Isolation rules in this situation

[TheAnswerIsCake]

Honestly, the rules are so complicated....

We have been told to isolate by Test and Trace due to contact with a confirmed case. All three of us in the household were in contact so all of us are isolating for 14 days from last contact. But what happens if one of us develops symptoms and tests positive? Does the isolation period for the other two people then reset and start another 14 days, on the basis that they may not have got it from the original contact but may go on to catch it from the one person us that has?

I’ve been over and over the isolation rules and cannot find this information out anywhere. Much of the information relates to one individual in a household having been in contact with a case and how others don’t have to isolate unless that person gets symptoms. But nothing about what to do if you are all already isolating with no symptoms and one person gets them.

My gut says that you don't have to restart the 14 days but the person with symptoms isolates for another 10 days from the symptoms starting.

That’s my husband’s gut feeling too. However the way I see it is that maybe only one of us (me, for arguments sake) actually gets it from the contact. Once I get symptoms and start spreading it, they could catch it from me and potentially not show symptoms for another 2-14 days, which could be longer than 14 days since the original contact.

This hasn’t happened yet, but I’m trying to work out worst case scenario for how long isolation might last (and I’m self employed and not able to earn in isolation, so planning finances too!) Not sure if 24 days (14 days plus 10 days if we get symptoms on the last day) is a certain upper limit of this isolation period or if it could theoretically go on much longer! It would be simpler if we’re going to get it to all get it together I think!

This is useful

So if on day 10 a household member gets symptoms then their time resets. If they test and its negative then they revert back to the previous timings and finish the original 14 days SI. . If they test positive they isolate for a further 10 days from the onset of symptoms.

The rest of the household is unaffected by any of this.

No that's not right. If one of you tests positive, then everyone's time resets. The positive person isolates for 10 days from the onset of their symptoms, and the rest for 14 days from then.

That picture only applies if you're all able to keep 2m away from each other at all times. Unlikely in a family with small children

Oh dear, it seems as though this is all as clear as mud. I do remember seeing that graphic earlier in the year, but couldn’t find it again. Interestingly I have just spoken to someone from Test and Trace So I asked the question. She had to go and check and then said she thought that the time didn’t rest, even if one of us develops symptoms in a couple of days and the others don’t - she was not very sure though! I think I will just keep fingers crossed that it does not happen.

(Knowing my luck it will - this contact is the first person outside immediate family that we’ve spent more than 15 minutes with since February and they unfortunately had COVID 19 although we’re in one of the lowest risk areas in the whole country - just typical of my bad luck!)

From the Government website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

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Returning to your normal routine

If you remain well, you can return to your normal routine at the end of the 14-day period. You do not need to isolate for longer than 14 days, even if other household members develop symptoms during this period. However, the person with new symptoms should now self-isolate for 10 days. People in the household who remain well after 14 days are unlikely to be infectious.

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The Government's own advice pages state that you do not need to isolate even longer if someone else in the household tests positive

Even if you can't guarantee you can stay 2m apart you still don't all have to reset your SI dates. The advice to stay apart is 'where possible.'

@Aragog

From the Government website: www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

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Returning to your normal routine

If you remain well, you can return to your normal routine at the end of the 14-day period. You do not need to isolate for longer than 14 days, even if other household members develop symptoms during this period. However, the person with new symptoms should now self-isolate for 10 days. People in the household who remain well after 14 days are unlikely to be infectious.

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The Government's own advice pages state that you do not need to isolate even longer if someone else in the household tests positive

Super, thank you! I think I missed this as it is under the heading “If you live with some with Covid 19 symptoms or a positive test result” - neither of these are currently true! I’m assuming that it should equally apply if we are isolating because of contact though.

I still think that a second person (or in our case first person) catching it will effectively amplify the virus though (give it more opportunity to newly infect those not yet infected), so I’m not sure that the advice is really correct, but can’t imagine many would comply with ever lengthening isolation periods, so perhaps it is best on balance! Since we’re on day 4, I can now plan that 20 more days should be maximum I’ll be at home.