Do the rest of the household need to isolate?

[DrunkenKoala]

DS (12) has been self isolating since the middle of last week after having contact with positive cases in school. In that time he’s had two negative LTF tests and no symptoms. The rest of the household carried on as normal (school/shopping/swimming)

Yesterday we had an email from PHE (via his school) that some of those positive cases are the Indian variant and advised for him to have PCR test, which we’ve done this morning and are now waiting for results which could take 72 hrs, although DP’s only took 15hrs back in September and DD’s took about 30hrs in March.

The email from PHE is very clear that DS needs to continue to isolate but I can’t find anything for the rest of us. I’ve heard that this variant is 50% more transmissible and I don’t believe PHE would be advising PCR tests if they weren’t worried about it, but I’ve also got something booked for tomorrow morning with DD (may not have the results back in time) and other family members are telling us to go. Just wondering what other people’s thoughts are?

No because he hasn't tested positive. He also doesn't qualify for a PCR test because he isn't showing symptoms so the advice from the school isn't inline with government guidelines.

Others on mumsnet will say you should all isolate and lock him in his room though.

The advice is from PHE.

@roses2

No because he hasn't tested positive. He also doesn't qualify for a PCR test because he isn't showing symptoms so the advice from the school isn't inline with government guidelines.

Others on mumsnet will say you should all isolate and lock him in his room though.

I agree that the rest of the household don’t need to isolate. But the PCR testing, if the instruction came from PHE, sounds like surge testing maybe. Which would make sense

I personally wouldn’t be going until the test results were back. May not be the law but i would feel very irresponsible putting others at possible risk for the sake of waiting for a test result.

No, you do not need to isolate.

But, it would be prudent to keep away from DS as much as you possibly can - isolation means from you too but that's not always practical. But space yourselves out, have the windows open, let him game in his room all day if that's his thing

And out if consideration for others, make sure you are following the social distancing rules immaculately when you are out and about.

If public health England advised him to get a test then yes he does qualify. I’m currently isolating due to cases at the school I work at. PHE advised all staff and children in the years affected to get a test and told us how to go about it. I don’t think you need to isolate as a whole family unless his test comes back positive in which case you’ll all need to isolate from the date of the test for 10 days.

The chance of being infected after close contact with a positive case was only about 8%, and it's now 14%. So still odds on he won't be infected (even though that is technically about a 50% increase!)

You would have thought that if Public Health England wanted the rest of the family to isolate that they would have said in the email, so would presume the rest can carry on as normal until you get test result. In areas where they are doing surge testing, people don’t have to isolate, so would presume it’s the same.

@Lalliebelle thanks for those numbers so it’s still pretty low odds that he’s actually caught it.

But, it would be prudent to keep away from DS as much as you possibly can - isolation means from you too but that's not always practical. But space yourselves out, have the windows open, let him game in his room all day if that's his thing
That’s what he’s been doing and we’ve mainly been eating outside.

And out if consideration for others, make sure you are following the social distancing rules immaculately when you are out and about.
We’ve actually got swimming booked which we’ll be fine socially distancing but obviously I can’t wear a mask in the pool. My pool is strict about no shows with possible suspension of membership as other members could use that session and unfortunately there are no more available sessions later in the week.

Hmm I think it’s probably best to cancel and take DD somewhere outside - just gutting if his results come back negative before the session but I’ve already cancelled it.

Occasionally Public Health teams ask different things from the general rules for various reasons. But they will be clear so as they have asked for him to have a PCR test they would have asked you to self isolate. Depending on rate of positive results from the PCR tests they may still ask you to at a later point.

No the rest of the household are only a contact of a contact so no need to isolate.

In my area anyone is allowed to get a pcr test for virtually any reason. It's something the council decided aged ago.

But to answer your question, as he has no symptoms then the rest of the family do not have to isolate.

Interestingly the nhs site for booking a pcr test has been updated to include 'if you have been in touch with a confirmed case'. Let me try to upload a screenshot. I was surprised to read this though.

www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test

Scroll further down the page and it says:

@anappleadaykeeps
From the email yesterday I got the impression that anyone who has had contact with someone suffering from the Indian variant they’re now PCR testing.

I’ve pasted the first paragraph of the email from PHE below.
COVID-19
31 May 2021
To help prevent spread of the coronavirus, Public Health England (PHE) is monitoring cases, particularly those which relate to new variants. This is helping us to gain a better understanding of how the different types of variants spread, and any impact they may have on the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine.

I’ve just seen on a local Facebook group that anyone who has any connection with the two high schools and middle schools in the next town to me, or who visited two pubs in that town, should get a pcr test.

@roses2

No because he hasn't tested positive. He also doesn't qualify for a PCR test because he isn't showing symptoms so the advice from the school isn't inline with government guidelines.

Others on mumsnet will say you should all isolate and lock him in his room though.

The advice is from PHE, accounting to the OP. They may well be doing a surge testing in the area due to a specific outbreak of a variant of concern. So testing known contacts, especially in age groups that are often asymptomatic, could well be used as a way to see if the variant is spreading unseen in the area too.

@Comefromaway

I’ve just seen on a local Facebook group that anyone who has any connection with the two high schools and middle schools in the next town to me, or who visited two pubs in that town, should get a pcr test.

Is that Leek, Staffs?

@Abraxan

I’m not in a hotspot, (I’m in Kent) our numbers are only 22/100,000, but that has almost tripled compared to the previous week. Hopefully by sending known contacts for PCR tests it’ll get the spread under control 🤞

@Comefromaway hopefully they can get that under control.

Anyone who has now been in contact with a positive case can now order/go forward a pcr test. You no longer have to have symptoms

Was it that obvious?

Not many areas with middle schools too I guess.

Dd is due to meet her cousin in Leek tomorrow at a coffee shop there so it’s slightly concerning.

Yeah it was the middle school and the surge testing! Can't believe Leek is having a Covid surge just when everywhere else is starting to get back to bloody normal!!

@roses2

No because he hasn't tested positive. He also doesn't qualify for a PCR test because he isn't showing symptoms so the advice from the school isn't inline with government guidelines.

Others on mumsnet will say you should all isolate and lock him in his room though.

This

We have surge testing here and many of the local school children are positive or isolating as a close contact. There are pop up testing centres and the head teacher asked as many of the isolating children (and anyone else too) to have a PCR test. They found at least 10 extra asymptomatic cases this way and although the numbers are up locally I can see finding these was a positive thing and has hopefully stopped further spread.

Im across the other side of the moor.

Fingers crossed it doesn’t spread.