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Covid

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Original poster

Household contact right by Christmas. Can we still go ahead?

25 replies

Wondering5952 · 17/12/2021 08:07

I went for my covid booster on 11th December and when I got home my partner started complaining he was feeling a little rough. We started sleeping in different beds from that day. He got full blown covid symptoms 3 days later and went for a PCR. We've just woken up to a positive result text

We were both going to head to our respective families this Christmas so weren't planning on spending it together. In a bid to not ruin Christmas for everyone my friend offered to let me stay in their empty house as she's not there for the next couple of weeks. I've taken 2LFTs which are negative and I'm about to drive there shortly. So this is me exiting my covid positive household 6 days after my partner started getting symptoms.

I'm planning on taking LFTs everyday and a PCR in day 9 of my partner's symptoms (so 3 days since leaving the house) and if all is negative and I am not showing covid symptoms then go ahead with the original plan to my family's home on 22nd (the day my partner can exit isolation).

Do you think this is enough? My family are fully vaccinated but some are clinically vulnerable. I'm trying to be extra careful not to infect them. I feel fine at the moment other than a bit of a scratchy throat. I will be isolating in my friends house even if I don't need to as fully vaxed and will wait a couple more days to allow any more proper symptoms to develop before going for my close contact pcr. Just worried really. How long after close contact did you start getting symptoms?

If I get symptoms or test positive in his 10 day isolation then I'll head back to my partner's house and spend Christmas alone

OP posts:

belimoo · 17/12/2021 08:13

I'm sorry to tell you that a bit of a scratchy throat is exactly how covid started for me recently. Apparently it's one of the symptoms of the new variant.

PrincessConsuelaBananahamm0ck · 17/12/2021 08:15

I think you're definitely doing enough. Especially if you get a negative PCR result just before going to your family's home. Good luck!

MattHancocksSexTape · 17/12/2021 08:16

Yep. Scratchy throat was my first symptom, now I have a positive test. Pretty sure it’s the omicron variant.

Original poster

Wondering5952 · 17/12/2021 08:18

How long after your scratchy throat did you start to test positive on LFT or PCR?

OP posts:

bigbluebus · 17/12/2021 08:22

I've read that scratchy throat is one of the Omicron symptoms.
My DB tested positive 12 days after his DS in the same household in the days when you had to isolate, jabbed or not. So if you have clinically vulnerable people in the house you intend to visit then I wouldn't go. But it sounds like you should now get a PCR test anyway - which may well be positive and make the decision for you.

belimoo · 17/12/2021 08:37

In case it helps, this is how mine has gone:
Day 1: scratchy throat, barely noticeable
Day 2: definite scratchy throat and slightly hoarse but feeling fine
Day 3: feeling a bit unwell along with scratchy throat, negative LFT
Day 4: feeling more unwell, sneezing, snotty, sore throat. Did a PCR which was positive.
Now on day 7 and feeling absolutely exhausted. The sore throat has remained, I've got a bit of a cough and tight chest but nothing major. Stomach has been a bit upset and I've lost my sense of smell.

I really hope yours doesn't progress op but if you have a scratchy throat then I would do a pcr and wouldn't rely on lft.

Weredone · 17/12/2021 08:38

This all sounded fine until I read ‘I feel fine at the moment other than a bit of a scratchy throat’. You have clinically vulnerable family members and you have symptoms. I think you’ve done everything you can and been really careful but I’d be prepared to have a positive pcr before you make it to your family home.

Original poster

Wondering5952 · 17/12/2021 08:40

If I get a positive PCR then so be it I'll spend Christmas alone, but I'm more worried about getting a negative PCR in a couple of days and it still incubating in me and me still ending up passing it on to family. Does anyone think that is likely?

OP posts:

Superstar22 · 17/12/2021 08:44

I would not take any risks seeing CEV people. It’s not worth it. You have had covid in your house. You’re likely to get it. Therefore regardless of testing, you’re likely to pass it on if you’re mixing. It’s that simple.

Roadhouse111 · 17/12/2021 08:44

If you test positive why doesn't your partner stay at home and have Xmas with you, I would never let my OH spend Christmas alone, that's pretty grim!!

