Quarantine v isolating confusion

[ArtandCoTwin]

Tom has symptoms, tested positive and is in his bedroom ‘quarantining’ away from his two brothers who have no symptoms. Food left outside, using different bathroom etc etc. The brothers Dick & Harry are isolating as close contacts of Tom. They have zero symptoms but did the LFTs sent home from school. Dick’s LFT is positive (faint) but Harry’s is negative. Both parents are negative. everyone staying home, isolating as close contacts of Tom. BUT what about Dick who’s a symptomatic but tested positive? Does Dick need to ‘quarantine’ with Tom in his room and away from rest of family or can he hang out with Harry and parents at home. Should Dick share bedroom with Harry or Tom? Thank you!!

If dick is definitely positive (assume you've booked a pcr and he hadn't eaten or drunk anything immediately prior to testing that could affect the result) then yes I would isolate dick with Tom. Less chance of everyone else catching it.

Dick should take a PCR test before doing anything else.
Depends on the age of the children as to whether they are going to be segregated from the rest of the family.

Firstly, have they all had PCR tests. It would be best if the positive boys stay in same bedroom and share same bathroom, but presuming the whole house are isolating, some would say don’t bother avoiding everyone, but it’s up to you and your circumstances and if anyone is vulnerable to covid.

If he’s faint positive then he should isolate too. We all ended up catching it in the end over 10 days

Personally I wouldn’t be segregating any of the boys unless they were well into their teens and happy to do so. But my sons are much younger.

Ideally Tom and dick would share the same room for the duration but I think fairly likely that Harry will test positive. Parents possibly slightly less likely if vaccinated.

Dick is asymptomatic so doesn’t need a PCR - they’re only for symptomatic cases like Tom’s. It is highly unlikely his LFT it’s a false positive. (False negative is likely with Harry though). As long as the whole family isolate at home that’s the main thing. I’m not sure how much it matters the 3 boys mixing with each other.

@NotDonna

Dick is asymptomatic so doesn’t need a PCR - they’re only for symptomatic cases like Tom’s. It is highly unlikely his LFT it’s a false positive. (False negative is likely with Harry though). As long as the whole family isolate at home that’s the main thing. I’m not sure how much it matters the 3 boys mixing with each other.

If they have a positive LFT then it should be confirmed with a PCR. PCR can be done for all sorts of reasons not just symptoms.