Cant weigh up my risk

[cotoneaster1]

My neighbour and I stood about 1 meter apart across her garden gate on Friday, both outside, chatting. She was holding her puppy. I stepped forward and petted puppy about 3 times for a few seconds.

She's tested positive - she has weekly tests due to her work, no symptoms.

How at risk am I and should I worry the crap out of tell my 80 year old DM with whom I bubble and with whom I had a coffee and a chat indoors on Sunday?

Honestly I am. at a loss to weigh my risks of having exposed others to risk. Any perspective? Help!!

You touched her puppy 3 times so I wouldn't say that is was low risk.

You were outside, that’s good.
You kept 1 metre apart, 2 metres would have been better.
You came into close contact with her, but only a few seconds and not 15 minutes, so I would think the risk of you catching it is pretty low, obviously you need to isolate for 14 days and definitely wouldn’t see your DM at all. If she is expecting you to visit, then you will have to tell her.

I personally think that is low risk.

I don't think that constitutes to even isolating.

How long were you chatting for?

Being outdoors reduces risk, does eliminate it, and if you were face to face and 'about' (under?) 1m, then yes I'd say that was a risky contact if over 15mins

Whilst outside lowers risk, being only a metre apart raises the risk, and that you were both talking significantly raises the risk.

I'm not sure how contagious you would have been on Sunday if you had caught it? I'd probably not see DM for a while though. Did you wash your hands after stroking the dog? I chatted to my neighbour outside when she had covid. We were >2m apart though. I wasn't worried about catching it. I did ask her not to stroke our cat though whilst she was ill.

How long were you chatting for?
No masks I assume?

If no mask and at 1m for 15mins, that’s the trigger (I think).

Like others have said, I think it depends how long you were talking. Track and Trace wouldn't ask you to isolate unless you were within 1m for 15 mins or more. So if it was under 15 mins, I'd probably think no more about it. If more, then yes you should isolate but I'd imagine the risk is still low, though petting her puppy was probably the riskiest part of it.

Also I believe the likelihood of someone asymptomatic transmitting it is lower than someone who is symptomatic, though it's not nil.

I would be surprised if you have not caught it!

How long were you talking?

Here are the guidelines below. You need to isolate for 14 days the trigger is one meter for one minute or two meters for 15 minutes. Being outdoors means the risk of you having contracted it is less than indoor contact. I hope you all stay well and yet and remember that if you’ve picked it up it would have to have to have been passed on twice for your mum to be infected.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-for-contacts-of-people-with-possible-or-confirmed-coronavirus-covid-19-infection-who-do-not-live-with-the-person/guidance-for-contacts-of-people-with-possible-or-confirmed-coronavirus-covid-19-infection-who-do-not-live-with-the-person#what-is-meant-by-a-contact

Thanks its so helpful and calming to get objective points of view.

I think less than a minute in total was spent closer than a meter away. The whole conversation was about 5 mins.

I have to tell my mum as it's her birthday this week and there is no reason, other than self isolating, for me not to see her on her 80th. Bugger.

Why not get a test? Easiest way to know.

@primordialalien

I would be surprised if you have not caught it!

Why? Most households only have about 50% transmission.

@TheSunIsStillShining

Why not get a test? Easiest way to know.

This is really bad advice. Getting a test now with no symptoms will tell the OP nothing.

Even if you get a negative test, if you've been in contact with someone who tests positive you still need to isolate for the required time.

Am I missing something ? You saw her Friday and when did she test ? Today - Monday ? Track and trace would only advise their contacts from the last 48 hours to isolate so if they tested Monday , from Friday you should be fine not to isolate .

@girlofthenorth

Am I missing something ? You saw her Friday and when did she test ? Today - Monday ? Track and trace would only advise their contacts from the last 48 hours to isolate so if they tested Monday , from Friday you should be fine not to isolate .

No, it's within seven days. Any contact with someone who tests positive in the last seven days then you need to isolate.

@VanGoghsDog that’s not what test and trace told me. I tested positive two weeks ago. They only wanted to know about people within 48 hours of symptoms starting

They only wanted to know about people within 48 hours of symptoms starting

Yes, that's for T&T re their follow up, but generally the rule is seven days.

5 minutes outside 4 days before the positive test. I would consider that low risk and would not be self isolating.
If you are really worrying then I would put plenty of space between you and your mum when you celebrate her birthday.

@DeadBod wow no wonder this is spreading. According to the track and trace guidelines she needs to isolate. I can’t believe you’re advising that after contact within one meter of a positive person that she still goes to see her 80 year old Mum. I’m assuming the test was either yesterday or earlier in the previous week and as she’s asymptomatic she’s likely to have already have had the virus or to have been incubating it when the op saw her. Hopefully the op won’t contract it as it was relatively brief outdoor contact but due to the proximity of the contact she needs to isolate so if she has she doesn’t pass it on and especially not to her Mum who is more at risk due to her age. I’m sorry you’ll be missing your Mum’s 80th birthday and I hope you can celebrate at a later point op.

I've told my DM I won't be seeing her for 10 days. We've postponed her birthday. She's understanding and being great about it. I'm staying in. Just in case.