New rules after positive lft

[Miracle29]

Morning everyone I'm looking for some advice please. My ds tested positive on lft, school were not sure of rules regarding pcr so I had to ring 119. They said no pcr needed he has to isolate for 7 days and if he tests negative on day 5 he can go back school. Problem I have is my dd had covud less than 90 days ago and has tested negative and has no symptoms but as ds is positive do I need to pcr her or just keep doing lft. She shouldn't really have a pcr if she's been positive within 90 days anyway should she? Is this right? The schools guidelines were if anyone in household tests positive then the child that hasn't tested positive needs a pcr but does this include dd if she's already had it within 90 days. I'm so confused. Thankyou

Where does day 5 come into it?

I also forgot to ask. If we don't need a pcr for ds how does track and trace know who to contact or do I need to contact who he's been in contact with? Thanks again

@toomuchlaundry I'm not sure that's just what 119 have told me, if he tests negative after day 5 he can go back school. I really don't understand. His school has no idea either that's why I had to ring 119.

www.gov.uk/government/news/confirmatory-pcr-tests-to-be-temporarily-suspended-for-positive-lateral-flow-test-results

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/how-long-to-self-isolate/

The rules about confirmatory PCR don't change till tomorrow and day 5 doesn't come into the SI rules.

Are you in England? I thought isolation period was still 10 days but can be cut short to 7 if you have negative LFT. Not 7 and cut short to 5

Hi OP, firstly, the new rules regarding PCR testing don't start until tomorrow, so as your DS has a positive LFT he should still get a PCR.

After tomorrow, PCR isn't required after a positive LFT, but you need to report the positive LFT via the government website to log the result and trigger contact tracing.

As your other DC has recently had Covid they don't need to do any testing as a close contact. The only scenario where PCR is advised within 90 days of infection is if you develop new Covid symptoms.

The isolation rules are currently still 10 days after positive test or onset of suymptoms unless you test negative on LFT on days 6 and 7, in which case you can then leave isolation early. Not sure where 5 days comes from, unless your DS's symptoms started 5 days ago?

It is confusing though!

Did dd's last covid show on lft? If so i would assume it would again (providing no symptoms).

This comes in at 4am tomorrow so shouldn’t happen before then.

The LFT only and not PCR is also if you don’t have symptoms. Need PCR if you have symptoms

@blackink that's really useful thankyou.
@hshorror yes dd was positive on lft and pcr when she had it.
I'm confused as to why 119 are telling me different to the website.

They said no pcr needed he has to isolate for 7 days and if he tests negative on day 5 he can go back school.

Did they really say this?

That's incorrect as the 'no PCR' rule doesn't start until tomorrow, and the 5 day rule doesn't exist at all?!

I even questioned the lady on 119 twice about the 5 days and she still stood by what she said. Well I've rang again and been given the correct information. I have told them the information I was given befire hand so they will look into this. I've also had to ring the school again to update them and they've said they've had some students with positive lft and they've also been given different Information so I've no idea what has gone on but I've booked a pcr test either way to be on the safe side and the school have also recommended the other students take pcr tests too. Thankyou for all your replies I'm glad I posted now else I would have gone off what the lady told me on the phone.

@Miracle29

I also forgot to ask. If we don't need a pcr for ds how does track and trace know who to contact or do I need to contact who he's been in contact with? Thanks again

Do you log you LFT results?

The day he tests positive is day 0 btw. LFT is for asymptotic cases only. Anyone with symptoms needs PCR so if your DD develops symptoms she will need another PCR regardless of if it’s within 90 days or not.

@isgooglebroken thankyou. So I'd go from his positive test today not his from when his symptoms started which was yesterday?

@toomuchlaundry

The LFT only and not PCR is also if you don’t have symptoms. Need PCR if you have symptoms

That’s not true. If you have symptoms and test positive on a LFT you don’t need a PCR. But you still need a PCR if you have symptoms and test negative on a LFT.

