Someone I've been in contact with has symptoms - who should know?

[BigBlueHouseBear]

I feel like I should know the answer to this but I am unsure.

Someone in my family started experiencing symptoms through the night on Friday (cough and tired, sore throat possibly from coughing, no temp). They have sent off for a test but not yet arrived.

I spent 20 mins with them on Thursday morning walked outdoors, didn't touch but wasn't 2 meters, went to a shop, wore masks.

Myself and DH are working from home so it's not too much of an issue for us to not see anyone else until the results come back.

However, who else needs to know? How many days back does my family member need to go to tell people? They were with someone who has health issues about a week before, inside completely distanced, for about 40 mins just really dropping off shopping. Is it anyone they would have seen in the last 14 days?

We are in a bit of a growing hotspot, so while my family member hasn't been socialising they have been at work.

Is it not people you have been in close contact with in the 48 hours before symptoms appeared?

NHS says:

names and contact details of any people you were in close contact with in the 48 hours before your symptoms started (if you know these details)

This is what track and trace is for, if they get a positive result then they will be contacted to identify who and in what time frame. From what I’ve heard of it were me I think I would go back a week or 10 days as this is how long the incubation period can take.

if you have had any close contact with anyone other than members of your household. We are interested in in the 48 hours before you developed symptoms and the time since you developed symptoms.

Close contact means:

• having face-to-face contact with someone (less than 1 metre away)
• spending more than 15 minutes within 2 metres of someone
• travelling in a car or other small vehicle with someone (even on a short journey) or close to them on a plane

if you work in – or have recently visited – a setting with other people (for example, a GP surgery, a school or a workplace)

Oh thank you! 48 hours would be a big relief from the point of view of the other family member. So I would t be in the clear but that's ok.

A week to 10 days not so much. But yes I suppose you are right if the result comes back positive then track and trace will no doubt kick in. Realistically there is still a higher chance of it being negative. Hopefully!!!

Thank you!

the incubation period can be up to 10-14 days but you aren't infectious for that whole period of time. Seems like you are infectious for 2 days before symptoms and while you have symptoms

Crossed with you there, thank you, that is such a relief! 48 hours would only really involve me and I've not seen anyone else but DH and neither has he, so if we stay in until the results come back hopefully it could contain anything from spreading.

It just shows how worrying it can be if you test positive or think you might, when thinking back to who you have had contact with.

40 minutes indoors dropping shopping to a vulnerable person would to me in hindsight feel like a bad decision. However, I understand how at the time it might seem like it carries negligible risk.

Hope all turned out OK OP.

Thank you, I agree now it doesn't seem like the best idea and ironically perhaps it was the first time anyone had been inside in about 17 weeks, with the pausing on shielding etc they thought it would be ok. Hopefully it will be but as you say it really does make you think.