. Went home and a day later had the isolation email.
So she only had 6 days left. So in the 7 days here she could have been a carrier or passed on etc.

@NameChange37836

There's a possibility you can still test as positive up to 90 days of having COVID. If your contact was after the 10 day isolation period, there's a slim chance you could still catch it, but its unlikely.

Ironically just reading a paper that said exactly that.

Did they have symptoms? If so, you are told you get a test and you isolate until you get results.

No symptoms ever. Hence he just carried on after his isolation ended.

Guidance is that you stay home whilst waiting for the test results, asymptomatic or not (this isn’t the case if you do a random research, or ZOE test). He shouldn’t have been socialising with anyone.

I know someone who tested positive on day 15 - they hadn’t been out in their whole isolation period (their partner was positive) 4 week isolation for them in the end.

@LizzieMacQueen

Your relative should have reset the isolation clock on the day of their test. It was very wrong of them to mingle whilst they were waiting for their results.

He hasn't technically done anything wrong (other than getting a test he didn't qualify for) if he was asymptomatic. If he'd not had the test he'd have been none the wiser and free to go about anyway without knowing he was positive. It's just slightly illogical.

The only thing he's done is discover another flaw in the UK T&T system. The good news OP is that while truly asymptomatic people can still spread COVID-19 THEY are thought to be less likely to pass the illness on than pre-symptomatic or symptomatic ones.

Guidance is that you stay home whilst waiting for the test results, asymptomatic or not (this isn’t the case if you do a random research, or ZOE test). He shouldn’t have been socialising with anyone

Are you sure about that? People who get tested regularly as part of their jobs don't have to isolate do they?

@Meepmeeep

I know someone who tested positive on day 15 - they hadn’t been out in their whole isolation period (their partner was positive) 4 week isolation for them in the end.

3 of the last 20 cases where I'm from are from day 13 testing of people in quarantine all asymptomatic.

Makes sense if you think about it. If you develop symptoms 7 days after contact with a known case, you'd have to SI for 10 days from that point which would be day 17 of your isolation. If you get covid at the same point but are asymptomatic you end up leaving self-isolation on day 10 while still infectious.

It's the problem with reducing the SI period while not also requiring a negative test to end SI.

It's the problem with reducing the SI period while not also requiring a negative test to end SI

But where do you draw the line, it's been posted above that inn extreme you can develop up to 90 days later. Would you suggest keep testing everyone for that long to be sure or would you (as currently) recognise that the country to keep on functioning and set a limit that will catch the vast majority of cases without making life grind to a halt.

Individuals can choose if they are able to isolate for longer but from a societal point of view we need to take the most pragmatic approach imo