What are people doing if still positive after 5 days? Not testing?

[Frazzled2207]

Tested + on Saturday so today is day 2 for me and today’s test is about as purple as it’s possible to be despite me being not poorly just sniffly.

Am def going to stay in the house (perhaps do some isolated walks) until day 5 as per the guidance but what are people doing after that if still testing positive? (I have heard that 10 days plus is very common). Possibly not testing at all so just going about their business in their normal way?

am very aware that legally I can ignore it completely just wondering what other people are doing. Doesn’t feel right to be socialising or going shopping if I am still positive.

cookiemonster2468 sort of did.

It's impossible to isolate until you get a negative test now as you don't get sick pay for being off work unless you're ill, and some people don't get sick pay anyway. Not all jobs can be done from home.

Plus now you can't get tests in the post so unless you have staff you have to go out to get them, like I did, even knowing I was probably still positive, which I was when I got home and tested. How else can I get a test?

Though I'm sure a couple of weeks of isolation won't be that bad for someone's mental health, if they're too scared to go in their own garden (why?) then I'm not sure persuading them that going to the shops is OK would be of any benefit anyway, it would probably just make them anxious.

@VanGoghsDog

Plus now you can't get tests in the post so unless you have staff you have to go out to get them, like I did, even knowing I was probably still positive, which I was when I got home and tested. How else can I get a test?

Where I live we have never had free LFTs, so the issue of buying tests ourselves hasn't been as problematic for us - but supply has, at times. If you are isolating, can you order some boxes from Amazon, Boots or similar?

I expect I could have ordered them ( haven't actually checked) but not to get there when I needed them. I didn't predict I was going to need them and I'm not in the habit of paying for things I might not need, so by the time I realised I needed one I couldn't wait two days, so I had to go to my local pharmacy and buy one. Even though I was pretty sure I had Covid (had already tested positive with my last free one, but didn't think I'd still be ill so much later and need another one, though I did buy two so have a spare).

The problem is that I live in a village, I live alone and there's not really anyone I can ask to buy me a test and bring it to me as friends all live miles away. I know they would if I asked, as would I for them, but it's not the kind of thing I ask people to do for me.

Day 8 and I finally had a negative lft.
It was still dark yesterday (though took a few mins to show up whereas on day 5 it showed up before the control line)
Hopefully it'll still be negative tomorrow and back to work on Monday.