Please can someone who has lived with a positive case talk to me .

[Chaotic45]

DH tested positive via a lateral flow last Tuesday, regular test Wednesday which was positive.

Fairly mild symptoms so far- aches, chills, runny nose, big of a cough, lost sense of smell last night (Sunday).

Track and trace have asked us to all
Isolate until the end of Christmas Day.

DH has been isolating in our room since Tuesday. We share a bathroom but not a toilet. DC and I have been lucky to be provided with lateral flow tests which are so far negative (and I was allowed a regular test last weds which was also negative).

We have no intention of breaking the isolation rules whatsoever but I'm wondering about when to let DH out of the bedroom. He is really struggling with the confinement and it would be wonderful to have him join us in the house for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.

I'm mindful that the isolation of ten days was technically started on weds when he took his regular test, but he actually tested positive the day before so that maybe takes things back one day?

Also I'm aware that until fairly recently the first person who actually tested positive in a household only had to isolate for seven days, rather than ten- so that's making me wonder if maybe he's ok to join us after seven days.

Having said all this I am really worried about catching it and I know I'm going to be worried about even looking in his direction despite loving him dearly and missing him being with us.

I've even asked him not to wrap my presents as I'm worried about him shedding virus onto them. Not that I give a fig about Christmas presents at this point!

Can anyone share how they navigated this?

I did isolate from my family when I had it. But I did mingle a little in the last few days. Not sure exactly when.
I would sit in a chair away from them and wipe it down after. Keep a window open. Tbh, I was hit quite badly so didn't have any strength to do anything more anyway. Just walking to the dining room was exhausting (I was isolating next door in the living room).

I appreciate that depending on your home size and set up isolating from each other may be very difficult, or impossible. But for us it is possible, so we've done it.

Tying to share the cats bed here would be a lot more risky than catching Covid!

Also, if anyone else catches it we will have to begin our isolation again

If any of you catch it during this current isolation period then only the new positive case has to extend their period of isolation.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz track and trace told me over the phone that if anyone else catches it during this current isolation then everyone except DH begins their isolation again. So that's confusing if you were given different information.

It does make sense to me though as if I catch it, it needs to run its course and DC would be at risk of catching it whilst that happens.

I'll double check when they call again- they have called several times already.

We've used this.

Hmmm that does support what you said but logically dad could infect child 2, (especially in a set up where he does not isolate within the house as per many on this thread) who if not isolating then goes to school and infects their class. It's a BBC article so I guess may be wrong and T&T were very clear.

"Glad so many of you have such huge houses that this is possible."

Why so defensive? Those of us who have family members isolating in one room are not criticising others who can't and don't do this - although there seems to plenty of criticism coming the other way

Glad to hear that you don't actually have a toilet obsession Qaagers

@LimitIsUp I hadn't even thought about that, good point!

I will rephrase that to 'one of us would look after/play with Ddog in the garden whilst she nags incessantly to be allowed out for a walk'

Wellthis keeping the dog happy is one of the more challenging aspects of self isolation 😬

I think if youre worried, then don't do anything that makes you feel uncomfortable. In our house, I had it and neither of the family members I live with got it (never got symptoms or tested positive). We shared a kitchen and bathroom and went on as normal. Every single case is different though.

I had it, mostly stayed in the bedroom, but not all the time, got up for a couple of hours every night. OH slept separately, didn’t share the sofa. I would have gone crazy if I’d stayed in the bedroom all that time.

@LimitIsUp you are allowed to ask other people to walk your dog if needed.

I'm a dog Walker and have been keeping my dog amused with lots of training and enrichment activities.
Other walkers have taken him out for me every three days, and I'm more comfortable with that given that I can say DH has had no contact with DDog as the virus can exist on their fur just like any other surface. Low risk, but not nice for other people to have to be put at even low risk....

One of the reasons I'm desperate not to have to isolate is the number of people relying on me to walk their dog after Boxing Day- this includes old and disabled people whose dogs don't get out without my help, and 6 NHS workers who are also relying on me.

I've been able to find a trusted fellow Walker to cover the essentials but she's only able to do this till Boxing Day.

It might not feel important to some people but I can't stand letting my dogs down, plus it pays the bills nicely.

Why so defensive? Those of us who have family members isolating in one room are not criticising others who can't and don't do this - although there seems to plenty of criticism coming the other way

I think the OP talking about letting her DH out of the room didn’t help, it did come across as a bit OTT. It also doesn’t help when you get posters spouting rubbish about ‘the rules’ though when it’s their rules and no one else’s.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat maybe the words that I chose seemed OTT, apologies.

The emails and texts that we have had from track and trace and NHS have all asked us to isolate the person with the positive test from the rest of the household if possible and given advice as to how to do that.

The emails and texts that we have had from track and trace and NHS have all asked us to isolate the person with the positive test from the rest of the household if possible and given advice as to how to do that.

Ours have just told us we need to self-isolate as a household but no mention of isolating from others in the household. Clearly different advice is going out.

@LimitIsUp

"Glad so many of you have such huge houses that this is possible."

Why so defensive? Those of us who have family members isolating in one room are not criticising others who can't and don't do this - although there seems to plenty of criticism coming the other way

Of course you isolate I don’t understand why anyone wouldn’t.

Just one example of why I might be feeling defensive - this poster clearly "can't understand" that not everyone has a house big enough to allow one person to isolate from the rest of the household for a start.

The rules are that anyone positive should isolate in their room for ten days

This poster has made up some entirely fictitious rules to support their narrative...

@Chaotic45 I understand what you mean, I didn’t think you had shut DH in the bedroom and were refusing to let him out!

I hope DH is feeling better soon and none of you catch it

Fair enough TheOnlyLivingBoy - but please don't assume these opinions represents all of us who are more rigourously enforcing isolation within the household. I've always been a 'you do you' sort of person. Also I think posters may have made these comments having been provoked by others who ridiculed the suggestion of isolating within a household.

This thread has influenced me to question dd (18) staying in her room. I still think it has been right for us, but it has caused me to google when covid +ve people are most infectious, and it is the first 5 days after symptoms. I am going to encourage her out of her room today (day 6) but ensure that she anti bacs her hands before she touches door handles etc and that we open windows in rooms where she lingers. I do feel sorry for her and don't want her to be miserable unnecessarily. So far she has fared well (not too fed up), but I am sure that the isolation must have cumulative effects

@LimitIsUp I hope your daughter feels well and that you manage to find a balance that works for your family.

Would you be able to point me in the direction of the place you found the info about which days are most infectious please. I'd like DH to read it and me also.

Hi OP. I wanted to sympathise as I’m in exactly the same situation except it’s me who has tested positive and I’m staying in my room because I’m too worried about giving it to anyone else. (And no I don’t have a huge house!) The guidelines do state to stay away as far as possible so I’m in my room while my husband sleeps on the sofa and looks after the kids. I’m feeling ok now just very anxious so in a way it’s easier for me this way. My isolation is officially up on midnight on 25th but I think I will come down and spent Xmas day with the family but just try and keep my distance and maybe wear a mask. The guy at T&T this morning also said that would be ok to do. Only a few more days....

All the best to you and yours x

here

Sorry, that ^^ is for you Chaotic

@tweetingbird you're on the same timeline as us. I hope you feel ok and manage to pass the time until Christmas without too much trouble, and that your family stay well.

With any luck this will be behind you and us very soon.

@LimitIsUp thank you that's very interesting.