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NHS Coronavirus information. Information from gov.uk. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you have health concerns, please seek medical attention.
Related: Lockdown Learning, discuss home schooling during lockdown.
Covid
Why is the government advice so contradictory and confusing?
Zacharyezrarawlings · 15/03/2020 10:04
So, initially if you had been in contact with a CONFIRMED case then you had to isolate for 14 days. Now they are not testing in the community and anyone with a new continuous cough or temp has to isolate for 7 days. It is likely that some of those people will have COVID. BUT now others in contact with them dont have to isolate and the person that is unwell only has to isolate for 7 days, not 14. So that seems likely to increase spread, not decrease it surely?!?
Also, currently at work we have a member of staff who was in contact with a confirmed case and she and her family are about to enter their second week of isolation as per government advice at the time. However this week if that initial person thought they had CV19 they wouldnt even be tested and no one who had contact with them would be isolating.
It all seems very contradictory and confusing. It is no wonder that people keep asking what they should do in certain situations and not following advice cause none of it makes any sense!
NellyGrace · 15/03/2020 10:05
It’s do contradictory. All of it. And they keep changing their minds.
Not helping ease the panic.
Iwantacookie · 15/03/2020 10:08
I'm glad someone else brought this up because I'm as confused as anything. Plus I've had a headache all morning so I'm thinking is this the start?
We need clear advice from one source.
But then I dont suppose it helps that new news is coming in about it all the time so the goalposts will keep changing.
Zacharyezrarawlings · 15/03/2020 10:09
nelly yes, they do keep chaging their minds. Its as if theyre making it up as they go along LOL! yet they reckon it is all based on science and statistics and models etc...
Zacharyezrarawlings · 15/03/2020 10:10
Iiwnat* I have had a headache all week....but nothing else. Im thinking it is possibly stress related but who knows.....anyway - nothing on any guidance abaout a headache alone.
Bingit · 15/03/2020 10:17
It's a new virus and they're learning about it too so of course the advice is changing as the situation is changing.
Zacharyezrarawlings · 15/03/2020 10:24
but the changes aren't based in science. They have basically gone from self isolating if you have contact for 14 days to not self isolating at all if you have had contact and those with it only isolating for 7 days. There has been no change in the understanding of the incubation period or transmission methods of the virus in the time between the changes in guidance. (and I am a doctor working in the NHS!)
SirVixofVixHall · 15/03/2020 10:25
Agree OP, the shifting advice, and the lessening of isolation , is very confusing.
LynetteScavo · 15/03/2020 11:28
Because the government thought they might be able to contain it, now realise they can't and everyone will get it. Their next advise will depend on how fast or slowly they want it to spread.
AHippoNamedBooBooButt · 15/03/2020 12:00
I work with someone who went into 14 day isolation last monday after being in contact with a confirmed positive. However they were back on friday as the advice changed and as they showed no symptoms they were fine. It seems so contradictory that now we are getting more cases they are relaxing the rules. Why are other countries still insisting on 14 days isolation but not us?
And what is this mathematical model they keep talking about? Surely all countries will also have their own scientist and senior health advisers, including the WHO, so how comes theirs all agree but ours is so widely different?
We are in such a fortunate position in that we are 2 weeks behind italy, and a week behind spain/france/germany that we have the benefit of their hindsight, why are we not acting on their advice? And rather than being tougher, we are relaxing the rules.
Bingit · 15/03/2020 12:37
It seems that the most contagious part is in the first week, so they want people isolated during that period. The plan isn't to stop the virus completely as it'll just make a reappearance again in the future and we'll be in the same situation again. The idea is to make sure enough healthy people catch it, at staggered times incase they need medical attention, then we are supposedly immune and create herd immunity. All while keeping the elderly separated so they are more protected. I don't think it's a bad plan to be honest. Countries all over the world are failing to contain it, so allowing people to be infected in a controlled manner is the next best option.
Bingit · 15/03/2020 12:40
The reason we are doing it differently to other countries is that we're looking ahead to the long term future. If we gain immunity now, then we won't have a problem in the winter when the virus makes it's rounds around the world again and countries shut down yet again.
Bellyfullofbiscuits · 15/03/2020 12:43
It has never happened before. Of course advice will change. Initially , the advice was for containment, it cannot be contained, advice changed to slow the spread down. We will all get it at some point and we now need to cocoon our elderly and vulnerable
There is no government grand plan.
Judashascomeintosomemoney · 15/03/2020 12:50
I couldn’t believe my ears on Friday night, Dr Nick Phin from Public Health England, staying on BBC Newsnight, that the most contagious phase is seven days after symptoms show and that prior to symptoms showing there’s no need to isolate because asymptomatic people are not contagious!! And still the BBC haven’t offered a clarification. No wonder people are confused.
Falcon1 · 15/03/2020 12:52
I agree, the lack of clarity is incredibly stressful. DH has been ill with fever and cough. We have to assume that it's COVID. So he's going to isolate for 7 days, but apparently the kids are fine to go to school?! Parents have heard about DH being ill and are quite rightly very worried about my kids being contagious. I think I should keep them off. I don't want to be responsible for spreading it, even if that's what the government wants!
Skeeter2020 · 15/03/2020 13:14
The information really is out there OP if you look at the correct sources. Please do that in future before spreading confusion on forums such as this - it's really dangerous.
The 14 day isolation was to account for the incubation period of the illness. If you've actually got symptoms you're only infectious for about 4-5 days, hence the safety net of the 7 day isolation.
BecauseReasons · 15/03/2020 13:17
Well, before we were trying to contain it- track down and isolate anyone who might be infected.
We've now moved on and accepted that it's no longer containable, so we are trying to delay the peak of cases by isolating those with symptoms. It is no longer practicable to track down and self-isolate anyone who had contact with an infected person, so we're concentrating resources elsewhere. Does that make sense?
riotlady · 15/03/2020 13:27
I wish there was clearer guidance on what a “continuous” cough means. Coughing every day? Coughing constantly?
BecauseReasons · 15/03/2020 13:36
@riotlady the 111 website says it means you've been coughing repeatedly.
111.nhs.uk/covid-19
Zacharyezrarawlings · 15/03/2020 13:41
skeeter I am completely aware the information is out there, and what it is thank you. As you would see if you read my post properly. However the fact remains that the changing advice gives contradicting messages and is indeed confusing for the general public. And as for your assertions about incubation periods I would be interested to know your sources for that as that does match the evidence from the papers and studies I've seen
As I said, I'm a doctor working in the NHS so you can be assured I'm reading all the latest info, we are getting it emailed to us several times a day at work! And I really don't think discussing the government's guidance on a forum is "spreading confusion" or "really dangerous" we're all adults and allowed to have an opinion of what is happening, even if it is a different opinion to you.
lovelyupnorth · 15/03/2020 13:43
Because we are being run by a group of self interested liars who have no clue what they’re doing.
Zacharyezrarawlings · 15/03/2020 13:44
Yes the point about the fact we have moved from contain to delay phase is a good one. I still think the government should have been clearer about the changes they made, the reasons for the changes and also given guidance on those already following a path on the old guidance.
Bingit · 15/03/2020 16:19
They did OP, watch this press conference on YouTube m.youtube.com/watch?v=xRadMzCKnCU
It has all the information on them moving onto the delay stage.
jupiteroo · 15/03/2020 17:05
Please can someone post a link to the official advice as to what to do if you’ve had contact with a confirmed case?
My current understanding is, as PPs have said, to only self isolate if you have relevant symptoms. But I’m really confused...
The FAQ section on NHS website isn’t working ATM.
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