How long until self isolation can be scrapped following possible exposure?

[Tryingtryingandtrying]

Presumably this is not included in changes on 21ST June… but when can it be? Or will this be something only fully vaccinated will be able to avoid?

I really hope it's soon. Self isolating multiple times when you might not even have it has been the most disruptive element of the pandemic in my opinion, especially in education.

Interesting. Not got a clue though.

Following with interest! Would love to know

I hope it's not until I have had the vaccine so I have a better chance of being OK if I come into contact with people who may have it. I'm not sure if it would be sooner if more people were doing twice weekly asymptomatic testing?

This should give you some idea.

www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/covid-test-firm-opening-bootle-20757176?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar

So there are three possible futures in which self isolation no longer required

1. covid has been eliminated from the UK so that possible exposure never occurs.

2. all efforts to stop covid have failed, so we've given up trying.

3. vaccinations have become so good that there's no longer a risk from an infected person.

3 is by far the most unlikely of these options, so it's between the first two. My money is on the second one, but I can't see it happening any time soon as it would leave the government open to charges of callousness.

In short, it's going to continue throughout 2022 at least.

it would be nice if we could all have access to the scheme that Michael Gove personally and professionally benefitted from, with daily testing. Only isolating in the event of a positive test.
Schools should have not blocked this plan for use in students.
It is the only way forward once the majority of people are vaccinated and vaccinations have been offered to over 12s (already approved, just need the government to actually do it).

I think whatever happens real thought should be given to the use of nasal swabs on young children. I feel that testing my 1 year old is unsafe and cruel because he gets very upset and resists and you are putting him through an uncomfortable medical procedure for no benefit to himself without medical supervision which has to be unethical. We wouldn’t usually put children through medical procedures which aren’t for their own benefit even if they might benefit someone else.

As for self isolation I think scrapping this for close contacts should happen very soon. It has minimal impact anyway and is hugely damaging.

I tested my 4 year old recently and it was so traumatic for everyone. Literally had to pin her down while DH did the swan and she cried for so long afterwards. It was heartbreaking. I won't put her through that again now that all the vulnerable have been vaccinated.

I hope isolating finishes soon. It isn't realistic IMO.

in short, its going to continue throughout 2022 at least

There will come a point when people will simply stop testing just to avoid isolating as its not financially or practically viable to continue with the disruption that isolating brings multiple times

There will come a point when people will simply stop testing just to avoid isolating as its not financially or practically viable to continue with the disruption that isolating brings multiple times

I agree with this. For a lot of people there are no benefits to getting tested.

Soon I hope! I’d personally be happy to do a lateral flow every day for a week instead of isolating if this was allowed. Isolating for a week is just not sustainable. People have jobs and kids to get to school. Isolating as a possible contact is just too disruptive to continue for much longer.

In the early days my friend was fined for isolating and not being able to get her child to school (she tried everything, but no one could help). I think the fine was eventually overturned but seriously, who needs the stress.

I would love to know this too, my biggest worry right now is missing more school.
We're hoping to move house in a few weeks and for at least 10 days before we won't be going anywhere just to be safe.
We have to stop this at some point surely? We don't isolate if in contact with someone with flu/chickenpox etc

@GreenWheat

I really hope it's soon. Self isolating multiple times when you might not even have it has been the most disruptive element of the pandemic in my opinion, especially in education.

I agree with this - when I had covid in February it was over and gone in 10 days.

Also keen to know. After yet another traumatic test on my 4 year old I'm starting to get fed up with the constant testing (he suffers from croup and his normal coughs can last for weeks).

I'd like to know what the long term plan is for:

1. Self isolation
2. Testing when symptoms appear.

@strangeshapedpotato

So there are three possible futures in which self isolation no longer required

1. covid has been eliminated from the UK so that possible exposure never occurs.

2. all efforts to stop covid have failed, so we've given up trying.

3. vaccinations have become so good that there's no longer a risk from an infected person.

3 is by far the most unlikely of these options, so it's between the first two. My money is on the second one, but I can't see it happening any time soon as it would leave the government open to charges of callousness.

In short, it's going to continue throughout 2022 at least.

Not in the UK. We are doing 3 - vaccinated people do not have to self isolate if exposed to Covid.

we're only not doing number 3 yet because not everyone has been offered the vaccine.

I suspect that once everyone who wants to be vaccinated has been, that fully vaccinated individuals won't be required to isolate as a possible contact, only if they actually test positive.