Isolation advice

Marsha2007

Myself and my son tested positive at weekend, my husband was displaying symptoms but tested negative on LFT's and has continued to do so all week. I ordered  PCR through post for him (sight impaired so couldn't get to test centre on his own). This come back today as positive, even though LFT this morning was definitely negative.

My question is, how does he know if he's safe to leave isolation on day 5&6 if the LFT's aren't showing the virus anyway. Should I take him for another PCR test over the weekend? What happens if that comes back as still positive, will that start the isolation all over again?

Thanks, in advance

Teapot55

If your husband was having to go to any sort of medical facility in the next week or so (dentist, GP etc) it’d be a good idea to inform them in advance of the situation so they can take precautions as they see fit. 

Probably a good idea to avoid indoor situations if at all possible for maybe the next week to lessen the chance of passing it on. 

Regarding work, job etc probably best to ask employer or union for advice. 

Andy_L

You're overthinking it

The decision to allow early release from self isolation has accepted the chance that some people will get 2 false negative results on day 5&6 but that the risks of that are outweighed by the benefits of letting people out early.

There is no need for another PCR test. Testing positive on the subsequent day 5/6 LFT does not reset the 10 day count. 

If you are that concerned about him being a risk to others then get him to isolate for the full 10 days.

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

Marsha2007

Thank you both. His 10 days are up on Wednesday, he has a hospital appointment on Tuesday which he obviously will have to cancel. I think we'll just resign ourselves to him doing the full 10 days. I'm different as my 10 days are up on Tuesday but my work is expecting me in Saturday as that will be 7 days and I should have tested negative by then according to them 🤷‍♀️ we'll wait and see what the LFT's say over the next 2 days...I know I wouldn't want to work with me though 🙃 

silvercar

If he tests negative on day5 and 6 then he’s free, irrespective of whatever they showed on previous days.

It isn’t unknown for people to only test positive on PCR and ride out the virus testing negative on LFTs as they have only ever had a low viral load.

katejo

Marsha2007 said:

Thank you both. His 10 days are up on Wednesday, he has a hospital appointment on Tuesday which he obviously will have to cancel. I think we'll just resign ourselves to him doing the full 10 days. I'm different as my 10 days are up on Tuesday but my work is expecting me in Saturday as that will be 7 days and I should have tested negative by then according to them 🤷‍♀️ we'll wait and see what the LFT's say over the next 2 days...I know I wouldn't want to work with me though 🙃 

My situation was similar to your husband's. I didn't get a positive PCR or a clearly positive LFT until 6 days after cold like symptoms started so firstly I thought it was just a mild cold (I had 2 negative PCR's before the positive one). I had Covid just before the testing on days 5/6 was introduced so couldn't use that. However, I didn't get a negative lateral flow until day 10 or 11.