Is anyone still isolating with covid?

[Whattodonut]

My sister is- she caught it from a friend who hadn't mentioned she had a temperature when they met up. (Another thread- I'm annoyed about that on her behalf!)
She's done 3 days positive and says she's going to isolate until she's negative. She has a toddler who her DH is of course looking after but it means he'll be missing work to look after toddler until she's well.

She's worried about passing it around- our parents are elderly and I think I'd be angry if someone who knew they had it gave it to them. She does feel like shit but then if it were flu she would also feel like shit and carry on because... toddler.

What would you do?

I isolated for 5 days. Do some people not understand the damage they can do to vulnerable people by going out and about when they know they are carrying a contagious illness? I thought Covid would change our views on going to work with bad colds and chest infections, coughing and sneezing out over people in shops and on public transport, and going to cinemas and theatres with heavy colds. It's just selfish and puts vulnerable people at risk.

Had it last week, was a week in bed and still don't feel right although testing negative now.

FWIW, anyone struggling to get a test, whether it's finances or what, try your local primary school especially if you have children there. We have three massive boxes of the things that are rapidly going out of date and no one (except me!) is using them.

No.

I would definitely isolate.

I work in a school and a teacher came in with Covid last week as she was told that was ok as long as she 'wasn't feeling unwell'.

We had 12 kids off in one class + the teacher and TA on Friday. It's ramping up again. I certainly don't want to catch it sgain!

I’m currently isolating with covid. Caught it from some moron who knew he was positive but still came to work with it. I’m currently hiding in the spare rooms downstairs or when I do venture out I use wipes and a mask. Trust me no one wants to be as ill as I am.

I had iit in August. I isolated until the test turned negative / I actually felt not too bad and only actually got really sick once the test turned negative. Was a bit grim

If I knew I had it, I would probably feel obliged to isolate. Like I wouldn’t knowingly walk around spreading it.

But I don’t test, so wouldn’t know.

I do work from home if I feel crap generally though.

I have it and have carried on as usual. Been to work everyday and been out shopping all day yesterday. Been out for food and drinks today. Back in work tomorrow. Have a hospital appointment Tuesday and I'm going as I've waited 9 months for the appointment

For lots of people who don’t get paid if they are off sick,they can’t afford to isolate

I don't test - I'm a nurse and employer says not to. However, if I have viral symptoms, I don't visit people, don't visit mother her in nursing home, for obvious reasons,stay awsy from crowded places.I agree with PP who said that although we are told to treat it like any other respiratory virus, the evidence is it really isn't that simple. I have younger relatives with very unusual long term issues attributed to Covid. They were very fit and well before covid.

Can k ask why you tested?

I assume the only reason to test is to avoid infection others. We don’t have to test or isolate anymore; so when you are going to carry on as normal why bother?

I wouldn’t have tested - only I was going to visit my uncle in a retirement home. Otherwise I would have assumed I had a heavy cold.

I'd isolate in the house but not away from my DH and toddler, they'll have likely already been exposed anyway. That seems extreme, very 2020.

I do think people should still isolate in the house though if they can. I've had covid twice and totally fine both times but MILs partner just spent a week very ill in hospital with post covid pneumonia and he's only 60 and in previous good health.

That says a lot about you as a person.

I also work in a school, and we have been told very clearly that if we have covid we're still expected in work. Time off for isolation would not be agreed. So I can't see how you are planning to isolate if you catch it? Unless you lie and give another reason for your absence.

To answer your question, not a chance would I isolate from my husband or toddler. First, they've already been exposed just by the nature of our family relationship and second, I think it's more damaging to withdraw from the relationship with my child than he or she would be at risk from catching Covid.

I would stay out of it, but if she asked I'd share that I didn't think she needed to isolate from her family.

I wouldn't test unless going to hospital/required to for something, so I have no idea.

I have it now. I am a teacher.

The schools policy is to treat it like any other illness and come to work if well enough to do so - so I shall be adhering to that and heading in tomorrow.

Feels counterintuitive as I know I may still be contagious.

With covid picking up again I wouldn’t be surprised if our schools guidelines change - although if we were all to stay off until we test negative we might find ourselves in a situation when schools have to close due to staff shortages.

Not in my own house. Never isolated from everyone in my own house even peak pandemic. I wouldn't go out with covid though just like I would go out with any other bug that can make people very sick.

Having developed cardiac problems after Covid and having to take 3months off work, I definitely judge those who are going about their ‘business as normal’ if they are positive. It’s not just a cold.

No, not isolating and not testing so wouldn't know if I had it or a cold or a normal virus.

I would kind of isolate but not from my own family and I would do things like taking dc outside to places where we were not in close proximity to others. Like the local country park. I'd also tell anyone I had prior plans to meet so they could decide whether to cancel or not.

Last time I had flu I could barely get to the bathroom and absolutely couldn't have cared for dc. I would absolutely isolate with flu too.

DH had it recently. I made him isolate because I'm immunosuppressed and was very unwell with it last year. I didn't want DS to get it either. To be fair he was happy to stay in bed as he really wasn't well.
It didn't impact anyone or anything else though, so maybe that makes a difference

Except its not 'any other illness' for people in the vulnerable category is it?! I'm 9 months pregnant, high risk, and required to be in hospital once a week for various reasons - the fact masks are no longer required is terrifying, I'm frequently the only one wearing one in packed anti-natal clinics, and yet the walls are covered in signage about the dangers of covid in pregnancy. I caught it for the first time at 13 weeks pregnant and it was horrendous, previously completely fit and healthy and now have pregnancy issues that are likely due to this - surprise surprise, it's likely I caught it from a colleague at work who couldn't be bothered to test and came into the office regardless.

I would if I had it. Might be difficult to avoid my husband and baby in the house but I'd do my best!