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Original poster

Covid - isolation now

116 replies

Explainitplease · 03/05/2023 11:45

Without looking it up, what do you think the guidance is presently if you test positive in England (not sure if same for rest of UK)?

My daughter tested positive yesterday and I was surprised by the guidance and I don’t know if was being unreasonable to be surprised.

OP posts:
user1497207191 · 03/05/2023 12:41

SirVixofVixHall · 03/05/2023 12:33

I am amazed that people don’t test. We test as a family if any of us are unwell, we tested dd daily when she was a close contact of someone with Covid. I know of someone now dying of heart failure due to Covid, I really not want to be responsible for spreading it.

Yes, same here. DS is away at Uni, but he still tests (without us having to ask) whenever he comes home to stay as I'm vulnerable and DH is ECV due to cancer.

FraterculaArctica · 03/05/2023 12:42

I'm always mystified when people say things like "surely you stay away from others if you're unwell anyway". Sure, if it was some kind of once a year event. I have a cold/sore throat/cough about 30 percent of the time from October to April, as does everyone I know with young children. The idea that you can't go out/go to work in case you spread infection is ridiculous..

Skybluepinky · 03/05/2023 12:45

Isolate for 5 days for an adult and 3 days for an under 18 and when u r well enough after that u can return to normal activities.
It may well have changed since I last read it.

WheelsUp · 03/05/2023 12:52

School have said stay at home if you feel ill eg fever but otherwise no need to isolate.

Curtains70 · 03/05/2023 12:55

FraterculaArctica · 03/05/2023 12:42

I'm always mystified when people say things like "surely you stay away from others if you're unwell anyway". Sure, if it was some kind of once a year event. I have a cold/sore throat/cough about 30 percent of the time from October to April, as does everyone I know with young children. The idea that you can't go out/go to work in case you spread infection is ridiculous..

I've posted that surely you stay away from vulnerable people.

If somebody is immuno comprised or seriously ill then if you have symptoms I don't see the point in testing as whether it's covid or just a cold you should still stay away from them.

Kyse · 03/05/2023 13:00

@Curtains70 but you can't really
I mean you can keep distance but you can't avoid - supermarkets, doctors etc because immunocompromised are there

Curtains70 · 03/05/2023 13:04

Kyse · 03/05/2023 13:00

@Curtains70 but you can't really
I mean you can keep distance but you can't avoid - supermarkets, doctors etc because immunocompromised are there

I'm referring to people who say they test because a family member etc is vulnerable.

SirVixofVixHall · 03/05/2023 13:07

user1496146479 · 03/05/2023 12:39

@SirVixofVixHall god it wasn't even daily testing for close contacts at the peak!
Poor DD!

She had been sitting next to a girl in school who went home sick and tested positive immediately. She has had Covid before with no symptoms, so she tested daily for a week. It takes a minute to test, hardly “poor dd” ! A friend of hers had a very vulnerable family member, we always have that in mind, as well as 87year old Grandma.
Although I know so many younger people who have been really unwell with Covid that it isn’t just elderly people who I worry about.

CornishGem1975 · 03/05/2023 13:10

I don't have any tests with, and I'm not going to keep buying them 'just in case'. If I'm ill I stay away from people as is reasonable, I'd do the same with any cold or bug, why spread it if you don't have to, but I certainly don't isolate myself.

user1496146479 · 03/05/2023 13:13

@SirVixofVixHall
I can see your logic I guess for testing! But there has never been a protocol for daily testing! So stand by my poor DD.
Plus the amount of plastic waste being generated by all the unnecessary test kits! 🤮

tigger1001 · 03/05/2023 13:38

I actually have no idea what the current guidelines are. We stopped testing quite some time ago and just stay home if poorly.

GalileoHumpkins · 03/05/2023 13:47

Lcb123 · 03/05/2023 12:29

It’s not a weakness but I cannot see the point. Id like to enjoy my life

Show quote history

What a stupid thing to say, do you never get ill and have to stay at home? There were many illnesses before Covid that people caught and didn't feel up to going to work/school/whatever, we just didn't really use the term isolating.
Being ill and having the decency to not pass it around does not equate to not enjoying your life.

heartbroken40 · 03/05/2023 14:19

I am clinically vulnerable and wouldn't test if I had a gun pointed to my head. Just go out and go to work and live your life. Enough of this - did you ever test for a cold or a flu? So why is this different? Another excuse not to work, don't be my employee as I wouldn't be sympathetic

