Chat about Novel Coronavirus - 2019-nCoV - COVID-19

Fingers crossed for you too!

Girl friend caught it visiting London for a works Xmas party last week, 20th is her day 10. We hung out on the weekend when she was feeling a bit rough before she got her test result, I’m hoping the booster from a few weeks ago is protecting me, we’ll find out over the next few days.

You could LFD test your daughter from time to time. Assuming they are positive now when they stop being positive she is probably not infectious anymore.

I think it is more likely that you will be the risk on Christmas Day. I'd probably book myself in for a PCR on the 23rd and do an LFT on the 25th.

I thought that if you were positive in the past that you would likely throw up a positive in the future even if not infectious? (I assumed that is why they don't get you to re-test for 60 days after)

Booking a PCR for the 23rd seems like a good idea, we are LTF every day, so will continue that too.

I thought that if you were positive in the past that you would likely throw up a positive in the future even if not infectious? (I assumed that is why they don't get you to re-test for 60 days after)

PCR yes. That could test up positive for up to 90 days (and even longer in some rare cases) on subsequent PCR tests. This is why you're advised not to take another PCR within 90 days of a previous positive unless directed to do so.

(If you're part of a study like the ONS study then they still want to PCR test you every month, but you anyone who tests positive doesn't have to isolate if they've already done a period of isolation in the last 90 days. As it happened in the two months after my daughter had it the ONS people came at times when she wasn't in, so she didn't get tested. Her most recent ONS test was November 11 which was 4 months after her initial positive test and the Nov 11 test came back negative.)

LFD should just be concerned with emitting enough viral output to be infectious. No problem taking those again at any point. If LFD is still positive 10 days on from the original confirmatory PCR I'd consider continuing isolation even though the rules say you wouldn't have to. (This is very unlikely for someone who is asymptomatic. If symptoms persist then I believe you need to keep isolating anyway.)

We did a few LFDs when my daughter tested positive, it went something like this:-
Day 0 - all did LFD before going to family party, daughter's test +ve (a surprise, no symptoms, etc), cancelled attendance, reported it online and ordered PCR tests, ordered food delivery, etc.
Day 1 - PCR tests arrive in post, do them, stick back in post box (day 1 of official isolation)
Day 2 - PCR results - daughter +ve, wife and myself -ve
Day 4 - LFD tests, daughter still +ve
Day 7 - LFD tests, daughter very faintly +ve
Day 10 - LFD tests, all three of us negative
Day 11 - freedom

It's all the after dinner party orgies starting up again, surely?

The blue peak is the key demographic of the Andrew Neil / Piers Corbyn / JHB fan club, right?

Ah, I hadn’t got the distinction between LTF and PCR right.

Thanks for this, really useful, and we will follow as a template, wife and I are lateral flowing every day, we are isolating anyway, but if we do get it we want to know when it starts. Will start lateral flows on daughter at day 8 to see how she is getting on.

Similar experience to @Greenbank

Daughter #2 had 4 positive LFTs in a row and 3 negative PCRs. Still not quite sure what happened there.

Daughter #1 had positive LFT followed by positive PCR. She is less keen on 'testing for science' but was negative LFT on day 7.

Thanks, useful to hear.

My daughter is similar to your Daughter#1, very much not keen on having things shoved up her nose.

Daughter#1, very much not keen on having things shoved up her nose

Both daughters are supposed to daily test for school. #1 refused this morning claiming since she was PCR positive 5(?) weeks ago and so can't get it again yet and she doesn't have to. I'm not sure that is true but I couldn't be bothered to have the argument today.

#2 was happy to test since she needs a negative LFT text message for admission to the R.I. Christmas Lecture recording tonight. Looking forward to that.

I find she is happy (ier) to do it when there is a good reason beyond routine...

Work Christmas parties?

I don't think you get a party with free drink working in Tesco, the NHS, as a lorry driver, farmer etc.

I'm not sure if head office pay but supermarket Christmas parties do happen because Sainsbury's asked people to move them to January and offered to cover any lost deposits etc.

https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/uks-sainsburys-postpones-christmas-parties-due-omicron-emergence-2021-12-03/

(Sainsbury's head office have quite a good office party. I used to go as a +1. Got very drunk one year and nearly bought a lathe)

In my experience, your risk of contracting it now is all about viral load.

Families I know have been fine where one kids gets it, but exhibits next to no symptoms. Just be super careful around washing up / not sharing stuff / try and keep some distance.

If they have proper cold symptoms you've got a bigger battle on your hand not catching it, particularly if not recently boosted. Our own family and others have all gone down when the kids are coughing/sweating/nose running etc. In our house you could almost see the cloud of Covid when the youngest was in full swing. No surprise we all got it.

Hoping for the former for you - Good Luck!

I heard a third-hand estimate of the current R in London yesterday that is so bonkers I hope it got mangled in translation. Or it wasn't and that's why "shit is popping off".

Thanks!

She currently has no symptoms beyond a slight runny nose, which she tends to have from September to March anyway! We are trying to be as careful as possible, but with a bored six year old there is a limit to what is possible!

That's cool they offer to pay for cancellation :)

We had a paid up one, just didn't fancy catching Omicron so didn't go. Lots of people didn't go compared to normal non covid years and normally we still have to pay drink, it was all free now.

Anyone know how long it takes to show up on a pcr? If I hung out with infectious girl friend on sat and Sunday would it show up first thing Monday morning on a PCR?

I've heard 3-4 being quoted on the news at the end of last week

Interestingly the R number estimate is gone from https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

(It may have gone a while ago but I'm sure it was there last time I looked a few weeks ago.)

41% of 12+ population have had a third dose, that's not too bad. I guess that'll fly up over the next few days.

Anyone know how long it takes to show up on a pcr?

3-5 days has been the rule although allegedly omicron might be faster. I think Monday morning is too soon after a Sunday contact.

what is the D in LFD?

Reminds me. We get PCR'd later today (latest ONS tests). Any positive test (don't expect any but you never know) and 10 full days isolation will mean freedom on 25th.

what is the D in LFD?

Lateral Flow Device.

ah!