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Original poster

Reporting someone for failing to isolate

357 replies

WouldYouShouldI · 17/07/2021 00:44

Under what circumstances would you report someone for failing to isolate? Would you report any breach, no breach, or would it depend on circumstances?

I've been told by a friend that a family member of theirs (should be isolating because someone they live with has tested positive) is not isolating, and is even going out to work- and they work with vulnerable people in a medical environment!

Should I report them regardless of the possible consequences on my friend (who will be blamed if they get caught)? Or encourage my friend to do the same, again despite the consequences?

I'm torn!

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 17/07/2021 08:24

Some folks are just itching to report, even when there’s no one to report them to,

What you on about op? Who exactly are you going to report them to? Teacher?

amission · 17/07/2021 08:25

@jihhy

Perhaps I'm a curtain twitcher though as I also phoned the police a few days ago as I saw a man trying the backdoor of my neighbours house at 2am. My neighbour was away at the time & wasn't having anyone to stay. However I had no idea about the circumstances, the man could have been lost or hungry or looking for interior design tips (neighbour has great taste).
Whooooooosh
OhNoNoNoNoNo · 17/07/2021 08:25

I would definitely report it. Obviously!!!
It's not comparable to many of the other minor lock down breaches that go on. It's a POSITIVE case deliberately carrying on working with MEDICALLY VULNERABLE people.

I wouldn't hesitate.

I'm curious if the all the posters who disagree would report other offences such as theft or violence. What about if the knew a guy was hitting his girlfriend. Would they just keep quiet?

NewallKnowall · 17/07/2021 08:26

If this person works in a medical setting, then they will have been double jabbed for some time.

In a few weeks anyone double jabbed will not have to isolate as a contact.

Why would there be a huge difference in whether that is a safe decision or not between now and August.

Involve yourself in critiquing and criticisng policies, not people.

33feethighandrising · 17/07/2021 08:27

@Stompythedinosaur

Well, I'm a nurse, and if I found out any of my colleagues was coming in when they should be isolating I would absolutely report it, because my duty to protect vulnerable patients outweighs my duty not to be a "dobber" (also I am not 5 so not too worried about name calling).

Showing care to your community, and especially the vulnerable in your community, is not fascism in my book. Allowing selfish dickheads to endanger others because you are worried someone will call you a "dobber" is frankly pathetic. Nearly as pathetic as doing it in the first place.

This.

If this person brings covid in, it could still kill his clients, the OP has said they're vulnerable.

But we live in an individualistic, consumer driven age where people's wants are more important than ethics or compassion for others, so I guess it's not surprising people can't tell the difference between taking a principled stand to protect others who aren't in a position to protect themselves, and fascism.

Fucking depressing though.

warmfluffytowels · 17/07/2021 08:28

@jihhy

How do you judge that, though?

Well I can because I can wfh even though I've been on site throughout the pandemic except for self isolation periods. So in my situation is it ok for me to not self isolate? Are you anti self isolation in general or just for those who don't get paid?

But if you can WFH then you're not missing out on being paid, are you? So you wouldn't qualify for a self isolation payment as you could still do your job.

I don't think continual self isolations are the answer long-term but while they are a requirement people shouldn't have to lose income for following the law.

comebacksunshines · 17/07/2021 08:28

It's not the regime or even the consequences people are comparing though, it's that nasty little itch to be the 'good citizen' and report neighbours.
I couldn't give a shit about being a 'good citizen' but I do care about sitting back and putting vulnerable people at risk, due to my own passivity.
But you're obviously much more chilled and cool than me, with you 'minding your own business' stance.

OnTheBrink1 · 17/07/2021 08:29

@WouldYouShouldI

Ok, message received!

I'm a bit surprised that people aren't more concerned for others welfare. For the record, both the person breaking isolation and the person who tested positive are definitely double vaccinated- that clearly didn't stop them catching it, so doesn't mean it would help the people they work with either.

I expected the results of this to go the other way- my gut is not to report, but that left me feeling awful for the people it puts at risk.

OP I hate or break it to you but very soon we will all be getting it, vaxx or not (if you haven’t had it already and sometimes even if you have!) Many people over the coming months won’t isolate (won’t be able to afford to isolate ) even if they have active covid never mind being a close contact.
Tay1980 · 17/07/2021 08:30

Be careful about making judgements before knowing the full facts…too easy to jump to conclusions.

bumblingbovine49 · 17/07/2021 08:31

@HaveANiceFuckingDay

My daughter is supposed to be isolating She isn’t , I’m letting her out with her friends and her friends come into my house You don’t know the circumstances Fuck off with your curtain twitching and mind your own business
Is your daughter living in a house where someone has confirmed symptomatic Covid? (That is the scenario in the op). If she is she really shouldn't be going out. Well not until we are told that the daily testing ( as mentioned by PP) is an ok alternative

If she is supposed to be isolating because of a contact at work or school etc, but has no symptoms, then although still not great, I can understand that it might be essential for some people to get out and would say live and let live in that instance

jihhy · 17/07/2021 08:31

@warmfluffytowels but this thread isn't about whether people should be paid to self isolate, as I said most would agree.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 17/07/2021 08:31

@BritWifeInUSA

Things soon changed from “we are all in this together” to “report your neighbors because you heard that they may have been in contact with someone who may have tested positive on a test with a pretty high failure rate”.
It's probably the same bunch of curtain twitchers who were reporting their neighbours for going out more than once a day during lockdown or getting non essential shopping.
Branleuse · 17/07/2021 08:31

Are we expecting zero covid now??

