How can it possibly be a good idea to NOT isolate if a household member tests positive?

[DontDrinkDontSmokeWhatDoIDo]

As the new rules will allow?

I think it's absolute madness.

We've all had positives over the last three weeks and even though we are all double jabbed, the illness is really, really nasty.

We all tested positive about 5
Days apart, like bloody dominos.

I just can't believe what destruction we would have unleashed had we not had to isolate.

If my dh or dd catches covid I will certainly stop social events and not go out but I have no idea if I will still have to attend the work. I hope my headteacher will say not to otherwise I could spread it round all the classes I teach. I think households should have to isolate (but perhaps not as strict eg can go out for a walk and just stay away from people) but not contacts.

I think they should have made this more gradual too, so first remove the isolation requirement from other contacts but still keep it for household contacts and see what happens. The chance of catching covid from a casual contact is so much smaller than catching it from someone at home.

We are going to have people working in close contact services and sharing workplaces and class rooms with others while the rest of their household could be ill with covid. Of course that is going to increase spread especially going into autumn and winter.

I totally understand isolation is difficult for many reasons but realistically how many times a year does anyone's household have covid in? So it wouldn't be repeated periods of isolations.

@DifferentHair

I agree with you OP. It seems really reckless and selfish to me. If one of my household contracts it we'll all stay in out of consideration for others, not because of the law.

I'm sure if you rang your work and said 'My husband has COVID, would you like me in regardless?' The answer would be No, stay the $&?! at home please.

I've had an email from work that states if another household member has covid, I'm still to go to work as I'm double jabbed. Those not double jabbed can isolate.
It's very clear and no exceptions. I can if I want or feel the need take a lift and if that comes back positive I've got to do the other test and only if that's positive can I stay home. On ssp which is simply not enough, so if it comes to it and I'm not actually very sick I'll be going to work. Fuck the tests.

The Government have been gambling with Covid throughout the whole of the pandemic. So far, some have paid off (vaccines) and some haven’t (Christmas).

The latest step of ‘freedom day’ didn’t cause the huge flood of cases that everyone predicted. In fact, for a while it looked like it had the opposite effect. The whole roadmap has been a gamble.

This is just another gamble, in a long list of gambles, and most likely won’t be the last either. Let’s just hope that it doesn’t all go wrong.

I have no idea really what on earth the result of dropping isolation will be. I dread to think what the Autumn/ Winter will look like. We have been ‘lucky’ so far, but catching it almost seems inevitable now.

In my little corner of the earth, life is pretty normal again. Covid isn’t a ‘thing’ anymore. It’s surreal. Right now I am listening to my neighbours have a massive party. They are having a great time. Hugging, singing, eating, drinking. All very normal things really.

Lately I have been looking at everything going on around me and it feels like the calm before the storm. I just hope for the best but quietly prepare for the worst.

@Beaudalaire

I feel conflicted because up until 2w ago I’d have rolled my eyes and said we need to get on with it now but I had covid I’m double vaccinated (although back in December so maybe worn off) and I have been really poorly, still am actually

I know one persons anecdotal account doesn’t change all the data but I don’t think it’s always a mild illness and pretty sure these symptoms aren’t going anywhere soon

Again

You got it for two weeks
You felt really rough (I remember you starting a thread about it on mumsnet)

But… here you are. Whilst you may not feel 100% - you are pretty much through it

When are people going to accept that getting sick and feeling shite due to an illness is…. Normal. Flu, pneumonia, norovirus.

It’s shit. It’s life.

Bet all the people saying it’s mild, we have to open and and get back to ‘normal’ etc etc havent had it

You'd lose that bet. Read the thread. I've had it. Pre vaccines. I've had worse colds. All of my family have had it, including my mum who is 76. All had worse colds.

In regard to stopping the spread of covid, I would agree that household contacts should isolate.

However it's easier to be "sensible" or "considerate of others" if you are able to wfh, or going to be paid regardless. My DH is self employed and cant wfh. If he had to isolate for more than one 10 day period in quick succession the "inconvenience" is not having any income for most of a month.

When are people going to accept that getting sick and feeling shite due to an illness is…. Normal. Flu, pneumonia, norovirus.

When are people going to realise that covid isn’t flu.

@RafaIsTheKingOfClay

When are people going to accept that getting sick and feeling shite due to an illness is…. Normal. Flu, pneumonia, norovirus.

When are people going to realise that covid isn’t flu.

Yeah this post wasn't saying flu is covid?

But flu does kill people as well you know? It hasn't just stopped being lethal because of covid.

Other...illnesses...can...still... kill....you ....

I think the change is ok

Iirc if someone in household was positive all stayed home.

Now dh or whoever could go to work and dc go to school.

It might increase cases againpre winter but then by now more are vaccinated so hospitalisation can hold.

I think pretty much everybody understands that Covid isn't flu. But people are comparing it to flu in terms of an illness that, once most adults are vaccinated, will be relatively mild for most people who catch it, though it will be often debilitating, sometimes unfortunately serious, and even fatal for some. People know norovirus isn't flu too, but that is another very infectious disease that is usually unpleasant but shortlasting, but can kill.

It’s not flu

But people saying…. I felt shit for two weeks so…..

Essentially they’ve experienced feeling shit for two weeks which is very similar to flu experience.

So it is relevant

I guess the theory is that we don’t isolate for any other illness unless we have it. If our family/household member has an illness they stay home but we don’t

I was amazed at my DCs school that they do not have a 48 hour or even 24 hour policy regarding D and V.
Dd was sick at school. I collected her. She seemed absolutely fine after the 15 min walk home but I kept her off the next day having assumed as she had been sick she would be required to not be at school. The school called and asked where she was and said they didnt have a sickness policy. I sent her in the afternoon as i was fairly sure it was one off. But I certainly wouldnt have sent her the next day if she'd had a bug or been sick multiple times.....but I imagine some people might do.

