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Original poster

Confused about isolation period

16 replies

SlightlyJaded · 28/07/2021 00:08

DD started showing possible covid symptom last Wednesday. Lat Flow test appeared to be negative . She was pretty poorly over the weekend, but LFT still looked negative. However, I have since realised that the lines can be very as faint as evap lines and it's possible that I missed it (long since binned). Regardless, we all stayed home to be on the safe side and on Monday, as she was feeling much better but still a bit ropey, I decided to take her for a PCR to be sure.

The website was glitching and despite trying several times to book, we were getting the same error message saying that there was a 'technical fault but your details have been saved, please try again'. I tried everything to make the booking but at the last screen, it kept failing so I couldn't get a QR code. At the point of trying to make the booking, we noted that her symptoms had started on the Wednesday - but we never got to the end of the online process.

We live very near a huge drive through testing centre, so I took DD and explained that we were struggling to book (showed them the error message on my phone) and they kindly let us test and showed us how to register the test when we got home. All fine - that's what we did.

Result today was positive. We were phoned but because we hadn't been able to make the website work, there was no official record of us saying when her symptoms started, so the man on the phone said that 'really, you should start your ten days today' . When I explained that she was actually out the other side but symptoms had actually begun last wednesday, he wasn't really sure where we stood as we hadn't been able to note them on the website. He suggested we call 119 and explain our situation to them. 119 chap was similar in that it was a bit of a 'grey area' but leaning towards 10 days starting from day of test.

Gov website wording is

"This includes the day your symptoms started (or the test date if you’ve no symptoms) and the next 10 full days".

Lat flow tests are now DEF negative and DD perfectly fine.

I know this sounds like I am trying to find a loophole, I'm not. We will do whatever is required legally, but the timeframe makes a massive difference to DD because of something that she has been looking forward to for a year. We will not break the law, but can anyone give me an idea of whether we are allowed to count her isolation from first day of symptoms? I have been googling for ever....

OP posts:

Nikki305 · 28/07/2021 00:18

We were told from first day of symptoms by test and trace...

hellcatspangle · 28/07/2021 00:28

I'd go from symptoms starting, especially since she's now showing negative on LFT.

Northernlurker · 28/07/2021 00:28

You count from symptoms. So she is nearly through and so are the rest of you. Just keep sticking to that, totally absurd to think you should count from test in these circumstances.

Original poster

SlightlyJaded · 28/07/2021 00:29

I'm inclined to do that, but don't want to be fined or be in trouble with T&T.

OP posts:

AddsVsGeorgs · 28/07/2021 00:31

First day of symptoms starting
100%

You are already on the 7th day of isolation

But if you or others in the house start showing symptoms, thats another story

Original poster

SlightlyJaded · 28/07/2021 00:38

@AddsVsGeorgs

First day of symptoms starting 100%

You are already on the 7th day of isolation

But if you or others in the house start showing symptoms, thats another story

I suggested this to the person on the phone, but they said that because the website was glitching and I wasn't able to 'record' the date of symptoms, they felt it should be from test date as there was no evidence of when symptoms started.

This feels like nonsense as I could (frankly) have put anything I fancied date-wise, but we were trying to do it right.

OP posts:

FTMworrier · 28/07/2021 07:26

@SlightlyJaded had similar with my LO. He has symptoms for 7 days before he was tested. He’s only 7 months and despite having him at A&E and GP he wasn’t tested and to be honest we never thought it could be Covid.
We input dates when booking our test and the lady couldn’t explain to me why we had to do 12 full days not 10. She also said system glitch 🤷🏻‍♀️😵‍💫

Mindymomo · 28/07/2021 07:29

This is the reason it’s important to get PCR test asap when you have symptoms. I’ve always read it’s 10 days isolation after first sign of symptoms, but can understand why they’ve told you 10 days from result as there is no record of when symptoms started. If you’ve all been isolating since last Wednesday, I would say you are on day 7.

Lemons1571 · 28/07/2021 07:43

Well that’s silly. There is no proof of the date when anyone’s symptoms started. They’re basically saying “oh if your symptoms started 2 days ago we believe you and if they started 6 days ago we don’t”.

PeonyTime · 28/07/2021 07:47

I not 100% on the timelines for the day you took the test, but I wonder if you fall foul of the 5 day rule mentioned in paragraph 3 in here: www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1045/made , so the 10 days from test stand?

CeeceeBloomingdale · 28/07/2021 07:52

Did T&T send you an email or text after the call with a date to end isolation? If they did you will need to stuck to that date although I agree it makes no sense.

TheNarwhalBalloon · 28/07/2021 07:58

I know it's too late now, but I don't understand why you didn't do a PCR as soon as she had symptoms, especially in light of the fact she has an important event coming up which makes the isolation period time sensitive. LFTs are not to be used to determine if symptomatic people have covid, they're an inaccurate tool to pick up SOME positive cases that would otherwise get missed. Did your Dd have contact with others in the days before she got symptoms? Did you inform them so they could isolate? T and T can't do their job if you don't get a PCR test when symptoms start.

Original poster

SlightlyJaded · 28/07/2021 10:27

@TheNarwhalBalloon

We didn't do the PCR immediately as LFTs looked negative. I know now that this was irrelevant amd misleading.

Unless I can register her symptom start date officially, I am too worried about T&T to let her come out any sooner than 10 days from test. So that will be 16 days from symptoms. Very frustrating

OP posts:

Janaih · 28/07/2021 10:41

Count 10 days from symptoms starting, don't be ridiculous here.

Original poster

SlightlyJaded · 28/07/2021 13:48

@janaih I am not being ridiculous. I agree with you - but due to not having been able to log first day of symptoms, I am currently stuck with T&T dates of day one being the day of the test.

I am trying to find out whether I can legally amend this so we can release from day one of symptoms without being fined!

OP posts:

Janaih · 28/07/2021 14:47

The test and trace thing is not designed to account for errors and anomalies. So from their end their job is to check you are isolating for the 10 days they have listed. If that's your bottom line, then you should isolate for the next 10 days, its highly unlikely you'll get the date changed. They'll want to cover their own arse.
However test and trace do not have the power to issue fines or prosecute, all they'll do is pass your info to local authorities. If that happens then you have a very strong case for your defence.
So your options are isolate, lie and tell them you're isolating when you're not or tell them you're not isolating because you don't need to and explain why.

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