Is isolation counterproductive?

[Hazelnutbean]

At what point does isolation for ten days become counterproductive? I appreciate it's too early to tell for sure - though the data looks encouraging - if Omicron is mild, and if it is no more dangerous for those whose are vaccinated and boosted than the flu (which I accept is dangerous for some people), then shouldn't we act as in the same way as it was the flu?

If this js the case, the fact that it may still be more dangerous to the unvaccinated shouldn't be a relevant factor in decision making and how we behave as a society. The unvaccinated cannot reasonably hold the country to ransom.

Given the biggest known threat of omicron at the moment is its transmissibility, regardless of the hospital admissions, I don’t thing getting rid of one of the few things we have in place to slow down the rate of infection would be very productive at all.

Yes it cannot continue indefinitely-people doing asymptomatic tests and isolating when they are otherwise well enough to work. That’s why essential services could be affected, not cos people are too ill to work but because their employer demands regular asymptomatic LFTs and if you throw enough darts at the dartboard..

Ordinarily, the flu would take you out of action (I had it in ‘99 and have never forgotten it). But for most people, Covid won’t take them out of action for long.

I agree. People who recover from covid before the end of the 10 day period are very unlikely to be infectious in my amateur opinion. But will still in many cases lose income, cause stress for their colleagues, be stressed themselves.

@Siameasy

Yes it cannot continue indefinitely-people doing asymptomatic tests and isolating when they are otherwise well enough to work. That’s why essential services could be affected, not cos people are too ill to work but because their employer demands regular asymptomatic LFTs and if you throw enough darts at the dartboard..

Ordinarily, the flu would take you out of action (I had it in ‘99 and have never forgotten it). But for most people, Covid won’t take them out of action for long.

I agree though apparently many millions get the flu in a normal year, but because we don't test in the same way we do for Covid, asymptomatic are completely unrecognised and mild cases are just seen as a bug. Sometimes flu can really lay you low, a bit like Covid can.... Is Covid really much different now, at least for the vaccinated?

Look another thread Questioning isolation, they’re out in force today.

@InCahootswithOrwell

Given the biggest known threat of omicron at the moment is its transmissibility, regardless of the hospital admissions, I don’t thing getting rid of one of the few things we have in place to slow down the rate of infection would be very productive at all.

Based on what I've read, I'm thinking people are only ill enough not to work for about 10-20% (on average, everyone will be different) of the time they are isolating. Huge lack of productivity!

@Thewiseoneincognito

Look another thread Questioning isolation, they’re out in force today.

And what's wrong with questioning it? We shouldn't unquestionably support all restrictions. I can be convinced either way, but I'm not likely to be convinced by someone who challenges my right to even question - it often means they have poor arguments!

Yep never stop questioning, discussing and learning.
We don’t all need to be passive entities submitting to every control without questioning.