Are we at risk from this contact.

[morninghasarrived]

It was my sons birthday on Saturday.

My friend called over to drop off a gift.

We stood in the garden at distance for around 5 or so minutes.

I washed my hands after handling the present but my son is only 1 so he didn't.

She text me today to say she's tested positive and started with symptoms on Sunday.

I'm not worried about the contact as we kept our distance but I am worrying about the present and the fact that both myself and my son have handled it.

How worried do we need to be?

Don’t you touch anything at all in the outside world? What about your child? Are you particularly vulnerable? My risk is probably a hundred times bigger than yours and I don’t lose my sleep over it at all. There is nothing your worry will change at the moment. Risk is minimal in your situation.

I@Piwlyfbicsly I'm asthmatic & high BMI.

@morninghasarrived You did everything you can to avoid exposure. It’s a brief contact with a social distance. The risk is still minimal. Try not to worry about it.

I think your risk is very small. If you were outside and properly distanced that risk is low. The risk of transmission from touching the gift would also be pretty low. Was it wrapped up or in a box? Your friend may hardly have touched the actual present inside if it was.

I hope your friend recovers soon and that you and your son are also ok. I expect you will be contacted by track and trace who will give you advice.

It just goes to show the importance of social distancing and keeping contacts outside as much as possible. If she'd been inside your house your risk would be much much higher.

@Lindy2

I think your risk is very small. If you were outside and properly distanced that risk is low. The risk of transmission from touching the gift would also be pretty low. Was it wrapped up or in a box? Your friend may hardly have touched the actual present inside if it was.

I hope your friend recovers soon and that you and your son are also ok. I expect you will be contacted by track and trace who will give you advice.

It just goes to show the importance of social distancing and keeping contacts outside as much as possible. If she'd been inside your house your risk would be much much higher.

@Lindy2

I'm not sure test and trace will contact me will they? I'm not a close contact, well as far as I can see by looking on the gov website.

The fact that T&T don't say anything about handling things a positive case has touched says a lot about the low risk of surface transmission I think.

@Piwlyfbicsly

Don’t you touch anything at all in the outside world? What about your child? Are you particularly vulnerable? My risk is probably a hundred times bigger than yours and I don’t lose my sleep over it at all. There is nothing your worry will change at the moment. Risk is minimal in your situation.

You might think you come across as no nonsense and assertive, but this brusque response is just plain rude.

I doubt you'd be expected to isolate on the basis of an outdoor, socially distanced interaction OP, but in terms of the gift, the jury's still out really on transmission from surfaces. It's a case of wait and see I suppose. Hope you're all ok.

A good contact tracer will ask was contact indoors or outdoors, the distance etc. I wouldn't say you were close enough, inside enough or together long enough.