It demonstrates the importance of doing tests just before going out
A doctor has shown how quickly covid-19 can develop by taking four lateral flow tests in one day, with the first two coming back negative and the last two coming back positive.
It shows how covid can develop in a person in just a matter of hours.
Posting the image of the tests on Twitter, Billy Quilty an infectious disease epidemiologist at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, says the at-home lateral flow tests should be taken just before you go out or mix with others and no earlier.
He warned that a test taken even hours before leaving could be too early.
“A demo of how fast you can turn positive. Do LFTs *just* before meeting up,” Dr Quilty wrote.
A demo of how fast you can turn positive:
Yesterday morning, yesterday lunchtime, yesterday evening, this morning.
Do LFTs *just* before meeting up. pic.twitter.com/3zM2rDkoa7
— Billy Quilty (@BQuilty) December 16, 2021
New rules state that anyone who lives with someone who has Omicron must do a lateral flow every day for a week.
Meanwhile the government has advised anyone who is heading to an event where they could spread covid to others to take a lateral flow test first.
Omicron continues to surge across the country, with the UK recording record-breaking numbers of infections in recent days.
However the increase in demand for lateral flow and PCR tests has outstripped supply.
If you think you might have Covid and want to get a PCR test, you can't. Soz. Enjoy the Xmas party!!
Boris xoxo pic.twitter.com/fvLUapHzvp
— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE_UK) December 14, 2021
Last week, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced it would be doubling the availability of lateral flow tests.
UKHSA and Royal Mail announced that capacity for home deliveries for the covid testing kits will double to 900,000 a day in response to a week of unprecedented demand.
Related links:
- Why you might still have Omicron even if you have a negative lateral flow test
- Premier League clubs to discuss festive fixture postponement
- Downing Street defends PM over photo seeming to show lockdown garden gathering
