Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Will you self isolate if covid positive test?

953 replies

Monopolyiscrap · 12/02/2022 00:47

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

OP posts:
waterlego · 12/02/2022 19:01

@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?

I don’t have any parents but my in-laws are in their 70s, and one of them is somewhat frail. I also have some friends with long term health conditions which make them vulnerable. In all cases, I will ask the people in question if they want me to test before I see them. If I feel at all under the weather, I won’t see them in person until I feel better (that goes for any sort of symptoms or illness, not just Covid).

Certainly in my in-laws’ case, I know they will not be expecting us to test. They hated not being able to see their children and grandchildren during the lockdowns. Their view is that they are in their twilight years, and don’t wish to spend any more of their remaining time isolated from their family and friends. They’ve managed to avoid Covid so far but they aren’t afraid of getting it.

tigger1001 · 12/02/2022 19:21

@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?

It's only really in very recent weeks that the test before seeing anyone message was really given out at every opportunity. Christmas time really.

The vast majority of people haven't tested every time they have left the house. Some have done testing twice a week per previous guidance.

I've not tested every time I've seen my parents or my mil. I don't test every day I go into work either. I have up until now tested twice per week but since having covid I've not tested as it's pointless as it may show the old infection and not a new one. I am symptom free.

I wouldn't have visited my parents if I wasn't feeling well prior to covid. That won't change. But I won't test each time. They don't test either when we are meeting up.

SirSamVimesCityWatch · 12/02/2022 19:24

I'm only going to test if I'm really ill. In which case I'll probably take the opportunity to isolate and get out of doing nursery & school runs. If I'm that ill I'll not be working anyway, even though I mostly work from home anyway. But there's no way I'll be testing if I have no symptoms or if I have a cold.

cansu · 12/02/2022 19:24

It is very unfair to leave this to people to decide themselves. Most people won't be able to take the time off sick. It could also be argued that it will be pointless to leave it to people to decide. There is no public health benefit if it is just a free for all, make your own choice.

Jellykat · 12/02/2022 19:25

My question was to those saying they wont test or self isolate..

Those that replied have said they will ask elderly relatives / vulnerable if they wanted them to test before seeing them (and presumably not see them if positive)

But it would be absolutely fine if you have symptoms and dont test/ isolate when standing next to my elderly mum in a queue is it?

RedToothbrush of course if there is a high price tag, many wont have the choice.. but if its not too expensive, i'd prefer to pay for testing rather then make my elderly clients potentially poorly.
(and before you say it, i earn below 10 grand a year, so not a case of arent i lucky i can afford it!)

Waxonwaxoff0 · 12/02/2022 19:26

@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?

Yes, of course. I only have one elderly family member and he isn't particularly bothered about Covid, he doesn't do regular testing. I wouldn't go and see him if I was knowingly ill. But I'm not doing asymptomatic testing forevermore.
BeardyButton · 12/02/2022 19:36

Wow! What have we come to?!? Some of you have jst completely turned your back on the idea of protecting others right? What if you found out you gave it to someone vulnerable who then died?! Would that not bother you at all????

narcdad · 12/02/2022 19:36

@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?

Well I won't be testing so I guess I'd not know, I've had covid, everyone I know has been vaccinated apart from my brother who's also had covid.
BeardyButton · 12/02/2022 19:39

“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.”

Or be in any way inconvenienced

Heartless!

RedToothBrush · 12/02/2022 19:39

@Jellykat

My question was to those saying they wont test or self isolate..

Those that replied have said they will ask elderly relatives / vulnerable if they wanted them to test before seeing them (and presumably not see them if positive)

But it would be absolutely fine if you have symptoms and dont test/ isolate when standing next to my elderly mum in a queue is it?

RedToothbrush of course if there is a high price tag, many wont have the choice.. but if its not too expensive, i'd prefer to pay for testing rather then make my elderly clients potentially poorly.
(and before you say it, i earn below 10 grand a year, so not a case of arent i lucky i can afford it!)

You are unlikely to be in a position where you have to pay for tests if you are a carer from what seems to be under consideration. You will continue to get access to free tests as part of your job.

Thats a separate issue from other people not in similar employment.

Exhausteddog · 12/02/2022 19:43

I wouldn't have visited my parents if I wasn't feeling well prior to covid. That won't change. But I won't test each time. They don't test either when we are meeting up.

We travel on the train to work everyday and have 2 DC at secondary school. We tested before we met family at Christmas because we were worried about passing it on to elderly relatives. As it happened one of them tested positive (another relative instigated the test) while we were there and we subsequently got it 3 days later! The 85 year old was, thankfully, only mildly unwell and out on day 7. The rest of us - younger, fitter, healthier all had to do the full 10 days.

RedToothBrush · 12/02/2022 19:43

@BeardyButton

Wow! What have we come to?!? Some of you have jst completely turned your back on the idea of protecting others right? What if you found out you gave it to someone vulnerable who then died?! Would that not bother you at all????
I think you are wrong though.

