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Original poster

Are people actually doing lft's to come out of isolation after 5 or 7 days?

48 replies

CA0932017 · 21/01/2022 11:42

Curious really.

We all had covid last month. Was 10 days for all of us, the new rules weren't out for 3 out of 4 of us. The new rules come out on day 8 for dd, she still had a line. She did the full 10 days, made little difference at that point.

she now has covid again.. different story.

But all I've seen is people saying they are testing positive and having to isolate tor 5 days! They haven't seemed to consider it might be the full 10 days based on lft's. But they have no idea if it will only be 5 days. They could have a line way past the day 5 or even 7 mark in my experience. Are they just assuming or just doing the 5 days anyway? One mum is moaning she's gonna have her kids off for 5, does she not know it might be 10?

Genuinely curious! I'm not moaning at them or anything!

OP posts:
Original poster
CA0932017 · 21/01/2022 11:43

One status this morning - covid positive, that's me in for 5 days!

Sooner isolation ends the better. Can't deal with it anymore.

Dd is on day 5 and still had a slight line.

OP posts:
OnceuponaRainbow18 · 21/01/2022 11:48

Someone in my
Department tested negative day 5/6 so came back
To work day 6. Another one was still testing positive day 13! Guess it depends how quickly you pick up the positive!

Tangletester · 21/01/2022 11:48

I’m interested to know this too. I’m on day 3 and still have a very strong positive line. I plan to test and not break isolation after day 5 if I still test positive. I would be too worried about passing it on.

LibbyR79 · 21/01/2022 11:49

We understand the rules. My daughter is day 5 and still a v strong line.. Does sound like others are not understanding or are assuming.

Flowers2020bloom · 21/01/2022 11:50

DC just caught the five day rule this week but tested positive until day 8 - we stuck to it

Original poster
CA0932017 · 21/01/2022 11:53

I just get baffled when people assume it'll be only 5 days isolation when it could be 7 or even 10!

Dd was totally asymptomatic last month and had a obvious line on day 8/9. This time she has mild cold symptoms. She has a faint line today on day 5, hoping it'll go negative over the weekend. 🤞

OP posts:
IzzyD0ra · 21/01/2022 11:54

I work for T&T. We get a lot of people who believe isolation is now for 5 days and get quite angry when you explain it's for 10 days unless they test negative twice 12-24 hours apart on or after day five.

Original poster
CA0932017 · 21/01/2022 11:57

@IzzyD0ra

I work for T&T. We get a lot of people who believe isolation is now for 5 days and get quite angry when you explain it's for 10 days unless they test negative twice 12-24 hours apart on or after day five.
Thank you!! I can understand why people want to get out sooner but people need to read the guidance clearly! I expect many people are just going after 5 without lft tests though!
OP posts:
MumGoneMild · 21/01/2022 11:58

My son is on day 8 and still is positive.
I had to ask to talk to another member of staff because the school receptionist was adamant he could go back on day 5… go figure

halcyondays · 21/01/2022 12:01

I don’t think it helps that it gets reported in the news as isolation cut to 5 days without making it clear it’s only with a negative LFT.

And what if you never had a positive LFT in the first place? When we had Covid, all three of us had negative LFTs but got positive PCRs.

Figgygal · 21/01/2022 12:04

The British public show time and again they hear what they want to hear
No i dont think people will test to release theyll just crack on at day 5 in chosen (or genuine) ignorance

Original poster
CA0932017 · 21/01/2022 12:05

@halcyondays

I don’t think it helps that it gets reported in the news as isolation cut to 5 days without making it clear it’s only with a negative LFT.

And what if you never had a positive LFT in the first place? When we had Covid, all three of us had negative LFTs but got positive PCRs.

Very good point!
OP posts:
BogRollBOGOF · 21/01/2022 12:14

@halcyondays

I don’t think it helps that it gets reported in the news as isolation cut to 5 days without making it clear it’s only with a negative LFT.

