Question on self-isolation

[5lilducks]

Hi all,

I am just a bit confused about these self-isolation rules. DD (nearly 3) has got a cold. I know that in some cases covid my present itself as just a cold and other symptoms in children but the guidance does not list cold symptoms (e.g.sneezing) as a reason to self-isolate/get tested and is very specific about what symptoms you should be isolating/get tested for, so I am only going to worry about the symptoms listed in the UK govs guidelines. My question is, DD has not got a cough yet, but she usually does get a cough when she gets a cold. Say if she gets a new cough and I get her tested (for Pre-School) does she still have to isolate for 14 days even if she gets a negative test? Tia

But if we still have to isolate then I don't see the point of taking her for a test.

You’d only have to isolate until the test result is back.

Yes, it is this discrepancy between the gov.uk www and the NHS one that confused me in the first place!

It seems like you could choose the nhs interpretation or your pre schools interpretation of the rules given the government one makes no sense

This is the email that comes after your negative test result.

If she gets a cough, has a test and its negative, then isolation stops - we just had this for our 2 year old. Why would it continue? - everyone with a cold would be isolating for 10 days and children would never be in school.

If you are asked to isolate by track and trace due to close contact with a positive person then you have to isolate for 14 days regardless of whether you get symptoms/ have a negative test etc but that is not the case for OP.

Yes, I think I will get her tested if she gets a cough and isolate only until we get the results.

Yes I accept what you’re saying - I just wish the actual government guidance was clear and correct. Seeing as the government has made the rules. No wonder people are confused.

@RicStar exactly. If everyone had to isolate for a cold hardly anyone would be at work and the economy will collapse!

@5lilducks which is exactly why I checked the government guidance because I couldn’t believe it!

@StillDumDeDumming I know what you mean. As the government make the rules I tend to check their rules first but I think the more I check that website my hair gets dishevelled like Bojo's.

It's so confusing! But the NHS advice here, on what a negative result means, is clear.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/testing-and-tracing/what-your-test-result-means/

The Guidance posted above refers to ending household isolation, which means when a whole household has isolated, but they should make that clearer.

So can you link to the guidance for the actual individual with CV symptoms. I’m not sure there is separate guidance for that. Even the easy read version does not mention negative test results. It’s been omitted deliberately I imagine. It’s most definitely if you or someone you live with has symptoms. Hmmm. I hadn’t misread it - it’s not there! Unless it’s hiding.

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/906663/20203007_Easy_read_household_isolation_v3.1.pdf

I agree @StillDumDeDumming (like your username!).

I've just sent the feedback form for the govt doc asking why it appears to contradict the NHS advice. No idea whether they reply directly to those or not.

I'd still go on the NHS advice especially that contained in the results email you get. Or ring 119?

In fact I am currently awaiting results so may be doing this shortly!

But the government guidance says that if you have symptoms you must isolate for at least 10 days. The section about ending isolation does not say you can end when you get a negative test.

@StillDumDeDumming the guidance is confusing, DH and I discussed it a couple of weeks ago. If you scroll to the top of the guidance you linked to it has a “who is this guidance for” section. It’s for people with a positive test, people with symptoms who are awaiting test results or who did not get tested, people who are close contacts of a positive test, people who live with someone who has symptoms.
So, it’s not for people who have symptoms but tested negative.
But it is appallingly written for something that is supposed to be giving guidance and clarity.

Our council attached labels to our bins this morning, saying il"If you get symptoms isolate for 10 days and get a test"!

It should be ".... until you get a test (then follow the advice given on booking and on receiving your results)"

If you are the person with symptoms and get a test that is negative then you can end isolation

If you are the person with symptoms and get a positive test then you isolate for 10 days and the rest of the household for 14 days

If you have been in contact with a case then you isolate for 14 days. A negative test during this period does not end isolation due to the incubation period

The NHS & PHE are organisations under the remit of DHSC. They won’t be giving different advice to the guidelines, just clearer advice.

I think a PP is right and that the answer might be to do with the intended audience of the document which is people who might have COVID or have confirmed COVID, not people who are symptomatic and their test came back negative.

The .gov website seems to talk about those with symptoms who havent got tested or those with a positive test. It doesn't seem to give info for those with symptoms and a negative test

This guidance is intended for:

• people who have received a positive test result of COVID-19

• people with symptoms of COVID-19 who are waiting for a test result, or who have not been tested and do not require hospital treatment

• people living in households with someone who shows symptoms of or who has received a positive test result for COVID-19

It is not the guidance for those who have symptoms and a negative test. There is a link on that page (the .gov one) to the nhs page about testing and from there it tells you that if you have symptoms and test negative then you can stop isolating

My dd2 has had a cold then started coughing Sunday so we got a test first thing, thinking would get a negative result Sunday night and all back to normal Monday morning.
Now no test results and looking at another day self isolation. Obviously the cough has stopped now.
So frustrating! And we have only one teabag left!!