How does covid isolation work?

[Katie272]

3 days ago my partner tested positive for covid. We tested the day his symptoms started so I know his ten day isolation starts from that day. Meaning his isolation would be up midnight on 6th august.

Today I've tested positive, my chest felt slightly heavy and that was the only reason I tested but other than that I actually feel relatively ok. Does that mean we both re start that ten day isolation from my positive test? So the 9th august.

We also have an almost 9 month old son, he's completely fine but I did him a lateral flow test today the best I could and it was negative. If he was to test positive does the isolation period for everyone re start all over again?

Also to anyone who's had covid is it normal for the symptoms to come and go. My partner seems to be fine during the day then when it comes to the night he gets bad. Like I said I feel relatively fine but I feel now as the hours are going on I'm started to get the odd ache. Just want to know is it possible for my symptoms to suddenly become bad. I'm worried about our son catching it being so young and then me feeling like I can't do much for him if I get really ill myself :(

Also has anyone else had it and their child not actually caught it? I'm so worried about him getting ill but I genuinely can't distance myself from him for ten days. He's still trying to climb all over me and wants cuddles and at 9 months obviously needs me 24/7 🤦🏻‍♀️

You both complete the 10 day isolation from when your symptoms started. From what I’ve read, it’s normal for symptoms to come and go, keep taking paracetamol, drink lots of water to keep you hydrated.

Im not sure how isolation works as ive not had covid but when i get a virus, im usually okay during the day and really bad a night. I hope you all get better and i know of quite a few babies that have had it and all were fine.

Person 1 does 10 days from their positive test. Person 2 does 10 days restarted from their own post I’ve test. Person 3 (your baby) does 10 days from the first household members positive test.

Thank you both, yeah some of the covid guidelines are so contradicting, there's really never a clear answer for anything. I said myself earlier, if it wasn't for my partner having it I would still be going about my normal day not even knowing I had it. So now I realise the importance of the regular lateral flow tests for people thinking they're immune 🤦🏻‍♀️

I have spent a year calculating this stuff every day at work - it could by my mastermind subject by now!
Person one does ten full days from the day after their symptoms started (I.e. symptom day is day zero and then you count the next full ten). Person two restarts the count with the day they developed symptoms as day zero then ten full days after that. Anyone who remains well is free to leave isolation at the end of the first person's isolation period.

I hope you both feel better soon.

DH spent a lot of time on "119" today to confirm that the first person +ve can leave isolation after 10 days (assuming they are feeling okay and don't have a fever).

Other householders with later +ve tests have to reset their isolation to the day they started getting symptoms/did their PCR.

@TenInSport is that correct?? I really really hope so, DH tested positive 10 days ago and I've done a PCR today as I've got a sore throat. If I'm positive the kids (who have never had any symptoms) should still be able to leave isolation tomorrow with DH shouldn't they? The government website has a graph that shows this. But a couple of friends have said test and trace told them different, albeit a while ago now.

@saywhatwhatnow everything is so contradicting and nothing is just written simply 🤦🏻‍♀️ I've seen this chart today, so I think this may be true. However obviously if my son does test positive on my last day of isolation that'll mean another ten days for me either way as I can't leave him alone.

Also, day one is counted as the first full day after symptoms start so if you started symptoms on Monday then Tuesday would be day 1.

@saywhatwhatnow it is correct. If the kids are symptom free they are free to go at the end of the initial isolation period. However, if they then develop symptoms the day after the isolation period ends or later, it begins a new 10 day isolation period for them and your DH (but you would be free to go at the end of your 10 days).

@Mindymomo

You both complete the 10 day isolation from when your symptoms started. From what I’ve read, it’s normal for symptoms to come and go, keep taking paracetamol, drink lots of water to keep you hydrated.

This is not true.

Look at the government chart for this.

DP finished his SI ten days after his symptoms started.
You finish your SI ten days after your symptoms began.
Your DC finished their SI ten days after your DP (if you live together) got his symptoms. Their SI period only restarts if they get symptoms and test positive within those first ten days.

If any of you test positive again after the ten days are up then you have to SI but otherwise not.

@Abraxan However I've read that you can actually still test positive for up to 3 months after having the virus. Not meaning that you're still contagious providing your symptoms have gone but testing positive again at the end of your isolation period doesn't necessarily mean you should restart the ten days, from what I've been reading anyway that is.

[quote Katie272]@Abraxan However I've read that you can actually still test positive for up to 3 months after having the virus. Not meaning that you're still contagious providing your symptoms have gone but testing positive again at the end of your isolation period doesn't necessarily mean you should restart the ten days, from what I've been reading anyway that is.[/quote]
That's correct and the reason why the NHS states you shouldn't test on an LFD for 90 days (or at least that was the case when I had Covid in January) Both DH and I work in schools and at the time we were being tested at school and we both had to wait until the 90 days were up.