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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think you can't really isolate with covid anymore?

96 replies

berazzled · 04/08/2022 13:29

I am day 4 of having covid for the second time. I don't feel too bad but also can tell that I'm ill. However, my first stint with covid I had people constantly asking if they could help, if I needed anything. This time around no one has offered and I don't really feel like I can ask due to the new rules.

I stayed in Sunday to today but today I really needed to get shopping in and walk my dogs. I walked my dogs for 30 minutes away from everyone and wore a mask in the shop. But I couldn't help feel that I was being so selfish and breaking the rules when I was going around the shop. But what are we meant to do when we have covid but feel well enough to go out?

Even my work said if I feel up to it I've to go in. I just find it really crazy.

So AIBU to think that for most people they are unable to isolate now either due to less support for getting food/medicine etc or due to not being able to take the time off work?

Also if I'm well enough to walk my dogs and go to the shops then am I well enough to go to work even though I still don't feel great? I'm feeling guilty being off tomorrow when I was out today.

OP posts:
Original poster
berazzled · 04/08/2022 13:59

Maybe not

OP posts:
CaptainMerica · 04/08/2022 14:26

I cancelled all our plans, WFH and got an online shop when my kids had it recently. I didn't test positive, but did feel rotten, so didn't want to risk it.

Its easier to isolate when you can WFH and get food delivered. If you have a dog to walk, there is not much you can do about that!

It does seem a bit shit of your work. What if you infected the rest of your team? Especially in holiday season, no one will want to see you.

Cantanka · 04/08/2022 14:36

Yes I agree OP.

I wouldn’t feel guilty about going to the shops. You tested so knew you had covid. The shop will have been full of people with covid who don’t know because tests aren’t available any more. I think the position as to what is and isn’t acceptable is shifting. I think there’s a greater level of acceptance that people may need to run errands, or even go to work if they don’t get sick pay, when they have covid but I think people still take a pretty dim view of socialising eg pubs, theatres if you know you’re positive

Dahlietta · 04/08/2022 14:38

I am a teacher and I agree with you. My school told us we had to come in as long as we felt well enough, so we had colleagues that we knew had Covid (because they had said so) hacking away in the staffroom at briefing...

bubblescoop · 04/08/2022 14:38

This isn’t an issue because you don’t need to isolate anymore.

MajorCarolDanvers · 04/08/2022 14:41

There is no legal obligation to do so if you are choosing to then that's what it is, your choice.

IcanandIwill · 04/08/2022 14:44

Its madness isn't it. Covid made me really poorly so I had no choice but to isolate as I couldn't move! But there is no way I'd want to make someone else that ill. I'm fully vaccinated by the way.

AspireMe · 04/08/2022 14:47

But you don't have to isolate. It says so on the NHS website. I mean, if you can and want to, then good for you, but it's not a rule..

LovinglifeAF · 04/08/2022 14:49

I know, I am starting to wonder if it’s just best to not know if you have it. Stay home if ill and go out if you feel well.

Sunshineandflipflops · 04/08/2022 14:55

I tested positive today and will be isolating for 5 days ( more if I feel I need to). No, you don't HAVE to but morally, I don't feel I can knowingly walk around with it and potentially make someone else quite unwell.

I can get family/friends or an online shop to bring anything I need and I don't have a dog (this would be my one exception).

I am fortunate that I WFH mostly anyway so will continue to do so unless I feel too unwell but I understand it's more difficult for those who ae told to go in and/or don't get sick pay.

It's my birthday in a couple of days too but have cancelled all my plans. Gutted but i'll hopefully have plenty more.

jammiewhammie65 · 04/08/2022 14:55

bubblescoop · 04/08/2022 14:38

This isn’t an issue because you don’t need to isolate anymore.

That's not the case. The nhs website says you should try to stay at home for five days and not go near anyone vulnerable for ten days

ClocksGoingBackwards · 04/08/2022 15:05

If you wfh or don’t work it’s easy enough to walk dogs early in the morning and a shopping delivery but I’m not sure there’s much point in people isolating beyond avoiding vulnerable people any more.

