To tell you that you're not exempt from PCR testing even if you've had covid in the last 90 days

[Moolia]

I have spoken to so many people recently who said that they had symptoms but didn't get a PCR as they had covid within the last 90 days so thought they were exempt from testing.

You are only exempt from LFTs, not PCRs.

Government and NHS rules say to get a PCR with new symptoms even if you've had covid in the last 90 days www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing/test-results/positive-test-result/

I personally now know 3 people who've had covid twice within 2 months. And with Omicron now dominant it's even more likely that people will get reinfected.

The top 5 symptoms are now: runny nose, headache, fatigue (either mild or severe), sneezing, and sore throat.

www.bmj.com/content/375/bmj.n3103

If you have cold symptoms, don't rely on LFT tests, get a PCR.

[quote HalfShrunkMoreToGo]@EarringsandLipstick out of curiosity I clicked on the links to book a PCR and yes it asks if you have had a positive in the last 9 months but then still let's you book through even if you say Yes.[/quote]
That's interesting, I had assumed (wrongly I now realise) that you wouldn't be able to book.

I realise now that it makes sense - of course people should be tested if they have symptoms. Not sure why I didn't really see that before!

That's mainly why I started this thread as it seems most people assume you can't get it again so soon. But if people think they shouldn't be getting PCRs even with symptoms then the official statistics won't be showing reinfections. Hmm, I wonder if that's deliberate...

@Moolia

Sorry I don't follow what you mean?

Everything I've heard the experts say is that having the jabs and having had cioid gives you an extremely high level of protection against getting it again within (I think) 6 months so it would appear to be hugely unlikely that you would know 2 people who got agin within 2 months. It's much more likely that it was left over virus

Just because you have one of the 3 PCR symptoms after having had covid it doesn't follow that a positive test with 90 days means you have a new case

I was also told by test and trace not to retest in 90 days. I still would, given the need. But yes I was told the same. No wonder we are in this mess.

We PCR all children when they come into hospital. Except for the ones that have been positive in the last 90 days.

I was told by test and trace, GP, a hospital consultant and both DC schools not to test within 90 days.

It's actually three people that I know just in the last week so it could be Omicron. How would you explain them all going from negative LFTs and perfectly healthy to symptoms + positive LFTs + PCR?

If you can still get covid after being vaccinated in the last three months (which we know is true) then you can still get covid after having covid in the last three months, as the evidence shows that vaccine immunity is stronger than natural immunity.

@Toddlerteaplease

We PCR all children when they come into hospital. Except for the ones that have been positive in the last 90 days.

So even hospitals are going against NHS guidance.

@Willyoujustbequiet

I was told by test and trace, GP, a hospital consultant and both DC schools not to test within 90 days.

It's very worrying that they all seem to be unaware of the rules.

My dd had a bad cold, tested positive on lft, had to argue to get her a pcr , because she shouldn’t have tested on a lft with cold symptons, pcr was negative, track and trace told me lft can not differentiate between many viruses. That may explain it somewhat

I work in an industry with strict regulations about how we operate under Covid and our health and safety regulator and our insurance company say no PCRs within 90 days of a positive test.

@EarringsandLipstick

That's interesting OP.

It's a different situation in Ireland: www2.hse.ie/conditions/covid19/symptoms/recovering/#immunity-after-covid-19-infection

If you test positive for Covid, you do not require a test for 9 months after, regardless of symptoms.

We're generally more conservative in our approach to Covid than the UK, so interesting to see the difference here

So much more sensible. We've gone testing mad here. Some people even take LFTs after a PCR positive. Hate to think of all the plastic waste.

"track and trace told me lft can not differentiate between many viruses"

Well that's not true for a start.

@TheFlis12345

I work in an industry with strict regulations about how we operate under Covid and our health and safety regulator and our insurance company say no PCRs within 90 days of a positive test.

Have they not read the guidance?

@Moolia

That's mainly why I started this thread as it seems most people assume you can't get it again so soon. But if people think they shouldn't be getting PCRs even with symptoms then the official statistics won't be showing reinfections. Hmm, I wonder if that's deliberate...

Why would it be deliberate? I've read conflicting opinions on natural immunity v vaccines and I don't think it's possible to say the vaccines offer more protection than natural immunity with absolute certainty. It's not the norm for someone to be reinfected with covid, not to say it doesn't happen but it's rare.

Has it been officially decided yet that you can get omicron within 90 days of delta?

I've recently been in this situation regarding a child's party where a parent said their child was immune as they'd had covid within the last 2 months so refused to do a lft even though their brother tested positive on the eve of the party.

I read the online advice about still testing if you get symptoms but can't find anything about the ability of getting omicron soon after delta.

Yes we were told the same by T and T!

And when I questioned it they were patronising and rude.

No wonder the country is in a mess!!

No doubt the Daily Fail will see this thread…..

The main problem is that we simply don’t know….. so much seems to be unknown. Incubation period, reinfection rate, how long you are infectious for, if you can catch it from surfaces, if a positive PCR is for active virus or inactive old infection?
I didn’t have any of the 3 main symptoms when I had covid, but the criteria for getting a PCR remains the same, the Scottish government symptom checker tells you if you don’t have any of the 3 you are not at risk of having coronavirus .

We seem to have totally lost our own ability to risk assess since the pandemic. We have had so many rules and restrictions, which aren't always properly explained to us, so it's understandable we feel this way. My understanding is as follows; a pcr may not be reliable within 90 days of a positive test because that's how long it can potentially pick up an old, no longer infectious, case. Therefore you should not test unless you have good reason to think it's likely you have caught it again. For me this would mean obvious symptoms and a clear path of possible transmission. Regular asymptomatic LFTs are not advised by some places because if you get a positive you need a pcr which could be inaccurate. However an Lft should turn negative within a few weeks of infection so a positive lft should be taken seriously. I am still within 90 days of an infection but have just done a week of LFTs due to a close contact at work. I assessed the situation, read the often conflicting advice on line and made a decision what to do. This morning I have a slight temperature and a headache but i had my booster jab just under 24 hours ago so I won't be going for a pcr because I have a very common side effect and it's most likely that's all it is. Should I get further covid symptoms i would reassess.
People on the whole are doing their best to make sensible decisions and apply guidance in the best way they can.

I thought it was no PCR for 90 days unless symptoms again or for travel and:
No LFD but if you do take part for community or workplace testing and test positive get a PCR etc

That’s from the government guidance on isolation

@3teens2cats well done you.

Feel better soon

Please could we have a link to these Government and NHS regulations that everyone, including the Government and NHS appears to be doing the opposite of?

T&T told me not to retest at the end of isolation- could return to normal activities unless have a fever, runny nose & sneezing or d&v

Advised then not to retest for 90 days UNLESS new symptoms develop.

Maybe update the government rather than educating people with the wrong info.