Lovemusic33 · 17/07/2021 08:31

A child at my dd’s school did not isolate when there sibling tested positive, it resulted in half the school having to isolate when he then tested positive, if he had isolated then all those kids wouldn’t have had to miss out on yet another week of school?

OP, I think it depends on the situation, how close a contact they were, wether they are testing daily, wether they are in close contact with vulnerable un vaccinated people. If I was asked to isolate I would probably ignore it, I’m double vaccinated and off work so I don’t really come in to contact with many people, so I would just shop online and keep my distance from people but would still go out for a walk etc..
I think it should be down to common sense rather than law, people have had enough of having to isolate when they don’t even know where or when they were in contact with a positive case.

Milkandhoney888 · 17/07/2021 08:35

Absolutely not. You've no idea what their personal circumstances are. Everyone who is vulnerable is now vaccinated. I've had to isolate because my fit and healthy children MIIGHT have been in contact with someone who was positive. I can assure you when you don't get paid to be out of work it's the difference between having food on the table.

TheReluctantPhoenix · 17/07/2021 08:40

People who say it should be down to ‘circumstances’ and ‘common sense’: well, the circumstances are pretty clear, she is working with vulnerable people. And she clearly isn’t using common sense. That leaves option 3, being reported.

If she has done nothing wrong, she will be able to explain.

Same as I would report someone stumbling out of a pub getting into a car and driving off. They might have been drinking Ribena and tripped over an uneven part of the pavement. If so, they will be thanked and sent on their way after blowing negative. Not a major problem.

m0therofdragons · 17/07/2021 08:41

I’m so glad that my rl experiences are not like those I see on here! All my friends and work colleagues isolate when needed. Maybe because I work in a hospital, if a colleague came in when they should be isolating without a risk assessment that would be a disciplinary - not only are they putting patients at risk but could take out a load of staff for 10 days meaning we’d be unable to provide safe care. The number of staff currently isolating already means we’re working below required numbers on the wards. People’s desire not to “dob” someone in being greater than the risk of someone dying is mad. I mean, so long as you’re in the cool gang hey Hmm

warmfluffytowels · 17/07/2021 08:45

[quote jihhy]@warmfluffytowels but this thread isn't about whether people should be paid to self isolate, as I said most would agree.

[/quote]
No, but the lack of pay could be the reason this person isn't isolating.

jihhy · 17/07/2021 08:46

absolutely but it also may not be

Youdiditanyway · 17/07/2021 08:47

Big brother is watching you.

FrangipaniDeLaSqueegeeMop · 17/07/2021 08:47

@Themeparklover

You absolutely should and need to phone the 119 line who will pass the details to track and trace tier 3.
119 is primarily for people to get medical advice and they are completely inundated. It's not for snitches to take up a phone call that could actually help somebody else
LittleBearPad · 17/07/2021 08:47

@OhNoNoNoNoNo

I would definitely report it. Obviously!!! It's not comparable to many of the other minor lock down breaches that go on. It's a POSITIVE case deliberately carrying on working with MEDICALLY VULNERABLE people.

I wouldn't hesitate.

I'm curious if the all the posters who disagree would report other offences such as theft or violence. What about if the knew a guy was hitting his girlfriend. Would they just keep quiet?

It’s not a positive case working with medically vulnerable people. It’s someone who lives with a positive case working with vulnerable people.

Not necessarily great but at least get your facts in order before adding the Pearl clutchy capitals.

ButteringMyArse · 17/07/2021 08:49

Nah, none of that Stasi shit for me. Also, the friend may very well realise it was you who did it, since she'll know she didn't, so there could be consequences for you there. I certainly wouldn't let that one pass if I knew someone had shopped me.

minatrina · 17/07/2021 08:49

@Milkandhoney888

Absolutely not. You've no idea what their personal circumstances are. Everyone who is vulnerable is now vaccinated. I've had to isolate because my fit and healthy children MIIGHT have been in contact with someone who was positive. I can assure you when you don't get paid to be out of work it's the difference between having food on the table.
Why do people parrot the "everyone who is vulnerable has been vaccinated" line out. Is medical understanding in this country really this bad?

Not everyone who is vulnerable is medically able to get a vaccine. Many vulnerable people would have had the vaccine without it actually working for example due to having a suppressed immune system. Surely everyone knows this by now?

LittleBearPad · 17/07/2021 08:49

@Branleuse

Are we expecting zero covid now??
There’ll be a long fucking wait.

Australia etc are going to have to give up on that one too unless they want to lock themselves away from the world.