Isolating from household positive.

[addictedtotheflats]

So
My mum got symptoms on 22nd december, tested positive on 26th and got admitted to hospital 26th - household started 10 day isolation from when her symptoms started. On 27th my DP got symptoms and tested positve on 29th, DS got symptoms 30th and swabbed today awaiting results.

I remain asymptomatic. My question is do I isolate from the original 10 days from my mums symptoms or does it restart everytime someone tests positive. Ive attached a illustrated guide which I think means my isolation stops tomorrow (10 days from 22nd) if I remain asymptomatic but I'm just confused that I can go out and about with positive people at home?!?!

Ive had so much conflicting information and the gov website doesnt specifially say, is anyone able to shed some light??

Its actually quite clear from that picture. You are "housemate 3" and you stop 10 days after the initial isolation started no matter how many people get ill.

OP I was given very different advice from Track and Trace to what is suggested by that graphic. Track and trace told me to begin isolation again for any new infection in the household (this only applies to the person with the new infection, and not anyone else not already infected).

This makes sense to me-
as in reality everyone who hasn't been infected could catch it from the newly infected person until they reach a point where they are no longer infectious (ie 10 days).

I'm not sure where the graphic that you posted came from, but my feeling is that it is incorrect. I saw a similar one somewhere with a BBC logo on and I mentioned it to T&T who said it is incorrect.

I'm sure the 10 days restarts with each new symptomatic person? So if your son got symptoms yesterday and tests positive you have to isolate for 10 days from yesterday

@Chaotic45

OP I was given very different advice from Track and Trace to what is suggested by that graphic. Track and trace told me to begin isolation again for any new infection in the household (this only applies to the person with the new infection, and not anyone else not already infected).

This makes sense to me-
as in reality everyone who hasn't been infected could catch it from the newly infected person until they reach a point where they are no longer infectious (ie 10 days).

I'm not sure where the graphic that you posted came from, but my feeling is that it is incorrect. I saw a similar one somewhere with a BBC logo on and I mentioned it to T&T who said it is incorrect.

In our household we're working with the government guidance which tallies with the infographic so perhaps Test and Trace should do the same:

If you live in the same household as someone with COVID-19

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.

If other household members develop symptoms during this period, you do not need to isolate for longer than 10 days.

From www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

Well I also think its clear but my workplace (NHS frontline) are saying from each positive!

@TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross it does seem confusing but T&T were quite clear and their phone calls to check that the relevant household members were isolating backed that up, as did their isolation text and emails.

I also wouldn't have felt comfortable going to work by day whilst nursing a Covid positive child at night, having not had the virus myself and so not knowing if I had caught it and was asymptomatic....

I don't think that is correct addictedtotheflats. DH had symptoms on 20th and I have come out of isolation today and will return to work (in the NHS) tomorrow despite the fact that DS2 had symptoms on 22nd and is in isolation until Saturday.

@Chaotic45

That particular illustration was from the university of nottingham but the BBC have also published the same one, along with the public health agency but nothing on government website or PHE.

"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 test. 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."

I have posted this from the link shared by @TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross . If you read it from the top to the bottom you get the context correct which is that one does not have to isolate for longer than ten days if they already have symptoms and someone else in the house tests positive during that time. Ie they can stick to their own ten days NOT the ten days of the person who isolated prior to them.

So the bit that says you do not need to isolate for longer than ten days refers to the second or subsequent person to test positive NOT someone who has yet to catch the virus.

I can see how it could be misinterpreted, but I'm confident that's what it means especially if it's read in full....

@sproutsandparsnips that is incorrect, as there is simply no way of knowing that you aren't going to catch it, and pass it on at work!

@addictedtotheflats I accept that there are some graphics about which are incorrect.

The whole situation is very confusing. Track and trace told me the graphics were incorrect and that unfortunately some agencies have got things wrong. I was told this three times as we were called three times to check that we were isolating.

I realise some people think I'm wrong and I'm not going to be able to change that via an Internet forum so I'll respectfully back out now, after suggesting people use their common sense to ask themselves if it makes sense for someone who is living with a positive case of Covid during the infectious phase to come out of isolation....

bearing in mind the OP is frontline and works with patients, surely she is still at risk whilst other members of her household are newly infected, it doesnt make sense as she could still catch it from them until they are no longer contaigious, unless the theory is she must be immune not to have caught it from the first person infected.

@Chaotic45 I wasnt having a go just saying where I got then from and they seemed (to me) like quite reliable sources. I agree it doesnt make sense me nursing patients while my son and DP are at home positive but its worrying that the information isnt clear, even from this thread it confirms that its confusing! Hopefully my son is negative and I can just continue the 10 days from when DP was symptomatic. Although I may go mental in the meantime with a 20 month old

The info graphic is correctly, strictly speaking, but it relies on the positive people self isolating properly. This isn't really possible with small children, or within a normal house, so if you can't keep correctly distanced and ventilated then realistically you need to start again with each new positive. The exception would be people that have previously tested positive as they should have a degree of immunity

What about if someone with a confirmed case is still sick after the ten days are up?

My dad is positive but the rest of us have no symptoms yet. What if we don't get it but he's still poorly after ten days, is he not still infectious? He's in a bad way at home and I can't see that he'll suddenly be better (we are already on 7 days)

Yes I have been really confused.I tested positive 22dec and finish my isolation on 2 nd Jan . My son has had a test today . If positive I think it means that I don’t need to start again, but the other family members who have not had symptoms will have to restart their isolation .

@desperatelyseeking1

What about if someone with a confirmed case is still sick after the ten days are up?

My dad is positive but the rest of us have no symptoms yet. What if we don't get it but he's still poorly after ten days, is he not still infectious? He's in a bad way at home and I can't see that he'll suddenly be better (we are already on 7 days)

If he is running a high temp he is considered to still be infectious . It is a complete minefield! I hope he feels better soon .

How long you need to self-isolate
If someone you live with has tested positive and:
• they have symptoms – self-isolate for 10 days from when their symptoms started
• they have not had symptoms – self-isolate for 10 days from when they had their test
If they get symptoms while they're self-isolating, the 10 days restarts from when their symptoms started.
The 10 days does not restart if a different person you live with gets symptoms while you're self-isolating.

Yesterday, test and trace gave me the information in your diagram relating to my household.

If he is running a high temp he is considered to still be infectious . It is a complete minefield! I hope he feels better soon .

Thanks @dottiedaisee

He's never had a temperature , his symptoms are breathlessness, and coughing. It is hard to figure it all out

Dottiedaisee who has told you that date? I tested positive on 24th and my isolation ends tonight

Has he been checked out by your local Covid team . We have a virtual Covid clinic with telephone numbers in our area . Has he had his o2 sats checked?

If it’s the app it’s wrong as they still having 14 days as the isolation length rather than updated 10 days.

Yes he has a Covid hub team and has an oxymeter. Tbh I've been quite impressed with the doctors since he called them, they've called a lot and have sent him out an oxymeter within an hour or two

@Iamsodonewith2020

Dottiedaisee who has told you that date? I tested positive on 24th and my isolation ends tonight

My test was taken 22nd so my 10 day isolation ends at midnight Jan 1 so I can go out on the 2nd . Test and trace sent all the information by text .