How long to self isolate for not to spread Covid?

[Tigofigo]

Currently have Covid, started to get symptoms Monday but didn't test positive until 3 full days ago (I test as work policy although no way could I have gone in anyway!)

I've been quite unwell with bad flu-like symptoms and have self isolated from family as don't want them to have it.

I'm still testing strongly positive at the moment. But I have heard people can test positive for weeks after.

So in an attempt to keep my family from getting it, do I self isolate for a week? Or until I get a negative test? Is there a time I'm less likely to be contagious? I know there was some talk of 5 days a while back but I think this was probably just made up... I miss my family but want to keep them safe and well.

What do you mean when you say, 'testing strongly positive'?.

As in, a thick red line is coming up immediately, rather than a faint one taking a while which I believe could be an indication of infection or viral load (my DS had a v faint line when he had it mildly)

Ten days or until you test negative

Until you test negative

this is from the government website:

“What to do if you've tested positive for COVID-19

If you have COVID-19, you can pass on the virus to other people for up to 10 days from when your infection starts. Many people will no longer be infectious to others after 5 days.

You should:

try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days
avoiding meeting people at higher risk from COVID-19 for 10 days, especially if their immune system means they’re at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19, even if they’ve had a COVID-19 vaccine
This starts from the day after you did the test”.

When isolating was mandatory it was for ten days so it would seem reasonable to think that would be enough

I stayed positive for 13 days so I read up loads about what that meant and whether I should still avoid people and sadly it seems that yes if you're still positive you're still contagious (just based on what I read anyways!)

Saying that I still had to go to supermarket etc, I didn't literally isolate in the house all that time but I didn't make any social plans, stayed away from everyone but the people I live with!

You can test positive for up to 3 months…. Definitely don’t wait that long 😅 I think they worked out you were infectious for ten days, although the infectiousness does drop off quite considerably (It was down to 5 days recommended isolation eventually),

I thought it was 5 days recommend now, 3 days for children?
For health care workers etc. It's stay off until test is negative though.

I am wondering the same thing. Day seven for me and DH day eight. He is testing negative now, I have a very faint positive still today.
I am not going to mix with people generally until ten days are up, but I have been keeping separate from my dd and it would be nice to be able to be with her now. She was almost certainly exposed anyway and just managed to dodge it, but I have been wearing a mask around the house and staying mainly in one room away from her.

I’m the same, tested positive yesterday. Cough plus very high temperature, aching. Out of breath. I’m sure it’s 5 days to isolate after positive result. But it’s not law for what I’m reading. I’ll not be going to work the next few days anyway as I can barely move😩. I get sick pay but not the first two days. I think that’s how it works

I work in a hospital and we can work while testing positive as long as a) we feel well enough to do so and b) 'major symptoms' have gone. No guidance on what 'major symptoms are' which isn't particularly helpful.

I would isolate until testing negative. I think it is PCR tests that can show positive for a long time. Lateral flows don't tend to.

@Tigofigo we had a case in our household so we read up on how long that person should self-isolate within the home, and we got to the view that self-isolation for 10 days from the first positive LFT test would reduce the contagion risk by at least 90% and possibly more. 5 days would have reduced it by about 2/3. So we went with 10 days.

By luck, that was also how long it took to get to a negative test. But we understand that PCR tests can remain positive for many weeks, and we believe that this does not necessarily imply that the person is still contagious.

It really depends on your objective. If you need 100% certainty then I guess you may need to self isolate for a long time. But if you are happy to sharply reduce the risk without totally eliminating it, 10 days from the first positive test is probably a good time period to work with.

If you tested for work follow your work policy?

Thanks, this is helpful.

I don't think I can stay away from my DC for another 5-7 days though 🙁 I'll give it until Tuesday morning and see how I am.

Definitely not well enough to work so that's irrelevant for me, but how unhelpful for you!

Try reading the OP again 👍

A friend recently was still lft pos on day 16!

That would take me to Christmas...

Yeah I just want to reduce the risk. I've been pretty unwell and if DH or DC get it this badly it could mess up our Christmas plans - of course, they might get it anyway, but I want to limit the chance.

I was recently in the same boat and the medical advice I found at the time all agreed that after 10 days you are unlikely to be contagious

Hope you're feeling better soon x

Same. It's pretty miserable isn't it.

*OneFrenchEgg If you tested for work follow your work policy?

Try reading the OP again 👍*

I did. You tested for work (assume it's a requirement) so surely they have guidance, we do.