Can someone remind me of next steps please (positive)

[Mykittensmittens]

Sorry to sound lazy. I’ll lay it out in a timeline.

DS comes home with a cold Monday. Snotty nose, sneeze. Whole family (DS, DD, DH and me) test negative.

Weds is routine testing day, given we have done the above I defer to Thursday.

Thursday we all test negative. Cold is still going in DS but he has asthma so not unusual for a cold to last a good few days.

Saturday (yesterday) we have friends due for a meal. We warn of DS cold and they are fine to take the risk. We all test again to be sure even though it would usually be a Sunday. All negative.

Sunday (today) we’ve seen my DM for an outdoor walk (vulnerable). DS still has snotty cold. Then DD randomly coughs during the evening twice. I ask her to test. She’s positive. 24 hours ago negative.

We all test and only she is positive.

I’ve booked us for a 9am PCR. I’ve booked me one too on the basis that I’ll have to be close quarters in the car to take her and was close to her today). I have no symptoms and a negative test. Her Brother has no symptoms (a snotty cold for over a week which is coming to an end? Does that count?).

What comes next if the PCR is negative? How long do I keep her off for? Is there any value to trying to keep her separate from us to a degree? She’s 13. I’d just appreciate a handhold for the next steps so I can get my head round it.

Thanks

There are lots of colds about that are exactly that, so I would ignore what your DS has had. The fact your DD had enough symptoms for you to ask her to test and she got a positive means I would treat her as positive regardless of the PCR (although I know school and other people will disagree).

I hope all is ok.

Thank you. School want the PCR to officially isolate her. So how long does she stay off for (taking out of the equation any debilitating aspect). Is it 10 days?

We have a funeral on 30th of a very close family member. I’m trying to work out the likelihood of being there.

@Mykittensmittens

Thank you. School want the PCR to officially isolate her. So how long does she stay off for (taking out of the equation any debilitating aspect). Is it 10 days?

We have a funeral on 30th of a very close family member. I’m trying to work out the likelihood of being there.

Taking today as day 1 (19th) she needs to isolate for 11 days including today, so her last day of isolation would be 29th inclusive with with freedom day being the 30th assuming you are both vaccinated.

10 days counting first day of symptoms as Day 0.

All her close contacts should get a PCR - well technically only if/when she gets pos PCR.

Yes she should isolate immediately

It is ten days, yes. I think there is a realistic chance of someone else testing positive so being in isolation for longer, which could impact the funeral.

I’m sorry to hear about your family member.

If you’re double vaccinated you can continue going out etc, going by the rules.

Thanks so much.

I can’t see it being so simple as just her having in as a child in a household where we can’t avoid her, so assuming we’ll all be in for a game of dominoes with us all falling at some point.

Poor DS is due to go on a 3 day trip tomorrow he’s been waiting for 18 months - deferred - not far from home but overnight stays. As he’s negative I’ll assume they will let him go but it’s another stress to add to my list.

DS will need a PCR test if DD is positive.
You might avoid catching it as a family. DD14 had it, kept to her room when she was poorly but I kept checking on her. Shared bathroom. Lots of handwashing. Rest of us dodged it. Good luck!

DS needed a PCR with cold symptoms not a LFT so he’s not been negative he’s been untested.
Sorry about the funeral, you can still go if you are negative and double vaccinated

This is similar to what happened in our house. DS tested positive on an LFT. DD had awful cold tested negative on all LFTs and 2xPCR. I also had cold but then tested positive 8 days after DS. DH and DD still negative on LFTs and latest lateral flow test. There must be lots of people whose colds are just colds but clearly lots of people with Covid have the same symptoms. It's horrendous waiting to see who in the house is coming down with it next

Sorry that should say DD and DH still negative on latest PCR

sigh thanks.

I can’t stand feeling this out of control. I have scarred lungs from pneumonia previously and despite double vaxxing I’m still very nervous. But at the same time I can’t leave a 13yo in her room alone for 10 days surely that’s not good.

I have a really unpleasant feeling of dread and ‘what’s coming next’…

Also, just to ask…

If I come back as PCR negative, do I just keep LFTing (daily?)

If that happens and she gets out of her 10 days confinement, and I’m still negative, is that it then?

Apart from sending her back into the cesspit of school germs where she clearly caught it from!!

My 14 DD tested positive last Monday, I followed suit on Wednesday, my son tested positive last night on a LFT and my wife is ill now too. T&T advised us to LFT every couple of days after my DD infection and get PCR test on day 2 and day 8.

When you all tested on Monday were they LFTs or PCRs?

LFTs cannot rule out covid if you have symptoms as they aren't sensitive enough. He at least should have done a PCR at that point

LFTS cannot be relied on I don't think. Just had a rude awakening of that with DD.

Right. So maybe if we come back as PCR neg we should get another PCR in a few days.

Am very hopeful the results come back swiftly. I can’t stand this feeling of ambiguity.

I know, the waiting is awful. I spent yesterday waiting for DD and now after her positive am spending today waiting for the rest of us!

I would have PCR tested everyone today, then only retest if another person develops symptoms.

@BoomChicka that’s what we’ve done. All had a PCR today.

I was speculating on if mine came back negative how do I play it going forward. Nothing unless i get symptoms? I’d feel happier testing in some format or other I think.

Ah sorry read it as you and dd tested today. You can keep testing if you want.. but will it put your mind at rest or stress you out further?

@Mykittensmittens
There's no rule if you are negative.
However, the rest of us tested almost daily until 10 days had passed while still going to work/school as that seemed a sensible precaution.
My dd felt unwell enough to stay in bed for 2 days with me popping in and out, then stayed mostly in her room until day 6 but feeling 100% well.
She did go in the garden a bit during that time, and ate downstairs when siblings were out.

Thanks @MovingtoEssex - helpful to hear real life workings. She feels fine at the moment just the very occasional cough. We are lucky we have two bathrooms so I’m just using the en-suite and she’s allocated the main bathroom for herself. I cleaned it at the end of last week so I’ve given her some antibacterial wipes in there and just asked her to wipe things over occasionally. I’ve put a laundry bag and a basket in her room. Laundry she can put inside the machine when I ask. The basket she puts empty glasses and plates in so I can take it downstairs by the handles and use my washing up gloves to put them in the dishwasher.

She’s sat in the garden for a bit. She’s upstairs at the moment but said she’d have an hour downstairs later, with a mask on, sitting a good distance apart. I’ll keep my mask on too.

Then I think we’ll all be in bed as I’m shattered.

DH is working away and has been since much earlier last week, no symptoms and neg LFT so he’s probably dodged it. No reason for him to rush back frankly!

My DD and DH both tested positive in July, as I am lazy and refused to run up and downstairs continuously they did not isolate alone and we continued life as normal with us all mixing together, I did not contract C19 regardless of using the same cutlery, crockery and rooms.

@Hopeandglory

Wow! What do you put that down to? Robust immune system? Or luck?

DD has confirmed 4 of her peer group have it all tested yesterday. They are relatively cautious, don’t pile on each other, haven’t been social outside school (so not in each other’s homes), so I can’t see she’s been any closer to them than me.

I’ve got a question about viral load and stuff like changing bedding. I’ll start a separate thread about that.