Ethical covid dilemma - help

[realtarmar]

Sister is coming to mine for xmas lunch (within the rules) as well as neighbour in his 50s. Sister had covid symptoms very beginning of last week and tested positive a few days ago. Has had directions from the NHS saying that in keeping with 10 day iso period, she should isolate until 24th Dec. Is already feeling far better but obviously observing iso strictly.

Neighbour is not vulnerable but sister is insistent I tell him so he can make up his own mind whether he still wants to come. By the time xmas day rolls around, she will have been in iso 10 days, has a temperature device to check her temp, is fastidious and has ordered covid tests for the rest of the symptomless family - obviously if anyone else is positive, we will call it off.

Do I tell neighbour sister had it 10 days ago?

It's not even a 'dilemma' you just tell the neighbour what has happened. Sister continues to follow rules. Simple! Why make such a big deal out of something that happens all the time - someone tests positive - isolates and then at end of isolation period continues but since so recent and your neighbour has a vulnerable relative (or even if he didn't) you make him aware!

You can't withhold such information.
Yes, he may decline.
Why would you want him there so badly that you'd keep this secret?

@smeerf

Why would you not tell him?

This?

Well, your sister has given you permission to discuss her medical condition, has been very sensible about that. Why the hell are you pervaricating?

Then again neither you nor your sister are being at all sensible, she needs to stay at home!

So that's 2 supposedly ethical dilemmas you have got going there. Both equaly easy to resolve!

YABU as not a ‘dilemma’

Unless perhaps you fancy your neighbour or get on with him better than your sister and, should he not want to take any risk, would prefer he came and not her!

The idea that you would want to withhold this information is a bit strange. You sound more concerned for yourself than your neighbour.

There's no dilemma. Of course you tell your neighbour. It's up to him if he wants to risk having dinner with someone who will just be coming out of 10 days isolation.

If I were the neighbour in this situation I would be furious that you were thinking of not informing me about this risk. Why would you deliberately do this to a guest ? Your sister may well have completed her 10 days but does she still have symptoms and how do you know that she and her family are entirely covid-free on day 10 ?
As a host you are responsible to ensure the safety of yourself and your guests. Take responsibility !
I wouldn’t be hosting your sister and family ....it’s far too close a call.

As a pp has said can you be sure the whole family have self isolated for long enough?

I think you should tell her to stay home.

With 'dilemmas' like these it's not a surprise the virus is spreading.

Is this post a joke?

Of course she can't come if she's Covid positive.

I hope she’s paid privately for the tests she’s ‘ordered’ for the rest of her household. If not, she’s ordered them because they have symptoms, yes?! In which case they should be isolating for 10 days from when their own symptoms started - regardless of the test result. From NHS website for a close contact of a positive case:

“If they get symptoms while they're self-isolating, the 10 days restarts from when their symptoms started”

And yes. Tell your neighbour. The isolation period has only recently been cut from 14 days to 10. Allow them to make an informed decision about their own risk of exposure.

YABU

It’s not an ethical dilemma! It’s barely even a dilemma. He’s an adult, just tell him and let him make his own mind up while he still has time to sort himself out for a day on his own. Why on earth wouldn’t you?

Of course you should tell him.

Also, it's 2 households max to meet on Xmas so it's not within the rules anyway.

Unless you secretly fancy the neighbour and were hoping for some Christmas romance then you should tell him. Even if you were hoping for a snog under the mistletoe you should still tell him.

@HighSpecWhistle

Of course you should tell him.

Also, it's 2 households max to meet on Xmas so it's not within the rules anyway.

Not in England.

If your sister had asked you not to tell anyone but you felt that you had to warn your neighbour then that would be an ethical dilemma. The situation that you describe is not.

This is from the government website:

"keep your Christmas bubble as small as possible. Two other households is a maximum, not a target"

Why is there so much misinformation circulating?

You 100% have to tell him. But honestly I wouldn't want anyone coming to my house that had tested positive so recently. I would switch it to a NY meet up instead.

Tell him

@knittingaddict

This is from the government website:

"keep your Christmas bubble as small as possible. Two other households is a maximum, not a target"

Why is there so much misinformation circulating?

Because not everyone lives where you do? I live in England and the government website states 3 households.

Hang on, it is England. It states two OTHER households, so 3 in total. You have misread it @knittingaddict

Sorry @knittingaddict I tagged the wrong person 🙈, I was directing my comments to @HighSpecWhistle. Apologies

Yes you should tell him, he can decide if he wants to risk it or not.

Did the isolation for positives used to be 7 days right at the beginning, before it changed to 10 or have I imagined it?

Unless you fancy your neighbour and are after a threesome with him and your sister, I can’t fathom a reason why you wouldn’t tell him? (And even if the above were true, surely you can reschedule after lockdown ends?).