self isolate rules for family if not got key symptoms?

[perfectpanda]

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

Sorry, I know this has been done to death. I am still uncertain.

DD has a cold, looks ill but no temperature or cough. Lateral flow is negative but she has done a PCR tonight.

Does the whole family have to isolate until results if she doesn't have the key symptoms - I know in the past, with Zoe app users, you don't have to isolate if your test wasn't for a key symptom. I'm not sure if 'guidance' about this has changed now with delta variant symptoms etc.

Why is she having a PCR test? The government is saying you should only have a PCR if you have a temp, cough or change is taste or smell. Has someone else requested you do it? If not and your not a close contact you don’t need to isolate.

Why did she have to do the PCR test?

Nobody technically needs to isolate if she doesn’t have any of the key symptoms. Some schools have different policies about sending children in with snotty noses.

I’d be strict about social distancing with people outside your household and try abs limit your contact until the test comes back though. They’re pretty quick at the moment.

I think the dilemma you have is now you’ve had it done ethically you all need to stay home until it’s back just on the very slim chance it’s positive . Imagine if you sent the others to school etc and it comes back positive it would be really difficult explaining it away .
Don’t test i”anyone again unless someone has a listed symptom then you’ll avoid this situation !

I think the dilemma you have is now you’ve had it done ethically you all need to stay home until it’s back just on the very slim chance it’s positive

Not really. Zoe app users do tests all the time for minor symptoms like headaches. There’s no obligation to isolate every time.

Don’t test i”anyone again unless someone has a listed symptom then you’ll avoid this situation!

Surely that’s worse? The op could totally miss an infection this way.

The symptoms the governement are saying to watch out for are out of date. I say that as mum whose son tested positive yesterday. He had a cough, runny nose, streaming eyes and a temperature. It was more like a cold. I live in an area were the delta variant is running wild.

Our health board will test for any cold/flu symptoms and advise that no one needs to isolate whilst waiting for results, unless the person being tested has one of the classic 3 symptoms. However, your local guidance may be different so I would check with whoever did the test.

The Delta variant can exhibit cold symptoms. You si until the result comes back.

@Drivingbuttercup

The symptoms the governement are saying to watch out for are out of date. I say that as mum whose son tested positive yesterday. He had a cough, runny nose, streaming eyes and a temperature. It was more like a cold. I live in an area were the delta variant is running wild.

So he had 2 of the "out of date" symptoms the government list then...?

@LIZS

The Delta variant can exhibit cold symptoms. You si until the result comes back.

Where is that given as official guidance?

Yes that makes no sense.
And the delta variant is by far and away the dominant variant. Not really worth splitting out any more

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

If one has the result of a pcr test pending you assume it will be positive until it is known to be otherwise.

@Drivingbuttercup

The symptoms the governement are saying to watch out for are out of date. I say that as mum whose son tested positive yesterday. He had a cough, runny nose, streaming eyes and a temperature. It was more like a cold. I live in an area were the delta variant is running wild.

Your child has two of the three main symptoms?

I assume children don't have the Zoe app so therefore that isn't a valid reason for PCR testing a child without the main symptoms?

I'd be careful @perfectpanda as once you go down the PCR route for children, you'll get mighty caught out if your DC does test positive.

Thanks for replies.. It seemed very sensible to test her for many reasons. We are in an area with surge testing anyway so have been encouraged to get pcrs. It's interesting to read about the different councils having different guidance. I will try and see what mine says.

DH's boss was furious with DH because he went to work after DD1 was invited to take a PCR test from the Zoe app (no main symptoms, just a bit run down). He felt that if she had tested positive then it put the staffing at his workplace at risk, so he should have stayed off work pending. We felt that as she didn't have main symptoms (this was before variants were circulating) and we were only testing for the app, it wasn't necessary.

@LIZS

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

If one has the result of a pcr test pending you assume it will be positive until it is known to be otherwise.

Yes, but that tells you only to get a PCR test if you’ve got one of the classic symptoms. That’s a “stay home with your classic symptoms” until you get a negative result.

Op in surge testing areas people who had done a pcr test as part of that don’t have to isolate.

Was it a drive through pcr test or by post? You may well get the result early tomorrow anyway so all this is moot.

The government really could do with updating the advice to reflect the new symptoms.

In a similar situation here. DS has a sore throat, swollen tonsils, looks like tonsillitis. Not eating, struggling to drink, slight cough probably just throat clearing, but alsovhas a temperature. GP won't see him cos covid, so has now had a PCR.

119 told us all to isolate waiting for test. Even asked me where other household members currently were at time of call.

In all likelihood he has glandular fever, just as his brother did. Same symptoms.

The delta variant has cold like symptoms, but the advice has not been updated. But considering how long it took for the advice to include loss of taste and smell I doubt it will be updated any time soon.

Having a temperature is one of the key symptoms @MiniTheMinx

Were you really surprised you all had to isolate until he had a negative PCT test?

@PurpleDaisies

Having a temperature is one of the key symptoms *@MiniTheMinx*

Were you really surprised you all had to isolate until he had a negative PCT test?

No, I knew.

It’s not at all the same situation as the op though. Your child had a key symptom. Hers doesn’t.

Children are absolutely encouraged to be on the Zoe app. I do reports for my whole family. That's how they identified that children were experiencing different symptoms to adults. Zoe app also says that if you do a PCR test because they have asked you (not because you have the testable symptoms the government states) then nobody has to self isolate. Which makes sense; someone with a sore throat doing taking a PCR test is no more likely to have Covid than someone with a sore throat not testing.

Link to the current most common symptoms in the vaccinated, partially vaccinated and unvaccinated covid.joinzoe.com/post/new-top-5-covid-symptoms

Runny nose is featuring high on the list. The classic symptoms not so much.

Thanks for replies. I log on zoe for my other dd but for some reason never set it up for current ill child! It's ridiculous logic, but if I'd done the test through zoe I would feel more comfortable not isolating the household!

Anyway I know the sensible thing is to keep everyone home until the test results are in and pray there is a quick turn around.