Isolating - dumb question?

[didireallysaythat]

Person A tests positive (pcr)
Person B is contacted by track and trace and told to isolate. Books a pcr test Tests negative approx 5 days after being in contact with Person A. Continues to self isolate for the 10 days

Meanwhile Person A tests again (pcr) and this time is negative.

Do both need to continue to isolate for their respective incubation periods? I assume yes?

I believe so yes

Both need to complete their 10 day isolation period.

Why did A test again?

Yes both need to do the 10 days.

Why did a re test

Why take another PCR test, they should be isolating at home for full 10 days, despite negative test.

No idea why personA decided to take another pcr test (some suspicions they didn't do it right the first time but who knows). All 20 of her contacts have taken a pcr test, all tested negative and I believe all are still self isolating.

Yes, additional PCR tests do not override the ten day isolation

No point retesting, the isolation period stands no matter what

No problem with the self isolation. Just happy that noone has covid (the retest was peace of mind for personA).

Just wasn't sure what track and trace do with a positive followed by a negative as it means the first was false?

@didireallysaythat

No problem with the self isolation. Just happy that noone has covid (the retest was peace of mind for personA).

Just wasn't sure what track and trace do with a positive followed by a negative as it means the first was false?

No they go on the first test. You tested positive and that’s it.

@Feelingoktoday it does make sense but I'm still don't understand how you can get two different results within the space of 2-3 days; I thought if you had covid and tested positive you'd continue to test positive for some weeks afterwards as there would be remaining virus in your system which the pcr is sensitive to pick up (obviously at some point the signal drops too low to be amplified, maybe that's what happened between the first and second tests, although a passing comment about forgetting to put the absorbant pad in the bag and check the lid was on properly don't feel me with confidence).

Anyway it's day 10 tomorrow so it's almost over and then Boris's rule change kicks in in week or two.

I’ve just finished the 10 days. I know how you feel.