My friend who’s at high risk has gone to Italy. Should she self isolate when she returns?

[Collision]

Long story short......

Friend has cancer and lupus.

Booked flights to Japan which were cancelled.

She and husband rebooked and have gone to Rome. She’s actually quite poorly now with ear infection (burst ear drum 2 weeks ago) and a high temperature.

She’s due to come back on Monday and both her and husband are due to a attend a conference next Sunday.

Should they really be there or should they self isolate?

Do I say anything to her?

She would be classed as having symptoms, NHS site says she should call 111, self-isolate until assessed then they advise.

I think the worst problem would be flying (presumably) with a recently burst ear drum.

Rome is low risk

The advice is to self-isolate if coming from anywhere in Italy, not just the Northern parts.

^www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/advice-for-travellers/^

That is not what that link currently says, and I have just been through the online pathway, again. Northern Italy=self-isolation
Italy+symptoms=call 111
Italy+no symptoms= get on with your life.

Although, to be frank, I anticipate that the NHS site might be updated by Tuesday, and Italy might join the same list as Iran.

MamaKarmaLlama

The Sky article is dated Thursday 5 March 2020 22:57, and does not link to an NHS page anywhere. If Public Health England had announced that anywhere on Thursday night, they would have updated the NHS site by now.

I call hasty late-night reporting.

I suspect that general restrictions on all Italian travellers are coming, but they're not in place yet.

The man in Kent that tested positive earlier this week had been in Rome and I assume that’s where they think he got it from .

Sounds like she should err on the side of caution and self isolate?

They're just shutting down huge swathes of northern Italy. I expect there are cases in Rome. Seems an unusual thought process to go to Italy after Japan being cancelled. Are they trying to catch it?!

The PHE advice is to self isolate if returning from 11specific towns in northern Italy (unlikely now as they are in lockdown) regardless of how you are.

Returning from anywhere else in Italy - only if symptomatic ie temp, cough, sore throat. The change is that this advice now covers the whole of Italy, not just northern Italy. This advice was changed in Friday. I work in the NHS and I am reasonably well up on this.

OP you're quite right to be concerned.
However I'm sure she's adult enough to make decisions for herself.
I know you mean well and I think you're getting unnecessary stick here.
It's out of your hands.

What Clary says

Well it’s out of my hands now and they are being told not to attend the conference.

🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

I think she would be seen as having symptoms

An ear infection isn't COVID 19. Sounds like she needs antibiotics and to stay at home until she feels better and the infection is under control, she should know that within 3 or 4 days.

@cologne4711 she had 3x antibiotics over 3 weeks for her ear infection

Was she able to get out of Italy OP?

They literally got the last plane out of Italy last night.

Self isolation now.

Bit annoyed as they are self employed so no money coming in but I’m pleased they are being sensible.