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Original poster

Isolation time cut. Good or bad? *MNHQ editing to say 'only England so far!'*

76 replies

AD80 · 22/12/2021 08:53

We've just had covid.

Dp and Ds have had it and both out of isolation. Dp finished isolating last week and still had a line on the test for days afterwards - doing it out curiosity. He had barely any symptoms either.

My last day of isolation today and Dd on Friday.

I'm negative on lft today.

But Dd still has a strong positive despite that she's had no symptoms whatsoever!

Is this really going to work?!

Whilst it's welcome in many instances like people going back to work sooner etc.

But they say you can test positive for weeks after so it's not going to work this way for many people!

For instance. I've been quite ill, still don't feel 100 percent and now my lft's are negative on day 10 despite being more affected than everyone else in the house.

Dd has had no symptoms and still positive on day 9 after testing positive

Dp had barely any symptoms but had a line for days after covid.

We haven't lft tested ds. we just isolated him.

OP posts:
AngryWithH · 22/12/2021 08:56

H tested positive with LFT and like everyone else I know is just isolating anyway until he gets a negative LFT. Unless you are mad enough to do a PCR you can police your own isolation.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 22/12/2021 08:59

During the South West testing issue, DH got his first positive LFT Sunday, second Monday, negative PCR on Monday and was negative LFT by Wednesday. So presuming he did have it and his was one of the false negatives, he had no active virus with 4 days.

ColdHandsColdFeetWarmHeart · 22/12/2021 08:59

It's a good thing. It means that they're acknowledging omicron is just a bad cold and the 10 day isolation for it is a massive overreaction.

HalloHello · 22/12/2021 09:00

The isolation period is shortened PROVIDED you have a negative lft on day 6 and 7 so it depends on that I suppose. I'm sure they know what they're doing...... 🤣🙈

Alayalaya · 22/12/2021 09:01

10 days cut to 7. So we are going to have people who would previously have been isolating going around infecting people for 3 days. I can’t see how this is good.

I agree with AngryWithH about the pcr test. My husband was harassed so much on the phone during his isolation, I’d be reluctant to get a pcr test next time.

puppeteer · 22/12/2021 09:03

This seems a very good and logical thing.

Crazy to isolate folk that have no illness, more especially at a time when businesses (including the NHS) are crying out for staff and customers.

Nomorecoco · 22/12/2021 09:04

Has this been formally released? I can't find it online.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 22/12/2021 09:06

Seems contradictory as when I had Covid in August I was told not to do LFTs for 90 days. But it's a good thing in my opinion.

Changeisneeded · 22/12/2021 09:07

I just tested positive on day 8 as did another friend so i think it will lead to heartache for those who do it properly as many will test positive.

DumplingsAndStew · 22/12/2021 09:09

...IN ENGLAND

MarshaBradyo · 22/12/2021 09:10

Very good

the80sweregreat · 22/12/2021 09:14

It's good news , but you need to have two neg lft on day 6 and 7 and they are in short supply.
(I did write on another tread last weekend about the isolation times being cut again and was flamed! )
It goes to show that they don't think that this variant isn't as bad ?

the80sweregreat · 22/12/2021 09:16

Yes, your told not to test for 90 days with a lft after having covid and now you can ?
I'm not moaning , but it's moving the goalposts again about isn't it ?

VanCleefArpels · 22/12/2021 09:16

People won’t be going round infecting people as it requires 2x negative tests 24 hours apart. Whilst there is lots of anecdata about unreliable LFT results it would seem that the big brains are satisfied that enough are in fact reliable to mean that a shorter isolation will not make a meaningful difference to the overall picture.

It makes sense - in my view the biggest danger now is not the NHS falling over (based on current picture anyway) but more the fabric of society: the bus drivers, bin men, warehouse workers , supermarket staff, gas engineers etc etc etc who will all be off work for a period with covid. If this can help to mitigate that then bring it on

santaclothes · 22/12/2021 09:18

But Dd still has a strong positive despite that she's had no symptoms whatsoever!

* Is this really going to work?!*

Her isolation period wouldn't be shorter, because she is still positive. So yes, it may work.

Silverswirl · 22/12/2021 09:18

@Alayalaya

10 days cut to 7. So we are going to have people who would previously have been isolating going around infecting people for 3 days. I can’t see how this is good.

I agree with AngryWithH about the pcr test. My husband was harassed so much on the phone during his isolation, I’d be reluctant to get a pcr test next time.

Except the scientists don’t agree with you think that days 7-10 you won’t be spreading it hence why they’ve changed it.
Bobholll · 22/12/2021 09:22

No - you are told not to do a PCR test 90 days post infection. This is because PCR tests are really sensitive & can pick up dead virus.

LFTs are not that sensitive. They won’t pick up dead virus in 99.9% of cases. If you have tested positive on one (which most people do when symptomatic despite what mumsnet says), then chances are it’ll go negative between 5-10 days. At which point you are likely to not have the virus in your nose anymore & able to pass it on.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 22/12/2021 09:23

@Bobholll

No - you are told not to do a PCR test 90 days post infection. This is because PCR tests are really sensitive & can pick up dead virus.

LFTs are not that sensitive. They won’t pick up dead virus in 99.9% of cases. If you have tested positive on one (which most people do when symptomatic despite what mumsnet says), then chances are it’ll go negative between 5-10 days. At which point you are likely to not have the virus in your nose anymore & able to pass it on.

I was told not to do either.
the80sweregreat · 22/12/2021 09:24

I was told not to do a lft for 90 days by my employer after having covid , but I can get another pcr test if I had symptoms again.

DumplingsAndStew · 22/12/2021 09:25

@Bobholll

No - you are told not to do a PCR test 90 days post infection. This is because PCR tests are really sensitive & can pick up dead virus.

Actually, you're still supposed to do a PCR if you are symptomatic within 90 days.

TooWicked · 22/12/2021 09:30

I welcome this news.

I’ve tested negative yesterday on an LFT on day 8. I felt better and realistically had it not been covid I’d have returned to work on Monday. I’m self employed and have basically lost 2 weeks income.

I will never do a PCR test ever again, I’ve been hounded with phone calls, texts and emails despite me answering all of their questions on day 2.

DumplingsAndStew · 22/12/2021 09:30

If they are confident in not being contagious after 7 days, why bother with the LFTs at all?

This isn't about public health, like others have said, its about the Tory manifesto of people being at work.

MarshaBradyo · 22/12/2021 09:34

If they are confident in not being contagious after 7 days, why bother with the LFTs at all?

People will be different? If a few outliers it makes sense