When should isolation period start from?

[Blackdog12]

I got unwell ( aching, blocked sinuses, headache, vomiting) for 2 days and called in sick. I then went back in for a day as I genuinely didn’t think it was covid and we were very short staffed (NHS). I regret this now as that evening I realised my taste/ smell was altered and did a lateral flow which I was positive.
Awaiting PCR, but should my isolation start from the day I first became unwell, or 3 days later when I got a covid specific symptom?

Anyone able to help?
Thanks!

I was told that the day of your first symptom is day zero, or if you have no symptoms then the date of your positive test is day zero.

I meant to say...if you went to work and then only did the test, I would count the day of your positive LFT as day zero.

I think from an official covid symptom? But who knows 🤷‍♀️

If the symptoms are set of the illness then logically it’s from the first day of them? But yes another puzzle created by the govt rigidly sticking to the Original Three

Thanks. This is what I feared.
Im a surgeon and every day in isolation means more cancelled operations 😥
In hindsight it is obvious that I was unwell with covid from the first day and I’m completely well now, but it depends whether track and trace feel the same way about how infectious I may be…

I don’t know. Really confused here too. DS1’s first test came back saying it couldn’t be read, but Second test said positive. He’s never had symptoms and all lateral flows have been negative (we were advised to test in the first place when a classmate tested positive). Track and trace advised to retest as my sons mixed up their pcrs (we know that the one he took was the positive one but it was registered to DS2). It looks like they may have lost this latest test as 3 days later we have no result, just an email reminding him to do the test. Would isolation date from the void test or the positive one? Depending on the answer his isolation may already be over. Just wondering if anyone knows the rules on this, Googling is not proving very enlightening this evening.

Ds had a sore throat and runny nose for 2 days then a fever on day 3 and positive LFT then PCR. Track and trace said to count the day of the test as
Day 1.

@Blackdog12

Thanks. This is what I feared. Im a surgeon and every day in isolation means more cancelled operations 😥 In hindsight it is obvious that I was unwell with covid from the first day and I’m completely well now, but it depends whether track and trace feel the same way about how infectious I may be…

When you will fill the track and trace form in, it asks if you suffered from a long list of symptoms before you tested positive and what date it was. If you did and it was a couple of days before your positive result then it will count the first day of those symptoms as day zero. So your isolation will be less.

*Test & trace!

Thank you all.

I have spoken to many drs about this and we are all in agreement that it should be from the day after the symptoms first began as they are clearly all part of the same viral illness. Hoping that test and trace agree and I dont have to cancel any lists!

Talk to your infection control person, they will be able to advise on local policy

In isolation at the moment with my son who caught Covid last week. Track and trace said it starts from the date of the symptoms showing not the results of the PCR test. Hope this helps

It's safest to count the day you take the test as day zero. Isolate for 10full days after that, you can go out on day 11.

You're a surgeon? But it didn't occur to you that you could be giving your patients covid!

Better a cancelled list than passing it on!! Speaking from one who has just had major surgery! I'd much rather have waited than caught covid.

I asked the same question earlier today. DD started with a cold 6 days ago. She's had a very bunged up nose, sore throat and sneezing. No "official" Covid symptoms. We've done several negative lateral flows.

Today she's developed a cough - quite a bad one. She's done a PCR test today.

It's all part of the same illness but if it is Covid it started 6 days ago.

Go from the day you took your test. Surely as a surgeon you err on the side of caution?