Ontopofthesunset · 03/05/2023 14:32

It's funny when people say they wouldn't know where to get a test. They have them at the checkout in my Sainsbury's Local along with the chocolate bars, right in front of the till. And I guess a chemist like Boots or Superdrug would be a good bet if you really didn't know....

dementedpixie · 03/05/2023 14:33

Is it not advised that kids isolate for 3 days and adults for 5 days but it's only guidance, not law

Curtains70 · 03/05/2023 14:36

Ontopofthesunset · 03/05/2023 14:32

It's funny when people say they wouldn't know where to get a test. They have them at the checkout in my Sainsbury's Local along with the chocolate bars, right in front of the till. And I guess a chemist like Boots or Superdrug would be a good bet if you really didn't know....

I guess I don't know because I haven't put the energy into looking for them as I have no intention of testing.

thaegumathteth · 03/05/2023 14:41

The determined ignorance of how to test is funny. I mean I've never put any energy into finding, for example, brake fluid, but should I need it I reckon I could work out how to get it.

People who are 'I won't test why would you?' Do it in such a way that implies anyone who does test is an idiot and stuck in the dark ages. It's really, really tiresome.

Curtains70 · 03/05/2023 14:43

thaegumathteth · 03/05/2023 14:41

The determined ignorance of how to test is funny. I mean I've never put any energy into finding, for example, brake fluid, but should I need it I reckon I could work out how to get it.

People who are 'I won't test why would you?' Do it in such a way that implies anyone who does test is an idiot and stuck in the dark ages. It's really, really tiresome.

Yes and should I need to test I could work out how to get one but I don't need to 🤣

Letsdance8188 · 03/05/2023 14:46

I believe the guidance is that children shouldn't be tested at all, and if an adult does decide to test they could choose to stay home for 5 days but it's basically their choice.

theGooHasGone · 03/05/2023 14:49

heartbroken40 · 03/05/2023 14:19

I am clinically vulnerable and wouldn't test if I had a gun pointed to my head. Just go out and go to work and live your life. Enough of this - did you ever test for a cold or a flu? So why is this different? Another excuse not to work, don't be my employee as I wouldn't be sympathetic

Colds don't generally kill people. Flu can, which is why it's recommended that elderly/vulnerable people get a flu jab every year. So yes, if there had been flu tests people would probably have done them because, y'know, it's preferable not to expose vulnerable people to the risk of death from entirely preventable illnesses.

theGooHasGone · 03/05/2023 14:54

Hbh17 · 03/05/2023 12:03

Stop testing and stop isolating. Your child needs to get on with her life, as do we all. This is 2023, not 2020.

Pretty big case of main character syndrome going on here!

Vallmo47 · 03/05/2023 14:55

I’d test and try to isolate as best I could, same for the kids, but my husband couldn’t because if we lost his income we’d lose everything. I can definitely see two sides to this. I’m vulnerable and so is one of my children. I try not to think about it too much or I will worsen my health anxiety. I try to use the same decency to any illness I have - avoiding others wherever possible and giving people the heads up if they come for an unannounced visit. It’s their risk to take.

Kyse · 03/05/2023 14:57

heartbroken40 · 03/05/2023 14:19

I am clinically vulnerable and wouldn't test if I had a gun pointed to my head. Just go out and go to work and live your life. Enough of this - did you ever test for a cold or a flu? So why is this different? Another excuse not to work, don't be my employee as I wouldn't be sympathetic

I test because I need to up a medication if I have covid and also get anti virals

Throwncrumbs · 03/05/2023 15:00

Hbh17 · 03/05/2023 12:03

Stop testing and stop isolating. Your child needs to get on with her life, as do we all. This is 2023, not 2020.

Do you suggest everyone does this? What about doctors and nurses? Do you want to be looked after by someone who tested positive but still turns up to look after patients or should they not bother testing at all! Some people are still vulnerable and need to be protected, one can only hope you become ill/vulnerable one day and nobody will bother about you either!

heartbroken40 · 03/05/2023 15:00

@theGooHasGone I am indeed vaccinated against flu and against covid (3 jabs, then I had enough): sorry but this needs to end (and I'm sure the guidance will eventually change). Let children go to school and adults go to work. You do know that productivity in the U.K. is much lower than other countries? If you stay home when you sneeze once, you're actually part of the problem. Anyway you do you but I'm glad that I am not living in a state of fear for nothing