Isolation advice needed

[bettyorange]

Hi,i would really appreciate some advice on some recent events.

My dad very sadly died of the virus on tuesday at Kings College hospital.Contrary to everythig we hear my sister was allowed to go and see him in his last hours,for which we are very grateful.We now face a difficult situation where she has been told to isolate only for 7 days by her work and a GP.I am convinced that she should isolate for 14 days.She thankfully is not showing any symptoms yet.

Could anybody advise please?

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

So sorry for your loss, bettyorange.

As I understand it, if you live on your own, you isolate for 7 days.

If you live with others, you all isolate for 14 days.

[James Barber]

How terribly sad. Glad King's enabled your sister to be there.

What a terrible dilemma for your sister self isolating.

The UK govt is saying 7 days.

The WHO has been giving advice to self isolate for 14 days.

So far I would suggest the WHO has a better grasp than the UK govt.

WHO state the incubation period is 1-14 days with median around the 5 day mark - https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses

Telling people 7 days suggests a herd immunity slant knowing that some infections will occur from people incubating after 7 days but I'm not a medic or epidemiologist.

14 days 99th percentile incubation will have occurred - 101/10000 will occur after 14 days:

Little more background -https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200310164744.htm simplified version of this - https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=2ahUKEwjQnLOfvc_oAhXHNcAKHb7zAFQQFjAAegQIAxAB&url=https%3A%2F%2Fannals.org%2Faim%2Ffullarticle%2F2762808%2Fincubation-period-coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-from-publicly-reported&usg=AOvVaw3pV5tr3elTd-aZCUJxFqjT

[bettyorange]

Thanks thats very useful.

[tasha1]

Hi. My mother sadly died from Covid 19 last Sunday at Lewisham hospital and I was with her. I've been told to self isolate for 14 days

[AnnaSimmonds]

I?m so very sorry for your losses

[fishbiscuits]

So sad to hear relatives of forum regulars have passed away... really hammers home the impact of this terrible virus.

I was under the impression that if you're showing symptoms, then you should self isolate for 7 days. If you just think you may have been exposed, then it's 14 days (because it can take that long for symptoms to show).

[natty01295]

I am So sorry for your loss

Grief is really hard

If you need someone to talk too i am here

[tasha1]

Thank you

[Lovepeckham]

Sorry to hear of the loss of loved ones.

Isolation rules are 7 days from the start of symptoms if you think you have the infection. 14 days if you have been in contact with someone infected but don?t get symptoms.

If you get symptoms whilst you are isolating you finish the isolation period 7 days after symptoms begin regardless of when you started the isolation.

The advice can be found here

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

[JohnL]

The law/guidance says 7 if you're alone but a lot of people feel it should be a blanket 14

[Lovepeckham]

JohnL Wrote:

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> The law/guidance says 7 if you're alone but a lot

> of people feel it should be a blanket 14

That?s if you live alone and have symptoms and they are resolved by day 7.

For those with potential contact it is 14 days regardless of living situation.

The discrepancy you refer to is that the WHO are advising 14 days isolation for symptoms or for contacts whereas PHE are advising 7 days for those with symptoms.

[Lovepeckham]

Attached is a photo of the info going out by post from the government which is probably the easiest way to explain it.