Why they relaxing the rules on isolation and under 5's when cases increasing?

[OriginalM]

It doesn't make sense when they say they are trying to avoid lockdown but won't hesitate to bring more restrictions in and basically saying we are screwed but then change the rules overnight about the isolation cut to 7 days and the under 5's don't have to isolate.

[quote MrsFrisbyMouse]@herecomesthsun.

Why is that interesting? Genuinely interested. It just seems like a sensible precaution to take?[/quote]
Interesting as I wondered how they arrived at the double testing on days 6 and 7 plan.

Your suggestion of picking up outliers makes sense.

The NERVTAG info appears to have originated in April 2020 and then to be updated in November, so presumably doesn't cover Omicron.

@herecomesthsun

The NERVTAG info appears to have originated in April 2020 and then to be updated in November, so presumably doesn't cover Omicron.

What's nervetag?

New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group

@herecomesthsun. The vaccination status plays a really big role in all of this. If you are vaccinated, your immune system can mount a response to neutralise the virus much quicker. Meaning you are less likely to pass the virus on quicker. Yes. There is no data yet on transmission rates post 7 days for Omicron - but there is no real reason why it should be greatly different - and given extra security of the vaccination programme.

As mentioned any threat to CEV isn't in releasing vacxinated people at 7 days from isolation, it is in those people who are contagious but don't yet know it. Hence Hence 7 days of lateral flow testing for close contacts.

I get where you're coming from, there is no absolute certainly here- but I am reassured our current understanding of the science.

@herecomesthsun

New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group

Thanks are they like the experts? Like WHO but more specificalised?

@Iggly

The cynic in me says it’s so that people can have Christmas. Maybe someone in the cabinet is currently isolating 😂

Hahaha @Iggly my first thought was one of boris kids has got Covid and he doesn't want the rules spoiling his Christmas

They are some of the experts

www.gov.uk/government/groups/new-and-emerging-respiratory-virus-threats-advisory-group#membership

@MrsFrisbyMouse

I guess with omicron it is so much more infectious, it makes me think, could it not be significantly infectious even after 7 days.

I can see they want to keep things running and I imagine there is an element of educated extrapolation going on.

Mind you, if data was available in April 2020, which was not all that long after the covid epidemic started, then we will have information on omicron pretty soon.

Hahaha @Iggly my first thought was one of boris kids has got Covid and he doesn't want the rules spoiling his Christmas

Boris has made it perfectly clear he doesn’t care about the rules!

@Blubells

In Holland you can come out after 5 days if symptom free, because if you are symptom free, then you are not infectious.

Really?

Makes sense but for that to work in the UK, the government will have to update what the symptoms actually are. People are still looking for fever etc and ignoring more common cold type symptoms.

Re. The under 5s - I suspect they made the same assessment that Wales did a while back, which is that making this age group regularly test or isolate causes more harm than good. All of the rules are designed to reduce transmission, no-one expects to stop it completely. So an exemption like this will be deemed as reasonable because the amount of extra transmission that will result is an acceptable burden, when weighed against the harm caused by regular testing of this age group (and if you don't want them subject to regular testing, you can't expect them all to self-isolate every time they're a close contact, so logically they have to be exempted from both)

@Etherealhedgehog

Re. The under 5s - I suspect they made the same assessment that Wales did a while back, which is that making this age group regularly test or isolate causes more harm than good. All of the rules are designed to reduce transmission, no-one expects to stop it completely. So an exemption like this will be deemed as reasonable because the amount of extra transmission that will result is an acceptable burden, when weighed against the harm caused by regular testing of this age group (and if you don't want them subject to regular testing, you can't expect them all to self-isolate every time they're a close contact, so logically they have to be exempted from both)

Understand the logic, just haven’t seen it reported anywhere, so wondering where the OP got it from.

Let me get this right? I work in a nursery, so if one of our kids has Covid they can just come in and spread it to all the other kids and staff???

www.gov.uk/government/publications/what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges-during-the-coronavirus-covid-19-outbreak/step-4-update-what-parents-and-carers-need-to-know-about-early-years-providers-schools-and-colleges

The under 5s thing is just that they don't need to daily test or isolate if they are a close contact. It's detailed in the above link in the section titled "tracing close contacts and isolation"

@Iggly
The cynic in me says it’s so that people can have Christmas. Maybe someone in the cabinet is currently isolating 😂
That was my comment as well last night! 🤣

@MissyB1

Let me get this right? I work in a nursery, so if one of our kids has Covid they can just come in and spread it to all the other kids and staff???

That is currently the case in wales and has been for a while. There is nothing to suggest that it is going to become the case in England.

@MissyB1

Let me get this right? I work in a nursery, so if one of our kids has Covid they can just come in and spread it to all the other kids and staff???

This sounds utterly horrendous. I'll consider pulling my child out rather than send them to almost certainly catch covid.

This sounds utterly horrendous. I'll consider pulling my child out rather than send them to almost certainly catch covid

Good job it’s not happening!!

@MissyB1

Let me get this right? I work in a nursery, so if one of our kids has Covid they can just come in and spread it to all the other kids and staff???

No. If they test positive on a PCR then they still have to isolate. They just don't have to isolate or do daily LFTs if they are a close contact.

[quote LadyPenelope68]@Iggly
The cynic in me says it’s so that people can have Christmas. Maybe someone in the cabinet is currently isolating 😂
That was my comment as well last night! 🤣[/quote]
😂😂

Children with COVID is very seldom a big deal. I wouldn’t be torturing my toddlers with bloody LFT tests. This is not their problem!

@Mybalconyiscracking

Children with COVID is very seldom a big deal. I wouldn’t be torturing my toddlers with bloody LFT tests. This is not their problem!

It’s not those children I’m worried about, it’s them spreading Covid to others including staff. We’ve had 3 of the two year olds in our class (school nursery) with Covid in the last two weeks.

Yep, still need to isolate if they are confirmed positive but no need to test or isolate if they are a close contact. I hadn't seen it reported but we found out because there was a case at DD's nursery and we were told we didn't need to automatically test or isolate DD

Does “close contact” include family members? So if the child’s parent or sibling tested positive the child could still go to nursery I presume?