I've been instructed to self isolate

[SelfIsolation]

Is there anyone else here who has been instructed to self isolate? I'm finding it very difficult to deal with some of the reactions I've had IRL, and mental health wise / emotionally. I'm not at all scared about having Covid-19. I haven't even requested a test as I don't think I have any symptoms worth worrying about. On the other hand I'm wondering if I could cut short my self isolation if I get a test with a negative result.

I must admit that I struggle to see the point if you are in contact with your children and your children aren’t in isolation. What weird advice. Hope you get through your isolation period without issue.

Re children.

Research suggests that although CV in children is less easy to diagnose, because the symptoms are milder, it's likely they can be carriers like other people.

"We further show that children are at similar risk of infection as the general population, though less likely to have severe symptoms; hence should be considered in analyses of transmission and control."
www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.03.03.20028423v1

“This may be the first clear evidence that children are as susceptible as adults to SARS-CoV-2 infection,” says Ben Cowling, an infectious-disease epidemiologist at the University of Hong Kong. He wonders whether the fact that outbreaks haven’t been observed in schools could be down to the fact that children’s symptoms are mild.

Lessler [infectious-disease epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health] says it’s still not clear whether children are important in transmitting the virus, as they are for influenza; children routinely develop flu symptoms and are common hubs in chains of transmission. “That’s one of the current critical remaining questions and we’re trying to figure out how to answer it,” he says.
www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-00154-w

I don't know, I don't make the rules, I'm just following them. I don't mean to sound flippant, but there are questions that I can't answer and I think a lot of the misinformation is coming from people who are answering questions that they can't actually answer as well...

I didn't ask 111 specifically about hugging my kids, but I explained to them about their ages and unavoidable close contact involved and 111 did not seem at all concerned about us having close contact. I've weighed up the probabilities and decided that denying a hug to a sensitive, upset child would do more harm than the very remote possibility that I might pass on a bug that I almost certainly don't have.

The issue is probably not whether you hug them or not, but where they go afterwards.

But again, 111 was not in the least worried about that - unless we ourselves develop symptoms. In which case they said they'd give further advice then about either isolating the kids or separating them from us. I didn't press any further on that because it's a moot point when we have no symptoms.

I can see why the advice doesn't make much sense - which is why I phoned (more than once) to check it all and be clear.

They may well change the advice as things progress. The situation in Italy changed unbelievably quickly.

It’s tough, really tough. and being sent your way.

I was contacted out of the blue, having found out I received care from a healthcare professional who has tested positive.

I’m gutted and scared, because I have lung disease and also because SOME people aren’t very supportive. I don’t know if you’ve noticed this but loads of healthy people (who I’ve not even come into contact with lately!) and getting worked up and messaging me. They aren’t offering kind words, just going on about themselves.I keep thinking, an infection person touched me and had prolonged contact (I’m not blaming them by the way) and I am in a very high risk group, so fuck you and your moaning to me. I’m just grumpy and tired though. I don’t care if it offends anyone, at this point.

More than happy to PM if you want a friend. :) I’m anxious but trying to be pragmatic and watching plenty of Netflix and eating cake.

xx

There’s loads of contradictory advice out there. I think that no one wants to take responsibility for the consequences of a shut down so there isn’t one authoritative source telling us all what to do. Rules for those who’ve recently travelled to Italy seem to be different to those given to people who’ve had definite contact with the virus in the UK and schoolchildren are being given different rules too. I think everyone in government is avoiding making any drastic decisions until things get so severe that they’re forced to do so.

I’m sorry that you’re getting shit from people OP

They may well change the advice as things progress. The situation in Italy changed unbelievably quickly

What frustrates me (about the government, not you, OP) is that they've SEEN what's happened in Italy and still don't seem to be getting on top of this in the most obvious ways. Gah!

Gosh flamingnora I'm so sorry you're in that situation. I hope everything's ok

Shutting down everything is going to tank Italy’s already shaky economy. It is a drastic step. What do you do when all childcare and schools are shut down? If people can’t work because they’re being told not to leave their homes do you compensate everyone for loss of wages? Does the government need to compensate employers? How long can a shut down go on for?

On the plus side at least no one’s talking about Brexit.

Sorry, just noticed your post FlamingNora. Enjoy your Netflix and try to ignore the fools.

Op self isolation means exactly that you self isolate away from other family members using g separate bathroom or bleaching door handles , toilet surfaces etc. I can’t decide if you are selfish or just stupid.

Why be rude? The OP is following public health advice she has personally been given.

I oind of agree with mydcaremarvel to be honest. I know what the government advice is but seeing what is happening in Italy why would you not want to be as safe as you could be to stop any potential spread? Why not keep your children home, if they are young enough that you hugging them is essential then they won't miss anything in school that can't be caught up on.

