Testing times - Covid in 2022

[rosy]

I hope your mum is OK, Rebs.

[Rebel Pebble]

Thanks rosy. She does say she's feeling a lot better.

Also, it seems the CAA no longer mandates masks. When we flew out it was compulsory. Literally yesterday Tui changed their policy along with other charter airlines. Mr R and I were among a tiny minority still wearing one. The plane sounded like a bronchial ward and there was one kid in particular who coughed the entire 5.5 hour flight.

[rosy]

When I go to the supermarket I feel like the odd one out still wearing a mask. We are still supposed to wear masks in the public areas at college for both sewing and French classes but some learners “forget”.

[Skips]

I discovered at work that we have no requirement to stay at home if you test positive and don't show symptoms. We only get statutory sick pay, which doesn't start until day 3 so it's up to the individual, and we manufacture products so a lot of staff can't work from home.

Someone that tested positive was at work. Luckily different building but FFS, J was considered vulnerable but not clinically, so you know that's ok.

[Rebel Pebble]

Have you been offered a fourth vax? Mum got hers because of the crohns meds.

ETA that was to Rosy

It's definitely BAU now isn't it? Regardless.

[mojojojo]

I’m on day 9 now. Still testing positive and still feeling pretty crap (though nowhere near as bad as a few days ago). J has it now; he’s on day 3 but doesn’t seem too badly affected.

I know that I’ll be expected to go into work on Tuesday- a couple of people in my office who caught it around the same time as me (4th March) were back in last Weds.

I’ve been reading myself round in circles - most of what I’ve read suggests I won’t be contagious even if I’m still positive after 10 days - does that sound right?

I really hadn’t appreciated how far the science and the rules (even before they were completely relaxed) had diverged :(

(I’m “triple-jabbed” for the spreadsheet)

[Ella]

Moje, can you not call in sick, or are they the kind of bastards that don’t pay new starters? I can’t see how you could test positive and NOT be contagious by definition.

[Ruby]

I’ve been reading myself round in circles - most of what I’ve read suggests I won’t be contagious even if I’m still positive after 10 days - does that sound right?

Honestly, that sounds about right. The isolation period has always been 10 days, even before testing.

BUT, and I can't stress this enough, don't go into work if you still feel like shit. You might need another couple of days.

[emma_p]

S didn't go in to work until he was testing negative (this week). All the guidance is saying 10 days but from what I've read, if you're getting a line detected on a nasal LFT then it means you're giving out enough viral load to be contagious.

If you're feeling unwell definitely stay at home if you can.

[mojojojo]

Thanks chaps. I would defo get paid, and actually my immediate boss is being fine about it - the expectation is more from outside our team, so I’m really worrying more about perception than pay/sick leave, I suppose.

But yeah, the viral load thing is where I’m confused/conflicted. If I still feel crap, I won’t go either way. I’ll just feel like I’m being judged :lol:

[Ella]

How are you feeling?

I've just been notified that I'm a close contact of somebody who has tested positive. They say that the contact happened last Thursday, but I was working from home completely alone on Thursday. My boss is away today and I assume he's tested positive (I assume this for other reasons I'm aware if) but I last saw him on Tuesday (and I was wearing a mask); reckon it's him?

[Arrietty]

My brother and his wife got pinged recently as their neighbour had it. Pinged through the wall. No other likelihood.

[mojojojo]

Crikey. I had no idea people were even still getting pinged. I contacted everyone I’d seen through work individually (not that I know where I got it at all - I’m guessing train).

I felt pretty rough last night, but so far just tired and perpetually snotty this morning. But I’m not actually up yet (about to stumble into the shower now which usually helps for about an hour).

I’ll be logging on to wfh in a bit. Which isn’t too taxing.

[Dutchie]

S didn't go in to work until he was testing negative (this week). All the guidance is saying 10 days but from what I've read, if you're getting a line detected on a nasal LFT then it means you're giving out enough viral load to be contagious.

That makes perfect sense! I also read recently that if you have just had covid and you breathe in viral particles, your body kills off the virus and you breathe out covid-free air, so for a short time you are a kind of human filter.

[sally maclennane]

I got pinged this morning although I already knew about it.* It was a notification through the app rather than a text so there were no details about dates.

*I was out with work colleagues on Friday as 2 of them were 50 this month. Got a message last night from one person who had tested positive yesterday. Her husband also tested positive. Another person who was there has tested positive this morning, so has her kid.

I tested last night, and again this morning, both are negative. As I'm fully vaxxed, I have to do LFTs daily for 7 days. I've not got any plans this week apart from the dentist on Wednesday so I might need to contact them to check they're OK with me coming in. I've been waiting for this appointment since December :cry:

[Ella]

My brother and his wife got pinged recently as their neighbour had it. Pinged through the wall. No other likelihood.

:)) Ah.

[viggy]

When I was past being infectious but L was still isolating, the dentist very politely told me to bugger off and come back in a month.

[Luce]

I've never been pinged, I don't think.

T had covid last week for one day. It was SO weird. Tested negative right up till Wednesday morning when he got mild symptoms and tested positive (albeit extremely faint). The line never got stronger for the tests over the next few days and then just disappeared. What's that about then? Having tested strongly positive for 12 days, I can't get my head around how it can just disappear!

[Dutchie]

Luce, my neighbour had the exact same thing! She tested positive and a couple of days later, her daughter had some symptoms and got a positive LFT. A day or so later she got a PCR: negative. 3 days later: another negative PCR. Very strange... All the time her mother is still testing positive.

[Ella]

I suspect the tests just aren't very good?