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AIBU?

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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:
munchkinman · 13/02/2022 18:31

Yes I would as I would with flu of similar.

AskingforaBaskin · 13/02/2022 18:32

@zombie0037

Wow so many selfish people, let's hope nobody takes your attitude, and comes to work positive, and spreads it amongst your family,
Will you be paying my bills if I am positive?
Scianel · 13/02/2022 18:43

If someone is living paycheck to paycheck and won't get paid to isolate I think it's unreasonable to expect them to go in to debt when legally they don't need to isolate

Why should people lose any money at all, if isolating is no longer a legal requirement? Even if they won't get into debt maybe they don't want their income affected when other people are in the easy position of working from home so no financial impact for "doing the right thing".

People can't be berated for not following the rules, and then berated some more for actually following them when they change.

QueenBee70 · 13/02/2022 18:46

The government are saying it will be treated like other seasonal illnesses such as flu so if you are feeling ill I would imagine most people would generally rest up for a few days.

Idontcareboutthestateofmyhair · 13/02/2022 18:51

I would definitely still self isolate. I don't understand when people are still vulnerable to this that we are ending self isolation. Of course we need to get on with it but I don't agree with people having flu either going out and about and infecting everyone else. I had the Australian flu for four months when it was a thing. Horrendous. And the last 'cold' I had at start of winter lasted five weeks. Keep your freaking germs to yourselves people! Hate when folk turn up to the office snivelling all over everyone then everyone else is ill. Of course not everyone gets paid to be off sick which I think is a massive problem in this day and age..but then again some people always abuse this too.. lose lose situation unfortunately.

nopuppiesallowed · 13/02/2022 18:52

If you had measles, chickenpox, rubella or mumps would you isolate then? Would you stand at the school gates or visit elderly relatives or go to see a friend who might be pregnant but isn't telling anyone yet?

Mummyto2rugrats · 13/02/2022 18:53

For me it's easy I work from home have shopping delivered and rarely go out but that is more anxiety /depression driven by the witches of the school playground who have made me feel a pariah of society ! But that's a whole other story.

However I won't be testing unless I am ill, and if I get it again and feel like I did last time then I won't be moving from my bed any way and I am jabbed until I feel fit enough too.

Covid is not the flu is not a cold but it is from that family so is viral and for many is not bad, does not have symptoms and they can go about without knowing. Flu can kill and does each year and when the vaccine failed killed thousands upon thousands the biggest difference in all of these is covid is transfered easier. Yes some do get very ill some get it mild and some show no symptoms at all. We need ro learn to live with it and move forward and to do so means going back to more normality. If you feel safer wearing a mask then wear a mask I know if go out in busier places I probably will more for others, if I do go in the office I know our rules will still be wear when walking around.

I agree the question is will people test anyway if ill? And if ill then the right thing to do for your own health is to stay home and get better.

There are health risk with covid further down the line but this is the same with many viral infections. Long covid is not a new thing at all but finally getting people to sit up and look into health complications that were and are still to a certain degree, unless you have had covid, brushed under the carpet and that is ME and fibromialga and anyone who knows someone who suffers with these will know majority of the time they are triggered by flu or some such virus. That people who suffer with them it has taken years to get diagnosis with medical professionals brushing them off and dismissing their symptoms. Covid has actually done this community some good but it shouldn't take a new viral infection to finally highlight something that's been here for years.

However this is all my opinion and would never knock anyone down who feels that there is still too much risk or who is on a 0 hour contract with no sick pay we all have to make a decision that is right for ourselves. Is it right sick pay is minimal for those who work for companies who offer non? No but this is not for government to enforce and if they do you will hurt the small employeer who can't afford what larger companies can though it will make larger companies more accountable as they should be

Gilly12345 · 13/02/2022 18:53

I would only self isolate if I was going to be paid by my employer.

Scianel · 13/02/2022 18:58

If you had measles, chickenpox, rubella or mumps would you isolate then?

Adults are almost vanishingly unlikely to have any of those, especially not repeatedly.
What if you get covid three times a year? If you're losing income that'll add up.

user1478112490 · 13/02/2022 18:58

I would isolate as I help to care for my 90 year old dad and I would be devastated if I passed it onto him as he is clinically vulnerable.

tigger1001 · 13/02/2022 18:58

@janj2301

I work in a GP surgery we will still ask patients to wear masks and if they come to see the doctor she will ask them to have a LFT before they come, we can't afford for any staff to go sick, that's admin and/or clinical
Genuine question, are staff testing daily? Are staff restricting their private lives? Covid can be picked up anywhere.

