help - how long self isolation if you were required to provide care to an elderly person

[StressoeZoe]

This is theoretical at the moment but my anxiety is making me plan ahead.

If you became the only person available to provide care to someone in their 90s (health issues, early dementia, needs full time care), how long in true self-isolation and if you were symptomless would you wait before going?

Government suggests 7 days is enough. I've read 24 days incubation period (see link below) but this seems rare. If this terrible situation occurred, I was thinking that maybe 14 days would be enough coupled with as much social distancing as is possible in a care situation for a futher 7 days (so wearing a mask, not sharing bathrooms, not eating together, lots of hand washing - that type of thing).

Or is that insane and should wait a full 24 days?

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/coronavirus-incubation-period-symptoms-china-sars-length-days-time-a9326591.html

I’d be really interested in the answer to this, but judging from the half-baked theories on MN concerning everything CV-related, I’m not sure I would rely on the suggestions you might receive.

How is the person involved being cared for at the moment?

Combination of paid carer and a neighbour (latter for shopping but trying to do 2m distancing)

@MrsFezziwig

I asked this question on the Webchat with Dr Jenny Harries who kindly took time to answer this. Thank you to her. This is what she said and I take the answer to basically be 14 days.

I think what you are asking is, if you have had symptoms yourself and are presumed to have had Covid-19 coronavirus illness then how long should you stay away from somebody more vulnerable. The answer to this is you should self isolate for 7 days and most people will get over their symptoms in that time and will not be transmitting virus by the 8th day in a way which is likely to cause illness in someone else. If you are not fully recovered then you should wait until your symptoms have gone - you might have a little bit of a cough left which is ok but most people are fine at this point.

However if you are meaning you have been exposed to someone else in your family who has had coronavirus illness and you have gone through 14 days incubation period without any symptoms, then it is very unlikely you have disease and you can help support your elderly person. Even where there have been reports of the virus being around a bit longer than this in rare cases, it is unlikelythat disease can be transmitted

This thread and answer at Wed 25-Mar-20 11:54:28
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/mumsnet_live_events/a3859464-Webchat-with-Dr-Jenny-Harries-Deputy-Chief-Medical-Officer-for-England-Wednesday-25-March-at-11-30?msgid=95008660#95008660