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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:
twinkletoesimnot · 09/12/2021 07:19

I personally would if a household contact.
I can't see how it makes sense not to.

That's mainly how it's spreading in schools- siblings / children coming in with infected family members, but I guess that's what the gov wanted to happen.

SickAndTiredAgain · 09/12/2021 07:31

I agree with you, with the caveat that I would tell the person I was seeing. I wouldn’t turn up at someone’s house not having mentioned I was a contact.

Unsure33 · 09/12/2021 07:34

Depends on your circumstances. I would test and make sure I kept my distance from everyone that I could.

caringcarer · 09/12/2021 07:36

I think your friend is right. We should all do what we can to try to limit spread of Covid. You don't need to go to dinner parties if you have been in close contact with someone with Covid. Why would you even want to.go.to.an event where you could spread Covid before you realise you have it. If everyone would take personal responsibility for their own actions there would be less spread.

caringcarer · 09/12/2021 07:40

My son's school has teachers at home for 10 days every time someone they taught gets Covid. He has been at home a lot as a consequence and missed many days in Year 12. Just set more home work. No online learning.

Original poster
Inkling2 · 09/12/2021 07:44

I guess for me it depends who the contact is. As PPs say a continued contact i.e. someone you're living with is very different to someone you saw once a few days ago and won't see again after they are positive. Providing you have tested / do lateral flows before going, I really don't see why it would be a problem to continue as normal in the latter scenario. So we only go out for necessary things for 10 days every time we are within breathing distance of someone who tests positive now, no matter who that is and no matter the fact you yourself have no symptoms and are getting negative results on your own tests? That seems excessive to me.

If my husband or child tested positive thats very different. I would have continued exposure to them and could catch it at any time being in the home with them daily. A colleague I saw two days ago for a few hours and will not not see again? No, I wouldn't isolate if I was getting negative results and had no symptoms myself.

OP posts:
DwightShrutesgirlfriend · 09/12/2021 07:50

Four friends of mine went out together last Wednesday. One of them had been in contact with someone with Covid and had taken a PCR on Tuesday. His result can back positive on Thursday when he told the other three friends he had shared dinner and a taxi with. All three were positive by Saturday. I think he was morally wrong not to tell the others beforehand so they could make their own decisions about the dinner.

Original poster
Inkling2 · 09/12/2021 07:51

@DwightShrutesgirlfriend

Four friends of mine went out together last Wednesday. One of them had been in contact with someone with Covid and had taken a PCR on Tuesday. His result can back positive on Thursday when he told the other three friends he had shared dinner and a taxi with. All three were positive by Saturday. I think he was morally wrong not to tell the others beforehand so they could make their own decisions about the dinner.
Well yes if he went our before his test result came back. If he'd had a negative result before he went though, I don't see why he shouldn't have gone.
OP posts:
DwightShrutesgirlfriend · 09/12/2021 07:56

@Inkling2 Sorry if my post wasn't clear. He had taken the test and was waiting for the result. I just feel everyone has their own level of risk and should be given the information they need to make decisions. One of the three infected people has a terminally ill partner and, I'm sure, would not have wanted to go to dinner if he'd had that information.

ElectraBlue · 09/12/2021 08:06

I would just do a rapid test and if it is negative I would get on with my life. If not frankly we would be stuck at home almost permanently considering how many people are infected now...

If it was someone I lived with who tests positive though I would isolate with them as I would assume that the chance of me contracting it would be high.

I am triple- jabbed

JustDanceAddict · 09/12/2021 08:08

I would tell friends/boss a household member was positive and probably cancel social plans, but still go to shops/for a walk.
My thinking is I’ve had 3 jabs - so i can get on with normal life to some extent. All vaccines carry risk so I took that risk so we wouldn’t need to lock down again .

catgirl1976 · 09/12/2021 08:11

I think if you're a close contact but not required to isolate you should still certainly limit your non-essential contact yes. So I wouldn't go to a crowded event, go round to a friends house etc but if I had to go to the shop for food, have to go to work etc then I would but with as many precautions as possible (mask, gloves, distance, ventilation etc).

Neurodiversitydoctor · 09/12/2021 08:15

We had Covid in the house in August just as the rules changed. The guidance then was to take extra precautions. So minimised contacts :quick masked, distanced shops, kept my distance at work. I wouldn't have gone to the pub.If I was triple vaccinated and knew it was Delta I might re-considered.

ElftonWednesday · 09/12/2021 08:16

I have a wedding reception to attend this weekend so will have more social contact indoors than I've had in ages. I'll be doing regular lateral flow tests and getting my booster shortly, but I'm not altering any social plans.

ElftonWednesday · 09/12/2021 08:18

When DDs have been identfied as a close contact they've had PCR tests and I would do the same. I had a PCR when I had a cold as well.

Maverickess · 09/12/2021 08:22

I work in a care home and I'd want to know if someone I was having social contact with had been in close contact because I probably wouldn't go, because I wouldn't want that on my shoulders and the blame that would inevitably follow. But that's my choice for my reasons and I would expect anyone else to make their own choice for their own reasons and not think negatively of them for carrying on. It would be me not going, I'd expect to be given the information but wouldn't expect that someone else would not carry on as normal - it's my decision to make to affect myself ifyswim, not to demand someone else does something to suit me.
I have to go to work unless (or until) I test positive even if I've got a positive case at home, I think that's wrong considering the people I work with, but if I don't work then I don't get paid and I would be putting my job at risk too if I didn't go, I just can't afford that.
I am vaccinated, had a booster and wear PPE so the risks are as low as possible when I'm there, it's still not something I would like to face though, knowing that I'm higher risk and still going to work if I pass it on, but short of taking unpaid and unauthorised absence from work there's nothing I can do.
I can see though that it's a no win situation where heath and social care are concerned because if everyone with a close contact isolated then we could find ourselves very short staffed and that's dangerous too.
On balance the way it is is probably the best solution, but it's not something I'll be comfortable with if I need to face that situation.

Lalliella · 09/12/2021 08:27

I self-isolated when DD had covid even though I didn’t have to. Partly to protect the vulnerable. Partly because she had it for 4 days before she tested positive so I was pretty sure I’d get it (I didn’t). And partly as my own little fuck off to the government who seem to want us to all go round spreading it otherwise why relax that restriction?

Exhausteddog · 09/12/2021 08:27

My DS had it a few weeks ago. I wfh as much as I could but on the days I went to work I wore a mask and made colleagues and clients aware, and gave clients the option to rearrange appointments or collection. We were meant to go to a party but didn't think it was right to go. I pcr tested on day 4 and day 9 and did lfts in between.

Helpstopthepain · 09/12/2021 08:32

I would be sacked.

Twilight7777 · 09/12/2021 08:44

In theory I agree with your friend, however most places of work wouldn’t pay sick leave other than ssp

Fizbosshoes · 09/12/2021 09:04

I've said a lot of times on here when people are shouting about others being selfish etc its, its much easier to "do whats morally right" or "behave unselfishly" "think of others" etc when its not your job or household income on the line.

A lot of the people that I know taking, taking the moral high ground are either wfh anyway, have secure jobs that can be done from home or SAHP, therefore no immediate or detrimental (financial) impact.

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