If you can test positive up to 90 days after catching it...

[musicalfrog]

What if you catch Delta now, but Omicron in a few weeks time (asymptomatically)?

How would you know it isn't a new infection? Indeed, would you even bother asymptomatic testing after having actual covid (for 90 days anyway)?

Your best bet is regular lat flow. There is a vnarrow window of time to test positive on lat flow compared with PCR

Interesting. Do you know when that window is?

You arent supposed to do LFT or PCR for 90 days after a positive test unless you get new symptoms

But @dementedpixie what if the symptoms are from a different virus and you still test positive from the previous covid virus?

All that time not testing might miss an asymptomatic case.

So much margin for error here it seems.

You aren't supposed to test within 90 days but I was back to negative before isolation ended.

I am 60 days on. I LF regularly. But I won't pcr unless I really good reason to think I have it.

Thanks I will certainly give it a try.

DC had covid in summer. They had cold symptoms 2 months after and we were told not to test because it could be a false positive. Kid was allowed to go to school as usual since the symptoms were mild. We are not in the UK, but here they say its very unlikely to catch it again so soon. DC entire class had it just recently. Only 4/20 kids tested neg (including DC) and the 4 neg ones all had it in summer. Im guessing they still have some immunity, because they were in close contact with so many classmates who tested positive.

@dementedpixie

You arent supposed to do LFT or PCR for 90 days after a positive test unless you get new symptoms

What about travel?

Of course you can do a lat flow within 90 days of a positive test! How do you think people function that need to take lateral flow for work?

In a lot of cases they're exempt from testing for 90 days after a positive test

My sister had covid in October(she passed it on to me) she works in a school. Last month another member of staff tested positive. They were all told to get pcrs.
When they went to be tested she was refused a test because of the 90 days and told to go back to work. I always wondered what if she had covid again and passed it on.
When I attended the hospital with long covid symptoms 4 weeks after being positive I was taken to the covid ward and told it was safe for me to be in there i wasn't tested.

@dementedpixie

In a lot of cases they're exempt from testing for 90 days after a positive test

Who are, how?

@Palavah

Of course you can do a lat flow within 90 days of a positive test! How do you think people function that need to take lateral flow for work?

I has covid 12 months ago. I work in a school. We had to start taking LFTs in the spring term but I, and other staff who had had it at the same time as me, didn't have to start until 3 months after everyone else as we were told we could possibly still show as positive so the result wouldn't be reliable.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-management-of-exposed-healthcare-workers-and-patients-in-hospital-settings/covid-19-management-of-exposed-healthcare-workers-and-patients-in-hospital-settings example in here

My DS was told not to test for 90 days after Covid including the regular lateral flows that he was previously doing twice a week and reporting to the school. In fact, I have just been advised by the schoo to sign a form opting out of testing on return to school in January due to him still being within the 90 days. However, we did test him on day 10 of his isolation and he was already negative.

I think this is really confusing. They seem to be saying that ppl who have had delta can easily catch Omicron. But if you're in that 90 day window and you have some mild symptoms, what are you supposed to do? Isolate? Not isolate? Confused

@Palavah

Your best bet is regular lat flow. There is a vnarrow window of time to test positive on lat flow compared with PCR

This isn't true. DH continued to test positive on LFT for seven weeks after isolation ended (I was negative by day 8 however).

You're not supposed to test again for 90 days on either, unless you have new symptoms (which of course means you might end up having to isolate for 10 days again needlessly because the positive is from your old infection, and your symptoms aren't actually Covid!).

You're not supposed to do a PCR within 90 days unless you have new symptoms.

I guess there will always be variations but the clear consensus on these boards has been people returning to negative on lat flow within 2-3 weeks of a positive pcr, if not much sooner.

I was negative on lfts by day 9 ie before I had even stopped isolating.

None of the new rules make any sense to me. On the one hand we are told that two vaccines not enough, but then vaccine passports only need two doses . And removing the need to self isolate even for household members who are exposed every day. All very confusing

@Palavah

You're not supposed to do a PCR within 90 days unless you have new symptoms.

I guess there will always be variations but the clear consensus on these boards has been people returning to negative on lat flow within 2-3 weeks of a positive pcr, if not much sooner.

It's both. Variously heard this from t&t, GP and my consultant.

@Palavah

Its very confusing , ds had covid mid october picked up on lateral flow he had very mild symptoms none of main three, he now has a cold / slight sore throat , again none of main symptoms
Can't test as not bern 90 days, although did do lft which was negative but ny understanding is pcr is more sensitive
Spoke to gp and 119 and they were not much help , 119 did say he may still test positive from last infection and only re test if nee symptoms as in main 3 i guess

We haven't done usual 2 weekly lft as told not to
Im considering taking him for a pcr as he could isolate although due his second jab in january so a positive would put this back months As well when he might not even have covid and just have a normal cold

I had COVID about six weeks ago and was told by multiple professionals not to do an LFT or PCR for 3 months.