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AIBU?

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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:
sst1234 · 09/12/2021 00:28

You’d have to be a mug to self isolate if you’re double jabbed. Unfortunately some people like being locked down inside. The same ones are active supporters of general restrictions and lockdowns.

montysma1 · 09/12/2021 00:38

Because "all these jabs" will stop you getting seriously ill.
And by not self isolating you are liable to kill vulnerable people or those who cannot get vaccinated.
Oh and ylu will help keep this going for years and years.
And help the virus mutate to vaccine resistance.

sst1234 · 09/12/2021 00:48

@montysma1

Because "all these jabs" will stop you getting seriously ill. And by not self isolating you are liable to kill vulnerable people or those who cannot get vaccinated. Oh and ylu will help keep this going for years and years. And help the virus mutate to vaccine resistance.
Where did you think the virus is going? Are you hoping that if we all hide away, it will just go away. It’s here to stay.
milkyaqua · 09/12/2021 00:56

You’d have to be a mug to self isolate if you’re double jabbed.

By 'mug' you mean... not a sociopath?

nordica · 09/12/2021 00:56

Depends on the situation. If someone in your household has covid then is it really necessary to use public transport to go to a busy restaurant to meet friends that week if you could see them a few days later instead?

Bigoldhag · 09/12/2021 00:57

I’d be fuming with my friends if they came to dinner after contact with a positive case and didn’t tell me. It might not be legally wrong but its completely unfair to not give people choices.

I’d certainly not go to dinner with someone living with a Positive person even if they had a clear PCR until enough time passed.

Bigoldhag · 09/12/2021 00:57

However I would not pass any judgement on them doing necessary things like going to work, food shopping, medical appts etc.

SivvyPlath · 09/12/2021 01:13

@milkyaqua

You’d have to be a mug to self isolate if you’re double jabbed.

By 'mug' you mean... not a sociopath?

Ooh, a nice switch up from selfish.
SivvyPlath · 09/12/2021 01:13

But no, I wouldn't isolate.

saraclara · 09/12/2021 01:14

@Bigoldhag

I’d be fuming with my friends if they came to dinner after contact with a positive case and didn’t tell me. It might not be legally wrong but its completely unfair to not give people choices.

I’d certainly not go to dinner with someone living with a Positive person even if they had a clear PCR until enough time passed.

Yes. I'd want to be given the choice of sometime they lived with was positive..

Personally, if a family member was positive, I'd LFT every day, and only go out where necessary (food shopping etc) at quiet times.

If it was just someone is spent an hour or two with with who'd tested positive, I'd inform friends before meeting, and LFT beforehand if they were happy to meet.

Blossom64265 · 09/12/2021 01:17

I agree with your friend. If you know you might be exposing people and the outing is not essential, you should stay home.

At the absolute minimum, you should tell the people you are meeting to give them a choice. In a restaurant scenario that doesn’t help the people at the next table, your waiter, or the person you sit next to en route so it is still inconsiderate.

user1487194234 · 09/12/2021 01:31

If I don't work I Don't get paid
No WFH for me
I comply with the law but can't afford to take the moral high ground

needmoreshinys · 09/12/2021 01:46

If either myself or my partner got it, my 9 year old would be self isolating , He has the ability to infect 40+ people and trying to say to him, you need to keep 2m apart from everyone just incase is not going to happen.

I have started making my own rules up

5keletor · 09/12/2021 05:11

I'd limit all but necessary outings, if any were really needed, until I got a negative PCR result. I would probably just cancel any meetings with friends and family outright, or maybe ask if they wanted to go for a walk instead so I could keep my distance, just in case.

Banani · 09/12/2021 06:00

When DS had covid we didn’t completely isolate, but we reduced what we were doing to what was absolutely necessary. I worked from home but would’ve gone in if I’d had to, did food shopping, outdoor exercise etc. By coincidence DH was off work so we did keep the youngest off nursery, but they would’ve have gone in if DH had to go in. We cancelled non essential things like socialising. Not because we enjoy staying in as some have suggested above, but because we believe it’s the right thing to do, a balance between minimising risk as much as possible whilst also living our lives.

DramaLlllama · 09/12/2021 06:22

When DD tested positive, both DH and I limited ckntact as much as we could. Worked from home (I work kn a hospotal so was not allowed in for 10 days anyway) and only went out twice for food shopping. It seemed the right approach to be cautious. However if either of us HAD to go into work, we would have done but we wouldn’t have got out for dinner with friends or similar.

DinosApple · 09/12/2021 06:28

There would be no one left to teach children. Plus no children at school. Plus anyone with primary kids would need to stay home to look after them. I wouldn't get paid as a teaching assistant, and my yr 8 child has been a close contact pretty much weekly from October.

When the staff rocked up in September and the rules changed yet again we were all horrified that child close contacts didn't need to isolate, even when it was a case within their own household. We knew that would mean Covid would rip through school and staff.

What's helping is bubbles again for classes with Covid, masks for adults out of class, daily LFT for 5 days, plus PCR for adult and child close contacts. But those rules come from county level I think.

BluebellCockleshell123 · 09/12/2021 06:37

I think common sense applies here. No you don’t HAVE to isolate if it’s a close contact and you are fully vaccinated and tested negative, but sometimes it’s probably a good idea.

However my DCs tested positive last week and although I had a negative PCR test the day after they tested positive, I cancelled going to a friends house 2 days later because I figured I might still catch it from the kids as we were in the same house. I was still going to the supermarket etc just trying not to spend extended peoples of time with others indoors.

If it had been someone at work that I was a close contact with then I probably would have been happy to go out as I wouldn’t have been in continued contact with them after they tested positive.

I guess it depends on the situation.

rrhuth · 09/12/2021 06:41

I agree with your friend that you should isolate from non-essential things if you can. I disagree with the rule change to not isolating if a household contact of a positive case.

I understand some people are impacted financially, I think going to work is very different to socialising.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 09/12/2021 06:42

I'd have to stay home with DS if he was positive because he's too young to be at home on his own.

If it was a friend or close contact I'd spent time with then no I wouldn't isolate if I was testing negative, I'd get the sack if I didn't go into work when I legally do not have to isolate and I can't afford that.

RockinHorseShit · 09/12/2021 06:42

I agree with your friend. I wouldn't even slightly risk potentially making others ill

Wrongkindofovercoat · 09/12/2021 06:51

How would you know if you have the omicron variant ? I thought they were only checking 20% of the PCR's for it ? So you could be positive for omicron, have a positive PCR, but not have it checked for omicron, so how would you know ?

Nothinbut · 09/12/2021 06:55

When DH and DS had it I isolated as it was easy enough for me, I worked from home, we had a food delivery, and are fortunate enough to have a big garden- so it wasn't overly a hardship and felt the right thing to do. If this wasn't the case and I lived in a pokey flat, had to go out to work or not be paid and couldn't get any food in then I would have gone out. I think if you can it's sensible, if not or don't want to then meh

MiddleParking · 09/12/2021 07:09

I wouldn’t automatically impose arbitrary extra restrictions on myself but I’d LFT and use a bit of judgement based on who the close contact was and what the situation was. I certainly wouldn’t be avoiding food shopping or anything, but I might swerve a packed pub or gig if the +ve contact was my husband or kids.

AtiaoftheJulii · 09/12/2021 07:14

Those immunosuppressed people and pregnant women are likely in contact with healthcare staff who have been in contact with Covid. It’s far more likely to spread in that situation yet the government see no problem with this.

Except the healthcare staff will be wearing PPE all the time, which you’re probably not doing if you go out for dinner.

PP mentioned having to work as NHS frontline despite her children having covid - in our trust if you have a household member with covid you are not allowed to continue with a patient-facing role. Which I think is sensible! As an HCP myself, my second biggest covid fear (#1 is my immunosuppressed dd getting it) is passing it to a patient.

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