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Original poster

Can you end isolation early by re-doing pcr?

32 replies

cakedup · 14/12/2021 18:20

DS(16) has covid and has been isolating in his room. He is on day 7 and absolutely sick of it.

I know someone who test positive, started self isolating, did another pcr half way through isolationg period which came back negative so stopped isolating! Doesn't sound right to me and can't find anything online about it. My mum is egging me on to do this so DS can stop being locked up in his room.

Anyone know anything about this? Is it possible to still spread it within the 10 days even if another test shows positive?

OP posts:
Fallagain · 14/12/2021 18:21

No, it’s illegal.

SickAndTiredAgain · 14/12/2021 18:22

It’s definitely not within the rules for those isolating due to an actual positive test.

But can’t he come out of his room?

Waxonwaxoff0 · 14/12/2021 18:24

No you cannot do that.

Delatron · 14/12/2021 18:25

No you can’t do that. Does he want to isolate in his room? Would he prefer to be with the family or is it not leaving the house that is bothering him?

marmaduke888 · 14/12/2021 18:28

No it’s not possible but surely he doesn’t need to be stuck in his room 24/7 for the full 10 days?

CheesyFootballsAreEvil · 14/12/2021 18:34

He absolutely cannot do that

Original poster
cakedup · 14/12/2021 20:32

@marmaduke888

No it’s not possible but surely he doesn’t need to be stuck in his room 24/7 for the full 10 days?
Doesn't he?? I thought that's what isolation essentially is.

He comes out to use the bathroom and that's it. I leave meals etc outside his door.

OP posts:
Original poster
cakedup · 14/12/2021 20:34

@Delatron

No you can’t do that. Does he want to isolate in his room? Would he prefer to be with the family or is it not leaving the house that is bothering him?
To be honest he spends a lot of time in his room anyway. But just not being able to pop into the kitchen every 2 mins for a snack, having to keep things seperate etc. He's just a bit fed up of it.
OP posts:
Waxonwaxoff0 · 14/12/2021 20:35

You don't have to isolate within your own household, it's personal choice. I had Covid in August, how on earth could I isolate from my child when I'm a single parent?

Delatron · 14/12/2021 20:35

You’re isolating him but he doesn’t want to be isolated and is struggling. Are you vulnerable?

Delatron · 14/12/2021 20:36

I think by day 7 I would be more relaxed if he was struggling. Open windows.

DontDoThatGeorge · 14/12/2021 20:37

We didn't really isolate our teenager, it would have been too distressing. They ate dinner with us most nights. Dp and I didn't catch it.

Original poster
cakedup · 14/12/2021 20:41

Everyone is saying no, and I agree, but I'm just wondering what the science is behind it. If you do another pcr test within 10 days of testing positive, and it comes up negative, can you still pass it on to others i.e. other people in the household - I'm not talking about him leaving the house.

I'm thinking perhaps the PCR test might not necessarily pick it up if covid is at low levels - I just can't find anything online about it to show my mum. She's gets quite anxious and she's worried about a) DS being confined to one room, but on the other hand b) DS passing it on to me.

OP posts:
Original poster
cakedup · 14/12/2021 20:43

@Waxonwaxoff0

You don't have to isolate within your own household, it's personal choice. I had Covid in August, how on earth could I isolate from my child when I'm a single parent?
Oh right, I didn't think of it like that. Obviously I can understand if it's the other way round and/or if the child is young, it would not be possible.
OP posts:
TotheletterofthelawTHELETTER · 14/12/2021 20:44

The person you know who did do that was wrong.

Also, you can still test positive for up to 90 days after having COVID, so what would you do if it returned positive again?

Unless you are extremely clinically vulnerable - like having chemo this week vulnerable - I would not isolate my child in their room, let him move around the house.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 14/12/2021 20:44

If he does another PCR and it tests positive, he would have to isolate again for another 10 days.

Original poster
cakedup · 14/12/2021 20:44

@Delatron

You’re isolating him but he doesn’t want to be isolated and is struggling. Are you vulnerable?
I'm not but DP is. And we have both only had our first vaccines recently.
OP posts:
greenweepingwillow · 14/12/2021 20:45

but you know he doesnt have to be confined to his room. that is just your choice. a pcr test wont change that. 4 of my dc have had covid. One of them twice. None of them were ever confined to their rooms, and I have never had it!

Delatron · 14/12/2021 20:46

I don’t think the science is out there in the public domain on this.

My DS was asymptomatic and we didn’t isolate from him. I played monopoly with him for 4 hours one night! The most I could find was that you are most infectious a couple of days before symptoms and about 5 days after then it starts to drop off. Can’t link though as it took a lot of searching to find that!

Asymptomatic do spread it less (though this is not broadcast).

I would relax after 7 days.

Wednesdayafternoon · 14/12/2021 20:46

OP if you're trying to reason him potentially cutting his full isolation short, then surely you can justify letting him isolate outside of his bedroom.

PotteringAlong · 14/12/2021 20:47

You’ve had literally months and months to get vaccinated. It’s not your teenagers fault you’ve only had one dose very recently! Let him out of his room!

Original poster
cakedup · 14/12/2021 20:47

@TotheletterofthelawTHELETTER

The person you know who did do that was wrong.

Also, you can still test positive for up to 90 days after having COVID, so what would you do if it returned positive again?

Unless you are extremely clinically vulnerable - like having chemo this week vulnerable - I would not isolate my child in their room, let him move around the house.

And they work in a school! Went back on day 8.

Ok, that's a good bit of info, thanks, didn't realise about the 90 days.

I didn't realise others would be more relaxed about it...I've been disinfecting the bathroom every time he uses it, giving him a separate hand towel to use etc. I thought that was standard.

OP posts:
PotteringAlong · 14/12/2021 20:51

I didn't realise others would be more relaxed about it...I've been disinfecting the bathroom every time he uses it, giving him a separate hand towel to use etc. I thought that was standard.

Admittedly he’s only 4, but I cuddled my Covid positive child to sleep in a bottom bunk bed tonight.

Delatron · 14/12/2021 20:53

Yeah I think it depends on the age. I still cuddled my 11 year old.
I think I wiped down the bathroom a few times but I’m suspicious he may have shared a toothbrush with his brother who remained negative!

Original poster
cakedup · 14/12/2021 20:54

@PotteringAlong

I didn't realise others would be more relaxed about it...I've been disinfecting the bathroom every time he uses it, giving him a separate hand towel to use etc. I thought that was standard.

Admittedly he’s only 4, but I cuddled my Covid positive child to sleep in a bottom bunk bed tonight.

There is a massive difference between 4 and 16!!!
OP posts: