Isolation Rules?

[COVIDtesting]

I have a contact who has tested positive on lft for covid. She’s the third in her household to do so and has lost her sense of smell so I’m pretty sure it is genuine rather than a false positive. She point blank refuses to get a pcr. I’m fully vaccinated (approx 4 weeks post 2nd jab) and want to know what to do. If she’d get a pcr I presume I’d get a test and trace call to let me know. But as she won’t, I feel a bit stuck. Am I supposed to isolate? Can I take tests instead? Are LFTs good enough in this scenario?

If you’re fully vax + 14 days it is not a legal requirement to SI as a contact - you would be advised to take a pcr test.

If you work in a high risk setting there are other rules regarding must take a pcr & lateral flow test every day before attending work - but if this is the case you would expect your employer to notify you of this scenario.

Personally I’d be careful who I was now in contact with myself.

Btw has your friend given a reason to why they won’t take a pcr?

I'd go and get a PCR if you are concerned. You don't have to isolate unless you test positive as you're double jabbed.

You don’t need to isolate but you could def quality for a pcr as a close contact (even if you’re not “officially” one).
Do LFTs daily too.

Am I supposed to isolate?

No, as you are double >14, no requirement

Can I take tests instead? Are LFTs good enough in this scenario?

Yes, and yes. PCR isn't mandatory for contacts, and I'm not sure what it says on the form to request one since the change. As it takes a few days to incubate, I'd want to wait until about 4-6 days after iffy contact, as there's a good chance that if I was brewing it up, it would show on test by then.

Daily LFTs also a good idea. They do however have a high false negative rate. So I would be keeping my distance from people, and avoiding indoors public places or wearing at mask in them if unavoidable

Thanks everyone! I’m going to be taking daily LFTs, I’ve cancelled a planned meet up with a pregnant friend at the weekend and will go get a pcr on Sunday. Work isn’t an issue as I’m a teacher so I’m on summer holidays at the moment. I’m not overly worried because I met the positive person outside, but we were chatting across a picnic bench for about an hour so I’m pretty sure that I’d be an official contact if she would get the test result confirmed via pcr.

Friend refuses to get a pcr because she doesn’t want to be legally required to isolate. She says she is isolating anyway but wants to be able to walk her dog in the early morning / late evening.