Still Testing positive after 10 days and schools testing

[AHippoNamedBooBooButt]

Ok so I tested positive 2 weeks ago. Dd had symptoms as well but only got round to testing herself 2 days ago - 11 days after her symptoms started. We expected it to come back negative due to the timing but it’s actually come back positive. So does she still have to isolate even though it’s more than 10days since her symptoms started? (Well we’re tier 4, she can’t and won’t go anywhere anyway).
So I had a google and it turns out you can still test positive up to 36 days after symptoms starting. This has me wondering how this works with regular mass testing as I work in a secondary school and am due back next week where we will all be tested. What happens if mine comes back positive still? Even though I’m mostly recovered? Do I then have to isolate still? How has this worked with other sectors like nhs that already have regular testing?

I have been wondering this as well. I work in a primary though so won’t affect me directly but I am currently positive. My children (secondary) are isolating with me and as it currently stands won’t be going back to school until the 18th. What happens if they test positive when they are tested on return to school. They would have caught it from me and I tested positive on 24th December so they would have done over 3 weeks at home in isolation anyway and will not realistically be infectious. All hypothetical of course but still something to ponder.

You can have a positive test up to 90 days afterwards so if you worked somewhere that did regular testing you shouldn't get the regular test for 90 days after your positive test unless you get symptoms again. The test can pick up fragments of the virus even when you are no longer contagious

Yes in the nhs if you test positive you isolate....and you don’t test again for 90 days but you can come back to work if we’ll enough to after isolation.

I thought the guidance was that if you have tested positive, you should not have another test within 90 days (unless you display new symptoms) as the second test may well show up positive. This was certainly the advice (from the Gov.uk website) when university DS was coming home. He had the virus in October so didn't test before leaving uni. Hopefully schools will be given advice to this effect before students return for testing.

Agree with other NHS posters.
I've had Covid and am still tested weekly for the vaccine trial and my tests are still positive after 4 weeks.

I have been told not to submit lateral flow tests at work as there's no point it will still be from my last infection.

I was allowed back to work after my isolation period as long as it was more than 24h since I had a temp despite my tests still being positive.

I guess the issue your DD might have is that if you are asymptomatic your isolation starts from the date of the positive test so she'd have to isolate for 10 days after the positive test. After that any further tests don't count so presumably she'd be excused.

My DD might have a similar issue. She and DS didn't have any symptoms despite me and DH having symptoms and being positive so we didn't test the kids. If she gets a positive test in a routine test at school I expect they'll make her isolate although the chances are it's an old infection.

I am also wondering how this will work with schools testing next couple of weeks. I'm also NHS and others said we are told not to use our lateral flow tests for 90 days after a positive test. I'm concerned bacuse dd(14) tested positive last week, isolation ends this Saturday she is totally fine, but may well still be testing positive when tested by schools in next couple of weeks.

I'm concerned bacuse dd(14) tested positive last week, isolation ends this Saturday she is totally fine, but may well still be testing positive when tested by schools in next couple of weeks - but then she shouldn't be tested at all, according to Government guidance and if the school are not aware of that, I would point them towards the guidance. You have to hope that they will be send information on who should be tested though (although probably 10 mins before the doors open for the actual testing if things continue as currently!)