Boss doesn’t want me to isolate?

[Saitama]

Hi all, my sister who I live with developed covid symptoms in the last 2 days. She’s ordered a test this evening (we didn’t think it was covid at first but she has more and more symptoms developing).

I believe I should isolate if she has symptoms, right? I told my boss and he still wants me to come in to work tomorrow. What do I say to him? I’m worried I’ll get into trouble if I refuse to go to work :(

I had to isolate before last year when my sister had milder symptoms too but her test was negative that time, so I don’t know if my boss believes me, though we have the email receipt of the test order as proof

You should order some lateral
Flow tests to keep at home. I thought the rules were now that you only had to isolate if someone in your bubble had a positive test? That said I would personally stay home until I knew for sure. Can she book in for one tomorrow? Results can be same day.

She should go get a test in the morning rather than waiting for a test to arrives, the lateral flow ones give answers in mins. Oh you could pick a box, our town hall has them, I think all councils do

Anyone can get you a lateral flow test from the pharmacy like boots or order them online from the National gov website. They are free of charge, best done when asymptomatic though, but useful to keep doing them regularly. Hope your sister is ok x

When I did a test i was told my whole household had to isolate until my results came back negative.
I hope your sister is ok, and don't let your boss pressure you into going in if you don't feel comfortable or it is against the rules.

Lateral flow tests are not suitable for people who are symptomatic. Your DSis should get a PCR test tomorrow. As far as I'm aware, the rules are still that you should isolate if someone in your house is symptomatic.

Yes, if somebody you live with is symptomatic then you need to isolate until they have the results of a PCR test. Your sister shouldn't use a lateral flow test in these circumstances. Lateral flow tests are just for asymptomatic testing.

There was something in the news about a trial of scrapping the need for contacts to isolate if they do daily lateral flow tests but this hasn't been evaluated and introduced yet.

Hope your sister is ok and is negative OP.

@paralysedbyinertia but it’s a good idea for OP to test herself as well to check regardless.
Yes her sister def needs a pcr test.
Are Drive through testing centres an option for your sister OP?

As far as I’m aware nothing has changed and while she is awaiting her test result anyone else in the household needs to self isolate. In relation to some of the advice you’ve been given above lateral flow tests are only for people without symptoms, so she needs a pcr test. A negative lateral flow test for you doesn’t override the need for you to self isolate while waiting for your sister’s result either. Lateral flow tests are largely used for finding asymptotic cases they aren’t as accurate as pcr tests and can often miss positive cases as they usually are thought to mainly pick up positive cases when viral load is at its highest hence being most accurate when used twice weekly. I’m sorry your boss is pushing for you to go in. I hope your sister’s result is negative too.

Your boss hasn't the right to ask you or make you go in. You need to isolate. If you're in any doubt ring 111 for advice. Hope you're both OK.

Lateral flow test for the OP is a good idea so in case is positive, she can inform her close contacts and help cut the chain of transmission.

[quote CovidHalloween]@paralysedbyinertia but it’s a good idea for OP to test herself as well to check regardless.
Yes her sister def needs a pcr test.
Are Drive through testing centres an option for your sister OP?[/quote]
Yes, it's a good idea to do a lateral flow test, as long as the OP doesn't take a negative result as confirmation that she doesn't need to isolate while her sister is still awaiting the pcr test result.

Thanks, I wasn’t aware of lateral flow tests being available so easily! I could take one of those, I’ve had both doses of the vaccine and don’t have any symptoms so far. But if my sister does have it and I could have it but be asymptomatic then should I be risking going out to get a lateral flow? I can grab a pcr test from my works office tomorrow for myself without interacting with anybody though

My sister could go to a drive through test centre but isn’t feeling well enough to drive, and I don’t drive myself to be able to take her so it looks like she’s going to have to wait for the pcr to be delivered to our home?

There's no real need for you to get the tests. Just isolate until her results are back. If your boss hassles you send them the link off gov.uk website.

Lateral flow tests are not for testing those with symptoms. They are for finding asymptomatic cases. You still need PCR tests if you have symptoms - PCR tests are needed to confirm lft tests with symptoms too. They miss a lot of positives.

Thanks all, we ordered a pcr test each and a pack of 7 lateral flow tests (good if needed in the future), I’ll have to take time off work until my sister gets her results back then from the sound of it. She felt poorly a few days ago and thought it was because she slept badly, but in the last 2 days developed severe fatigue, muscle aches, a chill, diarrhoea, loss of taste.. no cough though, and we don’t have a thermometer to take her temperature. I’ll see if I can pick one up somewhere in the morning

I'll see if I can pick one up somewhere in the morning

No! Isolate doesn't just mean don't go to work, you can't go anywhere you need to stay at home especially not to the shops mingling with others even if it is for a thermometer.
Either get someone else to go the shop for you or order off Amazon Prime some items can be delivered by 10pm that day

@Saitama

Thanks all, we ordered a pcr test each and a pack of 7 lateral flow tests (good if needed in the future), I’ll have to take time off work until my sister gets her results back then from the sound of it. She felt poorly a few days ago and thought it was because she slept badly, but in the last 2 days developed severe fatigue, muscle aches, a chill, diarrhoea, loss of taste.. no cough though, and we don’t have a thermometer to take her temperature. I’ll see if I can pick one up somewhere in the morning

You cant go anywhere, even to get a thermometer You isolate until you get the pcr test result

@Bellabelloo

You should order some lateral Flow tests to keep at home. I thought the rules were now that you only had to isolate if someone in your bubble had a positive test? That said I would personally stay home until I knew for sure. Can she book in for one tomorrow? Results can be same day.

The rules haven't changed. You all isolate until you get results of the test. If the test is positive you continue to isolate until 10 days have passed

You should order some lateral
Flow tests to keep at home.

Thanks all, we ordered a pcr test each and a pack of 7 lateral flow tests (good if needed in the future

If you have symptoms in the future you need a PCR test ( a proper test) these are not designed for people with symptoms.
If you have symptoms do NOT use the lateral tests.

Advice about LFTs seems to vary. I know the official advice is to only use for regular testing if asymptomatic or before a planned visit. But when my DD13 was unwell last week but didn't have any of the Big Three symptoms, our GP recommended doing a lateral flow and said she would only recommend going for a PCR with cough, fever or loss of smell/taste.

@bathsh3ba

Advice about LFTs seems to vary. I know the official advice is to only use for regular testing if asymptomatic or before a planned visit. But when my DD13 was unwell last week but didn't have any of the Big Three symptoms, our GP recommended doing a lateral flow and said she would only recommend going for a PCR with cough, fever or loss of smell/taste.

Your DD didn't have vivid symptoms. The GP suggested an lft probably as a placebo measure.

If you have one of the three symptoms you need a PCR test.

Lft tests are pretty crap.

Vivid = covid