Negative test, why am I still coughing and full of sniffles still? Day 7

[Custardpudding]

I had symptoms since Monday night and been quite poorly, I did a test wed. Positive.
Today it’s negative.
But I’m still coughing a lot and feeling like I have a heavy cold, very snuffly.
So today is day 7. Do I trust I can’t pass it on even though still coughing etc?
Because the covid is still obviously giving me symptoms so I’m confused why negative?
I know guidance Is can go out after five days but I haven’t been out.
just thought when negative I would have stopped coughing and snivelling!! Thanks

I'm feeling exactly the same. Tested negative yesterday but symptoms are worse than ever. I'm thinking it's just the inflammation of sinuses and the after effects of being ill. Hope you feel better soon.

Yes exactly the same here. Thought I'd be good for Christmas but the cold symptoms seem to have taken over

I've been negative for four days now but still got a lingering cough and sniffles. Think it just takes a while for the symptoms to shift.

I've felt like I had a really nasty cold ever since getting Covid at the end of Dec. I've been testing negative for several weeks but still feel rough and full of cold. It's improved slightly but even a bad cold would have moved on by now. So annoying!

I was still +ve on day 10! I had weeks of phlemgh, coughing and tiredness from doing very little! 7 weeks on, I still have a morning cough but am nearly 100% better.

Same here -ve since saturday eve, still feel rotten. so much congestion, voice still hoarse and latest greatest symptoms - blisters / ulcers all over the roof of my throat and back of mouth 😫

Before covid tests existed no one knew at what point they would test negative for whatever virus they had. Testing positive or negative isn't dependant on symptoms. Some people test positive for weeks with no symptoms. Others will have "cold" or other symptoms for a long time after the body has got rid of the virus.
I've had colds that last for weeks before. I would spend those weeks complaining I "have a cold". But I had no idea whether the virus that caused the symptoms had gone or not.
I also was in hospital with pneumonia a while back. They tested me for many viruses while there. All negative. I had no virus left in my body. But they said my pneumonia was caused by a virus originally. So I was still ill. But with no virus left to blame it on.

Edit: what I'm trying to say (badly) is that "cold" symptoms is your body fighting the virus. Not being caused by the virus. If that makes sense. For example the virus does not create snot. Your body does. So your body can keep making it long after the virus is gone.