‘Unfairness’ when whole family has to isolate?

[ChickenNotSoLittle]

I’m not sure what you all think. Is the following type of scenario is ‘unfair’ on the families of some essential workers?

Obviously some people work in a profession where there is a very, very clear and strict risk assessment relating to Covid due to the possibility of spreading the virus to vulnerable people. Or jobs with very high levels of accountability. I’m thinking of health care workers and those in schools who might have a particularly hard time passing off some symptoms as ‘just a cold’.

Would other posters agree that in these type of roles there might be an expectation of taking a test to rule out Covid rather than really thinking that they actually have Covid?

The partners and children of these workers (who have most likely just got a cold) therefore are more likely to be forced into unnecessarily isolating.

The DC might be at a critical time in their schooling and it could feel like they’re being punished for a parent having to do the right thing.

My sister was in this situation and her poor DS nearly missed the start of year 7 as a result. I’m in a similar role myself and am concerned this could happen to us as well.

Do you think that there could be some kind of system whereby the employee isolates In these borderline cases but the whole family does not have to, unless they have absolutely classic Covid symptoms.

I’m interested to hear your thoughts.

If they are isolating because they are showing Covid symptoms, the family needs to isolate until there is a negative test. We can’t have one rule for one... It is a shame that people have to miss out on stuff but that’s just the way it is.

I’ve missed out on my last week at work before my maternity leave starts. I wanted to say goodbye to everyone properly and have a proper send off but that’s not happened. I will get over it.

Not sure about teachers or care workers but nhs workers get priority access to tests, so as the family will generally be back to work and school quicker.

If the ‘cold’ involves a cough/temperature or loss of taste or smell then the whole family should be off regardless of their jobs.

Child has a cough but they're otherwise fine. Now missing out on nursery and I'm missing out of uni waiting for a test

I thought the powers that be are going to prioritize testing for NHS, care workers and teachers. Not ideal pose children of these workers will miss less school than other workers whom can't get a test quickly.

I don’t understand - so people in lower risk jobs should be able to work with symptoms? No, everyone should have to self isolate if showing symptoms, but tests should be readily available for everyone with symptoms so that those who test negative can resume normal life quickly.

But not very bright, something like a continuous cough is open to interpretation. I think some people can get away with a bit more of a wait and see attitude before they inflict isolation on the whole family.

Priority testing can still wipe out a week!

Should have added in my post:

I’ve got 0 symptoms but my bubble at school closed for a positive test.

I agree that there should be priority testing for those working in key areas: NHS, care homes, care workers, teachers (to keep kids in school)...

If you have been in touch with a person showing symptoms, then you ave potentially contracted it from them. People are contacguius for a couple of days before the inset of symptoms.

So I'm not sure what you are proposing? That the families of symptomatic key workers should be exempt from contact isolation? That's a nonsense

Symptomatic key workers having priority access to tests, good idea. For then if negative neither they nor their household need continue to isolate.

Some families, where one person's working environment was very risky (some HCPs for example) did indeed move out for weeks at a time, specifically to avoid bringing anything home to their family. But I think that has to be a free choice, not a policy that those in such jobs must isolate pre-emptively to protect their families for infection.

I think we got lucky where we live then phoned for a test one day, booked for the next morning, result that night.

I think some people can get away with a bit more of a wait and see attitude before they inflict isolation on the whole family

And we wonder why cases are rising. If you have a new continuous cough, you need to isolate and test.

(Unless there are Cummings of course

No happily, they shouldn’t work with symptoms but if you’re working with vulnerable Alzheimer’s patients then you might be a bit more over cautious than if you are a car mechanic for instance.

I’m just saying that in my experience there has been an element of dilemma facing some people about whether a test is required. I don’t think it’s completely clear cut, especially as the uk’s symptom list is very narrow.

We could do exactly as you suggest.

I know a number of people who had shielding relatives or a family member develop symptoms who lived away for weeks or in one case several months in order to be able to carry on working and isolate from risk or at risk people at home.

@ChickenNotSoLittle

But not very bright, something like a continuous cough is open to interpretation. I think some people can get away with a bit more of a wait and see attitude before they inflict isolation on the whole family.

Priority testing can still wipe out a week!

Whilst they’re ‘waiting and seeing’, their family has potentially past on Covid to everyone they’ve come into contact with.

I’m not saying we should all immediately isolate after a single cough but we all need to follow the guidelines on when to self isolate.

I’ve missed out on my last week at work before my maternity leave starts. I wanted to say goodbye to everyone properly and have a proper send off but that’s not happened. I will get over it

That is really not the same as a year 10 or 11 child missing two weeks of their education

If the key worker has something which could be a symptom so needs a COVID test then there is the risk the rest of the family/household could already be silently incubating it. That's the sneaky part of this virus. You can have it for days before you know you have it.

No. Partly because there is no such thing as ‘classic Covid symptoms’.

And given that either being an HCP or living in a household with an hcp increases your chances of getting covid, I’m not sure it’s a sensible idea that those people are the ones that don’t isolate. It’s possible the most likely outcome of that would be that more people end up self isolating.

@pjmask

I’ve missed out on my last week at work before my maternity leave starts. I wanted to say goodbye to everyone properly and have a proper send off but that’s not happened. I will get over it

That is really not the same as a year 10 or 11 child missing two weeks of their education

Did I say it was?

They shouldn’t be missing out on their education. Schools should now be offering home learning that is the equivalent of what they would have received at school.

My school is having children join their lessons via Teams when it is just them isolating. When it is the whole bubble, teachers are recording the lessons they would have taught and sending them home.

Interesting responses. If anything, I’m prone to overthinking my own symptoms so I can assure you I would be inclined to test personally.

Doesn’t look like anyone agrees with me!!

I just think there’s an element of individual circumstances / perspective that might inform the decision to test, especially as the U.K.’s symptom lust us narrow.

List not lust!

The problem is the availability and turn around time of tests. Hypothetically if you could get tests straight away and it came back the same day then I’m sure almost everyone would isolate for that one day. The problem is we have all the rules around isolation without speedy testing. So people are missing a week of school or work because one child has a cold.

There’s a difference between what you can get away with without being judged by society and what you know you should do...

yeah its a total pain in the arse.
The countries with best success had a thorough and extensive testing policy

There’s a difference between what you can get away with without being judged by society and what you know you should do...

Yes but I also think there’s a degree of subjectivity in deciding ‘what you should do’.

Some people might be more aware of the less common symptoms and think they ought to test as they may have an atypical case. Others will be thinking no fever, cough or loss of taste of smell- no chance it could be Covid.

Never ending abs Branleuse, I totally agree!

*and