My step son has to isolate everytime he comes into contact with a Covid case. He gets sick pay. Thankfully he still lives at home otherwise he would be in serious financial trouble.

People can't keep isolating for ever just in case they might catch it, this may go on for years, many don't get paid and just get SSP which is under £100 a week, not everyone can isolate on full pay or work from home.

Yeah this post wasn't saying flu is covid?

But flu does kill people as well you know? It hasn't just stopped being lethal because of covid.

Other...illnesses...can...still... kill....you ....

Yes, they do. But they have a lower R number and are less likely to kill you or put you in hospital than covid. That’s why we treat covid differently and we don’t use the measures we’ve used for covid for them. Anecdata about how people were a bit ill and have had worse colds is irrelevant since we know that’s the case, it the number of people you’ll spread it to and how many of those people won’t be that’s the problem. And if we did end up with a pandemic flu virus with similar numbers to covid, we’d be doing the same thing.

And like many healthcare systems where covid is high, the NHS is not OK. It’s in deep trouble in the middle of August, which is a time where you would expect it to be able to catch up on the waiting list.

gardeninggirl68
Op.... maybe your family don't react well to even mild illnesses. Hence your 'floored' comment

We aren't ALL like that. Many people experience mild to zero symptoms. 
No.

*I have found during the last 18 months that peoples definitions of floored is very very varied.

I live with severe, life limiting chronic illnesses and most people's descriptions I've read of 'floored from covid" would be a bloody brilliant day for me.

So sorry no, when the rules are relaxed then I won't be following rules that aren't there. I have enough limitations of my life already and I think some people need to get a bit of a grip.*

I find these kind of comments quite unfair.
The OP doesn't have to be 'weak' or similar to be knocked for six just because covid floored her.

I have a chronic health condition. I have pain in some form most days. Sometimes it's really bad.

I caught covid and yes, it floored me. It put me in hospital.
And I felt pretty rubbish - in a totally different way to what my health condition makes me feel like.

Why do people try to play down how poorly covid can make some people?
Yes, for many it has little to no symptoms, but for plenty they are left feeling rubbish.

It’s interesting that the answer to poor working conditions and low levels of sick pay in the U.K. during this pandemic has never been to sort those out, but just pretend covid doesn’t exist.

@MilkTwoSugarsThanks

I had Covid before vaccinations were available. Norovirus and "bog standard" flu were worse.

D'you take the same precautions with every illness that could potentially kill someone, or just Covid?

To an extent yes. I have a flu vaccine every year, as does dh and Dd. I have had all over vaccines offered such as the pneumonia one, etc. I take multivitamins and vit D. If I know someone has a nasty cold/virus I keep my distance a bit. If someone has norovirus/d&v we tell them to stay home for 48 hours after it has stopped. We encourage everyone close to them to practise good hand hygiene, etc

I don't expect people to isolate for 10 days for close contacts but was a little surprised that not even close household contacts are compelled to test - just advised.

I know that fully vaccinated adults are more likely to not catch covid than unvaccinated people. So can see why we are moving to this - and personally I prefer it, as a fully vaccinated adult. I do think we should have to test though when it's someone in our house.

Re unvaccinated children not isolating - time will tell I guess. Hopefully that won't lead to a huge rise of cases in schools. Most schools have at least a handful of vulnerable children so for their sake, fingers crossed.

@Marmitemarinaded

I can’t stand the test process as makes me gag!

But in any case, what’s the point if I have no intention of quarantine?!

You don't have to test using a throat swab. If you can't do the throat it's perfectly acceptable and equally as valid to do both nostrils instead. I have done almost all my LFTs this way and one of my PCRs. Was told this by GP and hospital consultant.

@RafaIsTheKingOfClay

It’s interesting that the answer to poor working conditions and low levels of sick pay in the U.K. during this pandemic has never been to sort those out, but just pretend covid doesn’t exist.

Oh yes this!

My view is that household contacts should isolate still as with Delta they are very likely to get it and transmit it, which doesn't seem ideal.

If 2 x PCR tests were legally mandated I could see that being OK.

But just to recommend one PCR seems to be pointless.

We await September with interest...

Ds 13 has had it, 4 weeks later, 18 year old had it. Assuming delta variant - 3 other household members, 1 fully vaccinated, I double but not full 3 weeks and the unvaccinated 15yo not had it or at least not with symptoms. Weren’t even careful about isolating positive case other than ensuring ventilation. So not floored at all.

@Abraxan

gardeninggirl68 Op.... maybe your family don't react well to even mild illnesses. Hence your 'floored' comment

We aren't ALL like that. Many people experience mild to zero symptoms. 
No.

*I have found during the last 18 months that peoples definitions of floored is very very varied.

I live with severe, life limiting chronic illnesses and most people's descriptions I've read of 'floored from covid" would be a bloody brilliant day for me.

So sorry no, when the rules are relaxed then I won't be following rules that aren't there. I have enough limitations of my life already and I think some people need to get a bit of a grip.*

I find these kind of comments quite unfair.
The OP doesn't have to be 'weak' or similar to be knocked for six just because covid floored her.

I have a chronic health condition. I have pain in some form most days. Sometimes it's really bad.

I caught covid and yes, it floored me. It put me in hospital.
And I felt pretty rubbish - in a totally different way to what my health condition makes me feel like.

Why do people try to play down how poorly covid can make some people?
Yes, for many it has little to no symptoms, but for plenty they are left feeling rubbish.

We’re you vaccinated at the time?

There’s no doubt the range is huge. From nothing to death. And hospitalisation in between.

But vaccination will reduce likelihood of the worst for majority. This really does change the situation.