What to do if someone won't self isolate?

[Tatietata]

My niece is in her third year of university in England. She looks to us for advice as her parents live abroad.

Her housemate has had a bad cough for the last couple of days, but otherwise feels fine. He has been continuing as normal, going to university, using their shared kitchen and bathrooms. He only briefly rinsed his hands with water in the kitchen but she clearly doesn't know how he washes in the bathroom.

DN and her other housemates asked him to self-isolate after this afternoon's advice. They have two bathrooms so suggested he have his own and asked him not to borrow their cutlery. The housemate has told the others to "stop being dramatic" because it's just a cough.

It likely is just a cough, but he can't know that. There haven't been any known cases in their university, and only one in the city. I don't know what to advise DN or if there's a way to protect other people in case he does have coronavirus.

(NC so I can send this thread to DN without revealing my usual name!

Tbh given they're young, and presumably without health conditions they'll be fine. 🤞
But he's being very immature and unreasonable. And if I'm honest I would consider letting him know that how he is behaving shows his disregard for the flat mates health and would threaten that I would be informing the university.
If he won't self isolate I would advise that maybe she moves out for a couple of weeks if she can.

I would strongly encourage your DN to report this to the university. What he is doing is selfish and potentially dangerous.

@SoloMummy the point is not that if they are young and healthy they’ll be fine. It’s about everyone else and everything else that person interacts with. The spread from one person can be massive.

I fear we're going to get some people doing this, thinking their social contact is more important than other people's health and lives.

As suggested speak to uni. Also, try to keep away from him, so if he walks in the room, everyone walks out. Keep cultery, plates, food in their own rooms. Appreciate they need to do cooking in the same area, but perhaps socialise in eachothers rooms, unfortunately, he's not welcome. If using the same bathroom, wash hands properly, keep window open, don't touch tap to switch off, door handle with bare hands, ie use elbow, issue.

Thanks all.

Her uni have now announced they're stopping classes so she's going to come and stay with us. Hopefully she isn't incubating anything but at least we all have good hygiene!