Will you self isolate if covid positive test?

[Monopolyiscrap]

Compulsory self-isolation is ending if you test positive with covid. Instead, people are being advised to choose to self-isolate.
In reality, I think many people will not. I would not get paid if I self-isolate but am well enough to work, so why would I forego a week's wages?

So will you self-isolate if you test positive with covid?

YABU - Yes I will self-isolate
YANBU - No I will not self-isolate

Where do we draw the line though. There are many contagious illnesses and we won't be testing every day for everything that could potentially infect someone else.

It is completely irresponsible to mix with people with ANY contagious illness but with Covid unless we all test every day there will be someone going out with it but are asymptomatic. I am not sure how we can avoid this? If I became ill I would stay in, same as I would for CP, flu, bad colds etc.

When My DS1 had CP, we kept DS2 in as we felt it was likely he'd get it too. He caught it on the 10th day. DS1 would have had a few days when he had it and was contagious but there was no way of knowing. Covid is no different potentially.

Re people not being ill with covid, I know full well that there are people hospitalised with it however there are people hospitalised with many illnesses. I am really not sure what the answer is long term. Shall we test and isolate forever even if symptomatic? What about other more serious illnesses? And yes it is like a bad cold for the majority.

Just to be clear, if I had covid I would obviously isolate. What I am saying is I won't be testing every 5 mins when I have no symptoms.

I won't be testing unless ill. If I test positive then I will, to an extent. And by that I mean, I'll still do the school run (teens, I don't get out of the car), I'll go outside for walks...but I won't be in the supermarket etc

I think the figures are that less people have died of covid this winter so far than we might expect die of flu in a bad flu year (this may well be because we had so many excess deaths in the previous winter and many who might have died of flu this winter died during none winter months so there is a big cavet here).

Earlier variants of covid had high hospitalisation rates than flu, which has been a big issue. Perhaps a bigger one.

The overall CFR for covid has been higher than for flu, but it looks as if omicron plus vaccines has seen a big drop off.

I think this change is definitely influencing why we've already seen a reduction in the isolation period and the further relaxation is being brought forward.

Yes I will self-isolate. Because I am not a selfish dick.

I hope those of you who are happy to work with COVID will at least wear masks, and warn your colleagues and clients that you are spreading the infection, so the rest of us can take precautions.

This is a nasty virus which can make people very I’ll, and have long-lasting effects.

most flu infections are asymptomatic

We maintain (on average) strong resistance to becoming very ill with respiratory viruses and other germs by being very frequently exposed to them. The idea "you should hide away if you have any contagious illness" as a blanket policy is actually dangerous to population health.

At any one time, ~15% of population carries Group A strep should all maintain high vigilence, get tested and hide away to prevent occasional cases of scarlet fever?

About 25% of people carry Group B at any one moment should all maintain high vigilence, get tested and hide away -- to prevent any GBS in newborns?

@LaChanticleer

Yes I will self-isolate. Because I am not a selfish dick.

I hope those of you who are happy to work with COVID will at least wear masks, and warn your colleagues and clients that you are spreading the infection, so the rest of us can take precautions.

This is a nasty virus which can make people very I’ll, and have long-lasting effects.

Yawn. You pay my bills then if you think it's so selfish to go to work.

I won't be testing unless I have symptoms.

If I had symptoms I'd take appropriate precautions until I could get tested and receive result.

Would his clients be amused if he turned up, having tested positive and only told them once they had it and were really ill with it or they had passed it onto an elderly parent

That's why it's easier not to test, isn't it? Obviously if it's a job abroad and the country requires a PCR test to enter that's one thing but many don't now, just a vaccine pass.

Gwenhwyfar you don't know what we can and can't afford and anyone who wants people staying home and losing thousands can put their hands in their pockets or belt up.

If this proposed relaxation happens, many people will be forced into a real dilemma because of the government's position and needing to be paid by going to work. But I wish the "selfish" accusations would stop as they don't help or solve anything. People were called selfish when they didn't follow the rules earlier in the pandemic (fair enough), now they will be called selfish when they do follow the rules. The government sets the rules and people are not selfish for following the rules or laws made or the relaxation of those rules. They're just doing what they're told to do.

@LaChanticleer

Yes I will self-isolate. Because I am not a selfish dick.

I hope those of you who are happy to work with COVID will at least wear masks, and warn your colleagues and clients that you are spreading the infection, so the rest of us can take precautions.

This is a nasty virus which can make people very I’ll, and have long-lasting effects.

If they're asymptomatic they won't know.

What happens when there is no more free tests?! What on earth will you do then?!

You'll have to become (gulps) a selfish dick!!!

