Quarantine rules for flatshares/roommates?

[cheerfulpanda]

I can’t find anything in the government advice for this, so turning to the wisdom of Mumsnet!

I currently live in a flat share. We each have our own bedroom, shared kitchen, shared bathroom. Our flat is not big enough to stay 2m apart when in communal spaces.

Both of my flat mates have returned from two week holidays today, one was in Croatia, one France. Both are now starting their two week quarantine.

What am I expected to do?! We share all the same facilities, and we’re all going to be in the house together. As the same household do I have to quarantine now even though I’ve not been away?

Or can I go freely to and from the flat even though I’m cooped up with them all day?

The same as any other household - you don’t need to self isolate unless you or they start to exhibit symptoms.

You don't need to self isolate but do need to remain 2 meters away from them at all times while they are quarantining. As a group of adults you would be expected to manage this yourselves and it may well be that you have to work out a system to ensure that you are not in the communal areas at the same time if social distancing wouldn't be possible in such areas.

Hmm, that’s useful @StatisticalSense.

Think we’ll just have to try our best. Two of us work from home in our kitchen and we both do classic 9-5s. I might have to work from bed for two weeks!

In the circumstances, maybe the other person should work from their bed, if you prefer the kitchen table.

Surely the person quarantining will have the good will to work in their bedroom, or else them having a holiday is putting you out from your daily routine

We had a similar situation- we worked out a Rota for kitchen use and the guys quarantining only used at certain times

I have a double room where as she only has a single so it’s slightly more practical for me to work from bed. It’s been ok so far, just turned my camera off on conference calls! Tempting to work from the bath

She’s been coughing today though....not sure if this means I have to self isolate? The guidance I can find says yes but am I ok considering we’ve not been in a room together at the same time and I’m currently symptomless.

Other housemate has been fine so far and has very considerately stuck to her room 95% of the time!

If she has a new continuous cough she should get tested. And i think you will have to self isolate. By any chance is it the one that's come back from France?

Yes you do have to self isolate now as she has symptoms and you live in the same household.

No, the one from Croatia.

She has asthma so is prone to a cough. No tests available here either.