Is anyone still genuinely isolating any more?

[Covidpositive19]

When I say genuinely isolating I mean staring at the same four walls of your house for days without leaving?

I have this morning tested positive. My young DC is on day 8 with everyone else in the house having negative daily LFT so naively hoped I had escaped it.

My DC has obviously been kept off school, school told, any contacts told. For the first 4 days they didn’t step outside the door, but on days 5 and 6 my DP took them for a quick drive (no stops) and on day 7 I drove them to a secluded area for some fresh air. Today with the storms they have not left the house again. We are continuing the daily LFT in the hope of an early end.

I have had a rubbish week, like most families when Covid hits, juggling childcare, home learning and work with my DP. Staring at the same four walls for the next however many days seems inhumane.

I have just got back from a quick walk alone, I wore a mask and saw very few people as you can imagine but any that I did I immediately crossed the road to avoid. I plan on doing this whenever the weather allows. I’m an adult and can actively make sure I don’t get near anyone, in the fresh air I genuinely don’t see the risk. I have been more careful with my DC as they’re young so it’s been easier to keep them in for the majority of the time.

Especially given what the government have been up to!

YANBU that anyone with covid these days should be allowed to exercise common sense when it comes to fresh air/exercise.

YABU that I should stay glued to my house no matter what because of the minuscule risk of an accident when out walking/a wheelie bin hitting me in today’s weather/any other (IMO) mad reasons.

@fairylightsandwaxmelts But thousands of people with Covid ARE well.

Why should they stay home and lose pay when there's nothing wrong with them?

A lot of people still seem to be confusing 'well' and 'asymptomatic'. They are not the same thing

@ChiselandBits Most people are capable of and will use common sense to distinguish what's OK and what isn't now that we have a far better understanding of Covid and how it's transmitted.
I think you vastly over estimate the capabilities of the general public and their application of common sense. I think it would be safer to consider them in general to be dumber than a box of rocks.

We all had covid in December then Dd had it again recently. We all isolated.

I'm getting to the point, if we got it again I wouldn't be so strict with it. No I wouldn't go to a busy crowded place or a shop or school but I would go out for walks, drive to a secluded area for a run around.

It is not good to be cooped up for potentially 10 days. We were all poorly right at the beginning of isolation then better after a day or two. So several days of isolating when feeling fine.

The isolation period really affected ds. He is autistic and he was climbing the walls, he was only poorly for one day. I would take him out for a walk or run around if he got it again for sure.

So YANBU. Go out for walks. Get some fresh air. The risk of passing it on this way is minuscule!

No, haven't been isolating. No intention to either.

@Usernumber5253747293 the mood music feels like it’s changed recently, IMO, as Omicron is evidently milder and everyone has had the opportunity to be boosted by now. DP had Covid in November (so must’ve been Delta) and he didn’t leave the house for the 10 days solid, by that point not many people had been boosted, immunity from the first vaccines was waning and we were heading into winter knowing what last winter was like! I still don’t think it would’ve done any harm for him to have gone on a walk keeping away from people, but he didn’t and was strict about it.

I think it’s absolutely fine to go out for fresh air if you’re staying away from other people. I wouldn’t socialise, or go to the office or use public transport, but we know now that you’re extremely unlikely to pass it on just by walking past someone in the open air.

A lot of people still seem to be confusing 'well' and 'asymptomatic'. They are not the same thing

I'm not confusing them at all.

But you can't expect people who are perfectly well in themselves to constantly miss work and go without pay - to keep their kids of school because they can't leave the house - to be unable to feed their families.

We don't do it with flu so why do you expect people to do it with COVID?

[quote Covidpositive19]@Usernumber5253747293 the mood music feels like it’s changed recently, IMO, as Omicron is evidently milder and everyone has had the opportunity to be boosted by now. DP had Covid in November (so must’ve been Delta) and he didn’t leave the house for the 10 days solid, by that point not many people had been boosted, immunity from the first vaccines was waning and we were heading into winter knowing what last winter was like! I still don’t think it would’ve done any harm for him to have gone on a walk keeping away from people, but he didn’t and was strict about it.[/quote]
Its definitely changed. I don't know how much is behaviour and how much is people being more willing to talk about it, but it's happening.

I will not isolate again
Can't afford to lose the pay

YANBU to go for a walk and avoid other people.
My understanding is this is extremely low risk and benefits to those with covid are large. There’s just so much irrationality about covid, it depresses me.
I generally assume anyone I see walking outdoors with a mask is covid positive and would try and avoid eg going up and giving them a cuddle (try and avoid this with strangers anyway )

Thanks all. Day 3 for me, don’t feel unwell but cold symptoms ie constant nose blowing set in last night. Went for a brisk 30 minute walk yesterday afternoon and how I felt when I got home was the best I’d felt all day. Felt like the fresh air really helped the airways. Will do the same today.

