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Original poster

Anyone got people in your house self isolating - tips please?

96 replies

Rinsefirst · 09/03/2020 15:27

DP currently trying to get back from North Italy and will have to self isolate immediately upon return. Just trying to get organised for the fortnight ahead. I have two students who will overlap with the quarantine and a sick puppy.

OP posts:
crazydiamond222 · 10/03/2020 05:59

No idea how we will be able to self isolate. I am currently breastfeeding and cosleeping with a 4 momth old. My other son has severe autism and will not understand why he is confined to the house especiaĺly if mummy is locked in a room he cant enter.

To add to the chaos we are meant to be knocking through into our new extension in april and will loose the use of our dishwasher, washing machine and oven for 2 months. I was previously going to stay with grandparents for some of this tome. No idea what we will do now. Maybe put the knockthrough off until thr situation improves but it could take months/years.

HollysBush · 10/03/2020 09:22

It’s not easy is it ☹️

HasaDigaEebowai · 10/03/2020 09:24

Its isn't at all easy but its necessary. Ive just come off the phone to my sister who is a teacher and has a very bad sore throat, headache and cough and feels dreadful. Bizarrely the doctors surgery have told her to go down (she's ringing them back to say "are you sure??!!") but she's preparing for having to potentially isolate within the home. They have two primary aged children (both also with bad coughs) and her husband also teaches.

Oly4 · 10/03/2020 11:36

If you can’t isolate from each other at home then the advice is just to stay home with your family as much as possible.
It could be hard to tell who has it as the incubation period is five days (most people only show symptoms on day five).
Realistically, govt knows people will be mingling with their families. What’s important is not to go out unless absolutely necessary so you don’t start infecting older people: those who are ill etc

Original poster
Rinsefirst · 10/03/2020 15:26

Realising I'm pretty lucky as a) we have reasonable space and b) actually have time to prepare - so it's not just landed out the blue. DC2's attic bedroom where DP will reside is just being left in its untidy state as it will give him something to do. I'm assuming once quarantine ends we just give it a deep clean.
Possibly will get older dog looked after elsewhere.
Thinking DP can do ironing, clean out the eaves, maybe regrout the upstairs shower Grin and of course, gardening.

OP posts:
Purpleartichoke · 10/03/2020 15:30

How in earth is he getting to the garden without entering the main house?

PelicanPie · 10/03/2020 15:36

I w of this is even remotely practical is it?

PelicanPie · 10/03/2020 15:36

None

Baaaahhhhh · 10/03/2020 15:38

Hold on though. If just washing your hands with soap and warm water can get rid of the virus, why do you need to boil wash linens? Also you can't disinfect wood surfaces or carpets. Surely those in isolation just need to try to not cough on anyone or anything, and make sure THEY wash their hands and bodies regularly, and distance themselves as much as is possible.

Original poster
Rinsefirst · 10/03/2020 15:39

Purple He just walks downstairs and through an already opened back door. No requirement at all for him to touch door ironmongery. Nothing risky in that.

OP posts:
HasaDigaEebowai · 10/03/2020 15:42

I honestly can't see why he can't walk them if he wears his mask and plastic gloves and speaks to no one. There are huge fields near our house

He is in medical isolation and he must not leave the house. If he does he could get quarantined in a facility plus he could jeopardise the health of others.

Pebbles574 · 10/03/2020 16:01

Serious question - how does someone on their own in a field pass the virus on (unless touching gates etc)
There was some suggestion that the virus was less likely to survive for long outside in the discussion about cancelling outdoor events.
If I am well but self-isolating I intend to be in garden sometimes for my mental health!

newbingepisodes · 10/03/2020 16:06

Well I was told that it was fine to go out and walk your dog at 5am if you're not going to be within 2m if anyone and don't touch anything "public".

HasaDigaEebowai · 10/03/2020 16:17

Well I was told that it was fine to go out and walk your dog at 5am if you're not going to be within 2m if anyone and don't touch anything "public".

That isn't correct. You're not even allowed to go to your own front door.

