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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it's NOT morally wrong to not self isolate?

96 replies

Inkling2 · 08/12/2021 19:45

I'm talking about situations in which you don't legally have to isolate. So you're a contact but you are double jabbed for example (Omicron cases aside).

Discussing this with a friend who thinks regardless of whether you have to, you should isolate if you can.

So do you agree? Do you think even if not legally required, we should all still be isolating even if we're vaccinated?

My opinion is what's the point of getting all these jabs if we can't get on with life somewhat afterwards.

OP posts:
OnceuponaRainbow18 · 08/12/2021 19:46

Ummm I’m clearly a sheep as just follow the rules blindly 😂

Original poster
Inkling2 · 08/12/2021 19:46

Sorry should add, she thinks it's morally wrong to not isolate if you know you're a contact even if you don't legally have to, if you can. The example she gave was things like going to a dinner with friends, you don't have to go to that so you shouldn't.

Imo, I'd do a LTF beforehand but still go.

OP posts:
OnceuponaRainbow18 · 08/12/2021 19:48

I’m a close contact daily in my work so in her case I would never get to go anywhere

Cheerbear24 · 08/12/2021 19:48

I’ve lost track of whether we need to self isolate as a close contact or not now?
I fully believed the govt last year when they said vaccines are the way out of this (repeating lockdowns), although it’s now clear that jabs don’t stop you from infecting others.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 08/12/2021 19:48

Depends on the situation. Going to the theatre or a Nursing home is different to going to the supermarket for essential supplies or dropping the kids at school, or going to work.

OnceuponaRainbow18 · 08/12/2021 19:49

@Cheerbear24

You don’t, unless it’s the new variant then you do… I think!’

Original poster
Inkling2 · 08/12/2021 19:50

[quote OnceuponaRainbow18]@Cheerbear24

You don’t, unless it’s the new variant then you do… I think!’[/quote]
Yes that's right if you're double jabbed or under 18 you don't need to isolate as a contact anymore unless the person has tested positive with the Omicron variant.

OP posts:
PleasantBirthday · 08/12/2021 19:50

I would err on the side of caution in the dinner scenario. Why risk spreading it?

YetAnotherManicMonday1234 · 08/12/2021 19:50

There’d be no teachers or hospital workers left if they had to isolate every time they were a contact. So no. Vaccines were meant to be our way out. The death rate has remained low, so the strategy was working, omnicron aside.

Moonbabysmum · 08/12/2021 19:51

I think you are supposed to limit your social interactions, so work and essential food shopping = ok, dinner with friends and curves shopping = not fine.

Personally, depending on how close the contest was, I'd fully self isolate, because I'm lucky in that I can work from home. If one household member gets it, we'd isolate together etc. I think it's better to if you can. But I can understand that some people don't have that option though.

But dinner with friends, I do think is wrong personally.

Iamanicepersonreally · 08/12/2021 19:51

I agree with your friend

thatstheloveiwantiwantlove · 08/12/2021 19:52

If you can you should ie if it's a member of your immediate household who has tested positive - my employer and most people I knows employer is supporting this and allowing WFH to enable self isolation to continue. But appreciate that's a luxury for those who work can be done from home and
Not possible for many others

DrinkFeckArseBrick · 08/12/2021 19:52

It depends on the circumstance. If I'd spent all day in close contact with someone who later tested positive then I wouldn't go and visit an elderly frail person the week after even if it was legal. I wouldn't stay at home but I'd be more careful than usual.

Xmassprout · 08/12/2021 19:53

I don't think I would visit friends or family if it would involve sitting in an enclosed room together. I have friends and family who are vulnerable so just wouldn't want to risk it.

I would however still do things like food shopping

I don't necessarily think it's morally wrong to carry on as normal, but I don't think its always the most sensible thing to do especially with anyone that's clinically vulnerable

Justwingingit2005 · 08/12/2021 19:53

My opinion is if someone I lived with tested positive I would self isolate until my pcr result was back. I wouldn't assume I didn't have it.
I'm double jabbed and technically don't need to isolate after close contact but I would get a pcr, but I know several people who had kids with covid and the parents didn't test themselves just carried on as normal then within 7 days or so they got symptoms and subsequently positive and one of those people had been to see their relative at an old person's home!

Invisimamma · 08/12/2021 19:53

My ds and dp have tested positive,. I'm negative an double vaxed but I'm still limiting contact. No socialising, working from home (work told me to stay at home), but I have been to the shop for food and the post office to return something. It feels like the right thing to do, even though it's really fucking boring!

Nevertime · 08/12/2021 19:53

If I knew I was a contact, but didn't legally have to isolate, I would do the things I'm obliged to do (work if I can't wfh) but take extra care with distancing and avoid as much contact with others as I could.

I wouldn't, for example, go to the pub or visit friends.

MrsPerfect12 · 08/12/2021 19:54

I would last flow and if negative say to my friends in advance that I had been a contact if they were happy then I would go. They've done the same with me. Time to get on with life.

LastStarFighter · 08/12/2021 19:54

Surely you do an LFT before you go anywhere if you are a close contact.

If you don’t actually HAVE covid, you can’t infect anyone with it Confused

Nevertime · 08/12/2021 19:55

@Justwingingit2005

My opinion is if someone I lived with tested positive I would self isolate until my pcr result was back. I wouldn't assume I didn't have it. I'm double jabbed and technically don't need to isolate after close contact but I would get a pcr, but I know several people who had kids with covid and the parents didn't test themselves just carried on as normal then within 7 days or so they got symptoms and subsequently positive and one of those people had been to see their relative at an old person's home!
When would you test though? Getting a negative test at the start of your family member's illness doesn't mean you won't have it by the end of the week.
LaBelleSausage · 08/12/2021 19:56

I think it's immoral not to make friends aware of it if you have plans with them.
Let them asses their own risk and decide if they want to see you.

You never know who has contact with people who are pregnant or immunosuppressive or high risk etc.

DietrichandDiMaggio · 08/12/2021 19:57

A teacher in the year group I work in recently had covid. Four other members of staff were identified as close contacts, so we all had PCR tests, which were negative. Had we all had to isolate, the school would have probably had to close the year group, because there would have been nobody to teach them

Nevertime · 08/12/2021 19:58

@DietrichandDiMaggio

A teacher in the year group I work in recently had covid. Four other members of staff were identified as close contacts, so we all had PCR tests, which were negative. Had we all had to isolate, the school would have probably had to close the year group, because there would have been nobody to teach them
Yes, but isn't that all the more reason to limit et you contact with others?
mindutopia · 08/12/2021 19:58

I think it depends how on the sort of contact you are. A contact of some guy at work who you only saw briefly a week ago? No, I wouldn’t if I felt well.

Dh currently has COVID. Dc and I currently negative (awaiting test results but negative on LFT). Dc are home from nursery and school as that’s their guidance if someone in the household is positive. Dh has to be home anyway and I wfh anyway so seems a bit wrong to send them in.

As I am negative, I did go to the shop today as we needed milk and a few other things (really carefully with social distancing and hand gel just to be on the safe side). I certainly wouldn’t meet a friend for lunch though as the chances of me being infectious at some point are pretty high as we’re all on top of each other.

SummerBluez · 08/12/2021 19:59

God no I work in a school that have just had a huge break out so would have to be permanently self isolating. I'm not altering my plans at all. Have theme park Santa sleepover, panto, meals out booked. Will be going to all whether I'm a close contact or not.