<p>One in ten people may still be infectious for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, after the 10 day quarantine period, according to a study.</p>.<p>The research, published recently in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases, used a newly adapted test which can detect whether the virus was potentially still active.</p>.<p>The test was applied to samples from 176 people in Exeter, UK, who had tested positive on standard PCR tests.</p>.<p>The team led by researchers at the University of Exeter found that 13 per cent of people still exhibited clinically-relevant levels of virus after 10 days, meaning they could potentially still be infectious.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/can-a-person-be-infected-with-omicron-variant-twice-heres-what-experts-say-1072015.html" target="_blank">Can a person be infected with Omicron variant twice?</a></strong></p>.<p>Some people retained these levels for up to 68 days, the researchers found.</p>.<p>They believe this new test should be applied in settings where people are vulnerable, to stop the spread of Covid-19.</p>.<p>"While this is a relatively small study, our results suggest that potentially active virus may sometimes persist beyond a 10 day period, and could pose a potential risk of onward transmission," said Professor Lorna Harries, of the University of Exeter Medical School, who oversaw the study.</p>.<p>"Furthermore, there was nothing clinically remarkable about these people, which means we wouldn't be able to predict who they are," Harries said.</p>.<p>Conventional PCR tests work by testing for the presence of viral fragments.</p>.<p>While these tests can tell if someone has recently had the virus, they cannot detect whether it is still active, and the person is infectious.</p>.<p>However, the test used in the latest study gives a positive result only when the virus is active and potentially capable of onward transmission.</p>.<p>"In some settings, such as people returning to care homes after illness, people continuing to be infectious after ten days could pose a serious public health risk," said study lead author Merlin Davies, of the University of Exeter Medical School.</p>.<p>"We may need to ensure people in those setting have a negative active virus test to ensure people are no longer infectious," Davies added.</p>.<p><strong>Watch latest videos by DH here:</strong></p>
<p>One in ten people may still be infectious for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, after the 10 day quarantine period, according to a study.</p>.<p>The research, published recently in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases, used a newly adapted test which can detect whether the virus was potentially still active.</p>.<p>The test was applied to samples from 176 people in Exeter, UK, who had tested positive on standard PCR tests.</p>.<p>The team led by researchers at the University of Exeter found that 13 per cent of people still exhibited clinically-relevant levels of virus after 10 days, meaning they could potentially still be infectious.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/science-and-environment/can-a-person-be-infected-with-omicron-variant-twice-heres-what-experts-say-1072015.html" target="_blank">Can a person be infected with Omicron variant twice?</a></strong></p>.<p>Some people retained these levels for up to 68 days, the researchers found.</p>.<p>They believe this new test should be applied in settings where people are vulnerable, to stop the spread of Covid-19.</p>.<p>"While this is a relatively small study, our results suggest that potentially active virus may sometimes persist beyond a 10 day period, and could pose a potential risk of onward transmission," said Professor Lorna Harries, of the University of Exeter Medical School, who oversaw the study.</p>.<p>"Furthermore, there was nothing clinically remarkable about these people, which means we wouldn't be able to predict who they are," Harries said.</p>.<p>Conventional PCR tests work by testing for the presence of viral fragments.</p>.<p>While these tests can tell if someone has recently had the virus, they cannot detect whether it is still active, and the person is infectious.</p>.<p>However, the test used in the latest study gives a positive result only when the virus is active and potentially capable of onward transmission.</p>.<p>"In some settings, such as people returning to care homes after illness, people continuing to be infectious after ten days could pose a serious public health risk," said study lead author Merlin Davies, of the University of Exeter Medical School.</p>.<p>"We may need to ensure people in those setting have a negative active virus test to ensure people are no longer infectious," Davies added.</p>.<p><strong>Watch latest videos by DH here:</strong></p>