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Covid abroad, returning to the UK after recovery, what if my day 2 PCR is positive

23 replies

piscis · 05/01/2022 10:58

I wonder if someone has some reliable information on this...I am quite worried and cannot find any information on this. I got covid abroad, I started to have symptoms on the 21st and the PCR confirmed it. I isolated for 10 days and used lateral flow test at the end of the isolation period, which confirmed I was negative on day 8. I had an antigen test done yesterday at a lab (required to fly) which also confirmed I am already negative.
I need to take the day 2 PCR anyway, as there is nothing in the passenger locator form that exempts anyone from that, but I am concerned that as my infection is so recent, I will have a positive result.
Obviously I don't want to isolate as I have just been through that and I've got a printed document from the hospital to confirm it.
Does anyone know if there is any official guidance on this? I cannot find anything, but there have to be cases like this! It doesn't make sense I have to isolate until I get my result and isolate again if turns out to be positive because I've just been through it and would be a false positive.
My DD is in the same boat as me, I don't want her to miss school for the sake of it when she has just been through it and isolating. We both completed our isolating periods and also confirmed negatives with lateral flow test.
Any advice would be appreciated!

OP posts:
Poppytime · 05/01/2022 11:20

I am in the same boat except we are back in UK and awaiting pcr day 2 results. I've tried to find the answer and unfort it seems there is no exemption from the pcr (we had to our it in our passenger locator form), which seems a bit ridiculous as if you test positive in UK you aren't supposed to test on a pcr for 90 days! I await any one else with any more info... really don't want the kids to miss school. We already had a shocker travelling to see family they hadn't seen for years and spent most of the time there in isolation. And yes I know we took the risk on, but it was a case of if not now, when, especially with ill elderly relatives. Sigh!

SnugKnights · 05/01/2022 11:26

Following COVID-19 infection, some individuals may have natural immunity shown by a positive COVID-19 PCR test. England does not currently exempt travellers from testing and other entry requirements if they have proof of recent COVID-19 infection.

This is from the 24th Dec on the travel health pro website and seems crazy.

tiredofthisshit21 · 05/01/2022 11:27

I just wouldn't bother doing the day 2 PCR if I were you. No one checks. And you know you have recently recovered so what's the point?

InTheLabyrinth · 05/01/2022 11:32

You isolate again, and get out on day 8 with negative LFT ( if you can get your hands on any).

Poppytime · 05/01/2022 11:41

We had to book the day 2 to put the reference on the locator form - do they not check you've done it then? Wish I hadn't now!!

tiredofthisshit21 · 05/01/2022 11:45

@Poppytime you have to book and pay for the test in order to get the reference number for the locator form. But no one monitors that the tests are actually being taken. I'm of the view that if I paid for the test then I might as well take it. But in OPs position where she might have to isolation again unnecessarily, I just wouldn't take the test.

Poppytime · 05/01/2022 11:52

Ah I shouldn't have taken them. I'm in the same position, may have to isolate again. I wish they'd change the rules for people who have recovered from covid abroad

tiredofthisshit21 · 05/01/2022 11:54

In other news, BBC News are reporting that the government are looking to scrap the return to UK tests for people who have been abroad. No idea on timescales though.

Poppytime · 05/01/2022 12:22

Yes I saw that, typical!

kt27 · 05/01/2022 12:28

I spoke to 119 about this exact issue. There are no exemptions at the moment. You have to isolate again if your PCR is positive, even if it's from a recent infection. Hopefully the rules will change soon.

piscis · 05/01/2022 13:59

@Poppytime
Exactly the same for us, we went to see elderly relatives and spent most of the time in isolation, and it is never a good moment. On top of things, we had covid in early November too, so I never thought in a millions years we would catch it again so soon!

OP posts:
piscis · 05/01/2022 14:17

I just don't understand these conflicting rules "don't take a test but do take a test" and it is baffling how some people accept it as normal. Conflicting information encourages people not to follow the rules as the rules don't make sense.

I know I have to book the test, I have booked it already and paid for it. I don't mind paying for it but it would be annoying to isolate when it is clear that I shouldn't.

