Rules for isolation -covid case at work

[ihavenoidea20]

Hi all.
I have read the rules many times but it seems to keep changing and can never keep up with it.

I was at work on Friday, colleague came in explaining how she was 'full of cold and can't stop sneezing'. She then went on to say she had loads of family over for christmas, some from London who have almost all tested positive for covid since she had them over. Immediately I'm wondering why she's in work. She is fully vaccinated but am i right (correct me if im wrong!) in thinking that regardless of vaccination status, if you are showing symptoms after close contact with a covid case you should be getting pcr and isolating?

The next day she still comes in and tells us that one of her grand kids is at her house at the moment with covid. She also starts coughing whilst at work and I tell her she needs a pcr. She informed my manager of the close contact and my manager told her all she needs to do is take daily lateral flows as a precaution. I argued against this and said i thought she should be getting a pcr as she has symptoms. I was told to basically mind my own business, stop causing a panic etc as it's probably a cold.

Said colleague tested positive yesterday. I am unvaccinated, I had to spend friday and saturday in close contact with this colleague despite feeling uncomfortable. She kept pulling her mask down and talking. Manager has just told me all I need to do is take daily lateral flows. I always thought being unvaccinated i had to isolate for 10 days? I have no idea what i'm meant to be doing and don't want to put anyone at risk. Currently have no symptoms. Anytime I question my manager she gets really defensive so don't really want to keep messaging her.

Anyone know?
thanks.

That’s not correct. You don’t need to follow up a positive LFT with a PCR (in England). You should begin isolating, initially for 5 days and then yes you can come out of isolation on day 7 if you have had the two clear tests. If you don’t get two clear tests you have to carry on isolating.

She should have isolated and got a PCR as she had symptoms. According the the rules, the fact she'd had close contact doesn't make any difference to what she should do (but common sense would suggest belong a bit more careful/ proactive about testing if you know you're a close contact.)

You only have to isolate as a contact if T&T tell you to.

I'm bemused by people suggesting that the unvaccinated are all desperate to be named as contacts so they can have time off. Isolating is no fun at all and many people lose money. Also it's an open secret that the rule about unvaccinated close contacts is there in order to punish the unvaccinated.

As for what companies will do in the future - isolation is rumoured to end in March so presumably they won't do anything.

What about this scenario- child one gets a positive test as isolates. So the parent isolates with them. Then child two gets it- same thing. Then the parent gets a positive test results. That parent could be isolated for three weeks plus.
Especially if it’s a single parent. Or the other parent wouldn’t get sick pay.
Surely people wont bother testing themselves if they don’t get paid?
How long can employers allow people to isolate?
Not everyone can work from home either.
How long can this can on for? The isolation period I mean? Can’t see it being permanently anyway. I think people will either not test or ignore the result and carry on.

Your colleague should've got a PCR when she was symptomatic, it was selfish not to. Equally, I think it's pretty selfish of the unvaccinated to rely on the majority of the population vaccinating themselves.I don't include those who can't vaccinate for medical reasons in this.

You enjoy the freedoms a highly vaccinated population affords, but haven't done your bit. Have you asked your GP for help confronting your vaccine fears?

So I think you are both being unreasonable.