Out of isolation tomorrow - LFT still positive?!

[Matilda2013]

My family and I have all had covid in the last few weeks. I’m due out of isolation tomorrow and back at work Monday but I did an LFT today and it’s still very positive?! What do I do?

I thought you weren't meant to do a lft for 90 days after having it? As it hangs around in your nose sensitive to trigger the test but you're not actually going to infect anyone?

Congrats on getting your freedom back by the way. Hope you're feeling ok.

Ah okay I thought that was just PCR tests for the 90 days. I will just go out as planned then I am going a bit stir crazy!

You are exempt from testing for 90 days following a positive test precisely for this reason...

If you still have symptoms you should stay off work I think

Thanks @goldfluffyclouds I thought it was only PCR tests. First time any of us has had it!

@Calyx72 what counts as a symptom though? I’ve had barely any symptoms and was completely back to normal and now just have a runny nose! But obviously that’s not an official symptom.

@Calyx72

If you still have symptoms you should stay off work I think

I had believed that people didn't generally shed live virus for more than ten days. To quote from the link below:

"Eight studies that used respiratory samples from patients in their first week of illness successfully cultured live virus, but no live virus was found in any sample collected after 9 days after symptom onset, despite persistent high viral loads."

www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/11/covid-19-most-contagious-first-5-days-illness-study-finds

@Calyx72

If you still have symptoms you should stay off work I think

The NHS advice isn't particularly helpful here: "You may need to self-isolate for longer if you get symptoms while self-isolating or your symptoms do not go away."

But it's clearly not any and all symptoms as those with any lingering long Covid would never be able to see anyone for months!

[quote Matilda2013]@Calyx72 what counts as a symptom though? I’ve had barely any symptoms and was completely back to normal and now just have a runny nose! But obviously that’s not an official symptom.[/quote]
More on continuing to isolate after ten days:

"You can stop self-isolating after 10 days if either:
• your symptoms have gone
• you just have a cough or changes to your sense of smell or taste – these symptoms can last for weeks after the infection has gone
Keep self-isolating if you still have any of these symptoms after 10 days:
• a high temperature or feeling hot and shivery
• a runny nose or sneezing
• feeling or being sick
• diarrhoea
• loss of appetite"

www.solentgp.nhs.uk/coronavirus-self-isolation-guidance

That’s interesting thank you! I’ve only had a runny nose today but my windows have been open constantly so will see if it clears!

It's the PCR which you shouldn't use again for 90 days because it picks up old bits of virus and can't tell the difference between new/old infection.

The LFD on the other hand picks up active infection - and especially when you have the highest viral load and are most infectious. I would advise that you continue to isolate until you get a clear LFD.

10 days isolation is a pragmatic policy decision that captures the majority (but not ALL) of those infectious, whilst balancing impact on the the economy etc. There are proven cases of some rare people who have remained infectious, shedding virus and infecting others for many weeks and occasionally months, unfortunately. Thankfully the majority are over in 10 days, almost all in 14 days, and then a few outliers.

Sounds like you could be an outlier, so if at all possible try to isolate.

I’ve been feeling sick with no appetite for almost 3 weeks. I couldn’t keep isolating for that!

@Pollaidh the only issue I have with this is that you aren’t told to isolate until a clear LFT? I was just curious and yet if I hadn’t tested I’d have just went about my day. And the guidance isn’t clear online as some laws do mention no LFTs for 90 days now I’ve checked!

@MrPoppysParka I have nausea for 2/3 days and it was horrendous so wouldn’t have enjoyed that for 3 weeks.

As ever with science/policy there is what is known to be true scientifically, and what is pragmatic policy making which balances costs and benefits.

Legally you would be perfectly in the right to go out and about.
Morally... it's less clear.

The positive LFD suggests there is a high chance you are still infectious. And it is certainly well within the realms of possibility that you could still be infectious, because we know it's possible, if more unusual. If personal experience helps, in everyone I know the LFD got gradually lighter and within 7-10 days was completely clear.

Look at it this way - there are rare cases of people still shedding virus after months, but it would be silly to make everyone with Covid isolate for months, just in case. That would have a massive negative impact on their mental health, fitness, disruption, economy etc, and people would just end up ignoring the rules. So the public health specialists and government had to come up with a rule that would be the best of both rules - isolating long enough to keep the majority of infected people out of circulation, accepting that it won't be long enough in all cases, and some people will be out spreading virus. But across the whole population, the rule should reduce spread enough to help keep the numbers down. That individual though could infect a lot of people potentially.

For someone who can work from home and not take a financial hit, I would say that morally you should stay home and wait for a clear test.

If you're going off to see vulnerable people, again, it would be best to stay home and wait for a clear test.

If you need to go to the office perhaps you could ask to wfh until clear.

If you're going to have to take a big financial hit from staying home longer then it's a much more difficult decision. Legally you'd be doing nothing wrong. Maybe you could minimise the risks as far as practical - going for a walk when it's quiet, wearing a decent mask, avoid people.

@Matilda2013

Thanks *@goldfluffyclouds* I thought it was only PCR tests. First time any of us has had it!

Test and trace told me today it was only PCRs that needed to be avoided. The LRF are fine - so T&T man told me.

*LFD

In your shoes I would continue to isolate. In our household the strong LFT positive only lasted a few days and was completely stark white negative again by day 10.

Luckily I’ve nowhere I need to be at the weekend so will keep testing and contact work on Monday if there’s still an issue and see what they advise.

Just that the rules don’t state you have to check you’re just allowed out after ten days!

Well done. A hard decision, as I'm sure you're stir crazy, but probably the right one.

Not sure why the rules don't state you have to check, possibly a pragmatic decision based on the original cost or availability of LFDs, or concern about muddying the message (if you have symptoms you're supposed to have PCR, (because there can be false negatives with LFDs) and telling people to do a LFD before de-isolating might confuse people into relying on LFDs when they have symptoms).

I’ve been home since the 1st so I’m sure another two days won’t kill me! Luckily the presents are bought and wrapped…. In November! Never doing that again!

I would say the intelligent thing may be to stay in isolation until the tests come out negative. I was getting positive tests for a month on end but eventually they just stopped

I can’t stay in for a month unfortunately

You shouldn't LFT for 90 days, you should get a PCR if you develop any further symptoms.