I think that people feel there are limits as to how much 'protecting' you can do, before that too causes unintended harms.

Its not an equation that is:
isolate = no harm will occur

the equation is:
harms of isolation v harms of not isolating

Thats very different.

tigger1001 · 12/02/2022 19:53

@Exhausteddog

I wouldn't have visited my parents if I wasn't feeling well prior to covid. That won't change. But I won't test each time. They don't test either when we are meeting up.

We travel on the train to work everyday and have 2 DC at secondary school. We tested before we met family at Christmas because we were worried about passing it on to elderly relatives. As it happened one of them tested positive (another relative instigated the test) while we were there and we subsequently got it 3 days later! The 85 year old was, thankfully, only mildly unwell and out on day 7. The rest of us - younger, fitter, healthier all had to do the full 10 days.

And the flip side is, despite testing every day over the Christmas period oh passed it on to his mum as he was testing negative but actually was incubating it.
BeardyButton · 12/02/2022 19:54

No. It’s the harms of isolating vrs the harms of spreading it (either directly or indirectly) to someone who will be seriously affected by it.

If you decide the harm to you (from isolating) outweighs the potential to vulnerable others, then you are heartless.

GirlInACountrySong · 12/02/2022 19:57

@BeardyButton

“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.”

Or be in any way inconvenienced

Heartless!

no income is not just inconvenienced.

i suppose YOU are paid regardless and wont be disadvantaged ?

tigger1001 · 12/02/2022 20:03

@BeardyButton

No. It’s the harms of isolating vrs the harms of spreading it (either directly or indirectly) to someone who will be seriously affected by it.

If you decide the harm to you (from isolating) outweighs the potential to vulnerable others, then you are heartless.

That's far too simplistic.

It's not heartless to want to work in order to keep a roof over your families heads or food in their belly. Or to worry about the mental health aspect of people having to isolate.

Or to worry that the number of people isolating means that services are unable to meet demands, such as ambulance/fire/healthcare.

The purpose of isolating was never to stop vulnerable getting covid. It was to stop the nhs being overwhelmed. Isolation in itself if now the big thread to nhs services.

We have to move away from thinking people are selfish/heartless etc for wanting to be able to go out their homes when they are not ill.

RedToothBrush · 12/02/2022 20:04

@BeardyButton

No. It’s the harms of isolating vrs the harms of spreading it (either directly or indirectly) to someone who will be seriously affected by it.

If you decide the harm to you (from isolating) outweighs the potential to vulnerable others, then you are heartless.

Bullshit.

You are being sanctamonious and out of touch with reality.

TheKeatingFive · 12/02/2022 20:04

If you decide the harm to you (from isolating) outweighs the potential to vulnerable others, then you are heartless.

So the people who'll lose income and struggle to pay their bills as a result of isolating. Are you offering to help them out?

Because if not, you cannot be seriously calling anyone heartless here.

I'm guessing you're just one of the privileged types who has no idea what losing a weeks income can do to a family.

BABAHOTEL · 12/02/2022 20:05

@TheKeatingFive

If you decide the harm to you (from isolating) outweighs the potential to vulnerable others, then you are heartless.

So the people who'll lose income and struggle to pay their bills as a result of isolating. Are you offering to help them out?

Because if not, you cannot be seriously calling anyone heartless here.

I'm guessing you're just one of the privileged types who has no idea what losing a weeks income can do to a family.

👏 👏
VikingOnTheFridge · 12/02/2022 20:08

What were we saying about luxury beliefs?

ShallWeTalkAboutBruno · 12/02/2022 20:08

If you decide the harm to you (from isolating) outweighs the potential to vulnerable others, then you are heartless

Bollocks. Why do only covid harms matter?

Jellykat · 12/02/2022 20:11

Bollocks, and i agree with Beardybutton 100%

Boris is lifting all the lids without consulting SAGE apparently.
Wales looked at the scientific evidence and decided to go slower.

and RedToothBrush, i'm not a carer, im a cleaner, so no free tests here, oh and i'm self employed so isolating = no income.
I'd still rather that, and take responsability for others welfare then potentially making my elderly employers really ill.

RedToothBrush · 12/02/2022 20:13

@Jellykat

Bollocks, and i agree with Beardybutton 100%

Boris is lifting all the lids without consulting SAGE apparently.
Wales looked at the scientific evidence and decided to go slower.

and RedToothBrush, i'm not a carer, im a cleaner, so no free tests here, oh and i'm self employed so isolating = no income.
I'd still rather that, and take responsability for others welfare then potentially making my elderly employers really ill.

Your choice.

I'm sure some will do the same. Others won't. Because they simply can't.

GirlInACountrySong · 12/02/2022 20:14

@BeardyButton

you've been called out and i'm SO glad!

MrsPuddle · 12/02/2022 20:26

If someone catches Covid from me and dies..that’s not my fault. It’s the Covid virus and their weak immune system.

All those old people that have died of pneumonia or flu in the past caught it from someone..maybe you @RedToothBrush or you @BeardyButton..how do you sleep at night?

fFS get a grip.