Should we get PCR tests?

[AlexaShutUp]

A few of dd's friends currently have covid. Some already have positive PCR results. The latest has done a positive lateral flow and is awaiting PCR results. Realistically, I think dd has had close contact with all of them, and we have both had close contact with the latest one to come down with it (regular shared car journeys etc).

We haven't been contacted by track and trace for the ones who tested positive first and it's too soon to know if we'll be contacted for the latest one. DH and I are both double vaccinated and 16yo dd has had one jab. DD and I have both done lateral flow tests tonight, and dd has been doing them regularly anyway. All negative.

I don't think we need to get PCR tests at this stage, do we? I am pretty sure that technically we don't, but morally? Friend is insisting that we should, but I would have to take time off and dd would have to miss school - we surely can't do that every time one of her friends tests positive? She has a lot of friends...

Yes, you should be getting a pcr. Taking a pcr is instead of isolating if you’re fully vaccinated/under 18.

Can you send for a postal test? Or if you check after about 3pm, they release evening. tests. As long as you don’t have symptoms, you can carry on as normal while you wait.

No symptoms. We could certainly try to get tests tomorrow evening if needed. However, if we are going to test, shouldn't we be isolating until we know either way?

If it is actually necessary, we could go for tests in the morning, even if it would mean missing work/school. I do want to do the right thing, I just want to get the balance right between being cautious/responsible and overreacting.

It will also inconvenience two other families if we go for a test tomorrow morning as we lift share. Again, I'm worried that this could be a regular occurrence so want our reaction to be proportionate.

No you don't.
Wait until you are contacted or have symptoms or positive lateral flow

If you or your daughter know that you are a close contact of someone with a positive test then morally I think that you should get a PCR as soon as possible. Work, school and loft share should appreciate that you are trying to prevent exposing them to a diseases that, at best, could mean they have to isolate for 10 days.

*lift share

@Hyacinth88

No you don't. Wait until you are contacted or have symptoms or positive lateral flow

Thanks @Hyacinth88. That's what I thought but after talking to friend I began to doubt myself.

We can both do another lateral flow in the morning.

@EmilyDickinson

If you or your daughter know that you are a close contact of someone with a positive test then morally I think that you should get a PCR as soon as possible. Work, school and loft share should appreciate that you are trying to prevent exposing them to a diseases that, at best, could mean they have to isolate for 10 days.

Thanks. Lift share will have been exposed anyway as the positive friend is part of it.

I won't have a problem in work if I don't go in, but it's annoying as I have a lot of stuff that I need to do. I could wfh though don't have my laptop which is a pain. DD would rather not miss school but would cope.

Maybe we should try to get one for tomorrow morning.

@AlexaShutUp

No symptoms. We could certainly try to get tests tomorrow evening if needed. However, if we are going to test, shouldn't we be isolating until we know either way?

If it is actually necessary, we could go for tests in the morning, even if it would mean missing work/school. I do want to do the right thing, I just want to get the balance right between being cautious/responsible and overreacting.

It will also inconvenience two other families if we go for a test tomorrow morning as we lift share. Again, I'm worried that this could be a regular occurrence so want our reaction to be proportionate.

Isolating until you know for definite seems like the sensible thing to do but that guidance says otherwise 🤷🏽‍♀️.

You only have to isolate if you have symptoms/tested positive and are over 18 and not double jabbed.

@Hyacinth88

No you don't. Wait until you are contacted or have symptoms or positive lateral flow

Bad advice. We’ve been told that T&T is under a lot of pressure and if you know you are a close contact that would have previously had to isolate to go ahead and book yourself in for a PCR. It suck’s but the more people that test the more likely schools get to stay open.

Close xontacts are meant to do pcr test on day 2 and day 8. These can be ordered to home so you dont have to go to test site if that is easier. Close contacts do t have to isolate while waiting for results unless they develop symptoms. Tou should also do lft inbetween PCR test.

If you're a close contact, under 18.5 years or double vaccinated plus 14 days you should get PCR testing, ideally twice, in the days your close contact is self isolating but you yourself don't need to isolate unless you get symptoms or your PCR turns positive. Also continue with normal lateral flows. At the symptom/positive test position your isolation begins. If you get a positive test but no symptoms and then go on to develop symptoms i.e. day 5 then your isolation resets and you start 10 days again.

If you're a close contact and over 18.5 and not double vaccinated (excluding those who are not vaccinated for medical reasons) you are not exempt from self isolation for the 10 days as a close contact. Track and trace will tell you this, and you should be isolating for 10 days from contact. If you get a PCR test and it's negative you continue isolation. If you get symptoms on day 5 for example your isolation resets and you start the 10 days again.

Hope that helps - I run a test centre

Why wouldn't you when you are contacts and the guidance is that you should?

Postal tests are the way forward in this scenario I think op.

I get it, I have 4 kids and work in a school myself so we are finding out fairly regularly that one of us is a close contact. It's very hard to keep dropping everything to race off for a test, esp when it's hard to get fuel, so a combination of regular lateral flows and postal PCR's is good enough for me.

We have been contacted by T&T on occasions, but other times we've just gone ahead and done it.

@Jelly0naplate that is not the current guidance being given out at schools by the way. We have been given a printed sheet saying that even if someone in the household tests positive, the child can test negative and come into school. No isolating.

Yes, get a PCR test. It'll probably be negative, but it's the right thing to do.

Book a PCR. No need to isolate while you wait for the result unless you develop symptoms.

This is a bizarre thread OP. You say you want to do the right thing, but you clearly don't!
Why would you have to miss work? I've taken two PCR since being back at work (teacher) and all been out of work hours. There is no isolating now if you are double jabbed (obviously if you have symptoms that is different).

Just seems like making excuses. Like half the bloody parents of the close contacts at my school, which is why we have a massive outbreak.

[quote rattlemehearties]@Jelly0naplate that is not the current guidance being given out at schools by the way. We have been given a printed sheet saying that even if someone in the household tests positive, the child can test negative and come into school. No isolating.[/quote]
Yes that's why my post says under 18.5 you don't need to isolate as a close contact

@user1471530109

This is a bizarre thread OP. You say you want to do the right thing, but you clearly don't! Why would you have to miss work? I've taken two PCR since being back at work (teacher) and all been out of work hours. There is no isolating now if you are double jabbed (obviously if you have symptoms that is different).

Just seems like making excuses. Like half the bloody parents of the close contacts at my school, which is why we have a massive outbreak.

If I go this evening, I won't have to miss work. However, it seems counter intuitive to me to say that I need to test, but in the meantime, I can go about my usual business spreading anything that I might have. I therefore assumed that I would need to test first thing and isolate until I had a result.

Anyway, we have decided to do LTFs again this morning and we'll go for PCRs this evening.

[quote rattlemehearties]@Jelly0naplate that is not the current guidance being given out at schools by the way. We have been given a printed sheet saying that even if someone in the household tests positive, the child can test negative and come into school. No isolating.[/quote]
Advice in schools varies massively atm as local public health teams are giving out different advice depending on rates in their area.
I work in a school that borders 3 counties and this is proving challenging to say the least....

[quote rattlemehearties]@Jelly0naplate that is not the current guidance being given out at schools by the way. We have been given a printed sheet saying that even if someone in the household tests positive, the child can test negative and come into school. No isolating.[/quote]
How is that different to what @Jelly0naplate has said?

Thank you Jelly for explaining that. All makes complete sense.

Thanks all for your advice. We weren't able to get a pcr slot this evening so have ordered home testing kits instead. We'll try to lie low over the weekend in the meantime!