NHS website unclear whether I should get a PCR

[desperate4spring]

I tested positive (PCR) on Sept 18th and had recovered.

Over the past couple of days I have developed a horrendous new cough.

The NHS website to not get another PCR test within 90 days of my positive result unless new covid symptoms develop. I don't know if my cough is a new symptom, as I had a cough last time but it had gone away and has come back.

Anyone else received any advice in similar circumstances?

It’s a new cough if it went away. Get a test.

A new cough is a new symptom

@GoodnightGrandma

It’s a new cough if it went away. Get a test.

But the test is likely to come back positive, as it is within 90 days of the first positive one. Won't necessarily mean that OP has Covid-19 again.

It'll just likely come back positive, which is the reason why they tell you not to retest within 90 days. You won't have covid again after a month so I've no idea why other posters are telling you to get another pcr! You've clearly just got a cold.

There are coughs and colds going round that aren’t covid, I’m recovering from one at the moment. Lots of LFTs and 3 PCRs (I have to do the PCRs weekly for work anyway) and all were negative. Just a normal cold!

You can't get a test as it is within 90 days of your positive test

Posted too soon...so it will probably show positive anyway.

I wouldn't do another.

You have a new cough.

This is a new symptom.

You therefore need a PCR.

@Tippexy

You have a new cough.

This is a new symptom.

You therefore need a PCR.

Which will likely be positive, as within 90 days, but does not mean OP has covid.

In the case of children who have had positive PCR, they are highly likely this winter to get a common cold, probably more than one.

So, test comes back +ve, child isolates for further 10 days, perhaps 3 times over the next 3 months!

No. Do not test within 90 days. Unless seriously unwell.

This is going to cause our family issues.
DS had covid. He tested positive on lateral flow multiple times over several days.
His PCRs were negative because they went to the dodgy immensa lab that sent out
43, 000 false negatives. So now if I'm asked to test him within 90 days I can't actually prove that he ever had covid.
And I imagine there are 43k other people in the same stupid position.

Mixed responses!

If anyone is interested I just called 119 for advice and they said it's up to me. I can either:

1. Not get a PCR. I would have to isolate for ten days though as the new cough could be a different covid variant than the one I had 6 weeks ago.

1. Get a PCR and hope for a negative result, in which case I could carry on life as normal

1. Get a PCR and if it's positive isolate for ten days.

I don't think you are eligible for a test within 90 days of a positive pcr? Because it's possible to show positive from your last infection. Highly unlikely you have covid just a month after having it. Plenty of other coughs and colds going around.

I know it’s not the guidance to do LFTs if you have symptoms, but if you’ve had a clear LFT since you had covid I’d see what an LFT says now. If it’s positive that’s suggest a new covid infection, which I’d then confirm with a PCR. I wouldn’t personally bother getting a PCR so soon after the last one otherwise as you could isolate repeatedly for 90 days!