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

@Monopolyiscrap

You misinterpret me

I am absolutely not criticising
But I’m saying those vehemently saying they will continue to test
May have second thoughts when they have to open their wallets.

Like flu colds or anything else I wouldn't isolate but keep myself to myself .

Everyone is in different financial situations.
But if you don’t have to isolate because if covid- presumably some employers would expect you to come in?
As I said before it’s a bit of a non entity anyway because many people won’t bother testing themselves because they don’t want to know if they’re positive.
Not everyone can work from home. Some don’t get sick pay. Some on low pay.
Everyone’s situation is unique to them.
Some people would lose their jobs for going sick.

Well 4 out of 5 of us tested positive the other week, and not one of us was actually unwell. No symptoms. So if it happened again and we didn't have to self isolate I probably wouldn't unless we felt ill

I think the incoming political issues (massive cost of living increases and fuel poverty) are probably beyond the remit of SAGE too. The government know they are going to have to manage covid issues along side these growing fears. You risk a situation where you are more liable to get civil unrest, if you are also told you MUST isolate on top of that. Look at the freedom protests that are spring up all over the place. Ontario has an ongoing state of emergency over it. The government are protecting themselves by taking this into consideration, but unrest would definitely also risk other harms to the public (we really don't need something like another blockage which pushes up prices even further right now).

Yep. And this too is public health.

This is where, masks in public places, being compulsory would actually be better now than some weeks ago too.

Absolutely.

And remember, if people go spreading the virus around, because they “can’t afford not to work” they may infect others who may become quite ill and really not able to work.

The only way to do this safely is to make mask-wearing in public indoor spaces -workplaces, shops, schools etc etc - absolutely compulsory. No self exemptions.

This starts to balance the risk a bit for those who may be vulnerable to becoming quite I’ll.

www.theguardian.com/world/2022/feb/11/uk-treasury-pushes-to-end-most-free-covid-testing-despite-experts-warnings
UK Treasury pushes to end most free Covid testing despite experts’ warnings
Most PCR testing for people with symptoms could be scrapped by end of March in plans to ‘live with virus’

That spreadsheet matters. Not coming from No.10.

The Treasury is pushing for most free Covid testing to end as soon as next month to save billions despite warnings from public health experts and scientists.

Several sources told the Guardian that Rishi Sunak’s department wants to end most PCR testing for people with Covid symptoms, possibly by the end of March. The exception would be those in hospitals, high-risk settings and for the 1.3m extremely vulnerable people who are eligible for antivirals if they contract Covid.

Under the plans, everyone else with symptoms would be either given some free lateral flow tests or no testing at all. A third option would be restricting the offer of lateral flows to symptomatic people over 50 and the clinically vulnerable. The advice for people without symptoms to take routine lateral flow tests is expected to be scrapped entirely.

How can you isolate if you test positive, if you can't test?

I would, BUT I am hugely lucky to be able to do so. Work from home anyway, and I know my work would pay those who couldn’t to stay at home. My family would collect shopping and walk the dog.

If I wasn’t able to work from home/be paid, I would have no choice but to work but would do all I could to keep others safe.

I work with immunosuppressed patients, so yes, I would isolate.

Btw from that article even the UKHSA are only proposing that free PCRs are available until at least 1st April. They aren't pushing for an end point later than that. So it looks strongly like PCRs will only be available until then as a maximum.

Thats 6 and a half weeks. Max.

I won't be LFT ing unless I've had contact. I'll PCR if I have obvious symptoms. Will isolate if I have a positive test, but it's not too hard for me as I WFH and have no children to get to school.

The only way to do this safely is to make mask-wearing in public indoor spaces -workplaces, shops, schools etc etc - absolutely compulsory. No self exemptions

How long do you propose we do that for?

@Scianel

The only way to do this safely is to make mask-wearing in public indoor spaces -workplaces, shops, schools etc etc - absolutely compulsory. No self exemptions

How long do you propose we do that for?

Imagine even trying to enforce that now. That ship has sailed...

@RedToothBrush yep so no one will isolate. It is acting as if the pandemic is over.

@figuringoutmylife

I will self-isolate to try to keep others safe.

who will fund that?

theres no way mask wearing can be enforced

i gave up early on when customers pulled them down to speak to us and our staff wore them under chins when doing manual tasks and sweating

theres no consequence so its pointless

I had this conversation with my work colleague who has always been very anxious about catching COVID. She asked if I would be happy if she came to work knowing she had COVID, however, I think she was trying to gauge whether or not I would. To be honest, I’m not sure if I would self-isolate or not, if I feel okay then my employers will expect me to be at work.

