When can we stop isolating? Complicated

[MissSmiley]

I'll try to make this as simple as possible but we are very confused by differences in advice given by T & T

DD15 became ill on 10 oct tested positive (told to SI 10 days)
Her father became ill and tested positive 18 oct
DS and me tested positive 22 Oct
DS13 started with symptoms yesterday waiting for a home test as we're not really well enough to drive to test centre

When will we be out of isolation?

Reason for question is mainly T&T told DD15 she could go out after her own 10 day isolation ended regardless of other cases in the house then changed the advice and said she had to stay at home until 14 days after the last person becomes ill

Help we've been inside for two weeks but it looks like we might have another two weeks to go yet

sounds like you have to do what T&T said. Sounds rubbish, but it's what they said

@yeOldeTrout thanks for your reply, the problem is T & T have said two different things, on separate phone calls, we don't know which is right

Follow advice from The last one, they changed the guidance.

Alternatively phone up again but don't be surprised if you get completely different 3rd set of instructions that are even worse than the 2nd set.

Yes unfortunately you have to stay in for the two weeks since your last family member had symptoms. The t&Zyrtec obviously realised their mistake and corrected themselves.

Phone up again and ask? I would have thought now everyone in the house has had it everyone just completes their own isolation at the end of their own 10 days, but who knows anymore!

Although if your ds test is negative you won’t have to isolate. If it’s positive you do.

Because there’s no evidence you can’t get it twice, the first person to get it could get it again so guidance is now 14 for household members of positive case from the start of that person’s symptoms. You can also be a carrier. Sorry, it’s rubbish.

I don't mind following the rules if they could just be consistent about them, fwiw the advice to be allowed out after your own 10 day isolation was after the previous phone call that said about 14 days for each positive test

If last test is negative, it’s 10 days from when you felt ill for you and then 14 days for rest of the household.

At this rate we won't be allowed out until 8 November! That's a month of not being able to go to work, but the last thing I want to do is pass it on, I'm frustrated by the inconsistent advice really

10 days for positive person from day they felt unwell.
14 days for rest of household (whether you have had it or not) from first day positive person felt unwell.

I was told positive tested people were 10 days isolation. Everyone else in your household 14 days. If it’s taken til the 13th day of isolation for your dd I would say she only needs to stay in for 10 days. The rest of you are out of isolation post 10 days if tested + or 14 days if no test in a positive household but remain symptomless

I believe the guidance changed. There’s talk of changing 14 to less but only because people aren’t doing 14 and some is better than none. Although you could argue that being stuck in a house with a positive case you’re more likely to catch it. They’re still learning about the illness and what people are willing to do. It’s a bit of a balancing act.

@Sakesman but then you’re assuming that having covid makes you immune and it doesn’t hence isolation restarts for every positive case!

If all the new occurrences of cases had been within the original 14 days isolation that had been going on then your dd could have stopped isolating after her original 10 days. The fact that symptoms have started again after the 24th of October (14 days from the 10th when she started her symptoms) means she needs to isolate again.

By my reckoning
Dd15 needs to isolate for 14 days again unless your ds13 tests negative
Your dh isolates until 28th
You and your other ds isolate until 1st November

Is this correct? I know this is extreme case but hope not.

6 person household

Person 1 symptoms isolates 10 days
Rest isolate 14 days

Person 2 symptoms on 13th day of isolation, isolates 10 days
Rest isolate additional 14 days

Person 3 symptoms on day 3 of additional 14 days, isolates 10 days
Rest isolate additional 14 days

Person 4 symptoms on day 3 of additional 14 days, isolates 10 days
Rest isolate additional 14 days

Person 5 symptoms on day 3 of additional 14 days, isolates 10 days
Rest isolate additional 14 days

Person 6 symptoms on day 3 of additional 14 days, isolates 10 days
Rest isolate additional 14 days

That's potentially 12 weeks and that's just assuming that no one does test positive more than once.

No that's not correct.
I have done my own wee chart showing what should happen. By my reckoning its only dd15 that needs to isolate until the test result is received for your ds as he got symptoms just outside the original 14 days of isolation for everyone. If its positive he isolates for 10 days, dd15 isolates for 14 days and the rest of you come out of isolation after your 10 days for a positive test

I wouldn’t be making dd15 isolate again tbh. That’s ridiculous as it’s clearly the same infection being spread throughout the family.

Its just unfortunate when the last ds started symptoms. I know what you mean though - for the sake of 1 day she is supposed to do it again.

No answer, but we've had contradictory advice too

@dementedpxie thank you! That was what we told told originally

@Billie18 that's potentially where we are, actually a 7 person household, I haven't mentioned the other DS13 (no symptoms) and DD10 who I'm absolutely certain has had it but refused to get tested

In this scenario I would be allowing your daughter out after 10 days assuming she is well. A certain amount of common sense is required here I think. I thought it was always the case that the first person to get ill would be 'allowed out' before the rest of the family - has this guidance definitely changed recently?
Her dad should be allowed out after his 10 days assuming well too.

It's a bit rubbish, but it is 14 days after the most recent person to show symptoms. Hopefully if you've all had it then you wont have this kind of isolation again.

The others don't need to isolate again though as some of them are still isolating already. Its only really dd15 thats the issue and thats only because of it being 1 day after her last 14 day isolation.