I understand that a person who gets Covid is not normally contagious for a period of a couple days. People are considered to be most contagious about 24-48 hours before symptoms. People can test negative post-exposure but still end up positive b/c they test too early and the virus is not yet strong enough to show up on a test.
So is it generally accepted that during this early period post exposure/infection when a person tests negative that they are not yet infectious?
Here's the basis for my question. A co-worker had a meeting with a guy yesterday. This guy's wife tested positive today. The guy tested negative today but let my co-worker know about his wife. I realize the guy may in fact have it and later be positive. But, is it not the case that the guy most likely did not spread it to my-coworker? If he is not strong enough to test positive, he's not likely to have spread it.
So is it generally accepted that during this early period post exposure/infection when a person tests negative that they are not yet infectious?
Here's the basis for my question. A co-worker had a meeting with a guy yesterday. This guy's wife tested positive today. The guy tested negative today but let my co-worker know about his wife. I realize the guy may in fact have it and later be positive. But, is it not the case that the guy most likely did not spread it to my-coworker? If he is not strong enough to test positive, he's not likely to have spread it.