As others have said, just use your common sense. I wouldn't go into a busy shop or to the office or on public transport. But I would go for a walk and drop dc places without getting out of the car because the risk of passing it on is minimal here.

Luckily I wfh so I wouldn't have the dilemma about isolating or not getting paid. I think it's really wrong of businesses to put people in that position. If you were well with covid there's no guarantee that the colleague, customer or client you inevitably pass it onto at work will be. People shouldn't be in close proximity of others while they are positive.

Yes my DD has covid and is isolating. And we would be too if not vaccinated and having daily negative LFTs

She hasn't gone out for a walk although she has stood outside our front door in our drive for a bit to see the morning sun and in our back garden for sunshine wind and to get fresh air .

I'm CEV but as the only adult I'm the one taking her meals and drinks to her, the paracetamol, she's disinfecting bathroom and handles around her and wearing mask when out of her room. She's not been in the kitchen or same room as DCs

We've been following isolation rules, tbh I've stayed in too as felt really rotten (wiped out, aching, sore throat) although have none of the main 3 symptoms and younger DCs gone to school, but all of us are testing LFT each day.

So we followed the rules which are still law and can be fined if we break them. DD will go out after 7 days if has 2 days of negative LFT tests day 5&6.

I understand how someone would want to go for brisk walk if they know won't bump into anyone , but unless you live in very isolated area, that's quite selfish. Even when the law changes, i can't imagine they'll say it's ok to go out with an active covid infection but once free testing stops , how will you know?

If I get symptoms I’ll do a test and if positive I’ll avoid certain places. But I won’t be fully isolating. I’ve done it twice already and not even being able to go and buy essentials or take my negative children to school was very stressful.

Unless I was totally wiped out by it, in which case I'd probably be in bed, for any other instance I would just go about my normal life, work, etc. not that I'd know either way as I wouldn't test for it now anyways.

I won't be testing us and unless anyone is actually ill then we won't be staying home either. Enough is enough now.

I discovered yesterday that isolating has NEVER been a legal requirement in Northern Ireland just strong guidance! Although everyone I have heard of has actually isolated but I don't think that's going to continue to happen.

I say this gently, but to people who are quite freaked out by the idea of someone going for a walk outside and avoiding other people while covid positive, I think you need to quite rapidly try and adjust your expectations, as this really is not the way the messaging around covid is going. I suspect in the not too distant future it will be quite standard for people with covid to be out and about in the world. Whether this is the right or wrong call, it's probably too early to say, but it is the reality.

Have to agree @juliainthedeepwater and this thread has shown that so many seem to think it’s all or nothing: either you MUST STICK TO THE LETTER of the nonsensical isolation rules, or you are selfish and spreading an infectious virus. No acknowledgement for common sense, taking sensible precautions. If isolation laws ended I would still be sensible and minimise the risk of passing on the virus. When my DC was positive and I was negative, I cancelled plans with a friend because of the risk of me maybe having Covid, even though I’d had negative LFTs.

I've been quite blasé around COVID. But I tested positive this weekend and despite the triple jabs I am feeling wretched. And I'm not some one who gets poorly.

Horrendous nausea and vomiting which is quite common with onicron. Throat like I've swallowed glass. Thick fuzzy head and weird heavy aching legs.

I'd not want to inflict this on anyone so I'll be isolating until I've got a clear test.

@Covidpositive19

Have to agree *@juliainthedeepwater* and this thread has shown that so many seem to think it’s all or nothing: either you MUST STICK TO THE LETTER of the nonsensical isolation rules, or you are selfish and spreading an infectious virus. No acknowledgement for common sense, taking sensible precautions. If isolation laws ended I would still be sensible and minimise the risk of passing on the virus. When my DC was positive and I was negative, I cancelled plans with a friend because of the risk of me maybe having Covid, even though I’d had negative LFTs.

That's sensible My dc had covid last week, it's just cleared up for them and I tested negative daily LFTs and even a PCR, despite covid symptoms , feeling awful and being exhausted and breathless. Ironically I tested positive LFT today after 6 days of symptoms myself It's a long lead in until LFTs and PCRs show you have it!!! DCs found the same. Luckily I stayed in despite being allowed to go out to work and WFH - super glad I did as I'd have "taken out" so many CEV patients had I not thought' hmmm don't trust the LFTs or PCR... as it's too coincidental my DCs have covid and I have symptoms too'

Yes, DD's friend was told by track and trace this morning she has to isolate until Friday

Ermmmm anyone thinking of cutting isolation short now?!’ Thursday will be my day 10!!

Surely track and trace will be given their notice now.