Self isolation - what does it really mean?

[EmmaGrundyForPM]

I know the theory, but assuming you are isolating because you have been exposed to Covid 19 rather than because you have it, are you completely confined to your house?

I was thinking about the fact that if we had to self isolate, we could at least go into the garden for fresh air etc. But would it be ok to go, say, for a drive assuming you didn't get out of the car near anyone else? Dh would get really frustrated if he couldn't run regularly. We live rurally and could drive for a mile or two and then walk/run somewhere quite isolated.

Hopefully it won't happen but if it did, having the option to go out would help a lot.

anyone?

I don't really get it. My dd is isolated as waiting fest from ski trip. She had a temp. But the rest of us are free to move about as we like.

This feels wrong to me.

Anyway I don't think she does have it. It's just a precaution but she will be off school now until all clear.

But to answer your question.

I'd imagine as long as you don't enter indoor public spaces a walk or run outside would be fine as would a drive.

Thanks for the responses. Obviously if we lived in a crowded town centre it might be different but in a quieter area going for a walk/run wouldnt seem to pose any risk.

I saw some official advice the other day saying that if you were isolating because you might have been exposed then you should ask a friend or neighbour to take your DC to school which seems bonkers.

How would you re-fuel the car? If you remember to wear gloves, and have one where you can pay through a window (not have to enter the shop) then you should be fine

Run at 5 in the morning (there will be no one else around - except perhaps other quarantined runners and dog walkers). stay in as remote/wide open areas as possible. Wear gloves, avoid touching anything.

I was wondering this. Surely if for example I get quarantined, I can stay as far as I can from dh and ds but I don’t have a separate wing or anything. So will they not be potentially taking it to school and work? And if we all have to be quarantined then where do you draw the line?

I think lack of official guidance on this means that self-isolating is an utter farce and a phrase used to make people feel like something is being done.

Unless they’ve gone totally Eyam, then people are still risking others.

There is comprehensive instruction on self isolation on the Public Health England website. It's more than just staying indoors!

If you can get the rte player (Irish national broadcaster) last nights Claire Byrne live had a very good explanation of what self isolation actually is

I have been thinking of starting a thread asking the same. What about people with dogs? Are they allowed to walk them in the middle of the night? There is a part opposite my house. Could I take the kids at 5am for a few minutes?
If the whole country was quarentened what would happen to live stock? Would they be able to look after their animals? What about owners of horses?

I hadn't thought about refuelling the car. But I guess i we were self isolating for 14 days then we wouldnt need to. I was thinking of driving for 2 or 3 miles to somewhere a bit more remote where we could have a walk or run without bumping I. to anyone else.

What if you needed to do an online shop because you cant go out and you need to sign for it .. do you let the driver know you could be infected or just stick a note on the door to say self quarantine/Isolation, please knock and go
And how do you decide if you need to self quarantine ?

I presume you put a note on the door for online deliveries.

If a proportion of people are ill, and countless others are self isolating, who is going to deliver your online supermarket delivery?

No you can't walk your dog, go for a run, take the kids to school, go for a drive . You'll be in medical quarantine. If you don't comply you'll be put into proper quarantine. The legislation permits this.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-self-isolation-for-patients-undergoing-testing/advice-sheet-home-isolation?mc_cid=0269909608&mc_eid=66a43c157d

This is the link to the public guidance

Does anyone know why the public guidance from that link advises people in self quarantine to keep away from their pets?

Some thoughts about why you should keep away from pets....
Covid19 virus can live on surfaces, so presumably if you are contagious and stroke your cat you could leave a virus trail. Later anyone else stroking the cat could pick the virus up. So the virus would be spread.
Or as the virus originated in an animal, perhaps it could be transmitted to pets? I think this has happened to one dog in Hong Kong. Imagine the problems if covid19 became endemic in domestic pets.

I have already agreed with a friend that she would take our dog if we had to self isolate and we would do the same for her.

Thanks for posting the link @HasaDigaEebowai
Obviously if we end up having to self isolate then we will abide by whatever the rules are at the time.

There's no evidence it can be transmitted to pets- The dog which tested positive last week is now thought to have been contaminated, not infected

I've just thought of something else. If you have to self isolate how do you get a doctors certificate to send to your employer? if you are possibly infected and have been told to stay at home you won't see a doctor unless you develop symptoms.

You'll probably have to email sick notes

Yes, that's open by the unscrupulous