Day 10 release PCR test

[Candleabra]

I know the official requirement to isolate for 10 days after a positive close contact, then with no symptoms you are released. But even with no symptoms, how do you know you haven't got it? Couldn't you be a positive case, but asymptomatic?

Has anyone taken another PCR test at the end of isolation just to be sure?

But even with no symptoms, how do you know you haven't got it? Couldn't you be a positive case, but asymptomatic?
But that's why you have to isolate. After ten days you're most likely over it and not infectious. However, if you had had it, a PCR is quite likely to give a positive result even when you're past the infection for up to 90 days. So you can't take one to confirm you're not infected, because it'll register an old infection for a considerable period.

I know, sorry, maybe I haven't worded it clearly.

Three people live together.
Person 1 tests positive.
Person 2 & 3, test negative and isolate with him for 10 days.
Person 1 recovers.
Person 2 & 3 have no symptoms.

The "rules" say everyone is released from isolation after day 10. But couldn't person 2 or 3 have caught it on day 6 and now be positive with no symptoms?

Oh yes, I see. Yes, that's entirely feasible. I guess it wasn't deemed practical for everyone displaying no symptoms to isolate for twice as long in case they only caught it on the last day. A PCR would probably make sense, although if you'd caught it on day two - or indeed been infected prior to the symptomatic person - it would register as positive when you weren't? If you pick at the rules long enough, none of them are foolproof for every scenario. It's always about reducing risk where possible. 🤷

We have pretty much this scenario too:

DS - tested positive on a PCR last Tuesday, isolating until end of next Fri. Asymptomatic - only tested due to positive LFT as part of school twice-weekly testing.

DD - positive PCR today as we all did them due to DS’ positive. Also asymptomatic (and previously did a negative LFT last Mon).

Other DD, Dh and I all negative.

So now isolating (as I understand it, waiting to be called by t&t) until a week on Tuesday rather than Friday.

In theory, at the end of isolation DD2, DH or I could have it. But there’s no rule that we have to test. And TBH though I’m usually very well behaved too, having had to cancel the holiday we were meant to be on this week, I’m really reluctant to test again and potentially have another 10 days all in the house and miss other things we’ve got booked. But my “good citizenship” senses tell me I should…

It’s all very odd.

No point taking another test as can test positive up to 90 days. I’m on day 10, track and trace said as long as I don’t have a high temp or D&V I’m fine to go out from tomorrow as other side effects can last a while

@Darbs76

No point taking another test as can test positive up to 90 days. I’m on day 10, track and trace said as long as I don’t have a high temp or D&V I’m fine to go out from tomorrow as other side effects can last a while

It wasn't the 10 day release for the original case, it was a query about everyone else who lives with them

A PCR would probably make sense, although if you'd caught it on day two - or indeed been infected prior to the symptomatic person - it would register as positive when you weren't?

Yes is what I was thinking.
My main concern is contact with elderly and vulnerable relatives. We're negative on lateral flow tests but then so was the original positive...

Why would you only get it on day 10? Surely if you live together and are going to get it, you would get it sooner rather than later?

It’s most infectious two days before and five days after infection so 10 allows time for person 1 to pass it on day 5 then persons 2 and 3 to pass day 5.

Why would you only get it on day 10? Surely if you live together and are going to get it, you would get it sooner rather than later?

Yes - but I think OP’s point (and mine certainly) was about the fact that you could have caught it during your isolation so just being released after 10 days with no requirement to test is a bit strange.

We’ve all tested yesterday (we have two positive and three negative in the household) but there’s no rule to say we need to do it again once our ten days are up unless we have symptoms. So there’s a chance we could have it on release.

Yes but wouldn't you get it at the start of 10 days rather than the end? And why would person 3 catch it off person 2 but not person 1?

I caught it from dh 7 days after he first got symptoms.

Yes I heard lots of stories like that, but I don't understand it.

@NotThisWeekSatan

Why would you only get it on day 10? Surely if you live together and are going to get it, you would get it sooner rather than later?

Yes - but I think OP’s point (and mine certainly) was about the fact that you could have caught it during your isolation so just being released after 10 days with no requirement to test is a bit strange.

We’ve all tested yesterday (we have two positive and three negative in the household) but there’s no rule to say we need to do it again once our ten days are up unless we have symptoms. So there’s a chance we could have it on release.

Yes, agreed. I currently have covid and DH doesn't. He has to isolate for the same length of time as me. We are being very militant about trying to avoid him getting it, and hopefully he won't. However, it's entirely possible that someone quarantining with a +ve person could catch it themselves, be a symptomatic and then emerge from isolation with covid.

*asymptomatic, even....

Yes but wouldn't you get it at the start of 10 days rather than the end? And why would person 3 catch it off person 2 but not person 1?

“Get it” as in get the PCR or “get it” as in get Covid?

If the PCR, so you know ASAP if you have it and don’t have endless isolation (although see my point above re why this doesn’t really make sense from a ‘knowing you don’t have Covid when you’re released’ POV).

If Covid, like you I have no idea why you wouldn’t catch it earlier, and I also have no idea why two people wouldn’t catch it from person 1! Maybe the examples just work off the most drawn-out/worst case scenario? 🤷‍♀️

The more you look into any of this and try to work out what you should be doing, the more confusing it all gets. I don’t understand it either.

Yes I meant Covid. So confusing. My dd had it, not one of the rest of us (5 in the house) got it as far as we know. I voluntarily extended isolation though, as I couldn't believe only one in 5 would have it.

It’s all very odd. Hope your DD is ok. We have two positive DC here and you’d never know - there must be thousands and thousands of asymptomatic people wandering around with it 😬

Thanks. She was fine. She just had a runny nose. A cough that prompted us to test, but that disappeared quickly!

Same conclusion I drew. It must be everywhere!

We are in a similar situation. DD tested positive and our last day of isolation was yesterday, ending at midnight so we are free to go out.

All of us tested negative on lateral flows yesterday.

Nobody went on to get it, we had all tested negative on a PCR last Tuesday except for her.

She's now having a tooth extraction at midday (double row vampire tooth not decay!) and a blood test at 4pm. It feels kind of "wrong" because I'm Australian and watch a lot of Aussie news and they would say 14 days etc but the dentist assured me when I told her that they would proceed if her period of isolation had ended and we had no symptoms.

Feels weird but we will go with it. I've got us special masks and we won't go anywhere for leisure till the end of this week and keep doing lateral flows 🤷‍♀️