Slightly off topic but I know that many posters on this thread are wise and level headed and this feels important.
I'm convinced that there are graphics flying about on the BBC and elsewhere that have incorrectly interpreted the guidelines about isolating for members of a household living with a positive test.
Specifically what someone should do if, for example , they have not tested positive, and do it have symptoms, but are living with two people who have tested positive but are on different infection timelines.
I believe that the correct guidance is that under this circumstance a non-positive person who has not been positive during the incident should isolate for ten days beginning when the most recent case tested positive (or was symptomatic).
Track and trace also told me this more than once. Plus it makes good sense- otherwise a non infected person is leaving their house whilst living with an infectious person who is still isolating.
I've cut and Pasted the guidance from gov.uk below and I think it's quite confusing as unless you read it carefully it can be misconstrued. I know from two mumsnet threads that people are following this incorrect guidance and working whilst living with a positive Covid person having not had Covid themselves.
Graphics from the BBC and other places suggest something incorrect and dangerous.
I've got a bee in my bonnet as this could be causing people to leave home and go to work incorrectly. Is there anything I can do to bring this to the right people's attention? I hope I'm making sense!
Stay at home and self-isolate. Do not go to work, school, or public areas and do not use public transport or taxis.
Your isolation period includes the day the first person in your household’s symptoms started (or the day their test was taken if they did not have symptoms, whether this was an LFD or PCR test), and the next 10 full days. This means that if, for example, your 10 day isolation period starts on the 15th of the month, your isolation period ends at 23:59 hrs on the 25th and you can return to your normal routine.
If you do not have symptoms of COVID-19 yourself, you do not need a test. Only arrange a test if you develop COVID-19 symptoms or if you are asked to do so as part of a wider testing scheme. If for any reason you have a negative test result during your 10 day isolation period, you must continue to self-isolate. Even if you don’t have symptoms, you could still pass the infection on to others. Stay at home for the full 10 days to avoid putting others at risk.
If you develop symptoms while you are isolating, arrange to have a COVID-19 PCR testt_. If your test result is positive, follow the advice for people with COVID-19 to stay at home and start a further full 10 day isolation period. This begins when your symptoms started, regardless of where you are in your original 10 day isolation period. This means that your total isolation period will be longer than 10 days.
If other household members develop symptoms during this period, you do not need to isolate for longer than 10 days.
If you are identified as a contact and asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Tracee, including by the NHS COVID-19 appp you may be entitled to a payment of £500 from your local authority under the Test and Trace Support Payment schemee_.
Failure to comply with self-isolation may result in a fine, starting from £1,000. Parents or guardians are legally responsible for ensuring that anyone under 18 self-isolates if they test positive for COVID-19 and are contacted by NHS Test and Trace and told to self-isolate.