Can DS catch it twice in a month? Or does it just linger on the lateral flow?

[MrsTumbletap]

Hi all, need some help understanding the infection length it's unclear online and when I ring 119 there isn't a section for questions.

So I had covid on the 9th November, DS on the 10th December. Then DH caught it on the 25th.

DS has had cold symptoms the entire time and doesn't seem to have shifted it. He went back to school after his isolation period, felt well enough bouncing around like a usual 8year old. But this morning said he felt ill again.

Just did a lateral flow and it's positive. Is it the same covid or could he have caught it again???! Surely not?!?!

You can test positive for up to 90 days after infection so you shouldn't be doing any testing until after that period of time.

Yes it's the same infection
There is a reason why people are told not to test again after a positive test

You arnt suppose to retest this soon after a positive result, and you arnt suppose to do lateral flow tests routinely on children.

I’d say it’s probably the old infection as that’s why they say not to retest.

I think you are right. Same infection just lingering.

I’m currently on my second bout in five weeks. New symptoms after complete recovery (loss of taste and smell, cold etc) so as per advice, tested on LFT and positive straight away. Positive PCR followed. I had negative LFTs first time round and very few symptoms but positive PCR. I work in a school and doctor says I was just unlucky to catch another variant. Apparently it’s not that uncommon. I hope he feels better soon.

So you have technically caught Covid twice in 5 weeks, just different variants. Oh my gosh! I hope you feel better soon, that must be dreadful.

Just to clarify info on here - you were always advised to test with new symptoms even if within 90 days. The new omicron-related guidance adds to test for travel or if a close contact of an omicron case too