Superstar22 · 17/12/2021 08:46

I also want to say I’m sorry for you, and you’re doing the right things, but if any of those people come down with covid you will worry it’s you, and for me, it’s not worth it. They likely won’t even get treated in hospital the way things are going. So no, I wouldn’t go near them if someone in my house had covid regardless of me having it or not on a test

PawPrintsInMyPansies · 17/12/2021 08:46

My DD had a scratchy throat Tuesday. Positive LFT followed up by a positive PCR.

AllThatGlistensIs · 17/12/2021 08:47

Yeah I’m sorry OP, I really think you’re gonna have to change your plans. Not wise to go stay with family now.

Original poster

Wondering5952 · 17/12/2021 08:47

@Roadhouse111

If you test positive why doesn't your partner stay at home and have Xmas with you, I would never let my OH spend Christmas alone, that's pretty grim!!

His gran has terminal cancer and this is likely the last Christmas they'll get to spend with her. I'm not holding it against him if he goes and I'm telling him he should definitely go regardless of if I test positive or not.

OP posts:

Blupblup · 17/12/2021 08:48

Yeah sorry scratchy throat was how it started for me too. I had a very very faint positive on an lft the next morning and tested positive on a PCR that same day. I would expect that you have it and it's a matter of time before you get a positive result.
Can you & partner change plans and stay home together?

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 17/12/2021 08:55

I have a bit of a scratchy throat most of the time due to gastric reflux

That’s going to be a hard one to spot!

Original poster

Wondering5952 · 17/12/2021 08:57

@Superstar22

And you'd feel that way even though you were seeing them 11 days after your household member got covid and you tested negative on pcr?

How long would you leave it before feeling safe to see them again?

OP posts:

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 17/12/2021 08:59

@Superstar22

I agree.

SilverRingahBells · 17/12/2021 09:03

I'd put your journey off for a couple more days. If you're clean on tests and completely symptom free by the 23rd/24th then it's highly unlikely you'd have Covid - Omicron in particular has a very fast turnaround.
But if you're not symptom free then stock up on your favourite M&S ready meals, a big box of chocolates and the Strictly Christmas special and Zoom your family. You're a grown up and you can presumably easily visit them a month later for a get together.

Original poster

Wondering5952 · 17/12/2021 09:07

@SilverRingahBells

I'd put your journey off for a couple more days. If you're clean on tests and completely symptom free by the 23rd/24th then it's highly unlikely you'd have Covid - Omicron in particular has a very fast turnaround. But if you're not symptom free then stock up on your favourite M&S ready meals, a big box of chocolates and the Strictly Christmas special and Zoom your family. You're a grown up and you can presumably easily visit them a month later for a get together.

Thanks for this. I'm considering staying a couple more days. My mother wanted me there from 22nd but I'd rather just be there for Christmas day if I can be more certain about things.

If I go there on 24th then that would be 7 days since I left my household and 13 days since my partner got covid. I'm also wondering how fast PCR turnarounds are going to be around Christmas though. If I do one on 23rd will I know by Christmas. It's a hard one to judge.

OP posts:

AllThatGlistensIs · 17/12/2021 09:23

The problem is the incubation time. If you’re really worried about vulnerable family members then the only way to truly protect them is to stay away. I’m sorry OP I know it’s shit. I wouldn’t be going.

Rainbowsandstorms · 17/12/2021 09:26

It’s so hard isn’t it. I’d also go with arriving a few days later too. We are in a similar situation but my child tested positive at the weekend and we have my parents due to visit on Christmas Day.

Amberflames · 17/12/2021 09:30

I got positive LF the day after starting with a scratchy throat. Didn’t think anything if the throat because I’d had a negative PCR a couple of days earlier.

actiongirl1978 · 17/12/2021 09:34

Yes mine started with the itchy throat too. I'm asthmatic and hay-fever and live in a thatched dusty house so I'm pretty much always itching the back of my throat, but this was worse and more persistent.

Started sneezing the next day, coughing the day after and PCR positive.

Blupblup · 17/12/2021 09:43

Have you taken a PCR at all yet? Now your partner has got a positive result, you will likely be contacted by t&t and advised to take one asap. Given you also have symptoms (albeit none of the government advised ones) I would scrap going anywhere today and take a PCR asap. I would expect you to test positive in the circumstances and it'd be much better to know that before you drive anywhere.

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