Surely I haven’t got Covid again already?

[JorahFriendZone]

On Christmas Eve I tested positive on a LFD after waking up feeling shocking, went for PCR on Christmas Day and the result came back positive on 27th. Knocked me off my feet for a full week and still felt weak afterwards. Still tested positive from day 6 to day 11, which was getting weaker. Had a week of leave following this and didn’t test as didn’t need to. I’ve had the cough since, though it’s been nowhere near as bad and I’ve felt tired, but other than that I’ve been fine.

Went back to work and that day my husband tested positive on a lateral flow. I’m a healthcare professional and the rule was/is that I must test on an LFD for 7 days from his positive and I’m still allowed in work as long as it’s negative within the allotted time, which is 15 minutes. I have been testing at work daily and the result is negative for at least 15 minutes and then a very very feint line comes up after this, which is past the time (I usually have it on my desk and then clini-wipe the area). On Wednesday and Thursday I seemed to have a fully negative LFD. Yesterday also appeared negative. This evening I’ve taken one and a very feint line came up in 10 minutes.

Now this is where I’m confused. I always thought a line is a line so this would indicate I’m now positive again, but surely I wouldn’t have tested positive again so soon? I have a cough and tiredness, but this is left over from covid over Christmas, so there are no new symptoms. My eldest child was positive with my at Christmas as they’re not allowed to test on a LFD for 90 days as directed by school unless there are new symptoms. Has anyone had any experience of testing positive again so quickly? Could this just be left over virus? My husband is still in his isolation period.

So confusing. My ds2 tested positive on thurday, ds 1 had covid at the beginning of December. I couldn't find anywhere whether he had to take the 7 days of lateral flows as he was still within 90 days of a positive. I phoned 119 and the person on there told me not to test him for 90 days on lateral flows or pcrs unless he gets new symptoms.

I suppose the issue is that until the last couple of weeks, it would have been highly possible to catch delta THEN omicron consecutively. Presumably guidance has been adjusted to try and catch those people.

Whilst omicron reinfection (ie 2x omicron infections) is possible, nobody is yet sure how likely as not enough time yet to get definitive data.

Hopefully now omicron is well over 95% of UK cases, once the data on reinfection is clearer, the guidance will straighten out.

Bloody pain in the meantime though!

I caught covid again in under 90 days op, it's totally possible.

For me it was likely Delta in November and omicron at New Year.

The rules are clear
You can do a PCR test within 90 days if you have any 'new symptoms'