Govt guidance: have I misinterpreted?

[mariamerryweather]

DD12 developed a fever (high temp) on Saturday, and has been away from school all week. DH, DD7 and I have been in self isolation since Tuesday, and I had thought we all needed to do this for 14 days from Saturday, and for 7 days in addition if any of us develop symptoms.

If DD12 is better on Saturday, can she go to school (if open) after her 7 days of self isolation or should she be off for another week with us?

Tempted to just keep her off to be honest as she's been so unwell and things may of course be very different by the end of this week but wanted to see how others are interpreting the guidance in these circs.

All of you 14 days. The 7 day rule only applies to those living alone.

Technically she can go back after 7 days. But I don't think anyone would blame you for keeping her off longer, from what WHO have been saying, 7 days doesn't seem like long enough to be sure someone isn't contagious anymore.

From Gov guidelines:
"After 7 days, if the first person to become ill feels better and no longer has a high temperature, they can return to their normal routine. If any other family members become unwell during the 14-day household-isolation period, they should follow the same advice - that is, after 7 days of their symptoms starting, if they feel better and no longer have a high temperature, they can also return to their normal routine."

She can go back after 7 days but the rest of the family have to self isolate for the 14 days.

In fact it's more complicated (!) - see link and the section called 'ending isolation' .

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

*"If you have been symptomatic, then you may end your self-isolation after 7 days. The 7-day period starts from the day when you first became ill

If living with others, then all household members who remain well may end household-isolation after 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day illness began in the first person to become ill. Fourteen days is the incubation period for coronavirus; people who remain well after 14 days are unlikely to be infectious.

After 7 days, if the first person to become ill feels better and no longer has a high temperature, they can return to their normal routine. If any other family members become unwell during the 14-day household-isolation period, they should follow the same advice - that is, after 7 days of their symptoms starting, if they feel better and no longer have a high temperature, they can also return to their normal routine.

Should a household member develop coronavirus symptoms late in the 14-day household-isolation period (for example, on day 13 or day 14) the isolation period does not need to be extended, but the person with the new symptoms has to stay at home for 7 days. The 14-day household-isolation period will have greatly reduced the overall amount of infection the rest of the household could pass on, and it is not necessary to re-start 14 days of isolation for the whole household. This will have provided a high level of community protection. Further isolation of members of this household will provide very little additional community protection.

At the end of the 14-day period, any family member who has not become unwell can leave household isolation.

If any ill person in the household has not had any signs of improvement and have not already sought medical advice, they should contact NHS 111 online. If your home has no internet access, you should call NHS 111.

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

ah, cross posted with others!

Yogibear is right. I am in the same position and will be sending DD1 back to school tomorrow.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-advice/

Latest advice here.
The reason why your DD as the first infected person can return to school after 7 days is because she should no longer be infectious.

Interesting that the cough can continue for several weeks without person being infectious - I hadn't realised that (last para of the extract pasted).

Thanks all, it's reassuring in a way to know that this is complicated! Will see how she goes. Taking things day by day at the moment!

it's complicated because what is printed on the Government Advice page actually totally contradicts itself if you read right to the end. Its is serious enraging me!
See my thread here:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/3852312-Direct-contradiction-on-Government-advice-page

Yes Zach, the more detailed advice is a lot further on in the doc - you have to read on to 'ending isolation'.

I do think lots of people think it's 14 days' isolation for all. School may well be shut by the end of the week anyway...