If I am isolating, can I go to the kitchen when no one is around?

[loveyouradvice]

I tested positive yesterday, and am isolating in a bedroom/bathroom - DH has moved to study. We have a vulnerable DD.

So..... If they're asleep, is there any reason why I shouldn't pop into the kitchen and make myself some scrambled eggs?? We can't catch Covid from surfaces, so so long as they don't go into the kitchen for, what, 15 minutes? 30 minutes? presumably it doesn't create a risk of them catching Covid?

Of course you can.

You don’t need to ask what you can and can’t do in your home surely.

She's talking about keeping her DD safe. You sound very, erm, ideological.

Do you suffer with anxiety? Honestly, just behave as you normally would - even with a vulnerable daughter. Of course don't deliberately breathe all over her but just be as you usually would.

There is no need to be locked away in a bedroom

When my husband caught it and we were isolating from him, he had his own cleaning products so would sterilise the surfaces and whatever he used. I would then clean down before I touched/ used anything. We have a vulnerable dd so couldn’t take the risk

3 of us had it and 1 of us didn't. We let the non-covid use the kitchen first, then we used it and I disinfected anything we touched like cutlery drawer handles etc. The risk of catching covid from a surface is "unlikely" but we were being ultra cautious due to an upcoming holiday.

I would say absolutely use the kitchen. All of us wore masks in communal areas.

Use the kitchen, open a window during/after and it'll be fine (though they may want to wait half an hour to be extra sure).

I did. Kept window and back door open during day, went down when others were in other rooms or out.

Thanks guys.

I'm going to do the open windows/doors and leave 30 minutes before they use - believe it is safe and it's easy to do.

I think responses will vary because you've given so little information on your dd's condition and the level of risk an illness such as covid might pose for her.

As you say, covid is not transferred from surfaces, it's hard to say whether you're being too anxious or following medical advice you've been given?

I would ask your daughter's consultant for advice on the measures you need to take (rather than mumsnet!) if she has a severely compromised immune system/ respiratory disease.

I'd wear a mask to ensure you don't cough onto surfaces, as an added safety measure. Its mostly airborne and close contact

I avoided kitchen when other people were in it.
Thoroughly washed hands upstairs before going down to kitchen

Crazy to see what some of us have been reduced to. Asking permission to go in your own kitchen.

Main risk is - airborne transmission
the risk of transmission from fomites on surfaces is very low.
But aerosolized particles coated in saliva/respiratory secretions float in the air like smoke
think of it like vape smoke or cigarette smoke
open windows and doors, try to create cross draft
wear a mask when preparing food in communal areas and then take the food to a closed room to eat it if you want to minimize transmission

this video is a good visual m.youtube.com/watch?v=kX9t8jQ9-fM

This is the guidance and it's pretty practical: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-and-treatment/how-to-avoid-spreading-coronavirus-to-people-you-live-with/

They recommend open windows and ten mins between the positive person and the others in the house.

Hope you don't feel too rotten, or that you feel better soon!

I agree that it can linger in the air, so it's better to open a window/door and use the extractor fan.

If it's a health issue with others catching it. Wear a N99 mask when you leave your bedroom.

If it's advisable but not critical that the vulnerable person doesn't catch covid, use the kitchen but open the back doors and windows whilst you are working.

Great advice - really helps. Thank you!