From the Guidelines
If you are COVID-19 positive, you should self-isolate for at least 10 days after a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR test if you have mild to moderate symptoms, and consider seeing your family after this period if you are no longer symptomatic and have been fever-free for 24 hours without using fever-reducing medications. This recommendation is based on the study by the Association of Anaesthetists, the Centre for Peri-operative Care, the Federation of Surgical Specialty Associations, the Royal College of Anaesthetists, and the Royal College of Surgeons of England, published in the journal Anaesthesia in 2021 1. Some key points to consider when deciding to see your family include:
- The virus is most contagious in the 2 days before and the 5 days after the onset of symptoms, and it is rare for the virus to be cultured beyond 10 days after symptom onset 1.
- In severely ill or severely immunocompromised patients, infectivity may continue for longer, and self-isolation for 15-20 days may be necessary 1.
- PCR positivity does not correlate with secretion of live virus, so it is of little or no value in assessing the risk of infectivity in the 3 months after confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection 1. It is essential to prioritize the safety of your family members, especially if they are vulnerable individuals such as elderly family members, immunocompromised people, or unvaccinated children. Consider taking extra precautions like using separate bathrooms, eating separately, and ensuring good ventilation in shared spaces to minimize the risk of transmission. Ultimately, the decision to see your family should be based on your individual circumstances and the risk of transmission to your family members.
From the Research
Covid-19 Treatment and Family Interaction
- There is no direct evidence in the provided studies regarding when a Covid-19 positive individual can see their family.
- However, the studies discuss the treatment and management of Covid-19 using antiviral drugs such as molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir-ritonavir 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
- These studies suggest that early treatment with antiviral drugs can reduce the risk of hospitalization and death in patients with Covid-19 2, 3, 6.
- The studies also highlight the importance of starting treatment within 5 days of symptom onset 2, 6.
- While the studies do not provide guidance on family interaction, it can be inferred that reducing the risk of hospitalization and death through early treatment may also reduce the risk of transmission to family members.
- However, this is speculative, and there is no direct evidence to support this claim.
Antiviral Treatment Efficacy
- The studies demonstrate the efficacy of molnupiravir and nirmatrelvir-ritonavir in reducing the risk of hospitalization and death in patients with Covid-19 2, 3, 6.
- Nirmatrelvir-ritonavir has been shown to be more effective than molnupiravir in reducing the risk of hospitalization and death 3.
- The studies also highlight the importance of considering the timing of treatment initiation, with earlier treatment initiation associated with better outcomes 6.
Limitations and Future Directions
- The studies have several limitations, including small sample sizes and limited generalizability 4, 5.
- Further research is needed to fully understand the efficacy and safety of antiviral treatments for Covid-19, as well as to provide guidance on family interaction and transmission reduction 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.