However, as we will no longer be using LFTs - they are free at the moment, but I’m guessing they will not be after the end of the month. So if you are not testing and you have no symptoms you will be none the wiser which makes this a moot point.

I have chosen to continue wearing a mask both at work and when in shops etc, but I am not going to condemn anyone who chooses not to.

@RedToothBrush

Btw from that article even the UKHSA are only proposing that free PCRs are available until at least 1st April. They aren't pushing for an end point later than that. So it looks strongly like PCRs will only be available until then as a maximum.

Thats 6 and a half weeks. Max.

So no isolation at all from end of March then. It may be guidance but if no one can test then no one will know they have it. There’s no way I’d pay for W test and I’m not going to isolate if I have a cold so that’s the end then!

@LaChanticleer

This is where, masks in public places, being compulsory would actually be better now than some weeks ago too.

Absolutely.

And remember, if people go spreading the virus around, because they “can’t afford not to work” they may infect others who may become quite ill and really not able to work.

The only way to do this safely is to make mask-wearing in public indoor spaces -workplaces, shops, schools etc etc - absolutely compulsory. No self exemptions.

This starts to balance the risk a bit for those who may be vulnerable to becoming quite I’ll.

No self exceptions just creates another group of people who cannot partake in society.

Whichever way you slice it, you can't protect everybody.

Unless I was actually I'll with it then no I wouldn't self isolate

Yes i will, as some of my work includes going into elderly peoples houses..

Of those here saying they wont test or isolate, will they also see elderly relatives or vulnerable friends / family as if Covid didnt exist?

@RedToothBrush

Btw from that article even the UKHSA are only proposing that free PCRs are available until at least 1st April. They aren't pushing for an end point later than that. So it looks strongly like PCRs will only be available until then as a maximum.

Thats 6 and a half weeks. Max.

In terms of treatments this concerns me. It’s widely accepted that early intervention is key to the success of the treatments we do have. Getting rid of or restricting tests to the extent proposed can only mean that people will end up delaying seeking medical attention (whether by choice or restricted access) and consequently treatments will miss the window for the best outcomes.

@Jellykat

Yes i will, as some of my work includes going into elderly peoples houses..

Of those here saying they wont test or isolate, will they also see elderly relatives or vulnerable friends / family as if Covid didnt exist?

If that elderly relative of vulnerable friend was happy, yes, and out of courtesy I’d always ask them if they’d prefer me to test. However, there was of older people that were never given the choice if they wanted to continue seeing their families despite the fact that their time was limited. A blanket decision was made for them and the Mental Capacity Act was completely brushed aside! The main tenets of which state:

• assume a person has the capacity to make a decision themselves, unless it's proved otherwise

*wherever possible, help people to make their own decisions
do not treat a person as lacking the capacity to make a decision just because they make an unwise decision

*if you make a decision for someone who does not have capacity, it must be in their best interests

*treatment and care provided to someone who lacks capacity should be the least restrictive of their basic rights and freedoms

It breaks my heart that the last image my MIL saw of her beloved son (and assuming she even recognised him?!) was of him dressed head to toe in PPE - as if him wearing it at that late stage would have made any difference to the outcome.

@Jellykat

Yes i will, as some of my work includes going into elderly peoples houses..

Of those here saying they wont test or isolate, will they also see elderly relatives or vulnerable friends / family as if Covid didnt exist?

If they get rid of PCRs and move LTFs to a paid for service for all but the vulnerable and for those who work in a vulnerable setting, do you think there will be the element of choice you suggest, available to all?

I suspect that even those saying they will test / isolate may find that more difficult to stick to than they current envisage.

Covid is the new disease oN the block. It’s a bit like TB. We get everyone vaccinated And the vast majority will be fine.

We never isolated and locked down when TB was raging, we got a vaccine and moved on. Some people were unlucky and died, the majority didn’t.

We are so protected from nature, we think We should tie ourselves in knots to avoid this weakened virus. The majority should Not suffer health and financial issues To protect a tiny number of people from sickness and illness.

Meanwhile millions of people die of various Other illnesses everyday, around the world, and we don’t give a shit.

Get a grip, keep calm and carry on with our very privileged lives.