If you've had covid in the last couple of months

[SnuggleBuggleBoo]

how many days were you testing positive for in a row, assuming you took the test at first signs/symptoms? I'm positive for the first time today, clear yesterday, and wondering how likely it is it'll be safe to meet with immune compromised family on the 22nd.

My dd tested positive last thurs, she had all the usual symptoms and was quite unwell, still testing positive on sunday though faint, by yesterday, tuesday she was completely better and tested negative. So 5/6 days

Thank you! Just hoping and praying at this point!!

5 days. I think you'd be incredibly unlucky to not be clear by the 22nd .

I was 10/11 days with a feint line on the 10th & 11th. I was quite unwell though. First time I had it negative day 14.

You don't have to wait until you test negative. The test detects virus fragments long after you're no longer infectious - some people test negative for weeks. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/covid-19/how-to-avoid-catching-and-spreading-covid-19/#:~:text=Many%20people%20will%20no%20longer,for%20up%20to%2010%20days.

I think you should tell your immune-compromised family member now about your positive test, and find out what their attitude to risk is.

Some might be happy with the standard 5 days, others may want to wait until your test is negative, even if that takes longer (what is a theoretic risk to someone in normal health could yet be a real risk to someone critically vulnerable, especially as it's only 9 days to proposed meet up, so could well still be infectious levels)

I started to feel under the weather in the middle of last week, first tested Friday which was a really strong positive, 6 days after that and the test was still a bright red positive when I did one this morning to update my employer. I'm still not well, but do feel a lot better today than I did over the weekend.

Only your immunocompromised family members will be able to tell you how they feel about their perceived level of risk so ask them what they’d like you to do about whether to see them or not, and do that.

Just to say I’m on immunosuppressants and my family or friends let me know if they are unwell - I then make my own decision depending on what they have. If Covid I wait till they have been negative for at least 3 days before meeting with them.

The recommendations from NHS are to wait 5 days from test for normal contact and 10 days before seeing someone who is immune compromised. I didn't retest after the positive test - wasn't particularly unwell and just waited the 5 days which was actually a week since first symptoms . I wasn't visiting anyone with health concerns in that time though .

Positive for 11 days

Symptoms for 5 days before testing positive for 12 days during which had terrible cold/flu like symptoms.

I had it in October. It floored me this time, I was on reduced hours for a further week after I did get the negative (then had 3 weeks off between jobs anyway!), but was only actually testing positive for a week after first symptoms.

I tested positive on the Tuesday, was testing negative by the following one. 7 days.

13 days positive for me. Finally tested negative last Friday. My husband only tested positive for 4 days though

Positive for 12 days. only showed positive after a few days. I'm immune compromised and would like to know if my family were planning to see me, then I could make a choice.

Positive for 12 days, was a bad bout, had it for 3 days before turning positive.

How long before everyone felt 'normal' again? I am on day 5 and still in bed. Tried to get up and start doing things but gave up. Starting to wonder if I will every feel well again...

Dd2 last wednesday, negative on monday. Dh last Wednesday and negative yesterday. Me last Wednesday and negative on tuesday. Dd1 positive on Sunday night, negative by last night.

6 days. I did take anti virals though.

Lots of info on Google about people testing positive for weeks afterwards but feeling fine.

The NHS guidelines, I'd take with a pinch of salt as politics involved, EG it used to be seven days isolation now 5, so what's changed? Personally, if I felt unwell, I'd steer clear of people especially the elderly and those at risk, I had a mild covid attack a while back ie few months ago - out in shops on quiet day 7/8 days later and wore mask to protect others

"Guidelines" are just that guidelines so self asses the risk you may put others at but do read respected articles on how long people can test positive for but not be contagious. With winter almost here many people unwell with coughs/colds etc difficul to tell at times without a covid test

And as far as I’m aware different countries have different rules….

Positive test last Friday, negative on Monday. Was ill for a few days before I did the test though and despite being negative still feel like absolute 💩

Thanks everyone. It sounds like it can really vary! Do you think it's definitely safe to be around them once the test is negative, or would you wait longer still? Don't worry, they know about the covid - I wouldn't try ad hide it from them!!

I had it last month. Positive for 7 days.