Could I still be contagious after Covid isolation? And should I bother wearing a mask once I get better?

In Australia, people with COVID must self-isolate for seven days unless they have significant ongoing problems or new symptoms (so the fine print in the state and territory rules say they should stay away longer).

So what is the risk of leaving home after a week and still being contagious?

What does the research say about of Omicron infectious period? Omicron’s incubation period – the period between infection and the onset of symptoms – is around three days, with the person often becoming contagious a day or two before symptoms appear.

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The average duration of symptoms with Omicron is also quite short – often 5-6 days versus 7-10 days with Delta and earlier variants. Omicron is more contagious because the increased number of mutations on its spike protein allows it to better evade immune system.

It appears on Omicron variant causes milder disease and more asymptomatic infections, and it is more effective at dodging our immune systems – hence the high rate of breakthrough cases with the Omicron variant is to be expected.

What if my RAT test is still positive on day 6 or 7?

Data from the Omicron outbreak suggests that rapid antigen tests (RATs) may not detect COVID until at least two days after exposure to the virus.

It appears that the Omicron variant causes milder disease and more asymptomatic infections, and it is more effective at dodging our immune systems (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

And the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) says Rats are not as accurate if you don’t have symptoms. It is therefore likely that you will not test positive on a RAT for a few days after exposure. And, if you don’t have symptoms, you could get a false negative result within days.

PCR tests are likely to detect virus sooner than RATs due to their high sensitivity, and PCR will also continue to detect virus particles for longer. Relying on this test could extend the period of isolation even if the person is not contagious. That said, a PCR test is still considered the “gold standard” for detecting SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Most states do not require a clear RAT or PCR test for release from isolation, but say those who still have certain symptoms (such as a sore throat, cough, shortness of breath or runny nose) should extend their isolation. If you have symptoms and take a RAT test, a positive result may indicate that you are still infectious to others.

The goal of COVID testing is to identify people who are currently transmitting the virus. Thus, RATs are able to detect the vast majority of infectious cases and they work well in congregate settings, such as long-term care facilities, workplaces, or schools.

Meanwhile, emerging science (including data from the [National Basketball Association’s extensive COVID testing program] suggests that with the Omicron variantup to half of those infected could still be contagious on day five (the end of the recommended isolation period in the United States) – and possibly beyond.

In Australian states and territories, isolation lasts seven days, provided the person has no symptoms.

It has been suggested that it may be safer to self-isolate for eight days and wear a mask to protect others for a total of ten days. In the Northern Territory, those coming out of isolation must wear a mask for a further seven days. South Australians are told to mask up for three days after isolation.

And the masks after that?

Thus, it is possible that people are contagious beyond their seven-day isolation if they are still showing symptoms. After ten days, most people are no longer contagious. Several studies have shown that there is very little, if any, transmission after the tenth day, regardless of the variant.

However, for those who are immunocompromised, it is recommended to wait 20 days to come out of isolation as these patients have been shown to tend to shed virus longer.

The level of protection you have against vaccination or previous COVID infection may also depend on factors such as your age and immune status. (Case)

Once people are completely cured of the disease and have no symptoms, they are considered non-infectious because the viral load they carry is very low.

A person who has recently fully recovered from COVID does not need to wear a mask, as there is no risk of them being re-infected with the same variant. As a result, they pose no COVID threat to others.

However, they should reconsider this advice after 12 weeks, when reinfection is possible.

The level of protection you have against vaccination or previous COVID infection may also depend on factors such as your age and immune status. It’s also worth noting that Omicron recovery won’t protect someone against seasonal colds and flu or later COVID variants — but a mask might.

Takeaway tips on when to leave the house

Protecting yourself and the community against communicable diseases, including COVID, relies on early detection of infection and the implementation of public infection prevention measures.

Until RAT tests are uniformly sensitive enough to detect with certainty the absence of the virus, we must supplement these tests with preventive measures such as isolation until symptoms disappear and wearing masks outside. indoors and at public events.

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