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

[berazzled]

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.

Scaremongering is just as bad. Worse probably.

@SoupDragon, speaking the truth does not equate to scaremongering. Downplaying the pandemic has been a huge disservice to everyone. The fact is, covid infects the organs. This cannot be denied. Allowing your children repeated infections is nothing short of child abuse.

Stop the disinformation!

So how do you stop your child picking up repeat infections @AussieMozzieMagnet ? Withdraw them from school? Enforce social isolation?

Whether you think covid is "just a cold" or more serious (I'd go with more serious myself) the truth is its out there and not possible to àvoid unless you isolate yourself.

I had to go to the shop when I had covid as online shops require a minimum spend of £40 which I just don't do. But I wore a mask and was quick.

I'll be blunt. I don't want COVID and I'm willing to steer clear of big crowds of people for some time yet to avoid getting it.

My DM is extremely vulnerable and I'm her carer. I have two autistic DC who don't cope if I have the slightest sniffle. I know there's a narrative to say it's "just a cold" but I have several risk factors myself to suggest I may be hit quite hard, plus it would just be my bloody luck! I don't want to risk DM getting it because I'm not sure she'd make it through. Neither of my DC are vaccinated because quite frankly there's zero chance of them consenting to a needle of any kind (common with autistic children). They also don't cope terribly well if they get ill - DS is unable to vocalise any illness or injuries so it's hell working out what's going on if he's poorly.

I haven't returned to theatres, cinemas or crowded places and I don't intend to for a while yet. Due to the DC's needs, we lead quite a quiet life anyway and it suits us all quite well. I do miss some things but it's OK. I just really don't want COVID. I understand my choices wouldn't be tenable for many, but my DS has high needs and my DD really doesn't cope well with people (even pre-COVID) so it's not a massive lifestyle difference for us tbh.

I do pop into the supermarket etc sometimes, although I also do online shopping. Depends how organised I am! If I caught COVID because someone knew they were positive but thought it was still OK to go to the shop, I'd be really pissed off.

Obviously I'd never know whether I caught it from someone who was oblivious to having COVID, or whether it was from someone who knew they had it - so it's a moot point really. But I just think the NHS guidelines recommend staying at home, so I think barring an emergency it's utterly shit for anyone to be mingling with the public knowing how badly COVID could affect others.

And yes, I am aware that some employers are telling people to go into work. I think it's incredibly irresponsible given the NHS advice - WFH, totally no problem, but go into work and infect others? I think it's a bit shit. Again, NHS recommend people stay home but apparently some employers aren't too fussed about that.

I'm not overly anxious, I don't have health anxiety - this is my considered view, weighing everything up. I have friends who have had COVID and been fine. I have a friend who was extremely ill in hospital with it. I have another friend who has horrible, crippling long Covid and can barely get out of bed. Given our pre-COVID lifestyle anyway, I'd rather just avoid the risk and accept the inevitable sneers from the "it's only a cold" gang.

Oh just to add - I still wear an FPP2 mask in any shop. My choice. The absolute stares I get for choosing to do so..... I honestly think I could go out with a pair of pants on my head and get stared at less 😂

I’m receiving chemo atm and my immune system is compromised.
I feel judged wearing a mask when I have to leave the house as often I’m the only person who is / I had to ask the optician to wear a mask the other day when they were treating me close up in a windowless small room.
even the food delivery is problematic despite me putting in the notes that we’re isolating and can they please sanitize and wear a mask we’re having to ask them again at the door.
people don’t seem tot hunk it’s a problem anymore - I’m terrified of it currently.
thank you to everyone who is continuing to take precautions.

Currently covid is now another version of any other Coronavirus. As with having bad colds, they always killed some people who were old or vulnerable. Covid does as well..

