Question re Isolation

[Marmattee]

Hi. My daughter is self isolating as she has covid. Her flat mate is also self isolating and as yet has no symptoms. The last day of isolation is this Monday. From what I have read on the gov website my daughter will have to continue to self isolate beyond Monday if her symptoms are still there. However, what is not clear is whether her flat mate will also need to continue. It seems to be suggesting that her flat mate can come out of isolation as long as she has no symptoms.

Any thoughts? Thanks

[Penguin68]

The person without Covid should continue to self-isolate for 10 days after the person with Covid's symptoms cease. Because they could have caught Covid on the last day of there being symptoms in the other. If they test clear 5 days after that, however they could, I think, then stop self-isolating, or wait the full 10 days. It used to be 14 days. My daughter was caught by that at the beginning of the very first lock-down.

[Marmattee]

Thanks that is helpful Penguin68 !

[DuncanW]

I?m not certain that?s right.

This is from UK Gov website:

Your isolation period includes the day the first person in your household?s symptoms started (or the day their test was taken if they did not have symptoms, whether this was an LFD or PCR test), and the next 10 full days. This means that if, for example, your 10 day isolation period starts on the 15th of the month, your isolation period ends at 23:59 hrs on the 25th and you can return to your normal routine.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection#main-messages

[Marmattee]

Thanks DuncanW

That is what I had read and understood. However it makes no reference to a situation where the infected person continues to have symptoms after the 10 days and therefore could still be positive....

[Penguin68]

That's why I responded based on continuing symptoms. Ideally, the person with Covid would get a test which would show them clear (but still suffering from the after-effects). But if they still have a raised temperature, persistent cough, headache - I would assume unless a test showed otherwise that the virus was still active - however a symptom such as loss of sense of smell or taste might (and I believe does) persist after the infectious phase is passed. As might continued shortness of breathe. In a case such as this direct medical advice would be best to ensure that you are not risking others.

[tasha1]

Having been through this myself, I was informed by NHS track and trace that you are only considered to be still infectious after the 10 days if you have a continuing fever and/or sneezing. The cough and headache can linger for many weeks but you're no longer considered infectious.

My daughter works at Kings and we both had Covid over Christmas. We both had to provide a negative result before she could return to work. Her's was still testing positive after 3 weeks but she was told she didn't need to self isolate within the community and had she not been working on a transplant ward, she could have returned beforehand and not required to have a negative test.

[Marmattee]

Thank you everyone for your thoughts....I can see that this isn't absolutely clear so I think we need to get a decision confirmed through doctor or 111.

Keep safe everyone!

[Jellybeanz]

You should isolate as long as you have symptoms as the post above states. If you read more into it, guidance varies but if you have symptoms you can be contagious.

I had covid over Christmas and still had symptoms well after 10 days, so ensured I isolated for longer and even once symptoms went I wore a mask when out just to be on the safe side.

Scientists say behave as though you have the virus and I strongly believe masks should be compulsory outdoors like in other European countries, to help stop the spread.