My DD has isolated already twice in two months, why should she isolate again for nothing because there are no provisions for situations such as this?

I guess the question now is...how likely is it to get a positive now? My symptoms started on the 21st December

OP posts:
tiredofthisshit21 · 05/01/2022 14:21

OP my rule of thumb for the so called rules is to only follow the ones that make sense. Isolating again for the same infection makes zero sense whatsoever.

Ploddingalong67 · 05/01/2022 16:11

OP, this has just changed in latest announcement;

The PM confirms that pre-departure travel Covid tests to enter England from overseas will be scrapped from 04:00 on Friday.
He also says he is lifting the requirement to self-isolate on arrival in England until receiving a negative PCR test result.
Instead people can take a lateral flow test on day two - and if it's positive a further PCR test will be needed to identify any new variants, plus isolation as normal.

Palavah · 05/01/2022 19:08

@tiredofthisshit21

I just wouldn't bother doing the day 2 PCR if I were you. No one checks. And you know you have recently recovered so what's the point?
This. You will need to book and pay for a PCR if you are arriving before 4am Friday, but noone checks if you do it.
Poppytime · 06/01/2022 08:59

We were all negative - phew! If that gives any anecdotal reassurance to anyone (we tested positive 19/20 December and negative on pcr taken 4 Jan. lateral flows had been negative since 28th Dec). But they've scrapped pcr's for now coming back in so hopefully that makes things easier for those in the same situation.

Watapalava · 06/01/2022 09:09

with new testing rule, just ignore postive lft on arrival

CUniverse · 06/01/2022 10:33

They don't care.

I have travelled so many times in these past two years. T&T called me once out of the 9 times I travelled, and only on day 4. They asked if I had taken the day 2 test, I said I hadn't because I never received it.
I didn't get the test kit until day 7. By that time, I didn't bother because I had no symptoms, and I had already done a lateral flow and I just wanted a refund from them.

Point is, when they asked me if I had done they 2 test and I explained how annoyed I was it hadn't arrived, they said "oh well, sorry it's not our fault, no lab is Gov approved, so you will have to take it up with them. Hopefully they arrive, if not, then try to get a refund" then I never heard from them again.

They didn't care the I wasn't able to test and didn't recommend an alternative. They didn't check any further to see if I was isolating. To say I was furious is an understatement. It is all a money grabbing scam and the government are at the helm of it.

My uncle once had someone come to his door to check he was isolating on day 9. He broke isolation to go to the shop, and his daughter answered the door. They asked where he was, she told them he popped out to the shop, and they said, ok. That's it. All the checks are at random, they do not have the resources to really enforce anything.

Of course you must be nervous now because you don't want to break your isolation, but you aren't a risk to anyone, so just carry on with your life. If they call you, pretend you're at home, they aren't tracing your location.

Veuvelily · 06/01/2022 10:49

My day 2 pcr test was positive after flying home, following 10 days isolation and a fit to fly test.
T&T called me and I had the most frustrating conversation with them. They told me I had to isolate, I said no, I’d already done it.
The next day I had a call from the local council test and trace team who said they’d closed my file.

piscis · 06/01/2022 15:01

There are some reassuring messages here, thanks. We arrived yesterday, so even if they change the rules from tomorrow, in theory I have to follow the old rules. I've gone for my test today anyway, keeping my fingers crossed that it is negative. I am not going to isolate even if it comes back positive, I've been to the supermarket today as we had no food when we arrived. I am working from home for a few days anyway and I'll be at home most of the time if track and trace contact me.
I wouldn't be breaking any rules if I knew I was a risk to anyone but I am not, probably one of the safest person at the moment...

OP posts:
Poppytime · 06/01/2022 16:52

Exactly @piscis , that's how I felt. We are probably the least risk of all right now! Fingers crossed for a negative result anyway x

piscis · 07/01/2022 17:24

Test result came back negative, phew!!
No need to break any stupid rules

OP posts:
Poppytime · 07/01/2022 18:32

Hurrah @piscis Smile

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