How do you count Covid days?

[whateveryouwantmetosay]

Sorry, newly diagnosed here. We've never had Covid. On Wednesday DD1 didn't feel well. She tested negative Wed but positive on Thursday. I started feeling unwell Thursday night, tested negative yesterday and positive today. What "day" are each of us on? Do we count from symptom onset or day of positive test?

I am in pretty much the same boat here! According to the NHS website, you go by the day you tested positive, with that day being day 0. I hope you recover quickly ☺️

Day of positive test is day 0

Are you isolating? I am - day 3 here. I'm really bored! Family are saying I can go out but I feel irresponsible doing that, so I won't, but is that the norm now?

Do you need to count them?

I thought if you were isolating you just stop when you get a negative result?

We are isolating in terms of not going out, but not within the home. There are 5 of us, everyone needs to get this before Christmas! I'm also reading other threads where people talk about "on day 6" or "on day 3" so it's great having that clarification. Thank you!

I was similar when I had covid, as was my daughter he has it now, in that we both felt ill / had symptoms the day before but tested negative, then tested positive the next day. I was trying to look into when is day 1, and from what I gather it's the first day you test positive IF no symptoms prior, or day 1 is the day symptoms started.

@Kcc73 it seems to say from the positive test day 0 but always was before from positive or day symptoms started when we were in the mix of it all

My dd tested positive on a Monday evening. She had to isolate for 3 whole days so she got back to school on the Friday. Her friend didn't test until the Tuesday morning so she had to stay off school for the rest of the week. The day of the test is day 0.

My DH is a teacher. He tested positive a few weeks ago on a Saturday evening. He was back at work by Wednesday, the rule was as long as you feel well, you go in. No negative test required even if it's less than 3 days. Crazy really.

Surely it only make sense that day 0 is the day you test positive IF you were previously testing negative? I tested positive yesterday (really strong line) but had been feeling crap for a couple of days before then, but hadn't actually tested - So I'm 100% sure I would have tested positive beforehand if I'd actually done it.

As you are no longer required to isolate, I believe the same common sense advice applies as per usual illness. If you can stay away from others/isolate, do so. But with companies no longer required by law to keep you off and the advice being to “learn to live with covid”, I assume you can just carry on with your day to day activities, if you feel up to it. With any other cold/virus etc people still go out/ work/hang with friends etc. The amount of times family has told me “Sorry I’ve got a nasty cough but don’t worry it’s not covid”. I don’t agree with spreading germs full stop, at least give others a heads up you’re poorly and allow them to make the decision whether they want to risk seeing you. But there’s a lot going around at the moment so it’s understandable if people who have no other option do need to pop into shops/pharmacies etc occasionally. We cannot afford to lose our income and I’m sure no one else can either. I just hope when they go out unwell that they wear a mask- that’s one thing covid has taught me. When I see someone wearing a mask I automatically keep more of a distance - they might be protecting me, they might be vulnerable or just have health anxiety. But it’s a pretty decent thing to do. Bring back common sense in people, eh?

As for what day to count from, I’ve had covid twice (and might be on my third time as we speak), and I was taught to count from the day of my first symptom. If no symptoms are present you count from the day of your positive test.
But like someone else said, maybe the recommendations have changed.

According to NHS inform, advice to stay at home starts from either the day you test positive (day 0) or the day in which your symptoms started - whichever is earlier.

My first symptom and positive last Thursday. I'd been daily testing as husband was positive with it (although isolating).

So my day 1 was Friday. Tested Monday and was feint positive. Tested yesterday and was absolutely clear. Day 5.

My Dad's ill with it now as is my brother. They caught it elsewhere but Dad's elderly and lives on his own, so we've brought him to our house to look after him.

Was expecting a poor Christmas as its our first without Mum, but this just adds to making it worse.

@nobodygirl2023 where did you find that ?