If you had all recently tested positive Wd you risk seeing elderly (vulnerable) relatives over Christmas?

[Thethingswedoforlove]

We have all tested positive in the last 2 weeks. The last of us will be out of isolation by a week on Christmas Day. My parents are really still desperate to see us (we had previously said no way because we had teens in secondary school without time to isolate). But we now have all had positive tests. Ans recently. So it feels like the safest time to see them. Would you see yours in these circs? Their mental health is really suffering as mum is at the beginning of dementia, dad is pretty deaf and they are huge extroverts who gain their energy from being with others.

After a week is it still likely to be on surfaces in the house? I know no one knows. It’s a calculated risk but dad was on the shielding list. It feels ok to me. But I wanted to see what others think?

Probably not tbh.

They are both 76.

Thanks mrsmia. Can I ask why? Because you think there is a risk we might still infect them or because you think we might have been able to pick it up again?

yes as long as all symptoms gone and 2 weeks have passed (aware that officially 10 days is enough). Agree it's probably among the safest time to go. But if the parents are not keen I would respect their wishes ands tay away.

Not sure really. I guess technically you won't be infectious? I worry about dead virus shedding. We aren't seeing my PILS but they are mid to late 80s and have lots of health problems.

Yes will have been at least 2 weeks since symptoms frazzled. And I would never try tonpersuade them. It’s just whether I let them ....

Ok thanks mrsmia. I guess I am nervous too otherwise i wouldn’t be posting. Obviously I will clean everything, we will give them a dedicated loo, have windows open, not hug.

no definitely not.

Soyou'd have been self isolating while contagious. Most likely have antibodies and I assume you can attempt to restrict your movements out and about as much as possible post self isolation?

I would absolutely be seeing them on the basis it's the safest time. As I understand it, it's 72 hours for Covid on most surfaces but obviously I'd still be doing a very enthusiastic clean of all surfaces, bannisters, door knobs etc and making sure bedding etc is washed after you're no longer infectious. Ditto car if you're traveling to/from in car.

I would be led by them, if they are happy in the circumstances to come then yes. (As long as no-one still has a temperature etc)

Of course with the isolating and minimising after etc space.they won’t be staying and we will try to only have them here for the afternoon to minimise contact.

Can I ask why you say definitely
Not biological?

We are in the same situation day 7 and 8 for the virus for us in this house and I won't be seeing my parents this year just in case.

Just to clarify - by Christmas you will all be at least 10 days post positive test? As long as you are also at least 10 days post the onset of any symptoms, then, guidance says you are no longer infectious. If you are concerned about the small risk of getting Covid a second time, I can appreciate that as it's a concern for all of us - ie having Covid and not realising it when we see loved ones. But there is no point in having guidelines and information if we're all going to ignore it and say, "well, my positive test was 3 weeks ago but I might still be contagious so I'm not going to see people." when we're being told that isn't the case.

Sorry OP - I'm not really having a go at you I'm just frustrated that we aren't using actual information to make decisions.

If you'd recently had the virus, self isolated and recovered then I'd say you are safer to see your parents or other people than someone who hasn't had it yet and may be asynmptomatic.

You have at the very least, some temporary immunity and can be fairly sure you won't catch it again (at least, soon)

I am trying to use factual information space. I guess I am checking that I am missing some of the facts. Dd1 is back at school so there is a risk she could pick it up again (I think this risk is minimal but otherwise might know more). Then there is the risk that it could be in the house. We will be 12 days post the last positive test result and 16 days past the last set of positive symptoms. I think the science says it is ok. But I am just checking I’m not missing anything obvious.

The fact that most people tend to agree that we are unlikely to pick it up again is the reassurance I wanted really. If there was a meaningful risk that we might have it but not know then I just wouldn’t want to see them- in line with my approach that we weren’t going to see them before we all came down with it.

Thank you blue

Can you get a test when you come out of isolation to make sure?

My understand is that any test within 90 days of a positive test would show as positive. So you can’t easily do a meaningful test.

And to be clear I am more worried that we catch it again than we are still contagious. Apart from the house which has been smothered in covid for some weeks and I will clean clean clean but we know we can’t be perfect!

No.

Have you since had negative tests?

If not then I personally wouldn’t, no.

No @Lumene -no negative tests since as it is very soon and even if we were to pay for it then a test would almost certainly still be positive.
@megletthesecond can I ask what your reason for saying no is?

People haven't caught it again so soon, those that seemed to have it again, didn't. It never went away. In a few cases Covid can take weeks to completely go, but they don't seem to shed a high viral load. The longest case of enough viral load to infect others was 60 days. It seems to be older people or those with less efficient immune systems who are infectious for longer.

If you asked an infectious disease specialist, they say it's more than likely safe.

Have they been invited for a vaccination yet?

Unlike with the guidelines, I don't have clear info on this but my understanding is that there's a fairly strong belief that having it gives you at least some short term immunity. So you're probably actually in a better place for seeing them now than in say 3 months time in that you are less likely to pick it up again between having been tested positive and seeing your parents.