@Covidclaire but you shouldn't be using a LFT if you have symptoms you need a PCR

[quote toomuchlaundry]@Covidclaire but you shouldn't be using a LFT if you have symptoms you need a PCR[/quote]
Yes, exactly - the info on the link above clearly says:

Lateral flow tests are taken by people who do not have COVID-19 symptoms. Anyone who develops 1 of the 3 main COVID-19 symptoms should stay at home and self-isolate and take a PCR test. They must self-isolate if they get a positive test result, even if they have had a recent negative lateral flow test – these rules have not changed.

[quote toomuchlaundry]@Covidclaire but you shouldn't be using a LFT if you have symptoms you need a PCR[/quote]
Until tomorrow apparently 🤷🏼‍♂️

@Shitfuckcommaetc - no, as per the link above, and the text I copied from it, the rule change tomorrow is ONLY for those without symptoms. People with symptoms should continue to take a PCR test - I know people do take LFTs sometimes to 'check' when they have symptoms, but the official guidance is still that LFTs are only for those without any symptoms, and it is therefore only those without symptoms that will no longer need a PCR confirmation from tomorrow.

[quote Miracle29]@isgooglebroken thankyou. So I'd go from his positive test today not his from when his symptoms started which was yesterday?[/quote]
You said he tested positive on LFT -you never mentioned he actually had symptoms. If he had symptoms yesterday why didn’t you book a PCR?
Day 0 was yesterday then

@Shitfuckcommaetc even after tomorrow if you have symptoms you need PCR. LFT is, as ever, just for people with no symptoms.

From 11 January in England, people who receive positive lateral flow device (LFD) test results for coronavirus (COVID-19) will be required to self-isolate immediately and won’t be required to take a confirmatory PCR test.

This is a temporary measure while COVID-19 rates remain high across the UK. Whilst levels of COVID-19 are high, the vast majority of people with positive LFD results can be confident that they have COVID-19.

Lateral flow tests are taken by people who do not have COVID-19 symptoms. Anyone who develops 1 of the 3 main COVID-19 symptoms should stay at home and self-isolate and take a PCR test. They must self-isolate if they get a positive test result, even if they have had a recent negative lateral flow test – these rules have not changed.
www.gov.uk/government/news/confirmatory-pcr-tests-to-be-temporarily-suspended-for-positive-lateral-flow-test-results

[quote Isgooglebroken]From 11 January in England, people who receive positive lateral flow device (LFD) test results for coronavirus (COVID-19) will be required to self-isolate immediately and won’t be required to take a confirmatory PCR test.

This is a temporary measure while COVID-19 rates remain high across the UK. Whilst levels of COVID-19 are high, the vast majority of people with positive LFD results can be confident that they have COVID-19.

Lateral flow tests are taken by people who do not have COVID-19 symptoms. Anyone who develops 1 of the 3 main COVID-19 symptoms should stay at home and self-isolate and take a PCR test. They must self-isolate if they get a positive test result, even if they have had a recent negative lateral flow test – these rules have not changed.
www.gov.uk/government/news/confirmatory-pcr-tests-to-be-temporarily-suspended-for-positive-lateral-flow-test-results[/quote]
I think the 3 main symptoms part is causing confusion.

Lots of people with cold type symptoms dont have a temperature, loss of smell or new continous cough. I assume they would do LFT ?

If they have covid, the LFT is going to identify this in all but a tiny minority, won't it ?

@isgooglebroken I took a lft yesterday as he needed one for school which was negative then late last night he woke me up to tell Me he didn't feel right and felt achy. I took a lft because I wasn't sure when the rules changed and as I rang 119 and they told me to not pcr him and I told them he had symptoms and she stood by her word. I have taken him for a pcr now after ringing them back to speak to someone else.

Yes I agree, the symptoms part is rubbish. I can’t believe Gov.U.K. Haven’t updated the list.
The Zoe app initially said half of people with cold symptoms actually had omicron, they updated that just a few days later to say 75%

I was just posting because so many people seem to think it’s just LFT needed rather than it being the case that no PCR is needed if LFT positive even if you are asymptomatic.