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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Neighbour with Covid popped over yesterday

88 replies

Whatisthis543 · 03/01/2021 20:01

I genuinely don’t know if IABU here so could use some advice. My next door neighbour but one (lives alone) has tested positive for COVID. When he is walking his dog he sometimes knocks for a chat and as he’s old and possibly lonely we usually ask him to distance and chat to him at a ‘safe distance’ from the doorstep.

He knocked on the door yesterday when he was out for a walk, and stepped back 2 meters outdoors before chatting to me and DP. He noted after chatting for about 10 minutes that he has taken a COVID test as has had a bit of a sore throat. Turns out the test was positive (he found out today). I’m now driving myself mad thinking he’s probably passed it to us (but maybe he hasn’t as 2m away and outside). AIBU?

OP posts:
Butterymuffin · 03/01/2021 23:27

He shouldn't have come round for a chat that day. Honestly.

Belladonna12 · 03/01/2021 23:43

Some people are idiots. I would be really annoyed if I was you. A couple of months ago he probably wouldn't have passed it on to you if he was 2m away but with this new strain, anything is possible. I think you should isolate if at all possible.

thepeopleversuswork · 03/01/2021 23:44

It was a bloody stupid thing for him to have done but I suppose he's lonely etc. I'd be absolutely furious.

On the other hand if he really was outside and 2 metres away the chances of your getting it are pretty slim.

Isolate etc but don't worry too much about it.

GabsAlot · 03/01/2021 23:46

have u told him the guldines he shouldt out at all

i dont know whats wrong with people he got a positive and has just ignored it

Feministicon · 03/01/2021 23:47

Silly of him but sure you’ll be fine, my DH’s boss came in to work unwell and he spent hours with him outside then tested positive but he didn’t get it.

freeingNora · 03/01/2021 23:53

And this is why the hospitals are full to the brim
With this kind of behaviour ridiculous

Hang in there op can you grab a home test

ineedaholidaynow · 03/01/2021 23:58

Hopefully he is now isolating. What is happening with his dog?

ineedaholidaynow · 03/01/2021 23:59

Sore throat seems to be a quite common symptom for COVID, pity our Government don't recognise it as such

akerman · 04/01/2021 00:43

@ineedaholidaynow

Sore throat seems to be a quite common symptom for COVID, pity our Government don't recognise it as such
Yes, indeed. I have been told that it is listed in both France and Italy.
AfterSchoolWorry · 04/01/2021 00:48

@Lovemusic33

Sorry if I’m thick but why would you isolate if he was stood outdoors over 2m away from you? It’s very unlikely he would have passed it onto you outside and from that distance unless he was coughing near you?

I wouldn’t be isolating but I would be checking in on him (via phone or through the window) incase he needs anything.

Yes, he shouldn’t have been out whilst waiting for a covid test or after testing positive.

I don't think the 2 metres is that literal, just a general guideline.
Wheresmykimchi · 04/01/2021 00:54

@freeingNora

And this is why the hospitals are full to the brim With this kind of behaviour ridiculous

Hang in there op can you grab a home test

With standing outside ?
freeingNora · 04/01/2021 07:51

With people not realising the seriousness of covid he should have been inside isolating while he waited for his results

Flower2021 · 04/01/2021 08:04

The thing is that it won’t have been a 2m distance! As much as you think it is!

You do need to isolate but don’t go shopping for him?! 🤦🏼

Belladonna12 · 04/01/2021 08:18

Everyone who thinks OP couldn't possibly have caught it, how do you know?!

UsernameSaved · 04/01/2021 08:23

@Belladonna12

Everyone who thinks OP couldn't possibly have caught it, how do you know?!
People are not saying the OP couldn't have caught it They are saying that it doesn't meet the criteria for self isolation.
scammedmum29 · 04/01/2021 08:26

We spoke to my SIL outside, at a distance of around 2m- the following day she developed symptoms and tested positive. Test and trace identified us as contacts, despite being outdoors and we had to isolate. SIL explained we were outdoors etc but we were still told to isolate.

We didn’t catch it.

scammedmum29 · 04/01/2021 08:29

I’m not saying that means you wouldn’t be infected outdoors, although unlikely, but highlighting that we were told to isolate even though we didn’t “meet the criteria”. I can only assume they were excising caution due the prevalence of this new strain.

dingoesatemybaby · 04/01/2021 08:32

@ineedaholidaynow

Hopefully he is now isolating. What is happening with his dog?
That's what I was wondering. Hope he has someone to help him out!
DuzzyFuck · 04/01/2021 08:34

At over 2m away and outdoors you don't need to isolate. When my colleague was isolating after testing positive we did this regularly, I'd drop a bag on her doorstep, retreat 2.5m or so back into the garden, then have a natter for a bit as she lives alone and it was the only bit of human contact she had for nearly 3 weeks.

The requirements for direct contact as far as I understand them are to have been within 2m for a solid period of 15 minutes or more.

Belladonna12 · 04/01/2021 08:40

People are not saying the OP couldn't have caught it
They are saying that it doesn't meet the criteria for self isolation.

She clearly doesn't meet the current criteria for isolation and probably knows that. However, considering there are now over 50,000 new cases per day, the criteria are obviously not working. Therefore people need to use their common sense not blindly follow criteria that were set before we had a much more infectious strain.

yumscrumfatbum · 04/01/2021 08:44

I had a 10 minute doorstep contact with someone who a few days later tested positive for covid. I was contacted by track and trace and had to isolate. I was surprised as I hadn't imagined it met the guidelines.

middleager · 04/01/2021 08:52

As pp said, he would have been told clearly by Test and Trace not to leave the house.

To then come to yours was selfish.

Test and Trace will also check on him every three days and ask questions, so it's possible he may mention going to yours.

JamesAnderson · 04/01/2021 13:20

As pp said, he would have been told clearly by Test and Trace not to leave the house

He was waiting for a result. He shouldn't have even had a test because he didn't have any of the three symptoms you need to get a test

OverTheRainbow88 · 04/01/2021 13:30

Track And trace don’t count outside meet
Ups as a close contact, so you don’t need to isolate.

curlyLJ · 04/01/2021 13:44

@JamesAnderson

As pp said, he would have been told clearly by Test and Trace not to leave the house

He was waiting for a result. He shouldn't have even had a test because he didn't have any of the three symptoms you need to get a test

How can you say he shouldn't have had a test?! I tested positive without any of the 3 symptoms as I'm sure a lot of people do. If people don't test, this thing isn't going to go away.

The govt really need to revise their criteria for a test. The Zoe app lists all the symptoms people have reported and sore throat is actually one of them, as is headache (which is what I had) among other things.