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Original poster

Now mandatory isolation has ended, will you isolate if you know you're positive?

161 replies

CIaireFraser · 24/02/2022 18:49

Yes or no?

For myself, yes (I'm CEV so will qualify for free symptomatic testing). While I have LFTs left I'd also stay home for a few days if asymptomatic and positive, and reschedule any appointments/outings etc.

Absolutely no judgement from me whatever you choose, I'm just curious!

OP posts:
Piggy42 · 25/02/2022 08:34

Tests

TimBoothseyes · 25/02/2022 08:59

@merrymelodies

I can't believe how selfish some people are. Sad
I know, not worrying about others being paid and maybe losing their jobs if they don't go in to work, how selfish can some people be? That is what you meant wasn't it? You weren't calling people on low incomes that are struggling to make ends meet selfish were you?
BurningTheClocks · 25/02/2022 09:19

It’s hard for the comfortably well off to understand that if I don’t work for a week, I don’t get paid and there’s no government fund to top up my bills and mortgage.
No work=No money.
Yet many are still shrieking and squealing about selfishness, and acting as if we are wilful Typhoid Marys, spreading a plague. It’s like flu for most of us, and many even don’t know they have it.

Snailhaterz2 · 25/02/2022 09:21

Yes, but then I'm lucky enough to work from home. I'm also planning to continue with LFTs before meeting vulnerable friends/family and before going on holiday, and will suck up the cost of doing so when free ones are no longer available. But, again, I'm lucky - with it just being me the cost won't be too high. I don't think I'm in a position to criticise anyone who makes different decisions.

LyricalBlowToTheJaw · 25/02/2022 09:31

It’s hard for the comfortably well off to understand that if I don’t work for a week, I don’t get paid and there’s no government fund to top up my bills and mortgage.

Some people seem to put a lot of effort into not understanding this.

TheKeatingFive · 25/02/2022 09:35

If I'm ill yes. But I won't be testing regularly. Same as any other illness really.

LyricalBlowToTheJaw · 25/02/2022 09:54

Yeah I think threads like this don't really factor in that most people aren't actually going to know soon enough. It's all very well talking about guidance, but unless that guidance is also accompanied by free test access, it doesn't mean much.

Yoyokitten · 25/02/2022 10:10

Yes definately, why wouldn't you? I would hate anyone to feel like this.I have Covid at the moment.
I tested positive last week, and felt really rough for a few days..Technically I could go out today but won't.
The worst thing is loss of smell now though

GirlInACountrySong · 25/02/2022 10:12

@Yoyokitten

Yes definately, why wouldn't you? I would hate anyone to feel like this.I have Covid at the moment. I tested positive last week, and felt really rough for a few days..Technically I could go out today but won't. The worst thing is loss of smell now though

Wow.... have you not read the thread?? 'Why wouldn't you'?

Take guess

Yoyokitten · 25/02/2022 10:19

Sorry, I should add, I'm lucky that I'm retired so can stay at home.
No need to be so snarky though. I haven't read the full thread!!

Madmog · 25/02/2022 10:20

I've just had it and wasn't well enough to work, so I'd probably have to stay at home anyway. Even in day 11, I was sneezing and having to blow no nose so often, I wouldn't have been able to wear a mask to protect others, so wouldn't have been popular with colleagues and customers.

icybliss · 25/02/2022 10:30

I won't test unless it is was so severe I needed medical attention, but in that case I wouldn't be in a state to go out and about. Otherwise I'd just be continuing with my normal routines.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 25/02/2022 11:17

@Yoyokitten

Sorry, I should add, I'm lucky that I'm retired so can stay at home. No need to be so snarky though. I haven't read the full thread!!
Surely it's not hard to figure out that some people need to work even without reading the thread.
TenoringBehind · 25/02/2022 11:50

Yes even i asymptomatic with one exception: I would take and collect the dc’s from school (car, I wouldn’t get out, secondary age).

