Can you test positive on day 10-11 of isolation?

[Tabbypawpaw]

Hi
One family member tested positive this morning. We’re meant to be going abroad over half term for which we need to do a pre departure test. Obviously that’s all out the window but we’re wondering about still going but the day after he comes out of isolation (so basically day 11). They’d have to do a lateral flow test that day as would need proof for the destination country and I’m wondering if there is any data or even anecdotal evidence about whether they still might test positive despite being 11 days on from first symptoms? It’s to see family we haven’t been able to see for a v long time so we’re desperate to go even for a few days. But a bit of a gamble with flights etc Thanks

Yes you can. You are told not to test again for 90 days after a positive test as it can still show positive.

Can continue to test positive up to 90 days, which is why if you've had covid in the previous 90 days you don't test if you're a close contact.

This is the exact situation we are in. DD would now need to do a fit to fly LFT on the morning of the flight. This would be too stressful so we have postponed the trip.

Yes - as I've posted many times on here. I know 2 lots of parents who tested positive on day 12 after isolating with their infected offspring and testing negative on day 10.

Does he have symptoms? Because you’re contagious for ten days after symptoms stop, so it depends when his symptoms stop.

A PCR will probably still show positive but a lateral flow may be negative by then.

I tested positive on Monday (LFT and PCR confirmed). My lateral flows got stronger until they peaked on Wednesday and then today mine was negative. I will keep testing for the rest of my isolation as I am just curious as to whether I will continue to test negative.

You can but most people don't ime.

Some people can test positive for much longer, despite no longer being infectious.

However most people won't still test positive after the isolation period. And the number who do reduce with each day.

@Skysblue

Does he have symptoms? Because you’re contagious for ten days after symptoms stop, so it depends when his symptoms stop.

Symptoms stop ?

Do you mean start ?

If he’s over 16 he can get a ‘recovery certificate’ which shows on the NHS Covid app (as do vaccination passes). Aged 11 and under & no test required for most countries. Between 12 and 16 - they haven’t thought of that & have no answers…it’s incredibly frustrating!

I’m in a similar situation, I have a child who will be 12 on the day we are due to travel, who will have recovered from Covid and be out of isolation, will be unvaccinated (because it’s his 12th birthday) & will be eligible and safe to travel because he has recovered from Covid - but, despite about 5 hours of calling/messaging every possible resource nobody can answer the question of what to do.

The government advice is to not take a PCR for 90 days or LFT for 30 days after infection because it could show a false positive…the governments requirement for travel is to take a LFT within 48 hours of travel abroad. 12 year olds can’t get a Covid Pass or a recovery certificate so have to take the LFT, which will most likely show a false positive because they shouldn’t take one in that timeframe. So much for it being made ‘easier’ to travel at half term!!

@Skysblue

Does he have symptoms? Because you’re contagious for ten days after symptoms stop, so it depends when his symptoms stop.

This is not correct.

You can still have symptoms way after being covid free. Coughs and loss of senses can linger for a while.

@chipsandgin do you have a link to the 90/30 day advice as I’ve been looking and couldn’t find anything re LFTs? Thanks

Thanks, god it’s so frustrating :(
I really don’t know what to do, we can change our flights for not too much of a hit and just go for the tests the day before departure but it’s a gamble. We have to do lateral flows and show proof of a negative result (ie done properly - Randox or similar).

@JanglyBeadsWe were told that by test & trace when my eldest had Covid in August just before the beginning of term. His school were requesting LFTs & I asked them specifically because I couldn’t find definitive guidance on it anywhere & the .gov pages are so vague! I’ll see if they sent us anything but I think it was verbal (& in all honesty I’ve spoken to at least 5 people on 119 this week & they don’t always give the same advice, one of them told me to ‘go to your GP’ about the whole LFT fit to fly thing, the GP phone line says ‘call 119 for any Coronavirus advice’, it’s such a shitshow..), sorry to not be more help!

Thanks Chips, yes I know!!

I sympathise, my 15yo has just tested positive and we're due to fly on Monday ☹️ the problem with rebooking the flights is if another of you catches it from him... you then can't go anyway.

Anecdotal evidence.

Ds and his friend both tested positive on lateral flows last weekend, confirmed by PCRs. Strong positive lines in both cases. Both testing negative on lateral flow tests now (7/8 days later). I think his friend was testing negative by day 5.

@ApplesAreTheBaneOfMyLife why are they still doing tests?

Friend did it out of boredom/ idle curiosity. Ds did it because he was keen to compare his experience.

I have had 8 days of positive LF so far and the line is still showing.

So it depends on case to case. Interesting. I guess we can rebook the flights and test each day to see what is happening. The big risk is his little sibling gets it and it sets us back another ten days.

Buy a LFT that you send a picture of to the company, rather than a video call, do an nhs one first and if that's positive then get a negative person to do your sons swab. Naughty but if he's done his full isolation it's just a box ticking exercise for the airline.

My DH has had Covid and is day 8 after definitely symptoms.
And just had a negative LTF for the first time.