How likely am I to have caught covid?

[MarmiteCrumpet25]

I was in a meeting on Monday with someone who tested positive on Wednesday. We were about 2m apart for an hour and a half, but without masks and she coughed a few times. The window was open a bit. I’m self isolating after a chat with work, but how likely am I to have actually caught it? Thank you.

It's impossible to say.

The person who gives my friend a lift to and from work every single day caught Covid a few weeks ago, yet my friend didn't.

They did always wear masks in the car but both sat in front and rarely opened a window.

Why not just get a test and find out!

I didn’t think I could get a test if I don’t have symptoms?!

Course you can - my DH in a similar position to you and anxious so went and had a test this week. No issue with local availability and no one asks about your symptoms when you turn up at the test site. If you are worried go and get a test

@VanCleefArpels

Why not just get a test and find out!

Because she doesn't have any symptoms

Impossible to say really, I’d agree that you should self isolate.

@VanCleefArpels

Course you can - my DH in a similar position to you and anxious so went and had a test this week. No issue with local availability and no one asks about your symptoms when you turn up at the test site. If you are worried go and get a test

No this is wrong. If you are a contact you cannot get a test you have to isolate the full 14 days. You can test negative every day and then become positive on day 14. Even if you do lie to get a test without symptoms you still have to continue to isolate so there is no point.

Have you been taking vitamin D OP? No harm in taking a supplement as it has proven beneficial in studies.

@VanCleefArpels

Course you can - my DH in a similar position to you and anxious so went and had a test this week. No issue with local availability and no one asks about your symptoms when you turn up at the test site. If you are worried go and get a test

What is the point in this though? My dd had covid and her brother caught it from her. He didn't have symptoms until 16 days after she had symptoms and 15 days since her positive test. He would have tested negative if we had tested him while first self isolating, at least for the first 7-10 days. A negative test would just show you don't actively have it today, not that you aren't incubating it.

You say the window was open a bit. Did the room feel cold from the fresh air? Because if you didn't feel a cold waft of air, you are very likely to have been exposed to the virus. (90 minutes ffs -what were you doing, taking an A level?)

Its all down to airflow- if she was 6ft away and

• facing the same way as you (so her breath went away from you)
• and not talking -although she coughed
• and didn't cough in your direction (think projectile vomiting, but invisible) then you might get away with 15 minutes. But where you're breathing the same air for 90 minutes it'll all get mixed up, and your chances of avoiding virus particles are slim. Next time wear a mask.

You know that Sky Cinema advert with the red background and the dust motes? I think of the virus in the air every time I see that.

Because of the size of the viral load (the amount you get on first exposure) you should know in about 5 days time. While you wait your best chance is with vitamin C and zinc, vitamin D and a bottle of Tescos bitter lemon drink (no I'm not going to explain) or if you prefer a G&T.

Same position as you but even more contact and for longer. Didn't catch it

@wobblywindows, that's a bit aggressive. Are you talking about quinine? Because you wouldn't get enough in a G&T.

You'd still have to isolate for 14 days even if the test is negative due to the incubation period so the test isn't that useful

@Velvian and everybody really. I'm sorry if my post sounded aggressive.

I am flumoxed as to how the meeting was okayed- isn't that precisely what risk assessment is for - risk assessed by the employer ? OP is not to blame for the lack of or inadequate risk assessment.

31.15668%

Or seriously, no one can possibly tell you

We had a "mini-spreading" event in our office back in March.

Around 12-14 people in the room, one hour event, the main presenter turned out to be pre-symptomatic.

3 people attending the meeting got infected (which was confirmed later via private testing). Everyone else (including me) appeared fine (no symptoms/no known onward transmissions).

I tried to figure out what was different/special about the three people who were unlucky to catch COVID but I could not think of any specific pattern. Basically, looks like it may be a bit of a lottery and some individuals may be more susceptible than others.

I'd guess 50 per cent

Hope you don't catch it @MarmiteCrumpet25. At least you were distancing so hopefully that will be in your favour.

I'm in my second time self isolating after being in contact with a person who's tested positive, I'm a carer, I'm now on day 10 so luckily can go back to work soon but still no symptoms and feeling fine
I honestly think it's a game of chance, no idea how once again I'm fine as also have an auto immune condition.

Thanks everyone - fingers crossed. I’m over 50 and a bit overweight so slightly worried.

I’m tracking the cases in my faculty (HE). We are seeing very few cases so far of infection being spread in 1-3hr classes at under 2m distancing (most labs are 1m+) but this is with masks. We are isolating bloody loads as precaution but actually transmission hasn’t been very high.
But without a mask it could be much more and obviously the demographic is mainly 18-21.
Lots of students getting it but seems to be from socialising, not study!

Why weren't you wearing masks, out of interest?

Oh OP how worrying for you. I would go for a test for sure.

We only have to wear masks in corridors currently (unfortunately).

@VanCleefArpels

Course you can - my DH in a similar position to you and anxious so went and had a test this week. No issue with local availability and no one asks about your symptoms when you turn up at the test site. If you are worried go and get a test

Absolutely pointless as a test will not show a positive result until usually the day before symptoms start. Your DH may have just wasted NHS resources for totally false reassurance Can't believe people can be so stupid with all the information out there to be honest