RB68 · 10/03/2020 16:18

I am in this stage as well expecting DH hom from Italy shortly although he was in South flying through Rome. Plan currently I will move out into other room and move clothes - I have cleared him space to set up a desk so he can work in there and we just have to sort

Its not that they are not allowed in rest of house but that you need to avoid people and pets (they can get the virus too apparently). So they can walk through to garden or to go out early/late and walk the woofer.

Update: he has just landed and they are still handing out the 25th Feb PHE leaflet, how to wash leaflet and now just been told to self isolate. Also advised that Italy is now closed from Friday with no flights in or out

DontCallMeShitley · 10/03/2020 16:41

Oh no don'tcallme shirley we must find out why the cat died..

One of the first articles I read was that it was a zoonosis and had been contracted by eating wild animals. I am assuming that the poor kitten had picked it up. Have seen conflicting articles regarding pets.

LizzieSiddal · 10/03/2020 17:04

That isn't correct. You're not even allowed to go to your own front door.

If you live rurally of course you can go outside your front door. When I walk my dog 9 times out of 10 I don’t see another person and in these circumstances, you could easily keep a distance between me and someone else.

Also the person who said the virus can lady die she’s outside, is incorrect. It quickly die and this is why out door events are not being cancelled.

There really is a lot of mis information on this thread. Seek out the scientists/experts/govt websites instead of relying on anyone else.

HasaDigaEebowai · 10/03/2020 17:20

You are not allowed to go to your front door. Deliveries have to be left outside.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/869149/PHE_Guidance_Advice_sheet_for_home_isolation_English.pdf

Original poster
Rinsefirst · 10/03/2020 17:32

Don'tcallmeshirley The kitten story has caused me to consider the pet issue carefully .Sick puppy had giardia diagnosed a month ago which is also a zoonosis so we have been bleaching and steaming for Britain and contained her to the ground floor. Her activity is all outdoors and we bathe her daily. She appears not to be absorbing food so the vet is working through the options. Because she is so skinny she wearsone of those fleece coats outside. I think we will keep a fleece coat on in the house and if she finds her way into DP's area and he has to grab her for longer than a few minutes - I will remove and replace said coat with her spare. However, i would imagine it would be about her ingesting his airborne germs particularly in a confined space. I will ask the vet on Friday. Roll on day 15. RB68 keep us posted. Mine is presently in Austria.

OP posts:
cologne4711 · 10/03/2020 17:35

you don't get immunity from catching it like with chicken pox. You can catch it again

I keep seeing this claim - where is the evidence please? Surely it's like any other coronavirus/cold, you get each new one, but not the ones you've had before?

Original poster
Rinsefirst · 10/03/2020 17:40

Thank you Hasa. I have not seen this document. The panel in blue at the top of that leaflet is interesting as my DP has not been tested nor spoken to any health professional but we will see tomorrow when he arrives back in the UK. It's much the same as the NHS advice.

OP posts:
HasaDigaEebowai · 10/03/2020 17:43

I keep seeing this claim - where is the evidence please? Surely it's like any other coronavirus/cold, you get each new one, but not the ones you've had before?

There has been anecdotal evidence coming largely out of china and the diamond princess cases that this might be the case since people have tested negative and then tested positive again. But actually the experts think that these results are due to the high "false negative" rate i.e. its possible to get a negative result followed by a positive result again. It isn't that you have caught the virus again, its that your negative result was incorrect and you still had it all along.

In all likelihood once you've had it you won't get this strain again.

Spodge · 10/03/2020 17:47

I can see how the bathroom protocol would work if the self-isolating person isn't actually ill. But if they are - are they really going to be in a fit state to clean the bathroom properly after using it? The one time I had flu I barely had the energy to get to the bathroom for a wee, far less to worry about what surfaces I had or had not touched and wipe them down throughly. I think the well people are going to have to do that.

SixesandEights · 10/03/2020 17:53

You are not allowed to go to your front door. Deliveries have to be left outside.

How are they going to get inside?

RB68 · 10/03/2020 17:54

reading HASAs leaflet link - this is slightly misleading and applies if the person has symptoms not SI with no symptoms or contact with ill person. We have checked with PHE and also 111 and all gov sites - the advice for no symptoms but risk area is SI and people in the household carry on as before including go to school for kids. Deliveries should be left at the door to avoid contact with delivery person - not that you are not allowed outside