Most people that currently have covid won’t even know it’s covid because they won’t test. If you don’t test you don’t get a positive and there’s no requirement to isolate.

SherbertLemonDrop · 04/08/2022 15:13

I got a tesco shop / deliveroo when I had covid and wfh.

NotMyDust · 04/08/2022 15:22

yeah I tested positive last night, my boss has had it THREE TIMES and their partner is cev. not thrilled, especially as I left my laptop at the office. but hey. feel like shit, no I wouldn't be shopping! walking dogs would be really hard right now. I'm not going to feel guilty....

DoubleShotEspresso · 04/08/2022 15:29

It's certainly more difficult as I think attitudes and patience have largely altered towards Covid and tolerance levels for restrictions are so low...
However, I think wherever possible you should whether required to or not we should all try to isolate as it's clear that cases are rising. It's just the responsible thing to do.
Grocery delivery is easily arranged and I guess as long as you wear a mask whilst walking your dogs first thing when it's quieter (assuming nobody is able to help you?) is your best option?
I do think isolation should still be mandatory but I've got CEV family members which maybe sways this view.,.

SleeplessInEngland · 04/08/2022 15:30

At my work you're expected to stay home if you're still testing positive, and colleagues would be bloody annoyed if you knowingly came in with it.

QuebecBagnet · 04/08/2022 15:34

Most workplaces expect people to come to work with it now. My friend works for Waitrose and had to go to work with it, not even a case of taking 5 days off, etc. Just come to work if you haven’t got a temperature. Dd works as a barista, she’s been into work with covid as was told to.

so to be honest I wouldn’t worry, the chances are some of the staff in the shop were also positive.

AspireMe · 04/08/2022 15:34

SleeplessInEngland · 04/08/2022 15:30

At my work you're expected to stay home if you're still testing positive, and colleagues would be bloody annoyed if you knowingly came in with it.

That's your workplace. OP's expects her to go in if well enough (so does mine and other people I know).

SleeplessInEngland · 04/08/2022 15:37

AspireMe · 04/08/2022 15:34

That's your workplace. OP's expects her to go in if well enough (so does mine and other people I know).

Show quote history

Then she just needs to say 'I don't feel up to it' (as per their guidance) until she stops testing postive.

BiscoffSundae · 04/08/2022 15:38

I wouldn’t isolate so 🤷‍♀️

Maximo2 · 04/08/2022 15:44

AspireMe · 04/08/2022 14:47

But you don't have to isolate. It says so on the NHS website. I mean, if you can and want to, then good for you, but it's not a rule..

It absolutely does not say that. It says:

Try to stay at home and avoid contact with others if you have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) or have symptoms of COVID-19.

How are you getting ‘it says you don’t have to isolate from that’?!

I used to wonder why there were legal restrictions because most people do actually have common sense. Now I get it.

QuestionableMouse · 04/08/2022 15:48

I lost a week's wages because I decided to stay at home. I needed a grocery shop so had one delivered from Iceland. I think most areas have at least one supermarket that delivers now so there's no massive need to actually go to the shops.

Cantanka · 04/08/2022 15:50

Maximo2 · 04/08/2022 15:44

It absolutely does not say that. It says:

Try to stay at home and avoid contact with others if you have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) or have symptoms of COVID-19.

How are you getting ‘it says you don’t have to isolate from that’?!

I used to wonder why there were legal restrictions because most people do actually have common sense. Now I get it.

Show quote history

Well in fairness, “try to stay at home” isn’t the same as “you have to stay at home”. It’s a recommendation, not an order.

Maximo2 · 04/08/2022 15:55

You have to be spectacularly thick to to extrapolate that an NHS recommendation to stay at home actually means don’t bother.

Skinnermarink · 04/08/2022 15:55

There’s a chance I had it last week but I didn’t test, so I didn’t have to debate whether to isolate or not. I don’t get paid to do so.