
If someone who was positive is now testing clear for two days on Antigens, are they still contagious or are they grand to be around others again?

If someone who was positive is now testing clear for two days on Antigens, are they still contagious or are they grand to be around others again?
6 comments
You’re probably not contagious if you’re testing negative on antigen tests but there is a chance the antigen tests weren’t quite as thorough as previous tests even if you did them yourself.
As long as you’re not coughing, you probably don’t have the viral load to infect others if you test negative.
Wear a mask to help with any unexpected coughing. Sanitise your hands when you enter a building.
Only if he’s had booster #28
I know people who didn’t test positive at all on antigens for days but did on PCR. I wouldn’t fully trust antigens.
Antigens don’t matter. Follow the guidance – you isolate for 7 days from symptoms or positive test (whichever was first), and then be careful for another 3 days (limit contact, wear a mask, avoid crowded areas).
HSE guidelines say 7 days isolation after incidence of first positive test or onset of symptoms. After those 7 days, it’s 3 days of extra cautions – still wearing a mask in public spaces, avoiding crowds etc. They do not suggest additional testing after the initial test, although you’re free to do so and for peace of mind it’s worth it. They’ll send you out five antigen tests for free if you order them on the HSE website.
After the 10 days, you’re allowed to return to your normal routine, even if testing positive. But if someone with an infection is still showing strong symptoms like sneezing/coughing etc after the 10 days, probably best to wait until that improves if possible.
Anecdotal – with my recent Omicron infection, I was grand in terms of the head coldish symptoms by day 5, but tested positive still on day 8. Stopped completely isolating on day 8, but continued to wear a facemask around the gaff and sanitising surfaces to avoid passing it on to my housemate.
Still got the go ahead from HR to return to the office on day 11. I did not have symptoms bar fatigue at that point, and tested negative on day 12.