DM is being a dick isn't she?

[crimblecrumblez]

DN visited DM her on Sunday, on Wednesday he tested negative on LFT, then on Thursday tested positive (or the other way round, she's not sure). His friend has Covid and he had been on holiday with him until the day he saw DM. So given that friend is definitely positive and DN has had a positive LFT, odds are that he has it I'd say. Apparently they haven't bothered with a PCR for him as 'he feels fine.

DM thinks she doesn't need to test as "he wasn't here long and one of his tests was negative anyway and I feel fine so I don't have it, and I'm double jabbed'. So she's merrily going about her business, having lunch with friends today, mixing with people much older than herself this week etc

She's normally pretty sensible and a rule follower but for some reason thinks that this is fine and won't be told otherwise. If DN had had a negative PCR I'd agree with her but she doesn't think he's even had one. Appreciate even if he was def positive she wouldn't need to isolate from Monday anyway if she tested negative (I think) but surely if you know you've been in touch with someone who's had a positive LFT you'd be cautious until you knew the outcome of a PCR, especially staying away from people in their 80s / 90s?? I'm so cross but she thinks she's done nothing wrong, happy to be told I'm overreacting but I don't think I am!

When did the friend test positive, and when did DN lady see him, as that influences the likelihood of DN having been infectious when he saw your mum? DN certainly needs a PCR test and your DM is being a dick by not being more cautious around others.

She doesn’t need to test as she’s not a close contact of a positive case, and has no symptoms.
However, DN and DM should really go for a test. This is how it’s spreading.

@MRex friend must have tested positive Mon or Tues I reckon, she doesn't really know though. Friend and DN had been together all of the previous week including the morning of the day DN visited DM so its entirely possible they both picked it up off a third party rather than DN getting it from friend. I appreciate if she had ALL the facts the outcome might be that she doesn't need to test, but she doesn't at the moment!

I mean, I’d argue that she doesn’t really need to isolate as close contacts are being scrapped on Monday .. but morally, well, that’s to judge isn’t it.

I won’t be isolating on close contact anymore but I would exercise caution around my mum & elderly relatives for sure. I wouldn’t be going to their houses or having close contact. I will still be going out & about as normal, so I guess I’d bump into some in the shops, cafes etc but I’ll do LFT’s every other day & be mindful of symptoms.

@GoodnightGrandma that's exactly what I said to her, people just deciding that they definitely don't have it even though circumstances dictate that's entirely possible, and carrying on as normal is why it keeps spreading. She changed the subject!!

If I'm following correctly DN tested positive on a lateral flow but didn't bother getting a PCR? So he needs to get a PCR test (but it's probably too late as he'll be past peak of infection). If he tests positive then your mother needs to get a PCR as a close contact.

@Mamamia35 that's right. I think because one of the LFTs was negative (no idea if it was the first or the second) and he has no symptoms they've basically decided he doesn't have it.

As pointed out, close contacts who have been double vaccinated don't have to isolate from the 16th August. Protection provided by vaccination replaces the need for contact isolation.

For this reason, I wouldn't be too concerned.

Thanks all. Tbh I wasn't even saying to her that she needed to test or isolate, just that it would be sensible to be a bit more cautious given she didn't even seem to have all the facts to know whether she should test or not. Was like speaking to a brick wall though. I appreciate I'm a lot more covid cautious than most people still but given her social circle includes a lot of elderly and vulnerable people I was surprised she was just going about her day as normal given its likely DN has it and he was in her house a couple of days before a positive LFT.

She isn’t a close contact though within 48 hours for the positive so wouldn’t need to. Even if he did a PCR test (which he should)

She probably should test to make sure but doesn’t need to isolate

so, it was over 48 hours berween the contact and dn testing positive. (actually irellevant if this was on lft or pcr really) Therefore dm is not a close contact. therefore she doesn't need to either isolate or take a test. and even if she did she could end isolation on the 16th anyway. So I cant see what there is to be upset about?

Shortest possible time line is visit Sunday, positive test Wednesday?
No need to isolate. Its 48 hrs beforehand, which stretching things slightly is Monday and Tuesday for close contact to be considered.

I personally would be careful, but not isolating.

There isn't only an option of legal isolation requirement (no walks, no shops etc) versus flit about like it's 2019. The option OP and others suggested, was getting a test and being a bit careful around vulnerable people. That's getting on with life while being careful toward others.

That was to @greenweepingwillow, not @PeonyTime.

@crimblecrumblez

Thanks all. Tbh I wasn't even saying to her that she needed to test or isolate, just that it would be sensible to be a bit more cautious given she didn't even seem to have all the facts to know whether she should test or not. Was like speaking to a brick wall though. I appreciate I'm a lot more covid cautious than most people still but given her social circle includes a lot of elderly and vulnerable people I was surprised she was just going about her day as normal given its likely DN has it and he was in her house a couple of days before a positive LFT.

But he wasn’t in her house for a couple of days before an LFT. He was in the house 4 days before his positive LFT. And, the person he caught it from doesn’t even seem to have tested positive by the time your DN was in your DM’s house.

Even if she’s got the days of the LFTs the wrong way round it was 3 days. Do you know if the friend test because he was symptomatic?

@RafaIsTheKingOfClay no idea and neither has she. So it's all a bit vague, which is why I was suggesting she err on the side of caution. I can see from the comments above that perhaps under the rules she wasn't required to do anything specific but she hadn't worked that out for herself or even thought about it, her response was basically that one of DNs tests was negative so he probably doesn't have it anyway and that she wasnt going to give it any further consideration.

Yeah. I definitely don’t agree with that way of thinking. And I assume DN isn’t isolating if they’re just going with pretending he doesn’t have it.

But based on what you have said, I don’t think you need to worry too much that she’s going to be spreading covid. Especially if he got the -ve then the +ve and not the other way around.