And what if you never had a positive LFT in the first place? When we had Covid, all three of us had negative LFTs but got positive PCRs.

Then the infection would be mild enough to come out on the minimum time if there aren't any symptoms of being actively ill.
MangoM · 21/01/2022 12:17

People are just hearing what they want to hear. A friends family came down with it last week and she didn't realise you need to get the two negative tests 24 hours apart to be released early.

Not entirely sure but I assume if you register your positive lateral flow test, you'd receive advice on next steps. As a lot of people are isolating following a positive LFT based on their own interpretation and not logging it, they could easily misunderstand without the official guidance.

MangoM · 21/01/2022 12:18

@MangoM

People are just hearing what they want to hear. A friends family came down with it last week and she didn't realise you need to get the two negative tests 24 hours apart to be released early.

Not entirely sure but I assume if you register your positive lateral flow test, you'd receive advice on next steps. As a lot of people are isolating following a positive LFT based on their own interpretation and not logging it, they could easily misunderstand without the official guidance.

As in, she thought she could do two tests 10 minutes apart ams if they're both negative, free to stop isolating.
Iggly · 21/01/2022 12:20

Yet again our glorious government fail to explain things properly.

They are too busy trying to make things sound better than they are instead of giving clear instructions!

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 21/01/2022 12:20

Judging by the number if people posting pictures of their LFTs along with a day number on FB etc... then yes lots of people are following the rules.

vickyc90 · 21/01/2022 14:44

I think a lot will, to be honest with isolation likely to allowed to lapse on the 24th march I can't say I don't agree with them.

Horst · 21/01/2022 14:58

Thing is as well weren’t we told to not test for 90 days after a positive pcr so surely it’s likely you could be positive on a flow for quite some time.

bluesky45 · 21/01/2022 15:04

We're following the rules. DS (4) tested positive, still positive day 5 (yesterday) but negative today on day 6. So hopefully this is our last day in.
Me, DH, and ds (2) still negative, as long as it stays that way today and ds gets another negative in the morning we will be out tomorrow.

Original poster
CA0932017 · 21/01/2022 19:37

@bluesky45

We're following the rules. DS (4) tested positive, still positive day 5 (yesterday) but negative today on day 6. So hopefully this is our last day in. Me, DH, and ds (2) still negative, as long as it stays that way today and ds gets another negative in the morning we will be out tomorrow.
Fingers crossed for you 🤞
OP posts:
Abraxan · 21/01/2022 20:47

The people I know who have had covid recently do appear to be following the rules and it just coming out of isolation on day 6 without checking.

I tested positive yesterday. Last time it was not an option plus was too I'll for much longer anyway.

This time I'm hoping to not get much worse and will use LFTs at the start of days 5 and 6 for early release if possible.

I won't lie about it though abd will only stop isolating after the two negative tests. I'm CV so know that it's important for me to not be out and about spreading it to other who may be vulnerable if I'm infectious still.

TheLazyBeagle · 21/01/2022 20:51

Everyone I know is testing to release, and I know a lot of people with covid.
I tested negative on days 6 and 7, so was free after that. The rest of my family were positive until day 10.
My step mum currently has it, she had her first negative today (day 6).
I don’t know anyone who is assuming they can just come out of isolation at day 5 without a negative test.

Firesidefox · 21/01/2022 21:39

My DD (11) is day 5 today and still a strong positive line so she's still isolating.

Do those of you have gone from positive to negative know if the test line gradually fades each day, or just goes from positive to negative one day to the next?

Aurorie11 · 21/01/2022 21:52

DD age 11 tested positive on Monday, has been negative from day 2 (Wednesday) hoping she stats that way for days 5 and 6, this weekend. We tested at day 2 to give us an idea if likely to go beyond day 6.
The rest of us are negative at day 4.
3 colleagues who tested positive weekend/ Monday all still positive mix of faint and strong lines