am i classed as a close contact?

[contactornotthatisthequestion]

hear me out before you shout please!
nipped into old work place today as its panini weds and had to pass an hour waiting for something. old colleague is suffering with what she tought was hayfever as she does get it bad. shes been doing lfts daily and have all beeen fine but shes done one this evening and its positive. now the reason im unsure if i am not not is after looking on the gov site, i havent been f2f with her at all, 1m or less.
the only time i was near her was 10 secs to place a cuppa on her desk and then walked over to a seat at the other side of the room and there i stopped. it was a good 8ft min at all times from her and i was there approx 2 hrs.
im questioning this as im due to go away on mon and also have some events this weekend and one of the people im going with is cev, as am i but we are both doubled jabbed too

opinions please but no need to be nasty, if the concensous is i am a close contact i will isolate, im not going out the house again til fri in the meantime anyway

I wouldn't class that as close contact.

DD's BF has got it, we had a family BBQ at the weekend but were all outside and everyone washed hands before/after eating. DH, DD and I have isolated as we're living in the house but the others haven't.

oh i am also planning to do daily lfts either way and im sorry for the typos theres, the heat is frying my brain!

Totally missing the point of the thread sorry op but what's panini Wednesday?

Be careful with the LFTs as I’m positive now (double jabbed) and they didn’t show positive for 3 days despite symptoms. So don’t over rely on them. I feel dreadful so please be careful mixing with anyone vulnerable

At work we've been advised (info from PHE) that close contact is within 1metre for one minute or more, and within 2metres for 15 mins or more.

@bobcatbobcat

Totally missing the point of the thread sorry op but what's panini Wednesday?

theres a takeaway van that comes round on a weds and they sell the most amazing paninis, we also had jacket tattie friday

Honestly, I think if you were in the same room for two hours then yes, you are a close contact. If you were outdoors it would be different, but COVID spreads easily indoors even with social distancing. The guidance says that you are a close contact if you are 2m (ie 7 feet) apart for 15 minutes you are a close contact. You may have been marginally further apart, but for 8x longer which is important too.

Were you both wearing masks? That would reduce the risk a bit.

I would isolate, if it were me. Bad luck for you, hope your colleague is ok.

@Darbs76

Be careful with the LFTs as I’m positive now (double jabbed) and they didn’t show positive for 3 days despite symptoms. So don’t over rely on them. I feel dreadful so please be careful mixing with anyone vulnerable

If you have symptoms you need a PCR test not 3 days of lfts. Why did you keep doing that? I'm constantly amazed that people don't know that, it's banged on about enough

In your situation I wouldn't consider myself a close contact OP

Hmm my friend caught Covid from sitting in an office with someone five metres away with masks on and windows open for four hours.

Depends on the set up of your work place. Does it have lots of natural ventilation and open windows, or air con that circulates the same air around the building? That can make a huge difference.

@dancinfeet

Depends on the set up of your work place. Does it have lots of natural ventilation and open windows, or air con that circulates the same air around the building? That can make a huge difference.

no aircon or fans, windows open and usually door too

In same room for 2 hours. That's a close contact imo

According to track and trace yes. We've done a lot of contact tracing at work and you would be a close contact.

You need to isolate until she gets a PCR test. Lateral flow is useless.

I'd say yes, you were in the room for 2 hours with her.

Nope, not a close contact. You were socially distanced except for those few seconds. If you were at a dance class or restaurant you wouldn’t be classed as a close contact.

The definition of “contact” for contact tracing purposes is very specific. It doesn’t take into account face masks or ventilation or being in the same room for two hours. It’s a specific distance for a specific amount of time. It doesn’t sound like your interaction with your colleague meets the definition. But if your colleague has a different view of things and gives test and trace your name and contact details you would be required to isolate regardless.

From what you are describing, not a close contact by track and trace definitions. Enjoy your even

@Darbs76

Be careful with the LFTs as I’m positive now (double jabbed) and they didn’t show positive for 3 days despite symptoms. So don’t over rely on them. I feel dreadful so please be careful mixing with anyone vulnerable

You should have got PCR for symptoms. LFT & PCR's test in different ways.

I'd say you were a close contact and should isolate.

I would say not, based on the fact my Dp was sat 3 meters away from colleague all day and was told he wasn't a close contact and didn't need to isolate or test. Even sharing the same kitchen. 2 meters would have been a close contact though.

I’m not sure it is!

At my dd’s school they didn’t class them as close contacts unless they sat within 2 m of the child who tested positive. Seemed to work ok for them.

I think it is borderline legally so depending on your holiday plans you might be able to go but whether you should is a different issue and the nature of the holiday and likelihood of exposing others (e.g. on a plane, in a hotel) would be a factor for me. At that point you would be five days in and lateral flow might help your decision. I would though cancel my plans for the weekend just in case.

I would hate to potentially expose my CEV friend.

According to the app, also 4m for 30 minutes is a close contact. How big is the room? And that was calibrated before the delta came along.

I'm not sure if you're legally a close contact but if it were me I wouldn't spend time with a CEV person after that. Sorry.