LFT still positive Day 10

[evenflo3]

I know the rules state that I can leave isolation at day 10 but leaving with a still positive lat flow makes me really uneasy!

Has anyone else had this?

Yes, me. I feel uneasy about it too, even though the rules state that I'm free now. I'm still feeling unwell too though, so I'm staying off work and generally being careful.

It’s normal. I’m day 20 and still testing positive. After 10 days you aren’t infectious so you can go out.

This very rule was seemingly contradicted by Chris Whitty yesterday at the press conference. I imagine some official clarification and scientific evidence will appear v soon.

Yes I think Sir Chris muddied the waters yesterday quite considerably.

I think the science has always supported the idea that positive LFT can extend up to 90 days, which is - I think - due to residual viral particulate matter.

Providing I am well I will leave isolation at 10 days as will DH - our business will collapse if we have to stay away for weeks on end.

I'd be a bit worried if the positive was a blazingly obvious line. If it's just a faint line I'd not be bothered. They do suggest you take extra care to avoid close contact, I think. Although in theory you should not be continuing to test as there is no official need and LFTs are in short supply.

Personally I've always thought it odd that we assume that everybody's immune system reacts in the same time frame, it must vary from person to person. I felt absolutely shit with covid for at least 14 days (maybe I have a lazy immune system ) and I was possibly infectious for that whole 14 days despite actually only having to isolate for 10? In fact the isolation used to be 14 days not 10. I thought the main reason we reduced from 14 to 10 was because of the practical problems that that was causing. Maybe some people stop being infectious after a couple of days because their immune system kicks covid's ass quite quickly.

I think CW was stating the scientific position. My understanding is that he sees LFTs as a really useful tool for working out whether or not an individual is a covid risk to others. But the government would be accused of giving woolly advice if they said that (and a lot of the public are too thick to understand it) so they have to provide rules that (the vast majority) of people are capable of understanding.

It's PCR tests that will potentially pick up an 'old' infection for up to 90 days after contracting COVID-19. LFTs won't keep being positive after 10-14 days - sometimes less - because the level of virus present in the body needs to be at 'OMG you're very infectious' levels to give a positive LFT.

So yes, the law says you can head out after 10 days and crack on. Sounds like you can't avoid doing this, work-wise. But I would try and be careful about social distancing from customers/colleagues and mask-wearing if you possibly can. That strong positive LFT means you are almost certainly still infectious.

It's all so confusing.

Government are now saying that LFTs are a really good way to tell whether you're actively infectious or not – hence being allowed out and about on day 7 if LFTs showing negative. But does that mean that a positive LFT on day 10 or beyond also means you're still infectious? It just doesn't make sense.

And at the same time official advice is not to do LFTs for 90 days after infection due to the risk of them giving a false positive.

But PCRs are still advised with onset of new symptoms within 90 days.

I actually think they're making the guidance incomprehensible so they can blame the public if things go pear-shaped.