I do think lax attitudes like yours are part of the problem. The is a person local to me who like you didn't think he had it and went on to cause a cluster of cases after spreading it to his family.

I just dont understand why you wouldn't want to be as meticulous as possible with this. Personally I couldnt handle the guilt of knowing I was the cause of other peoples suffering because I wanted to hug my kids and then send them off to school.

I was contacted because I was in direct and close, prolonged contact with someone who tested positive. I’ve been in contact with various people over the last couple of days, including going to a supermarket. PHE were very clear - and I asked about 5 times - the people I’ve been in contact with can continue as usual. No need for isolation unless I test positive. In theory, I could have the virus and have passed it on to, say, my parents but PHE are advising everyone continues unless I am positive.

In my country, self isolate means no contact even with the family if they are not self isolating as well, and stay in a isolated space. So if you are hugging children and they are out and about and in contact with others, then it's no point, really. In most cases, it may just end up as an inconvenience for people who didn't have it, but in some cases, it may save many and stop spread of the virus.
And earlier cases in my country, it has spread because the government wasn't strict enough, bit like England now. Now all school are shut, as well as some work places.

@LochJessMonster the official advice is that if you are self Isolating you should remain separate from other members of the household, clean the bathroom after every time you use it etc.

Im not sure how this works in practical terms, and surely only is needed if the person self isolating is actually showing symptoms etc rather than has a mild risk of having the virus.... But none of this makes any sense does it?!

More rudeness...

I'm neither selfish nor stupid.

I don't have a lax attitude to it.

I haven't told you whether we're using separate bathrooms and the extent of the cleaning I'm doing, you're making assumptions.

You may be angry with what you perceive to be lax guidelines or a slow response from the government. But you can't take it out on the people who are following those guidelines.

I think it's only a matter of time before the government imposes restrictions and as I've said before, I will follow all the guidance applicable to me at every step.

I have to be honest, the people being rude about it (IRL and possibly here) are showing themselves up to be the ones who are out for themselves - eg stockpiling and withdrawing offers of "let me know if there's anything I can do" when I do actually ask for help. They're the ones who've been whipped into a paranoid frenzy by the media. They're part of the problem, creating panic where we need a sensible approach and management of the situation.

I meant to add, look at poor flamingnora's situation. She hasn't been rude to me, but has experienced healthy people being rude by not enquiring after her but just being concerned about themselves and their own possible exposure.

I feel quite disappointed that so many people have responded with a "me first" attitude.

It's not rudeness, if you think people are rude irl and on here, you are not taking this seriously.
Some people are not lucky as others, they may have more vulnerable family members, so there are reason to be more scared and cautious. Your lack of knowledge, ie, children don't get it, instead of children get it but they don't normally show the worst symptom says it all. And as for me, I have a immuno compromised child, but I don't think I am not panicking unnecessarily, merely comparing what did go wrong in my country which had spread earlier, and what is going wrong now here in England.

Another thing I forgot to add...

There are people out there who are meant to be self isolating but aren't bothering at all.

There are people out there who aren't being told to self isolate but the only difference between them and me is that their flight landed back in the UK hours before mine.

It's a massive inconvenience to have to miss all the social things I had arranged, and not to be able to go into work. My mental health is taking a hit because I depend on getting out and exercising to feel normal, and some people have had such a reaction that I've had to withdraw from the only social contact I'm allowed (social media and what's app etc). But I'm doing all this because that's what the advice is. So cut it out with criticism.

Again, thanks to those who are being kind and supportive.

I am taking this seriously, that's why I'm following exactly what I've been told to do. What part of that is so hard to understand? This sort of attitude is really disappointing - again, be annoyed with the rules and the people who make them or break them - don't be annoyed with me, I'm sticking to them! I have done NOTHING wrong. I'm doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing.

Did the guideline said it's ok to kissing and hugging children and let them go to school?
My country is closing down all the school, even in the area that has no affected people. Why do they do that? Is that because they are paranoid, or try to contain the situation? Hhm. Only the time will tell.

For people who are worried because they are particularly vulnerable:

If you're criticising people like me for following advice (or just secretly annoyed at me), you're focusing on the wrong thing.

There are people out there mixing in with everyone when they have Covid-19 and don't yet know it. I'm at home. I'm not your problem.

Now, knowing that there will be people who have it and that you have no way of knowing, you need to make a decision yourselves about how to live.

Some people I know (not locally, I have no personal contact) are doing most things as normal but avoiding big gatherings.

Others are staying at home completely.

You have to make your own decision based on your own risk. I can't do that for you, the government can't do that because short of complete "lockdown" they have no way of keeping every possible case away from you.

You do what you need to do, I'll do what I need to do.