Would you have these people over to visit??

[Rainbowabacus1]

MIL developed cold symptoms last Thursday. She did a PCR which was positive but results didn’t come back till Sunday so that’s when she started isolating from FIL. Test and trace have told him he doesn’t need a PCR, just needs to do daily lateral flows. Is this new? (He’s been a very close contact!)

They have told her she can test on days 6 and 7 and if her LFTS are negative she can go about things as normal.

They’re meant to be coming to us Saturday but I’m not comfortable. They wouldn’t forgive us if we cancelled as they don’t see any risk! 🥺

AIBU? am I worrying over nothing? If they do come, windows will be open all day and I’ll probably be in a mask (CEV) although my OH and the dc won’t.

I wouldn’t care but why would you have people to visit when it will just cause anxiety. They are ridiculous if they can’t understand that not everyone is as chilled out as them.

Yes the new rules are that as long as LFT come back negative on days 6 and 7 you no longer need to isolate. The change in rules is based on scientific research so it will be safe for them to visit.

I’m positive right now, my partner and our little boy are both symptom free and negative and they don’t have to isolate. My partner only doesn’t have to as he’s double jabbed. They’re both going out for walks etc and seeing people who are happy to see them. It’s weird but it’s good for us as toddler would be bouncing off the walls.

The new test on day 6 and 7 process is meant to be no more risk than the old 10 day process, I plan to do that this week as we missed Xmas and I want to see my family at new year hopefully but if I anyone was uncomfortable with it I would obviously happily cancel.

In your situation providing they’re both testing negative then I’d happily have them over. She’s probably going to be safer now (following negative tests) than ever as she’s been isolating and has antibodies.

Yes I would have them as long as their tests were negative.

The guidance is if you do leave isolation on day 7 you are strongly advised to limit close contact indoors. I wouldn't really want people round at than point. I am on day 8 and still testing positive at the moment but if I had been able to leave isolation yesterday I had already cancelled a visit to friends where we would have been in their home as I didn't want to risk passing it to them.

I did a lateral flow on my eldest two days after his positive pcr and it was completely negative so I wouldn't trust lateral flows. I'm surprised they said FIL doesnt need a pcr though. Our entire household had to have one and also his grandparents and cousins who he had a sleepover with two days before his positive test. We're in northern Ireland though.

As you are CEV then it's totally your call, i think you have every right to be cautious... we forget the initial isolation period was 14 days and the reason its gone lower is that the majority of people won't , in practise, still be as infectious...but this wont be the same for everyone with COVID. For someone like me I would have no worries as am happy to accept the risks that come with normal everyday life but I know CEV encompasses such a wide variety of illnesses that only the person themselves can really decide on the risk. Most CEV will have to accept they will encounter Covid at some point (and perhaps the best time to encounter it is within a certain time frame after a recent booster ) but you don't need to put yourselves in this particular situation if you don't want to.

If you are CEV I wouldn't risk it. As others have said, although you are allowed to end isolation of -ve on days 6 & 7, you are still advised to avoid crowded places and vulnerable people.

Guidance has changed in terms of close contacts and testing. They no longer book a PCR and do LFT for 7 days instead.

In terms of them coming over, as a PP says the guidance does say even if you test negative and can leave isolation after 7 days, you should still limit contact indoors. Ie exercise caution.

No, I wouldn't. FIL will be infectious for 48 hours before symptoms/testing positive, therefore entirely possible that he could have a negative lat flow on the day he visits you, test positive the next day and have passed it all on to you in the meantime. And when the rules were changed from 10 days isolation to 7 days it was very carefully worded - it said something like "isolating for 7 days was "nearly as effective" as isolating for 10 days" - which to me means that it's not as effective (even if not far off).

Disclaimer: I'm very risk averse.

But why take the risk with a known positive and a very close contact?!

I would but I’m not CEV. I’m currently at my in-laws & we arrived for Christmas they day the positive among them came out of isolation (day 8). But I’ve had covid twice & im not worried about catching it again nor my kids etc.

However, my mum who is CEV kept her distance from me for about 3 weeks after I tested positive. And fair enough! It’s your house & I’d hope your husband & in-laws would be understanding!

www.gov.uk/government/news/self-isolation-for-covid-19-cases-reduced-from-10-to-7-days-following-negative-lfd-tests

"Those who leave self-isolation on or after day 7 are strongly advised to limit close contact with other people in crowded or poorly ventilated spaces, work from home and minimise contact with anyone who is at higher risk of severe illness if infected with COVID- 19."

This does not say go about things as normal.

The guidance says analysis "suggests" this system has "nearly" the same effect as ten days SI. I think it is reasonable to keep the country running and reduce the harm done from extended SI. But they should be minimising contact with you, until after day ten.

If MIL took her PCR on Thursday she'll be on day 10 by Saturday, so I'd be fine with that. And if FIL has been in close contact with her since then and has been testing every day and never had a positive I'd be comfortable with that too. But I'm not CEV so you need to make your own decision.

He will probably get a positive LFT and trip will be cancelled. I understand your concern.

I wouldn't. I don't understand why your PIL wasn't told to get a PCR. All the advice we've been given is close contacts need to do a PCR.

I would ask FIL to do a PCR since you’re CEV

I'd just put it off until next weekend - same as I would if they were at the tail-end of flu or noro. No point getting ill or worrying for a week for the sake of a coffee. Surely they will understand that.

I would, but I'm not CEV. I'm not sure I'd risk it if I was. I'd be more worried FIL would be harbouring it than MIL.

Can you meet up outside for a walk? That's what I've been doing with my parents (who aren't CEV but don't want to risk their flights to Australia! 🤣)

@ShinyHappyPoster

I wouldn't. I don't understand why your PIL wasn't told to get a PCR. All the advice we've been given is close contacts need to do a PCR.

Official advice changed very recently. A pcr as a close contact has been replaced by 7 consecutive lateral flow tests