How long should I self-isolate? I can’t find any official advice about recovery. I’ve been home all week.
Why has the advice on self-isolation changed from 14 days to 7 days
The 14 day period is for those who have had exposure to a confirmed case but have not shown symptoms. The 14 days represents the potential incubation period (the time it takes for symptoms to show if you have been infected).
Most people will no longer be likely to transmit the virus 7 days after the onset of symptoms. You do not need to call NHS111 to go into self-isolation. If your symptoms persist past 7 days you should contact NHS 111 online at 111.nhs.uk. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111.
but if I had COVID-19 then how would I know, and how do I know how long I needed to isolate for?
Sir whatsisname at the press conference yesterday said the evidence points to the fevery coughy phase being when the infection is passed on. This last about a week hence the government's new advice on self isolation.
In the absence of any other official advice, I would follow that.
I'm really not sure of the value of self-diagnosing that you've had coronavirus. We're still in flu season, and there's plenty of colds going around.
Reckon I’ll be OK for work on Monday.
I'm not sure there is enough evidence out there to confidently say you won't still be contagious at that point, even if all your symptoms were resolved today. I'd personally give myself another seven days after the disappearance of symptoms.
This is the problem when the lack of evidence about a novel virus clashes with the practicalities of work and travel.
They won’t test you because they aren’t interested in numbers now – it doesn’t help plan any response.
We are nowhere near the exponential rate of cases seen on the epidemic spike at the moment.
I’m just quoting these for comparison and consideration.
The problem is that if you don't know you have had it you will be keeping away from others (elderly loved ones), maybe working at home and general disruptions to social life while all the time you actually had it a few weeks ago and could have carried on with no precautions and no risk of either catching it or passing it on. Would be good to know wouldn't it?
If it makes you feel better 40mpg the incubation period widely reported is a lot more than Thursday into Friday. That's likely as good an indication as you'll get.
Personally I'd still give it 48-72 hours clear of symptoms to reduce your chances of being contagious but also because, even if it's "just a cold" you don't want to get something else nasty immediately on top of it, normally, certainly not at the moment - there are also several of accounts of its not bad, it gets better, it's flu, it gets better, it's makes flu look a cold*
I am not a doctor
*anecdotal at best but I imagine you'd rather not be an anecdote
whats the consensus on buying bike parts from such as CRC, Wiggle etc. Is there zero risk of transmission. Apologies if this has been done but I have not got the time but have parts on way and wife is Type 1 diebetic.
Even though it’s still cold and flu season look at the well documented symptoms of the virus and err on the side of caution, don’t be full of bravado as that may kill someone else
how do I know how long I needed to isolate for?
Good question!
There's going to be a lot of people in the same situation as 40mpg (glad you're feeling better.... First hand experience!) - there needs to be guidance re when it's safe to go back into circulation.
How long are you infectious for?
whats the consensus on buying bike parts from such as CRC, Wiggle etc. Is there zero risk of transmission. Apologies if this has been done but I have not got the time but have parts on way and wife is Type 1 diebetic.
As at yesterday, 12 hours on cardboard etc, 72 on hard surfaces like metal or plastic
Is there zero risk of transmission.
Put them unopened in the shed, wash your hands straight away... then open them a few days later. What I read was that the virus can only live for a day or so on cardboard, and in amounts that are likely not to result in infection.
The problem is that if you don’t know you have had it you will be keeping away from others (elderly loved ones),
Surely if you have any flu like symptoms you should keep away from vulnerable people until the symptoms have passed? Doesn't matter if it Covid-19 or not - they're still vulnerable.
whats the consensus on buying bike parts from such as CRC, Wiggle etc. Is there zero risk of transmission. Apologies if this has been done but I have not got the time but have parts on way and wife is Type 1 diebetic.
The risk is the person handling it and giving it to you as the parts in the box will be safe as the virus won't live on them long enough. SO same risk as any other things you get via postman, delivered etc,.
Since there is a finite resource on testing.
Is there any form of information gathering on clusters?
Just some central logging of people who are self isolating with similar symptoms. Start to get a cluster and you could test a small sample in the area. Given the guidance is we are more likely to catch it from friends, colleagues... that would point to local clustering. Is this something employers are already providing to government - updates on staff off?
Miracle cure or soft soap?
Don't all rush.
SO same risk as any other things you get via postman, delivered etc,.
The postman always coughs twice?
Even though it’s still cold and flu season look at the well documented symptoms of the virus and err on the side of caution, don’t be full of bravado as that may kill someone else
I don't disagree, I just don't see the point of confidently claiming to have had it, without a test.
The mortality rate for those at higher risk is directly related to how many hospital beds are available. There is a process where the virus attacks the body immune system and send it into overdrive. Cytokine Storm. This is fatal in around 30% of cases based on data we have from the last few years (the syndrome is not COVID 19 specific) - however that data assumes that there was access to medical care. When thousands have the virus and medical care is not available then this will increase hugely. This is also why younger medical professionals are dying even though they are not in higher risk groups normally. They are getting high doses of the virus and this is more likely to cause the syndrome and they are as a group seeking medical help far too late. This has been observed in many other epidemic situations (the seeking help too late, not the syndrome of immune system going into overdrive).
