Family isolation rules PCR test no symptoms

[TheDukeissoHot1]

Can anyone clarify the self isolation rules in this situation please?

DS has been told to isolate due to close contact with a case at school. Current rules state that the rest of the family do not have to isolate & can go about our business as normal unless DS develops symptoms.

We’ve been told by school (& it’s also on nhs website) that you can now get a PCR test even if you do not have symptoms. Even if the test result is negative, the individual should continue to isolate for the full 10 days. Ok understand all of that.

My question is, if we take DS for the PCR test even though he has no symptoms, do the rest of the family have to isolate until his results come in?

If we didn’t take him for testing we could go out as normal. And of course if he had symptoms we’d test & isolate.

We have a very similar situation. Individual in same household was in contact with a positive colleague.
They had to do a pcr test straight away and isolate in their bedroom.
We all did a lateral flow test same day .
Nhs contacted us because house mate was already known to them as a contact.
Unfortunately housemate tested positive so we all have to isolate for 10 days. We had to order and take pcr tests. We are negative.
Just waiting for housemate to test again on day ten.
Speak to the covid help line. They will tell you exactly what to do. School will have informed them. You will probably get at least 6 phone calls, texts and emails anyway.

No you don’t have to isolate as a contact of a contact, even if they’ve taken a test you’re waiting for the results of. I’d take extra care with social distancing etc just in case it comes back positive though.

Short answer is yes, you have to test him and isolate.
The last place I would visit is a test centre though. Order the free test online and do it at home and post it. It is easy and free.

He has no symptoms. He is just a contact.

My question is, if we take DS for the PCR test even though he has no symptoms, do the rest of the family have to isolate until his results come in?

No you don't, but you do for 10 days if it's positive.

@endofthelinefinally

Short answer is yes, you have to test him and isolate. The last place I would visit is a test centre though. Order the free test online and do it at home and post it. It is easy and free.

He has no symptoms. He is just a contact. The rest of the house don’t isolate in that situation.

What’s your issue with going to a test centre @endofthelinefinally?
You do the test in your own car and have no contact with anyone.

We were told by nhs covid caller that we had to isolate until housemate's test result came back.
Unfortunately it was positive.
They are awaiting 2nd result now.

@endofthelinefinally

We were told by nhs covid caller that we had to isolate until housemate's test result came back. Unfortunately it was positive. They are awaiting 2nd result now.

Presumably they had symptoms?

Endoftheline is incorrect. Dh is a teacher and he and dd have both just come out of 10 days isolation. Everyone who was a close contact of the positive students were asked to go for pcr tests.

Schools and colleges via PHE are recommending pcr tests for close contacts in order to pick up more asymptomatic cases than lateral flows alone will and also because the pcr tests can track which variant it is.

The rest of the family do not have to isolate awaiting results UNLESS you develop symptoms, There is a box to tick when requesting the pcr which states I have been asked to get a test by my local authority etc.

We just found it much easier to do it all at home. No car. Dont drive. Too far to walk. Not happy to take bus.

@endofthelinefinally

We just found it much easier to do it all at home. No car. Dont drive. Too far to walk. Not happy to take bus.

Well great, but why are you telling the op not to go to a test centre? There’s nothing to suggest they’re in that situation.

And for most people being able to go to a test centre the same day and getting the result usually the day afterwards is far better than waiting for one to arrive in the post and then waiting longer for it to get to the lab.

House mate no symptoms.
However, the first text we got said we didn't have to test or isolate. Then an hour later we got another one saying the opposite.I have subsequently done exactly as instructed.
I can only tell you what I was told.
Quite happy to accept I am completely wrong.

You would have had to isolate because your housemate was positive. Had the housemate taken a lateral flow before the pcr?

I’d take extra care with social distancing etc just in case it comes back positive though

There's no point doing this as a household member you're isolating anyway, and it is actually better to get infected sooner rather than later, unless you can actually move out and avoid infection entirely, as if you avoid infection for a few days, then you can be released whilst still infectious.

@sirfredfredgeorge

I’d take extra care with social distancing etc just in case it comes back positive though

There's no point doing this as a household member you're isolating anyway, and it is actually better to get infected sooner rather than later, unless you can actually move out and avoid infection entirely, as if you avoid infection for a few days, then you can be released whilst still infectious.

I meant with other people outside the household.

Just to clarify - No-one in my house has covid or any symptoms. Nor has DS been told by the school or local authority to get a PCR. We were just told we can if we want to. NHS test & trace haven’t been in touch & not expecting them to, (never have for positive cases in school before). We would go to a test centre, much easier than waiting for post, last time was well organised, done in car & we had results in less than 24hrs.

It’s all hypothetical- I’m not taking him for a PCR at the mo but just wondered if my DH & DD would have to miss work & school if I did.

@Comefromaway I was hoping that would be the case so thank you!