What day am I on?

[WineGetsMeThroughIt]

I'm confused. It seems that some people count from the day they started having symptoms, while some count from the day they test positive.

Thursday evening I felt a scratchy throat. Negative LFT

Friday morning same thing. Nothing in the afternoon. Negative LFT

Saturday I had an hour or two of prickly skin on with sore legs for an hour or so in the evening. Negative LFT

Sunday I felt completely fine. Tested positive with a very very faint line. I didn't even see it at first until I went to throw the test in the bin a few hours later.

Monday was the same. Very faint positive.

Today (Tuesday) I feel totally fine again. I'd say asymptomatic. But the line on my LFT is a bit darker now.

I've had to cough, no temperature or anything. Do I count my isolation from Thursday when I had a scratchy throat, or Sunday when I got the first faint positive?

Presumably you logged your positive test on Sunday, so what have test and trace advised you?

Not bothered with T&T tbh. Is there much of a point? I've got a positive test. So I'm isolating. I'm asymptomatic. Do I really need to be another one of their numbers?

In your case I would say Sunday is day 0

Thursday is your day 0 is my understanding. It’s important track and trace get an idea of numbers. If you log it, then you just complete a form of where you were particular days and who you live with. I didn’t get any calls.

@WineGetsMeThroughIt

Not bothered with T&T tbh. Is there much of a point? I've got a positive test. So I'm isolating. I'm asymptomatic. Do I really need to be another one of their numbers?

Well... A) it helps with accurate national statistics B) they ask questions re sypmtoms and depending on answers they will tell you which day is day 0 C) they ask where you have been etc for tracing contacts to have daily LFTs

So yes it does make a difference...

It starts from whatever is earliest - first day of symptoms (day 0) or positive test is asymptomatic (again day 0).

I would count the day of the positive LFT as day zero, which would make today day 2. T&T only count the day of symptoms starting as day 0 if it's one of the 3 main symptoms – cough, fever or change to smell/taste.

If I were you I would report the positive test. I would want it on my medical record in case of ongoing issues. And also an official record of recovery from recent infection in case I needed a negative LFT/PCR for something. Also, for the greater good, scientists/government need to know how high cases are so they know what they're dealing with, and in order to gauge percentage needing hospital care etc.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

Your self-isolation period starts immediately from when your symptoms started, or, if you do not have any symptoms, from when your positive LFD or PCR test was taken, whichever test was taken first. Your self-isolation period includes the day your symptoms started (or the day your test was taken if you do not have symptoms), and the next 10 full days. It may be possible to end your self-isolation earlier (see below).

This means that if, for example, your symptoms started at any time on the 15th of the month (or if you did not have symptoms but your first positive COVID-19 test was taken on the 15th), your self-isolation period ends at 23:59hrs on the 25th of the month.

Of course you should report it. Here’s a link

www.gov.uk/report-covid19-result

If no one reported their tests, then there would be no evidence to support measures to control the spread.

I would say Sunday is your day 0 as scratchy throat etc isn’t a recognised symptom. So you are now on day 2.

@BlackInk

I would count the day of the positive LFT as day zero, which would make today day 2. T&T only count the day of symptoms starting as day 0 if it's one of the 3 main symptoms – cough, fever or change to smell/taste.

If I were you I would report the positive test. I would want it on my medical record in case of ongoing issues. And also an official record of recovery from recent infection in case I needed a negative LFT/PCR for something. Also, for the greater good, scientists/government need to know how high cases are so they know what they're dealing with, and in order to gauge percentage needing hospital care etc.

That's not true actually as I've just reported a positive test for my DD and there are about 10 different symptoms on the list, including runny nose and sneezing. It asks you whether you have any of those and then when they started. My DD had a runny nose and severe sneezing about a week before she tested positive! So they've counted her day 10 as being 10 days from when she started having symptoms...