Feeling a bit thick. Isolation period help required.

diystarter7

Hiya

Reading on the dot Gov sites about Covid and isolation periods as follows is my take on things.

10 days self isolate from the day you started feeling unwell if you have symptoms

10 days isolation from when Covid test sent and if positive but day 5/6  if LFT tests negative you are ok to come out of isolation

Therefore, for me, felt unwell 20/01/2022  (day 1), felt quite unwell following days and now feeling 93% but NO symptoms EG temp, headaches, running nose etc, etc.
So, even if LFT is positive, am I ok to go out tomorrow to work/school  (day 12)  l etc -  even if LFT tests are positive?  (I do wear a mask at work etc etc since rules were removed)
I hope I've not confused anyone more than when I started out here.

JGB1955

When was your positive PCR test?

diystarter7

JGB1955 said:

When was your positive PCR test?

The way I read it, that does not matter. It was about a week ago but my understanding is as per my OP so the day the positive test was taken is not calculated now in the ten days

GTR_King

So isolation rules are 

10 days Isolation at home from Symptoms or LFT/PCR but can end early from 5 full days with 2 Negative LFT (24 Hours apart) 

After 10 days you should still Isolate if you have fever/feel really unwell 

poppy12345

How long to self-isolate

If you test positive, your self-isolation period includes the day your symptoms started (or the day you had the test, if you did not have symptoms) and the next 10 full days.

You may need to self-isolate for longer if you get symptoms while self-isolating or your symptoms do not go away.

You may also be able to leave self-isolation after 5 full days if certain conditions are met. Read more about how long to self-isolate.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/when-to-self-isolate-and-what-to-do/

You are still testing positive and have symptoms so you need to stay in isolation until you test negative.

diystarter7

Thanks all, it is as I understood it. From when symptoms began I can come out of self-isolation after ten days if feeling well ie no symptoms.

jimi_man

If you don't feel unwell then you don't need to isolate any longer once the 10 days is up. You don't need to do Lateral Flow Tests either (unless you are trying to release early). I tried to test to release early, as did others in my family, but after Day 8 when there was no further point in doing it, we just continued on to do the full 10 days.

I've not heard of anyone who has managed it successfully, but no doubt there are some. 

Note - you do not need to stay in self isolation until you test negative, that is incorrect. The rules say:

You do not need to take any more LFD tests after the 10th day of your self-isolation period and you may stop self-isolating after this day. This is because you are unlikely to be infectious after the 10th day of your self-isolation period. Even if you have a positive LFD test result on the 10th day of your self-isolation period you do not need to take any more LFD tests after this day and you do not need a follow-up PCR test. If you are concerned you may choose to limit close contact with other people, especially those who are at higher risk of severe illness until 14 days after the start of your self-isolation period.

Hope that clears up any confusion. 

sheramber

 but day 5/6  if LFT tests negative you are ok to come out of isolation

You can only end isolation early of you have negative LFT

After day 10 if you do not need to test and can end isolation.

jimi_man

And in this case, the OP is on Day 12 so they are free to come out of Self Isolation.

diystarter7

Thank you all.

Exactly what some have posted here, please see below. This was taken from a news item and the link for that is below the quote.

We are all feeling loads better, no symptoms other than one of our children.

What if I’m still testing positive after 10 days?

You may leave self-isolation after your 10th full day of self-isolation even if you are still testing positive.

The only exception to this is if you still have a high temperature, or are still feeling unwell.

If you only have a cough or your sense of smell or taste remains affected, you can leave isolation.

The government guidance states: “You do not need to take any more LFD tests after the 10th day of your self-isolation period and you may stop self-isolating after this day.

“This is because you are unlikely to be infectious after the 10th day of your self-isolation period.

“Even if you have a positive LFD test result on the 10th day of your self-isolation period you do not need to take any more LFD tests after this day and you do not need a follow-up PCR test.

“If you are concerned you may choose to limit close contact with other people, especially those who are at higher risk of severe illness until 14 days after the start of your self-isolation period.”

The link for the above

https://inews.co.uk/news/health/covid-test-positive-10-days-what-still-when-self-isolation-end-lateral-flow-result-1394150

homi

Similar situation , I unable to work out when I can leave isolation . 

Saturday and had a runny nose , took a PCR test on Sunday came back positive on Monday by text , I have no symptoms . 

I took a lateral flow test today ( wedneday )  which came up as negative but cannot figure out if I am on the 3rd of 4th day and when I am able to leave . 

I am self employed selling items which I source from auctions houses and shops - was supposed to collection items this Tuesday which I had to cancel and arrange for next week -  three buyers from gumtree adverts wanted to collect but was unable allow them to  .

any help would be appreciated as I have no income coming in at the moment and not sure I can claim the grant as I have savings and still have items listed online and a few which have sold but unable to post them .