Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

2 people positive in house - how often to test?

30 replies

Ilikeviognier · 03/10/2021 16:46

Husband and son both positive. Me and other son negative. Children are 5 and 6 so bloody impossible to keep them away from one another.

My latest test was negative. So my q is - how often do I need to test? Am I a sitting duck here just waiting for the test to turn positive? Same question for the negative child.
Thanks.

OP posts:
traumatisednoodle · 03/10/2021 16:49

We have the same situation before the rules changed so in some ways it was easier as we were all isolating anyway. When the isolation finished I tested before I went anywhere that I might have close contact (so not before a run in the park, but before going to work, using public transport or going into to other's houses).

traumatisednoodle · 03/10/2021 16:50

Are you planning on sending the negative child to school ?

traumatisednoodle · 03/10/2021 16:50

If so I think I would test daily.

Original poster
Ilikeviognier · 03/10/2021 16:53

I thought we were allowed to send negative child to school. Yes will test him daily - should I do same?

OP posts:
Hermanfromguesswho · 03/10/2021 16:53

I’d do lateral flow daily and PCR every 3rd day (unless positive lf, then do PCR sooner)

Covidworries · 03/10/2021 16:55

Yes test daily, especially if you are leaving the house.

LFT daily. PCR tests are meant to be do e on day 2 and day 8 i think

traumatisednoodle · 03/10/2021 16:55

Allowed -yes, not everybody is though. I think in those circumstances daily LFT.

Original poster
Ilikeviognier · 03/10/2021 16:55

Is there official advice on this? I can’t find anything

OP posts:
Jowak1 · 03/10/2021 17:01

I'm in the same situation only it's me that has tested positive today and my daughter last Tuesday. My husband and son are testing daily and so far have been negative. Fingers crossed 🤞 that it stays that way.

pommedeterre · 03/10/2021 17:18

With only 1 positive (dd) in the house the rest of us did 2 x pcrs and daily lateral flows (for the other dc until her back to school day, dh and I continued for a few days after that as well).

We managed to avoid anyone else catching it from her.

dementedpixie · 03/10/2021 17:24

@Covidworries

Yes test daily, especially if you are leaving the house.

LFT daily. PCR tests are meant to be do e on day 2 and day 8 i think

There is no guidance that says to test on day 2and day 8 unless you are thinking of testing after coming back from abroad
Covidworries · 03/10/2021 17:27

Letter fron school as per LA guidence is to test close contacts on day 2 and day 8. Possibly caries from LA to LA

MrsKDB · 03/10/2021 17:28

How do you get so many PCRs without the three main symptoms though? My partner categorically refuses to lie to get one. I think I people on here are just making up guidelines that are not actually real.

dementedpixie · 03/10/2021 17:30

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

In England you are advised to PCR test at the start but there is no info on further testing so I imagine you only retest if one of the others get symptoms

CandleWick4 · 03/10/2021 17:30

OP I had one DC with covid and one without. While DC without was going to school I did a PCR before she went back and a lateral flow each morning before she left. The lateral flow then picked up when she was positive, further PCR and isolation.

Covidworries · 03/10/2021 17:31

You click no to symptims and then het different options. 1 option is testing due to close contact with a positive person.

So no need to lie Grin

dementedpixie · 03/10/2021 17:31

@Covidworries

Letter fron school as per LA guidence is to test close contacts on day 2 and day 8. Possibly caries from LA to LA
Do they mean LFT or PCR?
Covidworries · 03/10/2021 17:32

Letter requests PCR tests (plus those in secondary and all staff to do LFT too)

careerchangeperhaps · 03/10/2021 17:33

I'd do daily LFTs on yourself and every other day on your DC (unless they find it very distressing). Perhaps do a PCR on day 5 since the first person tested positive as this is typically the start of the likely incubation time if you're catching it from them.

Original poster
Ilikeviognier · 03/10/2021 17:58

Ok thanks. Daily tests it is….

OP posts:
beautifullymad · 03/10/2021 18:05

We have one positive pcr in our house.
The rest of us have tested negative on pcr but are continuing to do lateral flow tests each day and if it's more than 12 hours and we need to mix with others we do an extra lateral flow. As we have been advised by test and trace that we don't need to isolate, and we are continuing to mix with others it's the safest way to protect others.

Coronado2 · 04/10/2021 10:54

Are you isolating within your house? We've just got a positive laterl flow today and waiting for everyone's PCR results, expecting a positive for one of us at least. Not sure if we should try to isolate her or just mix and keep lateral flowing every day.

middleager · 04/10/2021 11:54

My DS1 and I both had Covid a couple of weeks ago.

DS2 had Covid last year. He and DH did LFTs daily and 2 PCRs. They tested negative throughout and did not catch it.

DH has dodged Covid in the house twice now, Alpha and Delta. We are both double AZ vaccinated.

starfish4 · 04/10/2021 12:13

Due to one of my jobs, I have to do a PCR test within three days of knowing I've had contact (can't go back until then), after which a LFT for seven days. Even if I didn't, if I had to go to work and still wanted to do food shopping (I personally wouldn't see friends for now), then I think I'd follow this regime anyway, as you never know the circumstances of someone else your next to.

bananafruitcake · 04/10/2021 12:14

@Ilikeviognier

Husband and son both positive. Me and other son negative. Children are 5 and 6 so bloody impossible to keep them away from one another.

My latest test was negative. So my q is - how often do I need to test? Am I a sitting duck here just waiting for the test to turn positive? Same question for the negative child.
Thanks.

I had exactly the same situation- I tested daily and did not get it!