To not self isolate?

[severeearache]

Have been unwell for several days - ear infection, seen a GP, been to A&E, all sorts . Ended up yesterday with a fever of 38.5. . Almost certainly linked to the fact that my ear is discharging pus and three times the size it should be . I’ve no cough, fever disappeared within 12 hours, no flu symptoms, no cough, no loss of taste or smell, no diarrhoea or vomiting - just a very, very obvious ear infection . Negative lateral flow every day for the last week .

NHS24 said last night I must now self isolate as I spiked a fever, have to stay in for ten days as I ‘probably have COVID’, that my flatmates have to isolate too and I’ve to to take a PCR test .

GP rang later on via covid19 hub and said that was nonsense and she would just carry on as normal as problem is a bacterial ear infection, not Covid19 !!

Is it a legal requirement to isolate if NHS24 suggest it? I remember being told to do same about a year ago with a UTI and similar then, GP phoned and said nonsense, fever was a UTI confirmed by dip test and carry on as normal …

Can you not just take a PCR to rule it out and then if its negative you won't need to isolate

Just test and then you'll know

You have a symptom that requires isolating until a negative PCR. Obviously you know it’s from something else, but the rules can’t have that kind of nuance within them otherwise everyone would say “I don’t need to isolate, I know this is from something else”.
So to follow the rules, yes you’d need to. Since you’ve said NHS24, I assume you’re in Scotland so I don’t know the legalities around having to comply if they text you.

And, given that the isolating applies to your flat mates, even if you’re happy overruling it and following GP advice, you’d also be asking them to choose to either isolate or break the rules.
Obviously they may be perfectly happy to do either, but I don’t think you can decide without talking to them.

Just get a test, what harm is it

I wouldn't isolate and I've followed all other rules. The GP, a medical professional who represents the NHS has told you its nonsense and I think their opinion overrides the opinion of the test and trace person who told you this because a computer told them to

Just take a pcr. I'm not sure why you wouldn't have already tbh.

@wineandcheeseplease

Just get a test, what harm is it

It’s just getting the test that’s the difficult bit - I’m in halls of residence … have spoken to reception team who said they can hand a test through my door but can’t post it for me, and I wouldn’t be allowed out either as would have to pass through communal areas/social rooms to get through the front door . That and I’m not feeling well enough to walk out to find a post box even if I was allowed out .

Am also desperately needing to do a wash - have no clean bath towels or bedding (have been ill week and a heavy period they finished on Tues) . All a bit of a mess .

I’ll phone reception again and plead with them to do a load of washing for me - and see if I can find someone who can post the PCR test too .

And also I dont think she can have it both ways -

She either thinks it's a minor medical procedure and therefore although she might prefer to have support, she will be fine without it.

Or she views it as a baby already and having to make a decision she is uncomfortable with for various emotional reasons in which case she should recognise it may also be too emotional for you.

It's either really self absorbed or selfish that she has asked you this

Sorry wrong thread!

You shouldn’t be going anywhere until you’ve tested negative. I too didn’t have any obvious Covid symptoms, no cough, no loss of taste or smell, just a scratchy throat. Turned out to be Covid. You shouldn’t take the risk.

Can’t a flatmate post it? They’ll be keen to get the results back ASAP, and you’re allowed to leave to post PCRs, even if you walk through communal areas surely? Otherwise no one living in a block of flats would be able to get a test.

I’d follow the advice of your GP.

Hope you feel better soon, sounds horrid, especially on your own

I'd follow your GP's advice

Just go and get a pcr test although I agree with you that you most likely haven't got covid. Walking through communal areas is a non-issue, people living in flats can go out for a test.

All sorted . Courier picking up test at 8am, reception will come past my flat at 7am . I’m allowed to do my laundry, if I walk down to do it after 11/midnight tonight and go down to pick it up after 6am or so . They said there’s no other option, so best just to do it when it’s very quiet - she said it’s guidelines, not law, and said as long as I make the effort to follow the guidelines as close I can they’ll be fine .

I took my DD to UTC last year because of an ear infection.

Her temp was over 38 when we got there so the nurses rushed to get gloves and eye protection and told us to wait in the cubicle, wasn't allowed to leave it.
I heard them talking about how the room would be reported for a deep clean.

Dr came, confirmed it was indeed her ear and as the source of the fever was clearly identified there was no need to treat it as potential covid.

Antibiotics prescribed and off we went.

I would just follow GP advice OP.

Not sure if it’s different in Scotland but in England if your housemates are double vaccinated they don’t need to isolate, that changed in august.

Yes it is different in Scotland. If there is a positive case in the household then they all isolate until they take PCR tests. Only a negative PCR will release double vaccinated people/children from isolation

I wouldn’t isolate for a diagnosed reason for a temp.