Do I REALLY have to self isolate?

[BusyBB]

So I got a notification from track and trace app to isolate for 10 days.

Called work, a care home where we always wear masks, and have had a test on site. One of my close colleagues has tested positive, but the day that she had tested didn't tally up with the days I had been told to isolate for. If the days did tally up, I would be able to go to work and ignore the message to self isolate.

But guess what, the day I last saw her (two days before she tested) does tally up with how many days i have to isolate for!

I haven't been anywhere else except to see my dad (support bubble, who hasnt tested positive) and occasionally in the shop, but would not have been within two meters of some one for 15 minutes and always wearing a mask.

So am I being unreasonable to think I shouldn't have to isolate if my test comes back negative?

An alert from the app does not legally obligate you to isolate, unlike a contact from test and trace.

No, you don’t have to self isolate. The law doesn’t apply to you 🙄

Poor care home residents

I had to isolate due to the app and was nowhere near the person who tested positive and wear a mask SD at work. I left my phone in the kitchen. The person who tested positive saw it and put it next to her phone on her desk for about 30 mins as I was on a call. She gave me back my phone.

4 days later notification I had been in contact with a person and had to isolate. All because I misplaced my phone. Discussed with my manager and we decided to play it safe and isolate. I had not been anywhere to be exposed and definitely not near anyone at work

Just shows the flaw as I know I was safe, but the phone doesn’t.

It’s a legal requirement to isolate, regardless of any tests you have you need to isolate for the full days as given.

@Parkermumma07

It’s a legal requirement to isolate, regardless of any tests you have you need to isolate for the full days as given.

I’m pretty sure this law doesn’t apply to app which is voluntary anyway.

Haven’t police and ambulance workers been told not to have it?

Were you wearing the correct PPE when you were in contact with your colleague? If so, then you don't need to isolate. Health workers are advised to switch the app off while working in areas where PPE is required for this reason.

Your employer should be able to advise you.

YABU for not posting this on the CV board.
If you had, you may have seen this subject has been done to death. You’ll also find all the other people who download the app and then decide there’s a really good reason why they don’t actually have to follow its instructions.

You work in a care home. For this reason alone YWBU not to isolate.

If you’re a healthcare worker and wear ppe then you have to turn the app off while at work. It’s written in the app and is in all the guidance!

@Chairlove
That is even more annoying than my situation!

Yes. Why even ask? You've been told you have to isolate.

YABVU

Of course you need to isolate. You’re not special, rules still apply to you just like everyone else

It’s incredibly worrying that someone carrying for vulnerable people would have such a poor attitude to their safety?

@Sooverthemill

Yes. Why even ask? You've been told you have to isolate.

Because she works in a care context - it's not that cut and dried. OP speak to your employer.

You work in a care home. For this reason alone YWBU not to isolate

Not so - because If you’re a healthcare worker and wear ppe then you have to turn the app off while at work. It’s written in the app and is in all the guidance

I've already posted about this on another thread so won't repeat myself but what I find ridiculous about all this is that if I have to isolate because I've been in contact with a positive person I only have to isolate until I get a negative test and then I have to return to work (health). So why am I different to someone who works in a care home or anywhere else? Probably because they need us back at the coal face ASAP. I don't have the app for all the reasons posted above. It's totally undiscerning and anyone can put your details in whether it's true or not (my ex's family did this with my children's details just to be utter cunts thinking I'd have to stay off work too/cause me inconvenience).
Clearly COVID behaves differently towards health staff than everyone else so we have different rules 🙄 this is why I despair of us ever getting out of this mess anytime soon

@cologne4711 but the nhs website doesn't say that. It says this:

Self-isolate for 14 days

If you're told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace or the NHS COVID-19 app:

self-isolate for 14 days from the day you were last in contact with the person who tested positive for coronavirus – as it can take up to 14 days for symptoms to appear
do not leave your home for any reason – if you need food or medicine, order it online or by phone, or ask friends and family to drop it off at your home
do not have visitors in your home, including friends and family – except for essential care
try to avoid contact with anyone you live with as much as possible
people you live with do not need to self-isolate if you do not have symptoms
people in your support bubble do not need to self-isolate if you do not have symptoms

@FippertyGibbett

We have been told to wear a mask at all times in work so that if someone tests positive we don’t have to isolate.

That breaks all guidance out there

Get rid of the app due to where you work track and trace would of been better as they would risk assessed properly.
This alert could be down to you leaving your handbag and phone next to hers .
Working practice and ppe would be part of risk assessment

@frontlegsofacow
Is this what your employer has advised? Do you work in the NHS? This sounds crazy and dangerous. I work in the NHS and would be expected to isolate for the full period regardless of testing!

Yes you have to isolate. I have had to isolate because of a colleague who is off ill with it and have had a negative test myself.

YABVU if you don't and selfish.

@dementedpixie

And I didn't think masks stopped you having to isolate unless you were wearing proper PPE

I work in a health setting and we have been told that if we wear masks all the time we will not have to stay off work if a colleague tests positive.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-management-of-exposed-healthcare-workers-and-patients-in-hospital-settings/covid-19-management-of-exposed-healthcare-workers-and-patients-in-hospital-settings

Would this be relevant to you @BusyBB?

Ffs how many more of these threads are we going to have. YES YOU HAVE TO ISOLATE.

@BusyBB This is what the NHS say you must do.

faq.covid19.nhs.uk/article/KA-01129/en-us

What should I do if the NHS COVID-19 app tells me I have been in ‘close contact’ with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19)?

If you've got an alert telling you that you've spent time near someone who has tested positive for coronavirus, then you will have to stay at home for 14 days. It can take up to 14 days for symptoms to appear. People in your household will not need to isolate unless you develop symptoms.

If you develop coronavirus symptoms during this 14-day period, follow the guidance about what to do.

If you do not develop symptoms after 14 days, you can stop self-isolating at the end of the 14-day period. You will not need a coronavirus test. You should continue to stay alert and follow the latest government advice.

If you have questions about how the advice applies to you, or are struggling with self-isolation, please call 111.

I work in a health setting and we have been told that if we wear masks all the time we will not have to stay off work if a colleague tests positive.

That's about as likely to be true as if I told you that the Pope has converted to Islam.

@sophandbridge

I work in a health setting and we have been told that if we wear masks all the time we will not have to stay off work if a colleague tests positive.

That's about as likely to be true as if I told you that the Pope has converted to Islam.

I’ll tell my manager you disagree with them and PHE then 🙄