I totally get that staff absence is very detrimental but the reality is covid can be picked up anywhere not just at work. And tests are not accurate enough to stop transmission. Someone could test negative, go for their appointment and subsequently test positive later that day.

Thankfully our doctors surgery has been back doing face to face appointments (telephone appointment first though) since before Christmas. Face masks are still required, but I'm in scotland so they are still required in indoor settings generally. But no lft required.

wishedforchild2016 · 13/02/2022 19:00

wont be testing , so need ever self isolate anymore as wouldnt know if had it anyway.

wishedforchild2016 · 13/02/2022 19:04

also tactical frm goverment , should put a dent in countrys pension outlay.

Borisisafecklesstoad · 13/02/2022 19:05

So many people saying no, i work in a hospital in patient facing role. Genuinely curious if you want me to go to work too...

ShallWeTalkAboutBruno · 13/02/2022 19:07

@Borisisafecklesstoad

So many people saying no, i work in a hospital in patient facing role. Genuinely curious if you want me to go to work too...
If you were well enough, yes.
ilovesooty · 13/02/2022 19:07

@Borisisafecklesstoad

So many people saying no, i work in a hospital in patient facing role. Genuinely curious if you want me to go to work too...
Won't you be in a role where you'll still have to test?
Waxonwaxoff0 · 13/02/2022 19:22

@Borisisafecklesstoad

So many people saying no, i work in a hospital in patient facing role. Genuinely curious if you want me to go to work too...
If you work for the NHS then you'll get full pay when off sick presumably. I don't get that as a private sector employee, if I did then I'd isolate.
missymousey · 13/02/2022 19:22

If I was ill, probably. But if you're not feeling ill, why would you even test?

Waxonwaxoff0 · 13/02/2022 19:24

@Snippysocks

If you had measles, chickenpox, rubella or mumps would you isolate then? Would you stand at the school gates or visit elderly relatives or go to see a friend who might be pregnant but isn't telling anyone yet?
I wouldn't go out socialising if I knew I was positive. I'd go into work though.

Who gets measles or rubella nowadays?

Waxonwaxoff0 · 13/02/2022 19:25

@zombie0037

Wow so many selfish people, let's hope nobody takes your attitude, and comes to work positive, and spreads it amongst your family,
I don't care if I catch it. Losing money from being unable to work is a much higher concern for me than the actual virus.
Overthebow · 13/02/2022 19:30

@Snippysocks

If you had measles, chickenpox, rubella or mumps would you isolate then? Would you stand at the school gates or visit elderly relatives or go to see a friend who might be pregnant but isn't telling anyone yet?
If I had one of those illnesses I would know I had it so wold isolate, yes. With covid, it's likely I won't know as symptoms are the same as colds for a lot of people, or no symptoms at all, and when tests aren't free anymore I certainly won't be paying for them so I won't be isolating as I won't know I have it. I would;t isolate for every cold I had as I'd be isolating for many weeks over winter if I did!
Wizzbangfizz · 13/02/2022 19:33

Yes @Borisisafecklesstoad I would. Yet if you were unwell enough to be able to work I would expect you to stay at home.

Woahthehorsey · 13/02/2022 19:35

If you work for the NHS then you'll get full pay when off sick presumably. I don't get that as a private sector employee, if I did then I'd isolate.

But an asymptomatic positive is not "off sick". I'm assuming that the NHS is going to draft a plan for such eventualities, but if they fall on the side of no pay, then I'd expect those staff to be in work and the NHS reap the concequences of that decision.

FoamBurst · 13/02/2022 19:35

I won't be testing so no.

Rosscameasdoody · 13/02/2022 19:41

@TicTacHoh

*As a country, we have fantastic scientists and poor politicians. People know this, but follow the politics in this case instead of listening to the science. *The scientists were completely wrong on Omicrom and haven't been heard from since.
The scientists were completely wrong on Omicrom and haven't been heard from since

Sage have repeatedly said that the science does not support what Boris is proposing.