This is how to control it properly:
We are doing almost none of this.
Italy did it too late.
We had the chance and missed it.
Stay home, wear gloves when going out to shop. No need to panic buy, but a sensible amount of food in the cupboard (i.e 2 weeks) seems prudent. Also I have bought Multivits and Vit C tabs in case fresh fruit becomes a bit scarce.
Don't spend any time you don't have to in groups. Don't visit anyone in a high risk group.
I reckon riding bikes outside is fine though!
Can't believe people are complaint that this has turned I to a conspiracy thread or that people are being politically biased
We have a PM who has based his entire career on lying:
Fired twice for lying, once as a journo, once as a minister
& Lied about:
Heathrow vote
Accuri affair
Releasing Russia report
Proroguing parliament
Asking for an extension
Putting border in Irish sea
String of illegitimate kids & ex- mistress
88% of tory election adds were found to be lies:
https://metro.co.uk/2019/12/10/investigation-finds-88-tory-ads-misleading-compared-0-labour-11651802/
This is also the government that cut 20,000 hospital beds since 2010
Gifted the NHS its biggest ever staffing crisis
Not to mention that they were warned universal credit was going to be a disaster but pushed it through anyway, causing up to 120,000 extra deaths!
https://www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/health-and-social-care-spending-cuts-linked-to-120000-excess-deaths-in-england/
Cummings himself has got into trouble over his eugenics comments
On top of that for the last 3 years they have been telling us that we shouldn't trust experts
On Tuesday gove even said that he didn't trust the government's own (economic) modeling (& then poured water over his phone for extra emphasis)
https://twitter.com/NoRemainNoGain/status/1237808399171162112?s=19
I'd question why anyone would trust either the competency or honesty of our present government!
We are nowhere near the exponential rate of cases seen on the epidemic spike at the moment.
looks at y axis, sees log scale, looks at commets on internets, face palms
Here's a thought.
Is there a reason the UK govt is so keen on Covid-19 sweeping through the population unchecked?
Could it be anything to do with solving the problem the aged and now unproductive baby boomers cause with the health and welfare resources that have been decimated by a decade of austerity?
Practical eugenics at work?
Sad, but think of all the equity that's going to be released...
Yes. My 11 year old daughter is not hugely affected, but my 8 year old son is very anxious. He has started turning off media that mention it and leaving rooms where it is mentioned. I can calm him down fairly easily in the moment, but it just comes back again later. Talking him through the numbers and the likelihood of it affecting healthy kids only works to a certain extent.
Cinnamon girl – yes, 1 15yo girl with a sniffly cold and very emotional.
But also an 11yo boy who knows better than all the scientists and doesn’t give a sh#t about using tissues/washing his hands.
They are both cold/sneezy rather than a cough, and absolutely no temperature, so I’m fairly comfortable with them.
Not easy for either of you as you can obviously only expect a child to comprehend. Assuming that there's all sorts of nonsense being shared in the playground, don't envy teachers at all.
So I've been told that as I'm immunosuppressed I shouldn't go out of the door. Corrected daughter by saying I've a long term bacterial infection (Lyme disease) and that I'd been to Sainsbo's where I saw plenty of people, especially the elderly on a Thursday. Sharp intake of breath from her then told I must wear gloves if I really must go out in public.
Pretty sure that if I'd had those symptoms I'd be self isolating and/or working from home for 14 days after I felt "better".
No desire to **** about and risk the health of my friends, colleagues and their loved ones.
The advice, and common sense follow on from that advice, seems pretty obvious to me. The hysteria from colleagues today is making me want to self isolate already!
So, the “strategy” is to “flatten the curve” and “delay the peak” etc etc. Can someone tell me what in practice this means? What are we doing that is different from what Italy did before their cases rocketed?
Sky News interview with Vallance offers up this nugget. So, is this the goal then?
Millions of Britons will need to contract coronavirus in order to control the impact of the disease which is likely to return "year on year", the government's chief scientific adviser has told Sky News.
Around 60% of the UK population will need to become infected with coronavirus in order for society to have "herd immunity" from future outbreaks, Sir Patrick Vallance said.
Sad, but think of all the equity that’s going to be released…
Not following the stock market then?
Millions of Britons will need to contract coronavirus in order to control the impact of the disease which is likely to return “year on year”, the government’s chief scientific adviser has told Sky News.
Around 60% of the UK population will need to become infected with coronavirus in order for society to have “herd immunity” from future outbreaks, Sir Patrick Vallance said.
eh ? they won't have any evidence on this at all! not until we've had a few yearly cycles of it surely. It could very well be like flu or the common cold where we have no immunity to new strains.
We are nowhere near the exponential rate of cases seen on the epidemic spike at the moment.
I’m just quoting these for comparison and consideration.
looks at y axis, sees log scale, looks at commets on internets, face palms
My comment was a direct quote from the UK's chief scientist in yesterday's press conference. It's still on iPlayer if you want to watch it.