You don't need to isolate legally. Isolating for just five days is pointless anyway. I currently work in health and we still test. Most people that get covid continue to test positive until minimum day 8 and more normally 9-10. I don't know anyone who tested negative at day 5 but obviously there will be isolated examples

Covid can be a nasty illness. I had it in February and despite having all the jabs, I am still dealing with the repercussions. I had about 2 months off work and can now only work part time due to fatigue.

Stay at home and away from other people as much as you can. Walking the dog is most probably fine but going into a shop less so. Don't you know anyone who could pick up some food for you or can you get an online shop?

You would care if your dad died of Covid and you have to live with that every day it's not old news it's hell you should think before you post such crap

I wish people would isolate still. I work with vulnerable people and have to test and still wear aask. I don't want covid and never had covid. I can't work from home I don't have that luxary.

There's no rule requiring you to isolate?

My work expects you to treat Covid like any other virus. If you are not well enough to work, you stay off sick. If you are not unwell, you go to work.

I only have two tests in the house & those are only for if we are going somewhere where there are clinically extremely vulnerable people - a care home or hospital for eg.

I work in a secondary school and we’ve been told that if we have Covid but feel well enough, we should still go in. If I’m still expected to go into work (and this will be replicated across thousands of other workplaces) there is no way I will be self isolating myself from supermarkets etc.
My husband works in a hospital so the official advice for him is different. But outside of NHS employees and a few others, I think most people are now expected to go into work or work from home if they can (not possible working in a school)

Everyone I know has had it at least once, most 2 or 3 times. Only one person has been seriously ill, and that was a 70 year old with an autoimmune condition who got it before vaccines were rolled out.⁰

No, as with any illness you just do your best to try and not spread it too much

I no longer test

When it went around work, people were definitely bedridden for at least 3 days.
So out of action and couldn't work, we went down like dominos.

Guidance of what to do was unclear.

Trust you? Lmao, no.

Anyone who talks about 'allowing' reinfections as though that's something we could actually prevent for the population at this stage automatically gets a seat on the silly sausage bench.

You'd get a bollocking if you went to work with Covid where I work.

Part of the organisation works with clients who are more likely to be CEV than average. They can't afford to risk those staff getting Covid and having to stay off, so the rule is that if you have symptoms, you test (LFTs are provided), and if you're positive, you stay home.

And some staff have to meet clients in NHS premises too, and I'm told that they still have to isolate if positive. When you go to those places, you have to wear a mask in corridors etc and all meeting rooms are still set up so that people are socially distanced.

My manager is isolating atm. She's been really quite unwell and has been testing positive for 10 days.

@BiscoffSundae I have friends who have to test for work and then if positive must isolate and then don't get paid! These are people in the real world!!!

I was back at work after I had got it from day 5. I was testing positive still on day 10, don't know how much longer I'd have tested positive for (I only tested on day 10 because I was meeting a CEV uncle). Interestingly though no one at work got it from me.

Sorry you’re still not back to normal. Me being unwell for so long was really disruptive. It’s selfishly why I’ll continue to avoid busy public places such as coffee shops until the current wave of infections has reduced.

I worked from home both times luckily, but we have a policy at work that if your job doesn't allow home working, you come in.
I didn't stay away from family the first time as we assumed I'd given it to them already as we live closely. NONE of them got it despite eating meals with them etc.
I'm baffled to be honest.

I managed to avoid covid until a month ago. Despite not being really ill I still don't feel right now, reduced lung capacity, general malaise. I tested positive for 10 days but did go out and walk the dog, which I can do without going near others. I care for a vulnerable person who isolated in their room for the whole time even during the heatwave and avoided catching it. This is still a real thing and it will continue to spread due to the attitudes displayed by some on this thread.

Don’t be so silly. It’s a virus that’s rife everywhere. No one “allows” anyone to get it but unless you live in a hermetically sealed box and never go out it isn’t possible to avoid.

Nothing can be done now to mitigate the impacts of Covid than vaccination. Ir is what it is.

If it was easy or indeed possible to avoid getting it we wouldn’t have a pandemic in the first place.