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Original poster

Do I need to isolate or am I panicking?

18 replies

Msgiggles30 · 28/03/2021 14:57

Hi all,
At the end of last week I dropped some food to a friend who was isolating as a contact of someone with covid. She has now tested postive herself.
I put the food on the door step before I knocked and then stood back 2m (but now am questioning could it have been more like 1.5) I also had a fluid resistant IIR mask on. We chatted distanced for around 5mins. She did not come out and was stood inside not on the doorstep. Am I okay? I think I am but just having a panic! Thanks.

OP posts:
Original poster
Msgiggles30 · 28/03/2021 14:57

*end of this week

OP posts:
EileenGC · 28/03/2021 15:01

What is ‘close contact’ defined as by PHE? Where I live you wouldn’t have to isolate unless you ticked two factors out of these three:

Less than 2m distance
More than 15 mins contact
Infectious party not masked

The risk from what you describe is really low. Depends on what the advice locally is.

EileenGC · 28/03/2021 15:02

Sorry I said PHE and wrongly assumed you were in England. If you’re not, whatever body corresponds to PHE in your country.

Hasn’t your friend been contacted by T&T and asked for a list of her close contacts?

micc · 28/03/2021 15:02

Hi OP, I think you will be okay. If you think about the people who come in contact with a lot of people for work every day and get tested regularly and are fine. For instance teachers and super market workers. It sounds like you were very safe. There was a case at my DDs school, one of the students, he was the only one in the class no other cases, even though he was in reception and in school all week! And I'm pretty sure a four year old without a mask wasnt as safe as you! Haha, its very easy to over think. But as long as you feel fine I wouldnt over think it.

dementedpixie · 28/03/2021 15:03

If you wore a mask and were a distance away standing outside for only 5 minutes then I'd say you are very low risk. When did she get symptoms?

HarveySchlumpfenburger · 28/03/2021 15:03

Possibly. Depends on when you visited, when her symptoms started and what T&T are saying at the moment. I think you’ll have to wait and see.

ScottishStottie · 28/03/2021 15:03

Of course you dont need to isolate.

ChocOrange1 · 28/03/2021 15:05

You're fine

Original poster
Msgiggles30 · 28/03/2021 15:08

I'm just being paranoid now that it was closer than 2m but I got a tape measure out in my house and I think if not 2m it was very close. She didn't have symptoms she was asked to test as a contact and tested positive just over a day after I dropped the things of. Just needed a bit of reassurance that its very low risk! I do actually work in a school and have had quite a few parents test postive who I have probabaly been a bit closer than 2m with on the door and been fine so don't know why I'm suddenly panicking!

OP posts:
LilyPond2 · 28/03/2021 15:10

Not sure whether Test and Trace would class you as a close contact in such circumstances. I think the risk of you having caught Covid from your friend is low. Nevertheless if you are due to meet with anyone socially in the 10 day period following your meeting with your friend, I think you should let them know the situation so that they can decide whether they'd prefer to postpone meeting up. I would also steer clear of anyone vulnerable for that period as far as you can.

EmmelineLestrange · 28/03/2021 15:24

Did this happen in the 48 hours prior to her having a positive test (or symptoms starting, but I think you said she didn’t have symptoms)? If not, you would not be required to isolate.

islockdownoveryet · 28/03/2021 15:51

No regardless of having symptoms or not .
I’ve also had to isolate and had one or 2 people drop things off and chatted for a minute or 2 . It needs to be close contact and for a good few minutes do not worry .

bobbiester · 28/03/2021 15:52

She was already meant to be isolating when you went round. Standing on the doorstep chatting to people 1-2m away is not isolating.

Did she bother to wear a mask?

islockdownoveryet · 28/03/2021 15:54

@bobbiester

She was already meant to be isolating when you went round. Standing on the doorstep chatting to people 1-2m away is not isolating.

Did she bother to wear a mask?

What of course it is , the op dropped some things off and chatted briefly she hardly invited her in for a cup of tea .
DIshedUp · 28/03/2021 15:59

She was isolating when you dropped things round so I'm assuming you were relatively careful with distancing?

I don't think you need to isolate, but I think Its weird to be panicking about it now when this was always a possibility

Original poster
Msgiggles30 · 28/03/2021 16:13

Yes was careful made sure I but the food down before I even knocked so that I could step back to distance on the driveway before the door opened and wearing medical grade mask. I don't know why im panicking either as I am at risk all the time in work and I do go to shops etc. Maybe just because all the restrictions are starting to relax again but brought it home that its still easy to catch.

OP posts:
LilQueenie · 28/03/2021 16:28

I don't think you need to worry. Doctors and nurses are working with covid patients and they don't need to isolate. They have kids who go to school and they have potentially had contact with their parent working on the frontlines. Wear the mask where need be and continue. I would think your risk is extremely low.

Flowerlane · 29/03/2021 10:33

No you don’t need to isolate.

We dropped some things to a friend just before Christmas. We stood on her path and she her 3 kids stood at the doorway. They were isolating waiting for test results. They received the positive test later that evening.

We never isolated and were fine.

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