[BostonCard]

It’s unclear whether an asymptomatic PCR positive but antigen negative test patient is contagious.  PCR is an incredibly sensitive test; it just measures whether there is viral RNA in the sample, but viral RNA can persist long after someone has cleared an infection (which is why there is no advice to await a negative test after isolation, since PCR tests can remain positive long after the virus has been cleared).  

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02661-2

Although the PCR method can test whether someone is infectious, it also detects people who have the virus but are not likely to spread it.

If it were up to me, I would test close contacts to a COVID case with rapid antigen tests prior to any team activity (practice, game, etc) for a week, and allow them to participate as long as they were asymptomatic and the rapid antigen test were negative. If they developed symptoms, then I would probably move to a PCR based test.

BC

[BostonCard]

It’s unclear whether an asymptomatic PCR positive but antigen negative test patient is contagious.  PCR is an incredibly sensitive test; it just measures whether there is viral RNA in the sample, but viral RNA can persist long after someone has cleared an infection (which is why there is no advice to await a negative test after isolation, since PCR tests can remain positive long after the virus has been cleared).  

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-02661-2

Although the PCR method can test whether someone is infectious, it also detects people who have the virus but are not likely to spread it.

If it were up to me, I would test close contacts to a COVID case with rapid antigen tests prior to any team activity (practice, game, etc) for a week, and allow them to participate as long as they were asymptomatic and the rapid antigen test were negative. If they developed symptoms, then I would probably move to a PCR based test.

BC