EducatingArti · 25/02/2022 11:52

Yes I am isolating. Just tested positive this morning. Self employed so will lose next week's much needed income but I can't in all conscience go and see clients knowing that I am positive.
Will also stay away from friends because ditto.
I might go out to a shop masked up if it was absolutely critical and an emergency but I have friends who have offered to do a shop for me and nothing critical I need.

No symptoms other than a mild headache which I would have totally put down to having a stressful week if I hadn't tested positive.

EducatingArti · 25/02/2022 11:55

@BurningTheClocks

It’s hard for the comfortably well off to understand that if I don’t work for a week, I don’t get paid and there’s no government fund to top up my bills and mortgage. No work=No money. Yet many are still shrieking and squealing about selfishness, and acting as if we are wilful Typhoid Marys, spreading a plague. It’s like flu for most of us, and many even don’t know they have it.
I do understand as I am in that situation and isolating right now I have discovered that I can get ESA (only £75 but better than nothing). If you have under a certain amount of savings then there are other things that you can get also. Are you not bothered about giving Covid to clients/customers/colleagues?
Wannabangbang · 25/02/2022 12:05

Yes as I'm not selfish. Currently i have it and haven't felt this ill for a very long time. Wouldn't want to purposely spread this to joe bloggs let alone an immunosuppressive person. Government has lost the plot

BuddhaForMary · 25/02/2022 12:07

If it's selfish to want to feed my kids and warm our home then so be it. I'm printing up SELFISH WANKER slogan t-shirts if anyone wants one?

The fact is the government knew when they removed free testing that a vast swathe of the population wouldn't be able to afford to test. They also knew when they removed the £500 isolation payment that the same vast swathe of the population wouldn't be able to afford to isolate. So testing and isolating is only for the more well off. What a surprise. One more class divide.

Wannabangbang · 25/02/2022 12:11

I completely agree there previous poster people that have no choice are not selfish. People that need to provide and cannot due to companies not providing pay or gov not providing £500 are not selfish but those that have a choice are.

Boosterquery · 25/02/2022 12:17

For those in the "Can't afford to self-isolate if I don't have to" camp, it would be interesting if you would post whether you plan to take any steps to avoid passing Covid to others, eg avoiding meeting indoors in non-work situations, wearing a mask if using public transport to get to work etc.

BuddhaForMary · 25/02/2022 12:24

@Boosterquery if we can't afford to test we won't know if we have it, will we. Can't isolate for every sniffle! If any of us are properly unwell then obviously we'll stay at home. But that's no different to what we did before covid 🤷🏻‍♀️

Waxonwaxoff0 · 25/02/2022 12:25

@Boosterquery

For those in the "Can't afford to self-isolate if I don't have to" camp, it would be interesting if you would post whether you plan to take any steps to avoid passing Covid to others, eg avoiding meeting indoors in non-work situations, wearing a mask if using public transport to get to work etc.
I would avoid socialising, yes. Don't use public transport to get to work.
Myalternate · 25/02/2022 12:33

Tests are still free and will continue to be for the next 5 weeks.

Take advantage of them whilst they're still freely available. Nothing has really changed other than panic that in the future it's going to cost.

If you have reason to believe you may have Covid symptoms, use common sense and avoid situations that may be detrimental to others.
For those that for financial reasons can't isolate or avoid work, take whatever precautions you deem necessary. Testing positive whether you've had to pay for that test or not, won't make a blind bit of difference.

BuddhaForMary · 25/02/2022 12:36

There has been no LFT stock in the chemists around us for weeks now. People have been stocking up on them it seems. Now THAT is selfish.

changingstages · 25/02/2022 12:43

yes, definitely - but, as many others have said, I can WFH and if I was ill, I'd be paid sick pay by my employer. For now, testing is still free, so those of you talking about paying for tests - that is not the situation now, still a month to go before it is.

I've been in situations almost my whole life, though, where the loss of pay would have been catastrophic and I would not have been able to afford tests, so I am very, very sympathetic to those who have to make that decision and totally understand why they'd just go to work. I think the sick pay system in this country is absolutely shocking and I'm outraged that they've changed it back to no SSP until off for 3 days. They've essentially made it impossible for a huge section of the population to isolate even if they want to, and I find that very upsetting.

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