I do not understand why the isolation period does not reset

[Dilbertian]

In the example given below, Child 2 could surely have been infected by the other family members, so why does her isolation clock not reset to 2 weeks from the onset of Dad's symptoms?

[SinglePringle]

I think that is the most useful diagram I’ve seen the entire outbreak.

Dunno about the science / medicine behind your question but I’m about to spam the fuck out of my friends and family

[TabbyStar]

Must be wrong?

[Selfsettling3]

It’s correct according to the NHS guidelines.

[SinglePringle]

The source say Public Health England.

[FromTheAllotment]

Maybe concluding that she’s probably had it asymptomatic?

But tbh I would have also thought that it would be more sensible to reset for her.

[pocketem]

Because Boris and Cummings want as many of us to be going to work as possible. That's also why the advice says to end the isolation 7 days after onset of symptoms, even if you are still symptomatic and coughing all over the place

[SinglePringle]

Agreed Selfsettling. It’s exactly as I’ve read the NHS guidelines. Just so useful to have it in physical form.

[NoRoomInBed]

If child 2 got symptoms on say day 16 the house would have to isolate again. It may be that the child has no symtoms even if they had it.

[Photinia]

The assumption is that we all share any virus within a household - no isolating from each other. So if child 2 was going to show symptoms, they'd show within 14 days of the first symptoms in the household.

[OhioOhioOhio]

Great diagram

[TabbyStar]

It does sound quite counter-intuitive that you would be out and about when someone in your family is symptomatic and you've not had it. I wouldn't want contact with any of those people!

[whatnow40]

Those who have symptoms only need to isolate for 7 days, as after 7 days they are no longer shedding virus cells and not contagious. Those without symptoms need to isolate for 14 days, and reset the clock if someone else shows symptoms.

Child 1 shows symptoms, whole house isolate for 14 days, except child 1, who is 7 days.

Child 2 shows symptoms on day 10, whole house continues to isolate and restarts the clock for another 14 days. Child 1 is no longer isolated and child 2 isolates for 7 days from onset of symptoms.

[Dilbertian]

whatnow40, that's what seems logical, but it is categorically not what PHE and the NHS are telling us to do. They are saying that we do not restart the isolation period.

[TheGreatWave]

I also don't understand it, at the very least child 2 would need the clock resetting, or are they saying that if you are exposed and don't get it, you never will?

Tbh if that was my family, child 2 would have the clock reset the day Dad showed symptoms.

[dementedpixie]

In reality is Child 2 going to be going out and about anyway?

[whatnow40]

That's right, if the person with symptoms remains in isolation for the full 14 days and doesn't go out after day 7.

If you allow those with symptoms to come out of isolation after 7 days, then you need to reset the clock if anyone else gets symptoms, as the non-isolated person could have brought it back in to the home.

[dementedpixie]

This info explains it in more detail:

Self-isolation

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

Household isolation

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 restart 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 contactNHS 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.

[Babysharkdoodoodood]

I've been ill since Monday so 7 days is supposed to be up. But am in fact getting worse now. Cough is never ending and fatigue all encompassing and body aching . But only 1 degree rise in temperature. Plus I'm snotty so concluding that is probably either a really bad cold or 'normal' flu.

Therefore still not leaving home in case it is CV, or the fact that I might catch CV from a careless work colleague and I'm T2. I'm ignoring the 7/14 day thing and going back when I'm better. No kids here now and DH is wfh and is better from the original cough that started this.

[dementedpixie]

You only come out of isolation after 7 days if you feel better

[SoundofSilence]

It's a helpful diagram but my worry is what happens if the earliest people with symptoms had something other than covid at the time? I wish there was testing so we knew where we stood.

[ShastaBeast]

That is useful. I’m hoping my isolation ends after 7 days, tomorrow for me (started with cold symptoms earlier but counting from first cough and chest pain). I should be immune and can’t catch it again. My youngest has no symptoms but must have it and therefore will be immune. All the kisses and cuddles it would be impossible a child wouldn’t be a carrier.

[ShastaBeast]

dementedpixie

Actually you are allowed if you don’t have a fever. You can still cough and it’s expected a cough will continue for a week or three. The virus is dead after a week of symptoms, it is believed.

[daisypond]

It does sound quite counter-intuitive that you would be out and about when someone in your family is symptomatic and you've not had it. I wouldn't want contact with any of those people!
But you’re not out and about. The whole family self-isolates. No one leaves the house.

[PureAlchemy]

I was wondering about the clock resetting too.

Especially as there’s no Coronavirus testing for people self isolating at home, so the mum in this diagram might have actually caught a cold or the flu rather than Coronavirus.

[WindFlower92]

But what if it's a cold for the first two showing symptoms, and dad caught coronavirus off someone else 1 day before mum showed symptoms and they had to isolate. Then took 2 weeks for symptoms to show, making him the first in the chain. But everyone thinks it's linked to mum's cough, and they go out as normal. Confusing!