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Original poster

Just had the dreaded phone call from track and trace.. new job Monday?

53 replies

FlippinCovid · 10/07/2021 17:29

I've just had a call from track and trace that my little boy needs to isolate as he was exposed 5 days ago, they are late phoning us. I was just saying to my partner this morning about getting him tested as he's coughing his guts up today.

I don't need to isolate unless he tests positive, so I can technically start my new job Monday but with him having symptoms I'm wondering if I should let them know what's happened?

OP posts:
Original poster
FlippinCovid · 10/07/2021 17:59

@JaffaRaf

Have you managed to book him a test OP?
Tomorrow afternoon but they said even if he tests negative he still needs to isolate
OP posts:
AnotherDayAnotherCake · 10/07/2021 18:01

If it’s any consolation I got a test Thursday (walk in centre) and got the result Friday lunchtime. Negative despite having had a raging temperature for days.

JaffaRaf · 10/07/2021 18:02

But atleast if he does test negative you won’t have to. Test results often only take a couple of hours to come back round here so hopefully you get a quick answer anyway, and fingers crossed it’s negative.

justasking111 · 10/07/2021 18:04

This I don't understand if you test negative why do you still have to isolate. Always baffles me

JaffaRaf · 10/07/2021 18:06

@justasking111 because he’s been told to isolate as a close contact, and he could end up testing positive at a later date. Silly considering the rules change for under 18s next month anyway but there we go.

Maryann1975 · 10/07/2021 18:07

That’s right op, if he is negative but a close contact, he still needs to isolate for however many days they have said. The idea of the test is to check he isn’t asymptomatic.

I’m really shocked that track and trace have given out incorrect information though (I’m not disbelieving you, it’s just frustrating that they are getting it wrong at this point).
Your whole household need to isolate until your sons results come back. If your new employers insist that you come in, they are asking you to break the law.

gratedbeetroot · 10/07/2021 18:13

Yes, you need to test him and the whole household isolate because he has symptoms. If he gets a negative result he still needs to isolate for the 5 days because if his coughing isn’t covid he could still develop that due to the incubation period. However the rest of the house wouldn’t need to. A test might be negative tomorrow but positive in a few days.

MargosKaftan · 10/07/2021 18:14

Yes, he has to isolate even if its negative for the rest of the 10 days from his contact with the confirmed case, but you and the rest of your household don't.

If he tests positive, then you have to isolate as a contact of a confirmed case (him!).

Summerfun54321 · 10/07/2021 18:26

I’d try and get a test sooner (try lots of venues, including walk in). Then you might get the result the same day and be able to start work on Monday.

Flowerlane · 10/07/2021 18:28

Where was your son in contact with someone? Usually schools contact you not track and trace so I take it it’s not school?

Original poster
FlippinCovid · 10/07/2021 18:30

They wouldn't say where he was in contact just that his exposure date was Monday and he was at nursery on Monday. His nursery haven't contacted us. Tomorrow afternoon was the soonest test I could book. We just did a lateral flow on him which was negative

OP posts:
GoWalkabout · 10/07/2021 18:44

OK, if he does test negative, has to keep isolating and you are planning on going to the new job DO NOT go in and say about him self isolating and testing etc (they might feel worried, scared and annoyed) but do ring ahead if possible and say 'I am all good to come in this morning, my son has had to self isolate we have been advised to have a test as he was coughing and this is negative, he still needs to isolate but we have been advised that we don't need to. I wanted to let you know in advance in case you had any concerns. '

OhRene · 10/07/2021 19:13

Yeah you do need to isolate now there are symptoms. Imagine going to a new job and shutting the place down in your first week by accidentally bringing Covid in. Eeek!

Good luck. I hope it's negative and you don't have to miss more than a day of your new job. (Presuming your DH will stay home with isolating kiddo?)

Original poster
FlippinCovid · 10/07/2021 19:20

Just given him his bottle and tried to put him to bed and he's projectile vomited everywhere!

OP posts:
Frazzled2207 · 10/07/2021 19:22

@FlippinCovid

They wouldn't say where he was in contact just that his exposure date was Monday and he was at nursery on Monday. His nursery haven't contacted us. Tomorrow afternoon was the soonest test I could book. We just did a lateral flow on him which was negative
Surprised at this usually settings do the informing not t&t in this scenario. Anyway if he’s negative he still needs to isolate but you don’t
wasthataburp · 10/07/2021 19:34

What will you do about your job?

Ohgawd2020 · 10/07/2021 19:45

The lateral flow is not reliable in this situation. You need to all isolate until negative PCR.

HalzTangz · 10/07/2021 20:50

@DanglingMod

You need to take him for a PCR and isolate until you know he's negative!
Actually you are wrong. The child needs to isolate until tested.

Until the child tests positive no one else needs to isolate.

Trace and trace have provided the correct information

AubergineParmigiana · 10/07/2021 20:53

@HalzTangz FFS! That would have been correct, had the child not had symptoms. But he does. So the whole family should be isolating until PCR shows negative.

How can people STILL not know this 18 months on.

I bloody despair!!

DanglingMod · 10/07/2021 20:54

People cannot read OPs on MN so nothing surprises me, really.

HalzTangz · 10/07/2021 20:58

[quote AubergineParmigiana]@HalzTangz FFS! That would have been correct, had the child not had symptoms. But he does. So the whole family should be isolating until PCR shows negative.

How can people STILL not know this 18 months on.

I bloody despair!![/quote]
It still is correct, are you forgetting in a few days time under 18s as those vaccinated won't have to isolate at all.
She gave her son's symptoms and was clearly told she does not need to isolate.

Trace and trace relay this information day in day out. They know better than you

AubergineParmigiana · 10/07/2021 21:02

@HalzTangz

This is the NHS webpage guidance and has been since day 1.

I'm not the one that is wrong, believe me, but ignorance/arrogance is hard to win over.

Just had the dreaded phone call from track and trace.. new job Monday?
Babyroobs · 10/07/2021 21:02

@FlippinCovid

It's not an issue if I need to isolate then I'll isolate it's just not great they're saying the wrong thing to me.
No wonder it's spreading like wildfire if they are giving out wrong information.
gratedbeetroot · 10/07/2021 21:02

They’re considering that in England from 16th August HalzTangz!

DirtySofa · 10/07/2021 21:14

I despair reading this too. Whether or not Test and Trace gave the wrong information, anyone with access to the internet can go to the gov website and find the information. No use bleating “they told me the wrong thing”.

And please don’t take any advice from someone who has called it “trace and trace” twice!

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