"guess a policy for if they will pay you sick pay when you aren't sick. If they will let you be off for the 5 - 10 days until you test negative again, even though you are well enough to work. "

Currently you only need to isolate for a maximum of 10 days and after day 10, irrespective of whether you test positive or negative you can legally go about your business.

I was testing positive until at least day 11 but was back to work as my isolation period was over and I had no symptoms. I didn't have any symptoms from about day 4 onwards. I didn't test after day 11 as pointless and only tested then as I was wanting to be able to say j was negative if asked. Sadly though it wasn't the case.

The 10 day isolation is an arbitrary number but it makes people feel safer.

I won't be testing, still waiting for Covid payment from self-isolating in November (no pay) and again in December when my children both had Covid and I had to stay at home with them while they self-isolated. I cant afford to do it again, so just won't test.

If I get covid and can work, I will work, unless work pay me not to work. But I will tell my colleagues and any clients. And if I am instructed by work not to tell anyone - I would ask for it in writing - I would tell that to anyone who asked me if my cough etc was covid. I would not lie.

@PugInTheHouse maybe we should follow what scientists like Whitty advise? You notice how he has been totally absent from any briefings. I suspect that is because he does not agree with what is happening.

If I was ill I'd stay home. Me and 2 of my kids had it everyone was well and thankfully we all tested negative before day 10 but even now I think if we hadn't I'd still take the kids to the park after 4 or 5 days. Being stuck inside has had a much more detrimental effect on all of us than covid did.

I don't think I'd strictly self isolate, in that I'd still go out for walks outside, but I'd avoid crowded areas and indoor mixing, work from home, avoid shopping etc. I'd be more careful.

@Monopolyiscrap quite possibly, obviously we don't know what he thinks though. I am happy to follow the guidelines, I have done so since the beginning, as has my whole family. Its easy for me as like I said I get full sick pay and can work from home. I really feel for those who can't so unless the government can provide funding for isolation in the longer term I have no idea how people can sustain isolating every time they have covid.

I genuinely don't know any of my friends who would happily go out knowing they have covid but they potentially will be left with no choice regarding work. Same with social events/holidays as there will be no refunds. People just won't bother staying in.

@OrinocoGlow

If this proposed relaxation happens, many people will be forced into a real dilemma because of the government's position and needing to be paid by going to work. But I wish the "selfish" accusations would stop as they don't help or solve anything. People were called selfish when they didn't follow the rules earlier in the pandemic (fair enough), now they will be called selfish when they do follow the rules. The government sets the rules and people are not selfish for following the rules or laws made or the relaxation of those rules. They're just doing what they're told to do.

'Having morals' over covid regulation has been and is increasingly becoming a luxury belief. Just as 'stay home' was a luxury only available to some.

This is part of the point.

Is it better for a child where there is a suspicion of abuse, which has yet to be proven, to be in school whilst covid positive or to be isolating at home? Cos this is the type of thing we are talking about being part of the balancing of needs.

Ive still not seen anyone address the point of 'if not now, when?' in terms of relaxing things.

Not all of it is about funding. If it was legal that people have to self-isolate, then people testing positive who are well and get sick pay can stay at home. Without that not many employers will pay people to stay at home when well or only mildly ill.

@RedToothBrush when the scientists like Whitty agree.

@Toanewstart23

Well no I’m not trying to catch you out

But someone said “why would you test if not asymptomatic?” And you responded with “to stop the spread”.

Tbh I thought it was daft because unless you’re going to test every single time you leave your home when showing no symptoms - your point simply doesn’t stand to scrutiny at all. And sure enough I asked a clear question. You answered clearly. And confirmed that your point to the PP only stands when visiting aged relatives

Did I say "to stop the spread"?

I can't wade through the whole thread, but what I meant to say is that I will still test if required to by the care home. I don't think I said I would test every time I left the home.

@ilovesooty

Guessing you haven’t been following covid threads (including the very one you posted on - this one!), and the news.

Vast majority as far as I can tell hooray!

Think it will generally depend on how people feel with it this time a feel awful can barely move so no way I could go anywhere last time I had it I was ok bit of a headache but could of carried on. I would obviously avoid certain people I knew were vulnerable tho.

@TheOrigRights

TheOrigRights

DonGray
Why would you test if you weren't ill?

To rule out that you've got asymptomatic covid.

You make good points RedToothBrush. I don't know the answers though. I have reservations about known positive cases mixing with other people for the obvious reasons but also see the issues with continuing to enforce isolation especially on more vulnerable people, including children at risk of harm. I wish we could trust the government to make well considered decisions in the best interests of the population but I don't think we can.