Why did 14 days change to 7?

[ScottishStottie]

I understood at first that it was a more general self isolation, so would affect more people. But the 14 day self isolation seems to have disappeared from advice? So if i have a fever and a cough i stay off for 7 days. If it gets worse over that 7 days what do i do? If after 7 days its not worse but i still have the cough and fever what do i do?

I think this part of the advice is really unclear unless im missing something?

I think the 7 days is for if you have any signs of falling ill at all - if after 7 days it's clearly not coronavirus, eg no fever, no cough, maybe ordinary cold stuff like sneezing and a blocked nose which occur very seldome with C19, then you're in the clear. However if you develop fever and and cough you should assume C19 and keep isolated for the 2 weeks.

I'm not sure why it changed but this is from the Gov.uk website in answer to your other question:

'Ending self-isolation
You should remain at home until 7 days after the onset of your symptoms. After 7 days, if you feel better and no longer have a high temperature, you can return to your normal routine. If you have not had any signs of improvement and have not already sought medical advice, contact NHS 111 online. If you have no internet access, call NHS 111.

Coughing may persist for several weeks in some people, despite the coronavirus infection having cleared. A persistent cough alone does not mean you must continue to self-isolate for more than 7 days.'

My understanding was the 14 days related to people without symptoms returning from designated places, the theory being that it took up to 14 days for symptoms to appear, potentially.
The 7 days now is for people with symptoms to isolate, since after this time they are thought to no longer be infectious.
If during the 7 days you get worse, so struggle to breathe, call 111. They will then tell you what next steps you should take regarding hospital, GP, or nothing. There is no need to call them unless that happens.
Most people will be fine after the 7 days and can go back to whatever.

This is my understanding as a front line HCP.

i dont think they think people will be better after 7 days. The thinking is that within 7 days it will have become more clear if it CV19 or not.
It has changed because we are no longer trying to contain the virus , we have accepted it will spread widely and we are now just trying to slow the spread.

Ah ok that makes a lot of sense, that its not isolation to see if you get sick like it was before, but isolation to manage the illness once its hit.

Also thank you elbob for the info about when to stop, i couldnt find that anywhere so very helpful.

So if i get a fever and cough that hasnt cleared in 7 days, but im still coping with it at home, do i still need to get medical help?

It was14 days if you'd been in a verstein country or had exposure to someone with confirmed CV.

Now it's 7 days but only if you have a symptom.

It will change again shortly in an attempt to flatten the peak.

It’s bad advice and countries like Japan and Korea
That have slowed the spread didn’t do it.

And can we also take a moment to LOL at persistently getting told NOT to call 111. What exactly do these people do if we aren’t to call them, ever.