Hi @Sparklfairy, the right thing to do and the law are not the same thing. You don't say which country your friend is holidaying in, but it's worth noting that the law is different in every country, and in each country it changes from time to time, because the circumstances in different countries at different time are obviously different. It's perfectly possible that in countries with low transmission rates and incidence of COVID-19, they might well have a rule that allows one days grace for new arrivals to get organised. So your friend's overheard conversation could well be correct for that country.
However, I completely understand where you're coming from - it's been drummed into us by the TV and press, that self-isolation is strict. They tell us that if you are self isolating (either because you have the symptoms/positive test result, or because someone in your household has the symptoms or a positive test result), then - if you break it by going out - you become enemy number one, because you're increasing the risk to other people.
Those of us who are conscientious and considerate towards others, will not break self-isolation, and will get pretty annoyed with those who are not going by these rules.
The problem is, the media haven't told us the whole story - they have this urge to simplify things, probable because they think we're too thick to understand the full set of rules. But by simplifying, they lose important detail. It is quite true that there are exceptions to the rules, but they don't tell us about the exceptions on TV, and that could be rather harmful to the people who are supposed to be self-isolating, and to those who aren't:- it raises our anxiety levels and causes a lot of stress and conflict, if we see someone who's seemingly breaking the rules. I do wish that the media didn't simplify too much, because we won't be judged by the rules that the media tell us about - we will be judged by what the law actually says.
The relevant law in England is this one:- STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS 2020 No. 1045, PUBLIC HEALTH, ENGLAND:- The Health Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Self-Isolation) (England) Regulations 2020
And here's the link:-
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2020/1045/made
I'd advise everyone to read it, because this tells us exactly what rules we must abide by. This law has been effective since 28th September, and it tells us that the person P must self isolate for the prescribed period of time - that period is different for different circumstances, and the start of the period could be reset so that it starts again.
It also tells us the exceptions to the rule - i.e. the circumstances in which we are allowed to leave out home, or our designated place of self-isolation, in Part 1, Paragraph 3, section b. Here's the extract:-
"(b)P may not leave the place specified in sub-paragraph (a) except where necessary—
(i)to seek medical assistance, where this is required urgently or on the advice of a registered medical practitioner, including to access—
(aa)services from dentists, opticians, audiologists, chiropodists, chiropractors, osteopaths and other medical or health practitioners, or
(bb)services relating to mental health,
(ii)to access veterinary services, where this is required urgently or on the advice of a veterinary surgeon,
(iii)to fulfil a legal obligation, including attending court or satisfying bail conditions, or participating in legal proceedings,
(iv)to avoid a risk of harm,
(v)to attend a funeral of a close family member,
(vi)to obtain basic necessities, such as food and medical supplies for those in the same household (including any pets or animals in the household) where it is not possible to obtain these provisions in any other manner,
(vii)to access critical public services, including social services, and services provided to victims (such as victims of crime),
(viii)to move to a different place specified in sub-paragraph (a), where it becomes impracticable to remain at the address at which they are."
Some of these are obvious, for example, if you're self-isolating and your house is on fire, of course you're going to get out, self isolation or not. If you've run out of pet food and can't find anyone to bring you some, then would you let your dog die of starvation? It even more applies to provisions for your household - if you have run out of food to feed the household, and can't get anyone to do the shopping for you, you are not expected to starve yourself and other members of the household, someone will go out and get that fresh food, milk, whatever.
It would be really helpful if neighbours looked after each other, but they might not be able to. I had to self-isolate for 7 days in the early coronavirus days, because I had some symptoms - thankfully it wasn't the dreaded Corona, but we didn't know that at the time. The rest of the household had to self-isolate for 2 weeks, even though they didn't have any symptoms. Luckily I had a well stocked freezer, even frozen milk, so we were able to survive until I was free to go out again. But we ran out of fresh vegetables, meat and yoghurt very quickly, and as time went on, our diet became rather unhealthy, not the sort of diet that helps the immune system.
Another unpleasant surprise was that when I told my friends that we had to self isolate, not one of them offered to get food for us. I don't blame them - several were elderly and at risk, and some had families of their own to take care of, while others lived too far away for it not to be a huge burden. The only help we had was a local pharmacy, who delivered the medication quickly. They were very good. Supermarkets weren't allowing me to order food for delivery, and I felt too embarrassed to call the local council to ask for help:- as one of the members of the household is diabetic, it would have been too complicated to explain what food we needed.
The law allows people to get food when they can't get it any other way, even if they are self-isolating, because potentially sick people need healthy food more than most.
So - if only we all understood the exceptions to the rules, perhaps we'd be more understanding of people who appear to break the rules, but are actually within the law. It might prompt us to be on the lookout for our neighbours, who might need our help at this time.