Covid rules & nursing

[lauraloo49]

Hi everyone,

I'm so anxious about this - my worries feel like an unpopular opinion so please be kind.

Current government rules are that if you live with a person who is Covid positive & you are double vaccinated, you do no longer need to isolate.

I work on a unit with vulnerable patients. Without saying exactly where, these patients are too young to be vaccinated. Pretty much all of the staff are vaccinated and we are strict with maskes, hand washing etc of course. We are unable to socially distance as has been the case throughout the pandemic.

My anxiety is coming into full force recently due to the rule changes. One parent can have positive Covid, but as the other who is living with them if fully vaccinated, they can still visit the unit as normal.

I've never felt more unsafe. For my colleagues, family and other patients. Am I missing something here? I'm not sure what to do.

I was in very close contact with a parent yesterday in this situation - whose live in partner is Covid positive. My fear isn't for myself but my children at home & my elderly relatives who feel safe seeing them. Anyone else feel that this isn't right either?

The NHS Trust I work for has a different rule for staff; if someone in their household tests positive they shouldn't return to work until 10 days isolation period is over, regardless of vaccination status. It seems a bit weird as obviously the staff member could go out shopping or wherever but isn't allowed back to work, but that's the rule here. I'm not sure if the rule for visitors is the same though. Can you check with your infection control what the trust rules are?

My Trust is the same as Marina26 but has additional rules around visiting and Covid which tackle precisely the situation you describe. They are not popular rules but have helped contain and minimise outbreaks (none since January thankfully)