Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Mum visiting covid+ sister

44 replies

User72614955 · 13/12/2021 19:37

Hi all,

My sister has just tested positive for covid but says she has been coughing for a week. Previous tests were negative then today she has had a strong positive and feeling rough. My mum and other sister are due to visit her at the weekend and have already paid for their trains and winter wonderland so have said they will still go and she's going to isolate 5 days from today. I am just concerned as meant to be seeing them for Christmas and if they catch covid now they will likely be positive around Christmas. AIBU for thinking this shouldn't be going ahead?

OP posts:

BBCONEANDTWO · 13/12/2021 19:39

I thought she would have to isolate ON HER OWN not have visitors - has she had a PCR test to confirm. It's a difficult one because she might have had the 10 days self isolation completed but it really does depend when her symptoms started. Maybe they should wear masks when they visit?

SayAaa · 13/12/2021 19:41

That does sound crazy but there is not much you can do about it

NeedsCharging · 13/12/2021 19:41

They could catch Covid from someone on the train or at the venue or the person that is serving their coffee/lunch?
I assume your sister isn't leaving the house so if they are staying with her can she not isolate in her room while they are there?

BluebellsGreenbells · 13/12/2021 19:44

I assume she’s been doing LFT rather than a PCR? LFT are to catch asymptomatic cases. All symptomatic cases need a PCR test

Your sister has been irresponsible.

Original poster

User72614955 · 13/12/2021 19:47

@NeedsCharging

They could catch Covid from someone on the train or at the venue or the person that is serving their coffee/lunch? I assume your sister isn't leaving the house so if they are staying with her can she not isolate in her room while they are there?

They are visiting her specifically and all going out for the day together, first visiting her at her flat and then going to winter wonderland. It's a day trip.

OP posts:

Original poster

User72614955 · 13/12/2021 19:48

She will be leaving the house with them on the day to go out with them on the tubes and to winter wonderland and for dinner

OP posts:

NeedsCharging · 13/12/2021 19:49

Your sister shouldn't be leaving the house if she has Covid.
If its only a day trip your mum and non covid sister can obviously still go they just don't need to visit your sisters flat.

Original poster

User72614955 · 13/12/2021 19:52

@NeedsCharging

Your sister shouldn't be leaving the house if she has Covid. If its only a day trip your mum and non covid sister can obviously still go they just don't need to visit your sisters flat.

They are specifically going to see and be with my sister they won't go and not see her. Their plan is to visit her and then the 3 of them spend the day together out and about in London. She will stop isolating to go out with them on Saturday.

OP posts:

NeedsCharging · 13/12/2021 19:56

If I were you I would tell my sister she is being irresponsible. I would tell mum and other sister they are also being irresponsible for encouraging it. I would then tell them I will not be seeing them over Christmas.
You will need to decide yourself what if anything you say or do.
Your family sound like idiots by the way

EmmaOvary · 13/12/2021 20:02

This is insane. Her cough while testing negative may have been nothing to do with Covid, so her isolation effectively should start from her positive test. Can't believe she thinks it's ok to travel on public transport à d go to crowded places. People are just making up their own rules as they go along to suit themselves. It's not convenient to isolate, I have just done 10 days of it and I had to cancel loads of stuff I really wanted to do. But, guess what? It's a bloody pandemic, suck it up.

Roundeartheratchriatmas · 13/12/2021 20:34

Wow. That is disgusting and irresponsible. At the very least I wouldn’t be seeing them for Christmas no.

Imagine how many people she might infect. Would she care if someone died because of her selfishness ?

I’d be tempted to tell them I’d report them - not so sure as I’d actually do it but no harm them thinking their might get picked up for it.

nancy75 · 13/12/2021 20:41

I’m sorry, your sister is disgusting. Yes there could be people on the tube spreading it without knowing, but to knowingly go out, on the tube and to a packed winter wonderland spreading it about is unbelievable.

Thefuturestory · 13/12/2021 20:43

Interesting story

Original poster

User72614955 · 13/12/2021 20:43

Her reasoning is she thinks her symptoms started around 7 days ago so another 5 days would mean 12 days since symptoms started, but it would only be 5 days since a positive test. I really don't want to see them over Xmas but older sister visiting with mum is supposed to be having a Boxing Day party. Just feel really stressed and annoyed.

OP posts:

Covidworries · 13/12/2021 21:05

No she cant go out, holly crap some people really are something.
If i heard of a friend or family doing this i would not be seeing them or anyone they have seen during a time they should be isolating. How is everyone going ro feel if one of them ends up needing hospital care.

Madmog · 13/12/2021 21:17

Isn't it illegal to leave home for ten days after testing positive?

Fl0w3ry · 13/12/2021 21:19

I would tell them you aren’t prepared to see them at Christmas if they go ahead with their plans. Their fun day out could result in tragedy for another family if they spread it to them. It’s totally selfish.

Original poster

User72614955 · 13/12/2021 22:30

NHS guidance states: How long you need to self-isolate
If you test positive, your self-isolation period includes the day your symptoms started (or the day you had the test, if you do not have symptoms) and the next 10 full days.
If you get symptoms while you're self-isolating, the 10 days restarts from the day after your symptoms started.

But I just feel like even if it's more than 10 days since her symptoms started, will she not still be infectious after a positive test only 5 days before?

OP posts:

Figgygal · 13/12/2021 22:36

What a fucking ridiculous thing to be planning

CorsicaDreaming · 14/12/2021 04:38

@User72614955

It is ten days from the positive test.

Not ten days from a random date your sister has picked to fit in with her social life.

She is being hugely irresponsible, especially if she's still coughing and clearly ill, and it's entirely unfair on anyone else she infects on the tube etc. Your other sister and mum aren't much better.

I sometimes think I'm over cautious. Then I read frankly bonkers irresponsible things like this and think nope I'm having (yet another bloody night) staying in

ShottaSheriff · 14/12/2021 04:53

If your sister genuinely knows when her symptoms started (rather than massaging the truth for convenience to allowed to go out) then her interpretation is correct. It’s 10 full days from the start of symptoms that is the isolation period. It’s only from the day of the test if you’ve tested with no symptoms.

I’ve known quite a few people with Covid in the last few weeks and I admit that it makes me feel nervous seeing them on day 11 of having Covid, as it does feel quite possible that they might be infectious but the rules allow people back to mixing then, so the risk assessment is yours to make at that point. As more and more people get covid, we have to accept that they can’t be hiding away forever and it isn’t wrong to follow the guidance and then get back to normal.

Mooscow · 14/12/2021 05:02

Why didn't she get a PCR?

PhilCornwall1 · 14/12/2021 05:44

I’d be tempted to tell them I’d report them - not so sure as I’d actually do it but no harm them thinking their might get picked up for it.

Report for what though? If they haven't had a positive PCR test, technically what law are they breaking.

TheReluctantPhoenix · 14/12/2021 05:55

Your sister is actually right, assuming she is being honest about when symptoms started.

‘If you test positive, your self-isolation period includes the day your symptoms started (or the day you had the test, if you do not have symptoms) and the next 10 full days.’

The above is from the NHS official advice.

MerryMarigold · 14/12/2021 05:56

If lateral flows are to pick up asymptomatic cases, they aren't doing a good job. I believe most evidence is that PCR pick up cases earlier and LFT not until you are showing symptoms.

It is 10 days from symptoms start not from positive result. I was told this by Track and Trace.

Flip

1 2