[Closed] What are the new rules for LFT testing?

We've just looked at this. Day 0 is when you get your +ve PCR. The day after is Day 1. You then test on Day 6 & 7 and if they are both -ve you are a free person...

^^ This.

Drop of Kia-Ora if you want a week off, dip the end you haven't stuck up your nose in the test juice if you want to go to the gig.

Anyone aged 5 years and over, who has been identified as a contact of someone with COVID-19 and who is not legally required to self-isolate, is now strongly advised to take a rapid lateral flow device (LFD) test every day for 7 days or until 10 days since their last contact with the person who tested positive for COVID-19 if this is earlier. If any of these LFD tests are positive they should self-isolate in order to protect other people.

This suggests 7 days from notification, or 10 days after last contact if that is earlier.

I don't think its mandatory, but they "strongly suggest"

We’ve just looked at this. Day 0 is when you get your +ve PCR. The day after is Day 1. You then test on Day 6 & 7 and if they are both -ve you are a free person…

But I don't need to get a PCR test, just daily LFTs apparently (the person is not someone I live with, it was an exposure in a pub / curry house on the night in question) and it also wasn't any of the people I was with as they have all been pinged too.

Edit - thanks dantsw13

.

There is a flow chart on the link and an example that may help

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

You should not take an LFD test before the sixth day of your isolation period

I don't need to isolate as I am triple-jabbed, I need to take daily LFTs

10 days for exposure 7 days for positive PCR (from first day symptoms or if asymptomatic 7 from test date).

I don’t need to isolate as I am triple-jabbed, I need to take daily LFTs

There is no hard and fast rule for that as it’s not essentially a requirement.

Why do you need to take the LFDs?

The government's whole shitshow policy is based on 'common sense' and 'making your own decisions'. In case you hadn't noticed, guidance is variable, subject to change without notice and difficult to find. This is not accidental. At any rate, I suspect the situation has evolved since that guidance was written. The current 'plan' is just to let everyone get it, and cross fingers hard enough so it doesn't overwhelm the NHS. I'm not sure how rigid self-isolation and self-testing fits into that paradigm really. I suspect if/when it becomes clear that the NHS will not be overwhelmed (mainly by staff shortages), all the isolation will be relaxed.

If I were you and I was staying in the house all day and not going out, I probably wouldn't do a test. But I'd do one the next day before going to the shops.

Unless your work or someone else relevant to you is demanding that you do LFDs, feel free to use your discretion. Every other idiot is. It sounds like you're being responsible so FWIW I'd be happy you're making the right call.

The above does assume you have access to LFTs which isn't a given at the moment.

The above does assume you have access to LFTs which isn’t a given at the moment.

I have two girls at secondary school and a wife that works in the same school so fortunately we have a good supply. I have no idea what the rules are for people that can't actually get hold of testing kits?

Government is clearly going for herd immunity, so f it, invite everyone round and have a party. 😆

I am so confused

It is confusing. (The cynic in me worries that is is set out deliberately so)

This NHS site is about the clearest I use it for my staff at a GP surgery.

They are about to confirm that there are no PCRs now for most people. It's all based on your own LFT and trust that people abide by the iaolation if positive. Good luck everyone.

And, given that I suspect that many people do not bother reporting positive LFTs, it will magic away the case numbers. Problem solved.

Changing the policy once every three days also means that a good chunk of folk will just give up on it altogether.

Ride the wave everyone. It is a shit show though. I work in public transport and found out from the PM’s 5 o’clock ramblings that we get access to daily LFT’s for employees.

So sensibly emailed my contact at DfT as to how the supplies of thousands of LFT’s will be delivered and his reply was “not sure, will need to find out as it was the first I heard of it too.”

By the time time employees get in to the routine of daily testing the rules will have been eased again to the point them being “if you feel a bit unwell it would be good if you stayed at home, but if you can’t or don’t want to then that’s up to you…”

Ah sorry - I misunderstood. So you are not +ve. In that case yes daily LFTs are a recommendation only and not mandatory.

I test pretty much daily anyway at the moment regardless of any track n trace ping.

They are about to confirm that there are no PCRs now for most people.

Cue orange juice sales going through the roof.

I don’t think its mandatory, but they “strongly suggest”

or ths from my test and trace email.

It is a legal duty to self-isolate. You may be fined if you do not.

Just when you think you know what's going on, it's sort of half announced through the media that it's all change. Probably going to quietly change a few more times this month, 'till everyone not working in hospitals gives up trying though confusion. Why was there a press conference to tell us last night that nothing is changing, only for them then to leak changes which muddy the waters further this morning? Decide on a policy, check the resources can support it, then announce it in a clear and consistent way for us all to follow.

Decide on a policy, check the resources can support it, then announce it in a clear and consistent way for us all to follow

if they did that, then if it doesn't work they can be blamed. By changing the goal posts F1 style, they can blame the public for not following the rules, even if by then know one knows what the rules actually are.

It is a legal duty to self-isolate. You may be fined if you do not.

I have just been pinged on the app as being a 'close contact' of someone that tested positive and current rules say I don't need to self-isolate, just take daily LFT tests.

In fact the exact wording on the app is 'You do not need to self-isolate unless you test positive or have symptoms'.

I don’t think its mandatory, but they “strongly suggest”

or ths from my test and trace email.

It is a legal duty to self-isolate. You may be fined if you do not.

Ah, but now there is no official testing for 99% of folk, it's all down to goodwill, so isolation can't legally be enforced.

@johndoh yes, my email was following a positive PCR test. Sorry just re-read the first post and realised he was asking about being a contact.