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 think the huge spike in cases in the SW due to all the false negative PCR results clearly shows the benefits of continued testing.

No you don't have to.

The language is deliberately ambiguous but you definitely don't.

Yes maybe just test if you have symptoms. I know household members have to and we got dd tested even though she’d had it already in summer hols and felt fine (all the rest of us got it). My youngest dd has been at a party of a friend from another school so I only knew the host and when I spoke to T&T they only checked the venue, didn’t ask to try and find out details about the other children.

My close working partner and my DP were named as close contacts when I tested positive, they were contacted initially by text and then they stopped bothering them.

DP did a few LFTs and remained well

You are wrong in thinking you will not get the results until after you are not longer infectious. Order a home kit, send it off - you don't have the isolate while you wait for the results if you don't have symptoms - you only have to isolate if you do have symptoms.

I was contacted, knew the situation meant I had unlikely been a close close contact but still ordered a PCR online.

Got the message on Saturday, kit arrived and posted back Sunday, results Monday.

Easy and a sensible step to be sure I wasn’t going to pass it on without knowing.

@nordica

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

Drop it in your nearest PRIORITY POST BOX 1 hour before collection time on the same day as you tested. (Sorry for shouting, reason below)

unlike the twonk who just dropped it in any old post box so the test taken on Saturday is not getting collected until Monday

Just get one posted to you. Seriously I just doom understand why people are arguing over stuff like this. It's not hard, we're trying to keep the numbers down about people are arguing over should and must, it's not for us to decide if we if think we have been in use contact or not. If you really haven't then the test will be negative. You could have booked a postal PCR by now.

You don't have to no but it would be good to do so. You do not have to isolate as a double jabbed person waiting for results as a close contact (unless you start having symptoms of course)

Why 1 hour before collection @BlackeyedSusan?

I would have one as you don't have to isolate whilst waiting for results. It would be different if you had to.

My understanding is that in England it is voluntary.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

It's in the instructions. Presumably so you don't miss the post and invalidate the test as it needs to be picked up the same day.

It just seems very precise!