Anyone know how to get clarification please

turnitround

My son is off work due to testing positive on a PCR test. He is now on day 10 of isolation but still has symptoms and still tests positive on lateral flow. 

His company have told him he needs to return to work tomorrow even though he is still positive.

When you look at the Gov uk website it does say you can come out of isolation at day ten so  that implies work can insist he returns. However on the text he got from Test & Trace it says  that if you still have a high temprature or still test positive to must isolate.

Which is correct?

onashoestring

“ You can return to your normal routine and stop self-isolating after 10 full days if your symptoms have gone, or if the only symptoms you have are a cough or anosmia, which can last for several weeks. If you still have a high temperature after 10 days or are otherwise unwell, stay at home and seek medical advice.”

You son should seek medical advice, his GP will be able to medically assess if he is fit to return to work and can provide a Statement of Fitness for Work if he diagnoses that your son is not well enough to work or is still infectious. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

turnitround

Thank you for the reply. He will ring the doctors although the recorded message says 'Please do not call us re Covid symptoms. Get a test and isolate'.

Just out of interest, even though it says on the Gov website that you are most infectious in the early days of symptoms does it not follow that companies asking those who are still testing positive to return to work mean the spread is being made worse.

Nebulous2

turnitround said:

Thank you for the reply. He will ring the doctors although the recorded message says 'Please do not call us re Covid symptoms. Get a test and isolate'.

Just out of interest, even though it says on the Gov website that you are most infectious in the early days of symptoms does it not follow that companies asking those who are still testing positive to return to work mean the spread is being made worse.

Generally the advice was not to test again for 90 days after a positive test as you are susceptible to false positives. There is enough viral material to trigger a positive result, without being infectious. 

The use of LFDs to release early muddies the water for that, as does the insistence that people test on return from holiday regardless of previous positives, but people are assumed to not be infectious after their full isolation period. 

That page linked to says:- 

"If you have previously received a positive COVID-19 PCR test result, you are usually advised not to take another PCR test within 90 days of this result."

sheramber

My grandson and DIL have just had covid. My son has taken an LF test each morning and tested negative- no symptoms.

  Today is day 10- last day of isolation in Scotland. This morning my son has symptoms and now tested positive.  As he has been isolating for the last 10 days he can only have got infected from DIL or grandson. So there is no definite time limit on not being infectious. 

jon81uk

Nebulous2 said:

turnitround said:

Thank you for the reply. He will ring the doctors although the recorded message says 'Please do not call us re Covid symptoms. Get a test and isolate'.

Just out of interest, even though it says on the Gov website that you are most infectious in the early days of symptoms does it not follow that companies asking those who are still testing positive to return to work mean the spread is being made worse.

Generally the advice was not to test again for 90 days after a positive test as you are susceptible to false positives. There is enough viral material to trigger a positive result, without being infectious. 

The use of LFDs to release early muddies the water for that, as does the insistence that people test on return from holiday regardless of previous positives, but people are assumed to not be infectious after their full isolation period. 

That page linked to says:- 

"If you have previously received a positive COVID-19 PCR test result, you are usually advised not to take another PCR test within 90 days of this result."

Lateral Flow Tests pick up the virus in a different way so will only show postive if you are infectous. Your mention of not testing if you've had a recent positive only applies to PCR.

But the answer to the OP is if they stil have symptoms and are unwell they should stay at home (whether covid or flu or other illness) and if they start to feel worse then seek medical help.

Nebulous2

jon81uk said:

Nebulous2 said:

turnitround said:

Thank you for the reply. He will ring the doctors although the recorded message says 'Please do not call us re Covid symptoms. Get a test and isolate'.

Just out of interest, even though it says on the Gov website that you are most infectious in the early days of symptoms does it not follow that companies asking those who are still testing positive to return to work mean the spread is being made worse.

Generally the advice was not to test again for 90 days after a positive test as you are susceptible to false positives. There is enough viral material to trigger a positive result, without being infectious. 

The use of LFDs to release early muddies the water for that, as does the insistence that people test on return from holiday regardless of previous positives, but people are assumed to not be infectious after their full isolation period. 

That page linked to says:- 

"If you have previously received a positive COVID-19 PCR test result, you are usually advised not to take another PCR test within 90 days of this result."

Lateral Flow Tests pick up the virus in a different way so will only show postive if you are infectous. Your mention of not testing if you've had a recent positive only applies to PCR.

But the answer to the OP is if they stil have symptoms and are unwell they should stay at home (whether covid or flu or other illness) and if they start to feel worse then seek medical help.

No it doesn't apply only to PCR testing. See this for instance:- 

COVID-19 testing schedule for a suspected or confirmed outbreak in a care home - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)