How to self-isolate in a family home with two other family members?

[HelloThereMeHearties]

I suspect I have Covid. I've been really tired for the past few days, sleeping three hours in the afternoon, not wanting to get out of bed. Very unusual for me. Feeling a bit coldy, but not an actual cold.

Then I saw today that scientists are suggesting adding "Fatigue" to the list of Covid symptoms and thought - that's what I've go! So I immediately ordered a test online, which should arrive tomorrow or the day after.

So, how do I self-isolate with a DH and a DC in the home? DH will sleep in the spare room. I am keeping to our bedroom, DH will bring me food up.

Any other suggestions? Don't really know what to do, and obvs with the fatigue I'm not thinking particularly clearly.

You need to remain in your bedroom at all times and have meals bought to your door.

Sanitise hands and wear a mask when leaving the room to go to the loo. Bleach all loo surfaces after use including door knobs and loo flush. Take your own towel in and out of the room with you.

Do not go into communal areas.

Use your mobile to communicate with others

DH to use Hand sanitiser and mask when collecting your empty food plates outside your bedroom and then washing up.

Get tested.

Fluids rest and sleep

Thanks @Porridgeoat! Can't get my head around this at all.

If you have more than one toilet, agree that you will use the one nearest to your room and that your DH and DC will use the other one. If you have one toilet, keep the window open to keep the room ventilated.

If you can get your DH to bring all your meals up to you while you lay in bed for 10 days then do it. I couldn't I'm afraid. Was not good for my MH. And my partner couldn't boil an egg.
We kept the house clean and ventilated and kept separate as much as we could but we did not walk round wearing masks.

Good idea @LilyPond2, I've just asked them to use the downstairs loo and I'll use the bathroom.

Luckily @DontFuckItUp my DH is a whizz in the kitchen, but we're all trying to get to grips with this. At least we have a spare room and a second loo. Have put spray antiviral and more hand sanitiser on the shopping list.

Going back to sleep now. Yawn!

Open all windows and keep open at night if poss. Apparently viral load important in how ill people get. I isolated my dh in one room and my dd in other. Bought dh food left outside door. Used phone to communicate. Wore masks when using bathroom and each had our own bleach spray and cloth. Don't forget door handles on way pit and in. keep towel in own room. Good luck

Thanks @happywifey. Good point re doorhandles.

Well I took all your advice, so we're isolating in separate rooms, masks are worn in the communal areas, separate loos, etc etc.

I did the postal swab test today, so I'll let you know what the result is!

Oh and it turns out we can use our landline phones as intercoms to speak to each other, so that has worked well too - much easier to order lunch

This is crazy. The whole household isolates until test results come back, act as normal within the house. That's what we've done several times.

Good for you! Does your DH also have underlying health conditions?

Yes he's fought cancer, twice. But if it's in your home I don't believe there is much you can do. You're infectious 48 hours before symptoms. The chances of serious illness are still incredibly low, as you don't mention him being on shielding list or being officially classed as clinically vulnerable.

Well I'm happy to follow BMJ guidelines, thanks

www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3181

Plus many other links, if you would like me to supply them.

Covid-19: breaking the chain of household transmission

www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3181

Reducing risks from coronavirus transmission in the home—the role of viral load

www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m1728

In which they say:

Pragmatic evidence that could help carers

We are aware of only one behavioural intervention that is proved to reduce virus transmission within households and is suitable for rapid dissemination in a pandemic. Two of us (PL and LY) were involved in a randomised trial of Germ Defence, a website that provides advice on infection control measures and helps users think about when and how to carry out key infection control behaviours such as handwashing and cleaning, avoiding sharing rooms and surfaces, managing incoming deliveries, and ventilating rooms.17 This could supplement public health advice on infection control in the home since it uses behaviour change techniques to help people implement this advice

A lot of it comes down to viral load, as @happywifey said. Which really made me pay attention.

We did what you’re doing. Luckier still we have an en-suite. My lovely DH delivered all my meals. I had a spare kettle in my room and some tea, coffee and squash. Both our (adult) children are disabled so we needed to minimise the risk of us both getting seriously ill.
In the end, fatigue, coming down with a cold and feeling a bit “chesty” was as bad as it got thankfully.
Best of luck!

Thanks! And now I want some squash!

Update: My test came back negative!!

So I didn't have Covid, I just felt crap