Taxi driver had covid, Would he still be infectious or not?

[Louis45]

I spent an hour with somebody in the car today (taxi driver) who dropped into conversation that he had covid recently. I said I was sorry to hear that and asked how recent and he said "the other week"

He was coughing every so often.

I was sat in the back with the window open so shouldn't be too concerned but I was just wondering if he would still be infectious after a week?

Well to me 'the other week' is at least two weeks ago.

I continued to cough on and off for a couple of weeks after I'd been testing negative again.

Wow.

Since the beginning of 2020, the news gas constantly explained in detail how covid works and how long people are infectious.

If you somehow haven’t read or watched any news for the past 3 years, surely you can use google?

Yes he would very likely still be infectious after a week.

He said 'the other week'... not this week or last week. The guidance now is to isolate for 5 days if you are unwell, and are able to do so.
Some people cough for weeks after testing negative.

I coughed for weeks after. I agree that 'the other week' would mean 2/3 weeks ago. It says online that most people aren't infectious after 5 days x

Don't get your knickers in a twist, why so pressed 🤣

I had Covid in March. I've still got a cough.

OP, I would assume he meant a couple of weeks ago. Fingers crossed for you.
@bananaorange00 I thought most people were still infectious after five days - where did you see it online that they're not? Thanks.
www.newscientist.com/article/2334449-most-people-with-covid-19-are-still-infectious-after-five-days/

I wouldn't worry OP.

Can anyone please confirm what to do in the following scenario:

Child A has had close contact at school and playdates with another child B who has tested positive and is unwell.

Child A comes down with a sore throat and headache feeling under the weather.

• Do you test child A?
• If child tests positive do you keep them at home?
• What about siblings, do you keep them at home even if they are not sick, do you test siblings?

It was just what comes up when you google it, I had covid not long ago so had googled it then x

Last time I had covid, it took 8 weeks to clear the cough properly. It won't necessarily mean he's infectious. But you never know how recently it really was. "The other week" is pretty vague.

Thanks for the replies, and to the PP seemingly annoyed by the post - chill out fgs. You didn't have to respond.

I did wonder whether he was being purposefully vague so as not to worry me if it was more recent than implied. I was sitting in the back and had the window open for the latter part of the journey so it should be OK.

I'm fully vax'd but have had it twice already with the second time being pretty shit, it's more my DM I'd be worried about though.

I tested positive for two weeks from the onset of symptoms. I'd assume if the test can detect virus in your nose/throat then a sneeze or cough could spread it but I believe you're most infectious just as symptoms start to appear.

@thanks @bananaorange00. I guess a third is many people. Hope you're fully recovered now.

If it was really "the other week" i.e. two weeks ago then it's unlikely he would be infectious.

Obviously the reason he was willing to casually drop it into conversation is because he assumed you wouldn't care (as the vast majority do not). If he thought there was even a small chance you would care, then he would have just kept schtum.

Do you mean the vast majority would not care if they caught covid or if someone was infectious a couple of weeks ago?

Coughs can last for weeks after any respiratory virus covid or not!