Confused about self isolation?

[1wilma1]

Sorry if this is confusing, I'll do my best to explain our situation.

We are a family of 8 (abcdefgh)

Day 1 - a tests positive
Day 9 - b tests positive
Day 11. - cdefgh have no symptoms so their isolation ends
Day 12 - c tests positive

According to track and trace defgh do not need to isolate as they have completed their 10 days of isolation following a's positive result.
However I think that as c has now tested positive outside of that 10 day period then the rest of the house should isolate again as they could potentially catch it from c.

I double checked with track and trace and they were adamant that no further isolation was needed for unaffected family members but it just doesn't seem logical to me that with a newly positive case in the house others are free to go out in public.

Any thoughts?

I know it seems weird but the rules are they don't have to self isolate. I presume because they think it's unlikely to catch it from the latter exposure?

T&T are wrong - if someone catches it outside the original ten days then everyone needs to restart the isolation period (including a but not b).

It's so confusing, I sought a second opinion from a different track and trace advisor and my husband also spoke to someone and they have all said no need for further isolation.
Their reasoning is that people could get caught in a cycle of constantly having to isolate and they have to draw the line somewhere.

It's on the gov website too. T&T are correct. I don't know if was ever different but I know it was the same advice in at least November.

@GhostTypeEevee that's not what's happened though, some has tested positive on day 12, 2 days after their isolation has ended so they could have potentially caught it from someone else they had been in contact with and be a new infection. It's probably not very likely though.
Had C been anywhere on day 11/12? If they hadn't had contact with anyone else apart from the household that might be why no one else has to isolate again.

@Heartofglass12345 Oops. Well that's shows the importance of reading information correctly. I thought that it started again in that case.

Sorry

If you develop COVID-19 symptoms at any point after ending your first period of isolation you and your household should follow the steps in this guidance again

From the .gov site. You only don't need to isolate again if they get symptoms/test positive within the original 10 day isolation period

Although isolation used to be 14 days so it wouldn't have triggered further isolation if it had remained that way

You are right, the entire household isolates again for ten days x

OP - did c test positive due to having symptoms or just doing regular testing post exposure to covid from a?

Surely b + cdefgh restart their 10 day period again on day 9 due to b testing positive.

And then when on day 12 c tests positive c + defgh start their 10 day period again.

@Moonbabysmum

Surely b + cdefgh restart their 10 day period again on day 9 due to b testing positive.

And then when on day 12 c tests positive c + defgh start their 10 day period again.

No, as b tested positive within the original 10 day period the rest of the household doesn't restart isolation.

Did c have contact with anyone else once their isolation ended? If not, I wouldn't restart isolation for the rest

To answer a few questions - c did not leave the house after her isolation ended so there was no contact with anyone else, she developed symptoms on day 12 and that's why we did the LFT.

I have to trust the science behind the track and trace guidelines even if they don't make sense to me. We'll use our common sense and stay home if we can and those that have to work will take every precaution to minimise risk to others.

Yes, if it's within the original 10 days the period restarts as per this chart.

According to that chart the period only extends for those with symptoms. Those without symptoms end isolation at the original 10 days

You are correct, if it’s after the original 10 day period has ended then the whole family must all isolate again.

@dementedpixie - that’s because the chart only covers the scenario when the extra family members catch Covid during the original Covid patients 10 day isolation. If the symptoms begin after that 10 days then everyone isolates again

The fact that they hadn't left the house and had contact with anyone else makes a big difference as it's most likely the same infection. That's probably why you don't all have to isolate again

@GhostTypeEevee I've only just seen your response, don't be daft you don't need to apologise