I've been identified as a close contact - I don't have to get a PCR right?

[Thehistorygirls]

NHS test and trace have contacted me by phone/email because a close friend has tested positive. I have been to the site to fill in all my details - it says I don't need to isolate (because I am double jabbed) but it then takes me to a page where it says I should book a PCR test. Can I just check this is a 'should' rather than a 'legally have to'... it is very unclear in its wording, I suspect intentionally. Thanks.

I don’t think you have to but think it would be a good idea to have one, especially if you are mixing with friends and family.

You're correct, it's 'should'.

Is there a reason you don't want to get one?

Why would you not get a test?

It's 'should' in England and 'must' in Scotland
If you do go for a PCR you don't need to isolate while waiting for the result (in England; you do in Scotland though)

I don’t think you have to. The wording “should” would be replaced with “must”’if it was mandatory

I thought it was no isolation if fully vaccinated as long as you took a pcr test when identified and again on day 8 (ni) otherwise isolate for 10 days. I could be wrong though

My mum was called by T and T and they cut her off as she was being transferred to book a test. So she didn’t get one and nobody had said anything.

Why wouldn’t you get one though?

Its a should but I don’t understand why you wouldn’t.

N.Ireland has different rules again with a day 8 test. Scotland and England don't have that rule

Why wouldn’t you get a test if you are a confirmed close contact? There’s no laws around testing- people do it to make sure they don’t have covid and unwillingly pass it on to someone and potentially harm them.

I understand that it's the responsible thing to do, and I probably will do it - but I would like to know the answer on the legal question. The reason I'm considering not doing so is because I don't believe the contact was 'close', I'm feeling fine and doing LFTs every day and it would cause me extreme difficulty in the next few days to get one.

If it helps you can probably order a home test.

Order a postal one then

Order a home test. They are not ‘difficult’ to get.

@Thehistorygirls

I understand that it's the responsible thing to do, and I probably will do it - but I would like to know the answer on the legal question. The reason I'm considering not doing so is because I don't believe the contact was 'close', I'm feeling fine and doing LFTs every day and it would cause me extreme difficulty in the next few days to get one.

Just order a home test. Do it at your convenience and then pop it in one of the designated postboxes. They're everywhere!

In this case, do you have to isolate while you await PCR results? I'm guessing not? If you do I can totally understand why people may be reticent though, if they're likely to lose pay or have noone to take DC to school or whatever.

Thanks everyone. It wasn't a request for advice - I fully understand all the advice. I just wasn't clear on the legal point and wanted it cleared up.

Just order a home test. Takes a few minutes to do it and drop off to the nearest post box.

@thevampireswife - I believe you don't have to isolate whilst awaiting PCR results if you're doing it for close contact reasons.

It’s a should & they say that it’s best to wait until day 3-5 after contact to get one. I felt the same as you Op but I did get one. It was negative but it’s the responsible thing to do.

It's not difficult to do a home test . Order it online, do in. Simile why to a ltf and it in a post box.

*similar way

You don’t HAVE to but I think they chased up MIL a few times to see if she did.
I have covid recently and wasn’t sure about a couple of times whether they counted as close contact. On the form there’s direct contact- touching someone etc and then there’s close which is within 2m of someone for at least 15mins. So yes your friend may have erred on the side of caution. But saying that I’d had a meeting of about 20 mins with someone and that’s the only person who then got it (possibly not from me obviously; we’d both also been teaching a child who felt ill) and I’d been closer to other people for longer- none of whom then got it!

Yes I had assumed that they will continue to message me or possibly even phone me until I get one. The reason I'm wavering is that I am not convinced that the mass asymptomatic testing we currently have going on is helping anyone. By the time the test result came back, I would be practically out of any 'infectious' period and have been going about my daily life in the meantime. So all it will do is lock me in the house during a period where I don't have plans to do much/see anyone vulnerable anyway. If we are really 'living with Covid' then I don't quite understand the endgame of all this asymptomatic PCR testing beyond massive inconvenience. The 'containment' ship has long since sailed...