Covid Contagious Period

[eve1974]

Am I correct in thinking that after covid is confirmed the affected person is contagious for 2 weeks?

I get so confused with all the differing advice.

[woofgang]

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/how-long-to-self-isolate/

how long people are contagious for is a different, less concrete issue. The quarantine and self isolation rules are built on best knowledge but that's not quite the same.

[Sqad]

We don't know is the simple answer,but the consensus of opinion says that about 14 days after exposure, although other studies show that it may be longer......much longer, although one is most contagious in the first few days after infection.
Was that you're question?

If a person is tested positive for Covid a week after contacting the disease, then that person is contagious for only 7 to 10 days.

How long a person is infectious for after contracting Covid and being diagnosed may be quite differing time spans.
Confused?

Contact and patient rules differ.

[Sqad]

Woofy's answer is the same as mine,but more succinct.

[10ClarionSt]

A few weeks ago in The Sunday Times (it must be true!) a report said the govt were considering lowering the isolation period to 7 days, as no-one testing positive had developed the illness after that time period. It must be true! It's gotta be true if it's in the papers!

[woofgang]

surely if they tested positive then they already had the disease so that statement is self conradictory?

[woofgang]

yeah Sqad succinct that's me all over.

[eve1974]

Ah ty all. To explain my question better the reason I ask is:

Someone has contracted covid 3 weeks ago. Is on the mend (albeit v fatigued). When will he be deemed “saf to be around others?

A bit of further background.... he needs to attend our place of work for half a day soon. I personally am quite happy with this abd not in the least bit concerned.... however one colleague is very worried so I wanna put his mind at rest.

[THECORBYLOON]

The NHS guidance states

"Keep self-isolating if you feel unwell

Keep self-isolating if you have any of these symptoms after 10 days:

a high temperature or feeling hot and shivery
a runny nose or sneezing
feeling or being sick
diarrhoea
Only stop self-isolating when these symptoms have gone.

If you have diarrhoea or you’re being sick, stay at home until 48 hours after they've stopped."

If he has any of those symptoms still, he should not attend work.

[woofgang]

Keep self-isolating if you feel unwell

Keep self-isolating if you have any of these symptoms after 10 days:

a high temperature or feeling hot and shivery
a runny nose or sneezing
feeling or being sick
diarrhoea
Only stop self-isolating when these symptoms have gone.

If you have diarrhoea or you’re being sick, stay at home until 48 hours after they've stopped.

Your colleague may be worried about “long covid” This is a bunch of post viral problems like after the flu. It dorsn’t mean that the sufferer is still infectious

[woofgang]

Sorry about the duplicate

[Sqad]

I presume that 3 weeks ago he was tested positive for Covid, then based on your description of his physical condition he should now be non contagious.

[THECORBYLOON]

SQAD, that is not what the official guidance states. If he has any of the symptoms listed, he should be isolating still.

[Prudie]

Well I don't know the days or lengths etc but the handful of people I work with who have had Covid did not return to work until they had a negative test - I had assumed all those with it would have testing until it showed negative?

[Sqad]

Corby......then it looks like me and the official lines disagree about the emphasis on persistent symptoms in THIS case.
I stand by my advice.

[THECORBYLOON]

If I were the manager I would be asking if he had had a negative test. If he hadnt, I would read out the list of symptoms on the NHS site and ask if he had any of them still.

By doing that, if there were to be any consequences following the return to work, all the reasonable steps would have been taken.

[Sqad]

Corby......that is good advice.

[woofgang]

Prudie there is no general nhs or gov.t requirement to be tested negative after having had covid. Certain companies or organisations may require it.

[Sqad]

eve.....how is your finger?

[Prudie]

Well woof that would be the one thing that would make sense to me in all this mess. It must be my company policy and certainly put co-workers at ease.

[Peter Pedant]

clarion is about isolation periods after a contact
the disease really should show after 5 d
BUT
if you have it - they say you are clear when (after) you test clear
AND dont get a political / politicised disease
Others say you may test positive if you have dead virus on your tonsils from an infection ( so you test positive longer than your should) -
Trump declared himself 'cured' and it MAY have been that he was testing positive and believed himself non contagious
( no one got it from him) and you know - he went on to win and election

and clearly those croaking in hospital after four weeks are still contagious