Mum scared to isolate

[PandemicPalava]

What a pickle! My mum came into contact with a colleague (direct working, passing boxes to each other) who has now tested positive for COVID. She saw him Wednesday. The results of his test came in this morning but work hasn't asked anyone to isolate.

My mum now says she hopes she isn't forced to work on Monday. I have explained until I'm blue in the face that she has to isolate no matter what. She runs a shop online and I think the company are panicking as only her and the boss know how to do it. He was also in contact and needs to isolate.

Can I complain anonymously to anyone about the company and how they are handling it? It's disgraceful! They are a multi million pound international company but are not towing the line and didn't engage with furlough and although not a key worker, they fabricated letters about being involved in medical manufacture last lockdown (March) so most had to go in. The British branch of the company do not
Manufacture medicine but I think one in another country does.

My poor mum feels bullied and doesn't know what to do

She should have been wearing a mask if working that closely to him. She may not have to isolate unless contacted by track and trace as she would be wearing PPE.

I have a relative who is a care assistant in a nursing home, she came into contact with someone who had Covid, a housemate, and her deputy manager still wanted her to go in to do her shifts ...i was speechless!
Fortunately relative has more sense and refused.

She will have to isolate. Even if she was wearing a mask (as it’s not the same as a health care professionals PPE).

@PandemicPalava yes you can complain to the local council environmental health they have teams of EHO doing covid work with businesses.

If she had contact with him on Wednesday then she most definitely will be a close contact and as such has to self isolate. She should be contacted by track and trace within the next couple of days if the person has been honest.

Uts not the works decision to tell you to self isolate. Its test and trace. The colleague should have given your mums details as a close contact and they will.contact her. Then she legally has to isolate and can tell her employer that.

@Edintink1 no PPE I'm afraid and no social distancing as the company have insisted they don't need to. Also no cleaners

@NK346f2849X127d8bca260 hoping my mum is brave enough to refuse

@Scottishskifun I'm hoping he's been honest as it will make the process easier

I just phoned 119 which is a great way to get through quickly to test and trace. I explained the situation and they were quite clear that she needs to isolate. The contact had symptoms on Wednesday which makes it even more vital. They directed me towards an NHS111 isolation note. This can be completed and handed to your employer and they cannot refuse it as it is a legal document.

I hope test and trace call her

If you have concerns about the practice in the company then contact your local councils environmental health department and they will investigate

Also, half a dozen people so far have said to get a test and if it's negative to carry on. Nobody seems to understand that a negative test does not end isolation! It means nothing. It could mean Covid is incubating. Isolation still stands negative test or not.

The government need to do a public information film about this as it seems to be the most common misunderstanding of all

I will contact environmental health too, thanks all. My mum works within 2 metres of another person, no masks. It's dangerous

My son is in a similar situation, he just texted his manager who is working at home and said

“due to positive test of ...... I shall be isolating for 10 days since my last contact with ...... and should I develop symptoms I shall get a test, as per government guidelines”.

He hasn’t had a reply from manager, but my son is staying home.

@Mindymomo I've said to my mum that this may be a good idea - a text stating the facts, no maybes ifs or buts.

[quote PandemicPalava]@Edintink1 no PPE I'm afraid and no social distancing as the company have insisted they don't need to. Also no cleaners [/quote]
Environmental health will definitely want to hear of this company (also if the colleague is honest with track and trace then it will likely get flagged that way as well).

All companies should have risk assessments, enhanced cleaning and be able to demonstrate they are covid secure as much as possible. This company sounds the opposite of this please report them to protect your mum when she goes back but also other employees.

Thank you, I definitely will. She's scared my identity will reveal its come from her so I think I will have to set up an obscure new email with no hint of names

@Scottishskifun when he tested positive, would he have been asked who he had been in contact with?

@PandemicPalava

Thank you, I definitely will. She's scared my identity will reveal its come from her so I think I will have to set up an obscure new email with no hint of names

Environmental health keep it anonymous when they talk to businesses so I wouldn't worry about that. Sometimes they don't even say directly they have received a complaint so you can reassure her there (its my DHs job!)

[quote PandemicPalava]@Scottishskifun when he tested positive, would he have been asked who he had been in contact with? [/quote]
Yes for 3 days prior to first showing symptoms or a positive test if no symptoms.
If he doesn't have the direct number of your mum then test and trace contact the business directly to get the information of direct people and contact numbers or pass onto environmental health (as its the weekend most likely they will directly be in touch) but as your mum knows she is a close contact already she has to isolate regardless and they will be in touch.

It is reliant on them being honest. It's 15 minutes in close proximity with masks or direct conversation with no masks indoors.

There is usually a bit of a delay between positive test and test and trace. His employer should identify all staff in close proximity and tell them to self isolate in advance of test and trace and ensure that cleaning is carried out.
If they don't do any of the above then environmental health can enforce closure of the business for not being covid secure and if there is not enough staff that haven't worked directly with the person in the 3 days then they will request closure anyway.

@Scottishskifun that's absolutely fantastic to know thank you so much!

@Scottishskifun she definitely falls into that category then. My concern is that they will contact the business and the business will play down who he has been in contact with. I've drafted an email to environmental health which I will send at the weekend anyway just in case

@Scottishskifun thank you, you've made me feel much better

T&T should ask for details of contacts in the 48 hours before symptoms started or 48 hours before the positive test (if no symptoms).

The man she was working with needs to give her name to track and trace, she will be told to isolate. Why hasn’t he done this?