Do I really have to self-isolate for the full 10 days?

[LakieLady]

I went out shopping with my (vaccinated) niece yesterday, today she got pinged by track and trace and has tested positive.

The govt website says I should self-isolate for 10 days. This couldn't have happened at a worse time, the plumber has just started fitting a new bathroom and has hacked off all the tiles, so bath and shower aren't usable!

There's no leeway on the 10 days, is there? I'm fully vaxxed and boostered, but I realise I could still transmit the virus.

So pissed off ...

@DSGR

Hang on, if your niece is a contact of somebody else you don’t isolate. If she has Covid, you need a PCR test and if it’s negative, you’re free. If she had a omicron you’d need to isolate

She's ordered a PCR and it should arrive tomorrow, but then it'll be a couple more days before she gets a result.

I don't have symptoms, so according to the guidance don't need a PCR unless I have a positive LFT. If I had got it, would an LFT show a positive only 24 hours later?

I guess the responsible thing to do would be to isolate until she gets her PCR results in case it's Omicron (or until we know that the person she was in contact with has Omicron).

So even if she confirms a positive with a PCR you don't have to isolate unless the NHS, not the app, tell you to.

And back to your original questions, yes it’s 10 days and no there isn’t any leeway.

Literally all of the guidance I can find says the same thing. You must isolate UNLESS:
You are under 18
You have had 2 vaccinations

The PCR recommendation is just advise and not legal duty. You could just LTF every day for a bit and go about your business (unless you develop symptoms or are alerted that she has omicoron).

In your shoes I’d probably LFT every day for 5 days and try and stay away from people in a close setting.

I would ignore this pinging. It wasnt even you who was pinged. But if shes tested positive thats a different story altogether.

@Georgyporky

Delete the T&T app - like a large number of people have already.

That's is a) irresponsible B) completely irrelevant in this case as it has nothing to do with the app.

There's a lot of misinformation on this thread. People need to update their information before making incorrect statements.

That's is a) irresponsible

No it isn't.

[quote Unsure33]It has been updated on the government website . Even for the new variant .

www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-and-trace-how-it-works?priority-taxon=774cee22-d896-44c1-a611-e3109cce8eae[/quote]
It's really confusing. I can't recall the exact search terms I used, but it was something along the lines of "do I have to self-isolate". That page (an NHS page) made no mention of different rules for people living together v living separately, or of Omicron.

@DSGR

Hang on, if your niece is a contact of somebody else you don’t isolate. If she has Covid, you need a PCR test and if it’s negative, you’re free. If she had a omicron you’d need to isolate

Thanks, I've ordered a PCR test. Niece is trying to find out if her contact has Omicron. If they don't, then I'll feel ok about going out.

I'd rather err on the side of caution!

If you're vaxxed you don't have to isolate as long as you have a negative PCR.

You do need a PCR as you are a close contact of a positive case...

Test & trace assume you haven't been vaccinated unttil you tell them you have. The same happened when we got a text after being on the flight in the summer, it's not until you get through all their questions that it say you don't have to isolate.
(But yes, if it's the omicrom variant you have to isolate, or if you are in Scotland)

Even if she tests positive you don't need to isolate, unless you're contacted over concern that it's the new variant, which won't happen for at least a couple of days.

However, if I had someone working in my house, I'd start wearing a mask as well as trying to distance when talking to them (just tell them you've decided to be careful if you don't want to put them off working). Also, you could keep bathroom and one or two other windows open, as well as cleaning surfaces you might both touch, ie bannisters/light sockets/toilet surfaces if you're using while bathroom is being refitted.

We're already doing all of that, @ifonly4 - it's freezing because of all the open windows, we don't enter the same room unless we're both masked and every surface has been anti-bacced to within an inch of its life!

That's is a) irresponsible

It might be if the app was fit for purpose but, as it's shit, it really isn't irresponsible

No op you don’t isolate
Unless you test positive
Your not double vaccinated
You’ve been contacted by track and trace it’s the new variant

It's easy enough to avoid this kind of worry and confusion - delete the app.

Look how much upheaval and damage it caused over the summer

I was in a similar ish position with the builder a couple of weeks ago. My DP tested positive, so I told the builder this and asked if he preferred to work elsewhere and come back to mine once it was clear I didn't have Covid (I'd had it already in September). I did have a non covid cold though

Builder decided yes he'd rather work elsewhere and he came back a week later.

If you saw her yesterday and caught it off her, it is recommended you get a PCR between 3-5 days after exposure. Too early is pointless. So LFT every day for about a week and then get a PCR if you have symptoms or your LFT is positive.