Nail technician not isolating

[Blue1316]

Mil popped round yesterday to drop something off. Told us she was supposed to be getting her nails done but nail tech has been contacted as a close contact of a positive Covid case. She said nail tech was off getting a test so she should hopefully be going to get nails done next week if negative. This sounds wrong to me as surely she has to isolate for 10 days regardless as she could still test positive later and be potentially spreading Covid to all her clients on the run up to Xmas. Mil is popping to us Xmas day so now I’ve told DH If she goes to see her next week I don’t want her to come round. Am I massively overreacting? This whole situation is driving me mad!

I have a relative who got an app alert on a Wednesday, developed some symptoms of a cold on the Sunday and got a test that day which was negative. He said he was free to go out and wasn't going to cancel his dental appointment, which as it wasn't urgent was totally irresponsible in my eyes.
I am confused by it all to be honest.

The guidelines for Hair and Beauty are different in local areas, mine state that if the nail tech was wearing full PPE (which most are) and the client was wearing a mask during the appointment, then there is no need to isolate.

Cancelling appointments and going for a covid test would be at the nail tech's own discretion.

You're right. She should still be isolating.

Two of us at work had to isolate because of a positive close contact. We both had negative tests (organised by work) but the other woman developed symptoms and tested positive a few days after that.

Unless any of you are very high risk then I think it’s pretty heavy handed to refuse to see MIL because she’s been near somebody who has tested negative. But why not just ask MIL not to get her nails done or to go to another salon if you’re very anxious?

The problem is that the guidance is unclear and keeps changing. I was told last week that somebody I’ve been in contact with had been in contact with somebody who had symptoms, but that I only need to isolate if the person I was in contact with develops symptoms themselves. I have no idea if this is the correct guidance, but nobody I’ve asked actually seems to know for sure.

As an aside, I’m not sure how we get out of this mess if we’re encouraged to see negative tests as potential positives. What’s the point of testing in the first place, if you still have to isolate and act as if you might be infectious whatever the result? I’ve long since stopped watching mess or reading anything Covid related, but I’m sure some clever spark has the answer.