Can you go out freely once you have had covid?

[kingis]

Do you need to follow rules even though you probably have immunity?

Not at all a dig at you, just nice to hear that experts are back in fashion after the last two years of politicians and pundits mocking them

@ jmcg2015

I DO trust the experts.
I trust that once I’ve been tested, if that test says I’ve got antibodies to it then I am extremely unlikely to be re-infected by it.

I work for the NHS and our ‘experts’ are saying that if we have antibodies then we will be able to come to work and be as sure as we can be that we’re safe from being re-infected.

But we will still need to adhere to all the social distancing, hand/clothing washing, PPE wearing as everyone else, because we can still pass it to someone on our person.

Two separate points

If you are contagious then every time you cough, lock your finger, wipe your eye the virus will go onto your fingers, onto whatever is around you. You will leave a trail of virus wherever you go unless you are fastidious. Anyone else touching the button, handle, packet of pasta which you touched or coughed on will get the virus

If you are NOT contagious then every virus coated button etc you touch, you will pick up some virus and potentially spread it to the next button you touch, therefore someone not immune migjt catch it from you spreading

Given the virus doesn't stay live for days and days, it's quite easy to see that both people can spread it, but infected people spread it much more

Non infected people will only increase the spread of what is already out there.

Infected, contagious people will add to what is out there

The two are very different things

@ Owlsintowels

That makes a lot of sense.

@Owlsintowels exactly, same common sense applies to everyone, wash your hands often and properly regardless of your status is so simple and the most effective thing anyone can do

I am a dentist and we operate the same level of PPE we are seeing in hospitals currently as standard to prevent our staff and ourselves from picking up infection from patients.
However PPE is personal protection equipment for our benefit. To stop the spread of infection from one patient to the next is a whole different set of rules, all equipment is autoclaved between patients. All surfaces where aerosol and droplets may land is disinfected. Lots of single use equipment is used.
Protecting yourself is different from preventing spread. You don’t have to be infected with a virus in order to spread it.
I think a good lesson to take from this situation is frequent handwashing and regular disinfection of communal surfaces.

I’m afraid you are mistaken jmcg2015 but perhaps what I said was not clear.

Please see this research referenced article in the Lancet

close and unprotected exposure is required for transmission by direct contact or by contact with fomites in the immediate environment

00Sassy is correct about transmission of infection via fomites. Being immune post infection could even potentially lead someone to be less stringent in their behaviour with no conscious intent.

Hoping you are well.

@Cov no I did understand. What I was saying was that should someone have had it and be as immune as they believe possible, just like others they should still wash their hands. That's all, and yes agreed thinking your immune does not preclude someone from sensible hygiene