How long are you contagious really?

[Player456]

I know the isolation is 10 days from positive PCR or start of symptoms, but I read some different guidance for health professionals, that those who have worse symptoms should be treated as if they are contagious for up to 30 days.

I didn't have to shield in the first lockdown, but am now classed as CEV due to the amount of oral steroids I've had in the last year (which is why I get texts everyday to book my booster - I had two AZ originally).

I had a negative PCR on Friday (not due to symptoms, but due to being invited as part of some study to find incidence of CV circulating in general population).

I met a friend yesterday. She tested positive 3 weeks ago tomorrow (so I met her 19 days after her positive PCR).

Her cousin who she met before she knew she was positive died at the weekend from CV.

She coughed a fair few times yesterday.

I have a headache today and am very stuffed up (but have been on and off antibiotics for a few months for nasal infections and am often stuffed up, so hard to tell).

I also had a flu jab a week ago tomorrow and that sometimes leaves me feeling ill.

I can still smell though, so that hasn't been affected yet.

I'm worried sick she may still have been infectious.

I have severe asthma (any cough leads me to having steroids, hence the now being CEV label). I am also overweight due to a disability that started before lockdown and every appointment to see a consultant has been halted due to CV. I finally have an appointment for this, but cannot walk, swim etc.

I will book in for my booster, but the centre is a way away and I need to wait for DH to have a day off to take me (plus I don't want it whilst feeling unwell).

I’ve had covid and did a LFT on day 8 which was negative. We don’t need a PCR to release us, which happened previously - and meant some people did two lots of isolation of 10 or 14 days depending on the rules at that time.

So yes she could’ve been still positive - do you know if she did a LFT in release?

Oh and doctors and dentists won’t see you for 28 days clear of infection - that tell you something as well.

I suppose it’s not impossible that she was still contagious, but going by the information given out, she probably wasn’t. If it puts your mind at rest, get a PCR. I think I would.

Bloody hell!

No I did ask her if she had to have a PCR after, but she said no, they just have to isolate for 10 days.

A LFT can show as positive 90 days after the infection - at work if we have had Covid we don’t do the twice-weekly tests for 90 days afterwards, so doing a test for her would be pointless.
Do one for yourself, today and then again in a few days, to put your own mind at rest.

I'm no scientist but I'm of the belief that if you still have symptoms then you can still pass it on.

I'm on day 16 and I tested with an lft this morning as I'd done one last week when my chest was still sore and I was clearly still very positive when the rest of my family had kicked it and were clearly negative.

I have no symptoms anymore apart from being tired and sure enough today my lft is clear - no hint of a line.

I'm so angry with myself for meeting her. She said she was better and I believed her, and wanted to be there for her as her cousin died (she was there for two bereavements of mine recently - neither CV related). I should have just said no!

IF she was still contagious (big IF) you would not have developed any symptoms yet if you only met her yesterday.

I would be very surprised if she was still contagious 3 weeks on, a cough can still linger but doesn't mean you are still infectious. Plus even if she is infectious (and I don't think she is) the following day would be far too soon for you to be showing symptoms yourself. I'd have thought she would be one of the safest for you to be around!

@hotelharibo is right, average time to start showing symptoms is approx 4/5 days I believe.

If you only met her yesterday today is probably a little too soon to be worrying. ( I do understand why you are though ). Hope you are ok and escape it OP.

This meta-analysis (when scientists look at all the studies on a subject and compare/combine the results to get a better overall picture) says that no studies have found live virus longer after than 9 days even though many studies found viral shedding for weeks/months after infection, suggesting the window of infectiousness in 9 days. I don't have a free-to-read link to the paper by here is the press release and some news articles.

www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/814096
news.st-andrews.ac.uk/archive/covid-19-study-sheds-light-on-transmission/
www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/11/covid-19-most-contagious-first-5-days-illness-study-finds

“People are thought to be most contagious early in the course of their illness, when they are beginning to experience symptoms, especially if they are coughing and sneezing… By the 10th day after COVID symptoms begin, most people will no longer be contagious, as long as their symptoms have continued to improve and their fever has resolved.”

www.health.harvard.edu/diseases-and-conditions/if-youve-been-exposed-to-the-coronavirus

Don’t worry. 14 days isolation is considered very cautious and she was 19 days.

Thank you for reassuring me. I know it's a bit soon to show symptoms, but my chest is tight and I'm bunged up and feel 'fluey', I did feel like this last week a bit too, before the negative PCR. It could be the fact that I have pretty bad allergies (and my nasal polyps have grown very large, due to not being able to take my steroid nasal spray, due to constantly getting staph infections in my nose).

Did a LFT test about 15 mins ago, one line at the moment but 15 minutes to go.

Fingers crossed OP. Hopefully she was clear and you will be too

Still negative.

I wonder if it's Sertraline withdrawal as I randomly stopped it as I felt 'happy' and remember feeling like this before (as well as very anxious).

I did a LTF 8 days after testing positive on a LTF and PCR and it was back to negative. I’m still having after effects of Covid but not active Covid if that’s makes sense. You’re allowed out if still coughing but they ask you to continue to isolate if you have an upset stomach or are continually sneezing. Hopefully you will be fine.

I'd would seriously reconsider randomly stopping sertraline.... first it will make you feel shit if you just quit without tapering down. Secondly. Feeling happy is great but probably due to the meds.

Given your anxiety about this situation id get some medical advice on the sertraline if you can.

you are not meant to stop sertraline suddenly so yes some of your symtoms could be due to this.

@BluebellsGreenbells

Oh and doctors and dentists won’t see you for 28 days clear of infection - that tell you something as well.

I've seen both before I was 28 days clear. I've seen the doctor and nurse twice and was sent up to the hospital on one occasion.

I'm no scientist but I'm of the belief that if you still have symptoms then you can still pass it on.

Only symptom that means you need to keep isolating is if you still have a high temperature. The cough can last for months, as can the loss of taste and smell. This doesn't mean you are still contagious though.

Re not being allowed to see a doctor for 28 days. I saw two GPs, my rheumatologist, and a cardiologist all within 28 days of my positive test. None told me I needed to wait. They all knew I'd tested positive before. This was a year ago so maybe times have changed, but last October this didn't appear to be the case.

You will not catch Covid from your friend, 19 days past her positive test.