Or you could continue to make snide comments that make you seem like you know what you're on about.
Dreadful stuff. Keep the politics out of it. I wish Boris* all the best, it's in all our interest he succeeds and makes the best choices.
We (well the survivors at least) will have the chance to hold him to account if necessary in the future.
sees log scale
Ssshhh… that graph was supposed to reassure the kind of people that don’t look at scales… as was the suggestion that Italy was under-diagnosing/testing, but we are not, despite the numbers actually suggesting we’re lagging way behind their testing approach.
They won’t test you because they aren’t interested in numbers now – it doesn’t help plan any response.
We are nowhere near the exponential rate of cases seen on the epidemic spike at the moment.
I’m just quoting these for comparison and consideration
Real guess now, but maybe the important numbers in the immediate future are those of;
ICU admissions
deaths
rather than total actual infections (including all those with "mild" symptoms)?
Around 60% of the UK population will need to become infected with coronavirus in order for society to have “herd immunity” from future outbreaks, Sir Patrick Vallance said.
(Guess who was told not to use the phrase 'flatten the sombrero?)
It's not going away. If we had completely locked down a few weeks ago we'd be vulnerable to unmutated virus come next winter. So yeah we need to get it over the next few months, but not give it to our parents (my dad's care home has now locked down), whilst herd immunity builds, and vaccines and treatments are developed. I'll leave it at that. Unprecedented times.
I know twitter isn't really a reliable mirror on wider society, but if I were Boris I'd be taking note of the trending #borisout hashtag, as well as growing accusations that his policy amounts to a cull of old people. The other more serious thing for him is that whilst the govt dithers, everyone else is taking matters into their own hands. Sport and public events are shutting down, businesses are sending people home, and people are staying at home of their own accord. Boris can either lead that effort, or follow in it's wake. It's interesting that he's chosen the latter.
So yeah we need to get it over the next few months, but not give it to our parents (my dad’s care home has now locked down), whilst herd immunity builds
Assuming (perhaps we shouldn’t) that herd immunity can be achieved at all (this isn’t a flu virus), many health experts suggest that it’ll take 2 years to achieve… allowing enough people (60-70%?) to catch the virus in a ‘few months’ to achieve this will not work, will over stress the NHS and care system, and, as Dom Johnson has told us to prepare for, result in many extra deaths.
Boris can either lead that effort, or follow in it’s wake. It’s interesting that he’s chosen the latter.
He'll follow, that way if it works he'll say he helped and if it doesn't he'll have nothing to do with it. Go on the front foot and if infections keep going up then it'll be seen as his fault.
Boris can either lead that effort, or follow in it’s wake. It’s interesting that he’s chosen the latter.
Lyingblohard isn’t interested in the British public as a whole, he only serves himself and his crony’s.
The first option wouldn’t even occur to him, none of his cronies would offer it up either because they just hide under Whitehall’s cloak of Invisibility when called to any sort of account.
He has neither manner nor spirit to lead anything other than his nose to the bog.
Our approach seems logical and in line with many other countries if you consider the data. We are heading progressively towards a shutdown just like many of our neighbours (who are already further along the scale)
Containment doesn't seem to be a real option worlwide anymore so why are people advocating shutting everything down immediately? Covid 19 is now a virus that is here for ever, it's now all about rational control, no?
So, is [herd immunity] the goal then?
Ultimately it has to be. The virus is never going to go away. We just have to manage it so that as few people as possible die before we get to the point where we can offer vaccines to the vulnerable.
vaccines
which may never happen...
herd immunity can be achieved at all
another possibility I guess, is that it mutates into a less severe / transmissive form and the existing strain dies out
Genuine question for the bozza bashers, can you actually imagine any of the alternatives doing a better (different) job?
Would you do his job today for 160k a year and a flat above your office in Central London?
Well my hometown in the far east has started panic buying yesterday after sudden increased in virus infection due to religious gathering ...
dangeourbrain
Subscriber
Genuine question for the bozza bashers, can you actually imagine any of the alternatives doing a better (different) job?
My point is that at the moment trust in the government is key
why would anyone trust someone who has such a public history of lying?
why would you trust a government who ignored all warnings & pushed through austerity & UC that killed over 100,000 of their own citizens?
I think that it's possible that they've looked at the numbers and realised that it will not be possible to 'flatten the curve' enough to make a significant difference. Our current intensive care capacity gets overwhelmed once we have 20000 cases (we have 1000 spare ICU beds, 5% of 20000). By mid-May on the current trajectory we will have 2 million cases, requiring 100,000 ICU beds. So we are 2 orders of magnitude away from being able to cope. If that is the reality, then you minimise total deaths by just getting it over with as quickly as possible. Which would explain the current policy which appears to be aimed at maximising the spread of the virus without actually admitting that's what they are trying to do.
All those countries on lock down will have to maintain lock down until a vaccine is available, or their rates will just shoot up again. So, callous as it may seem, it's not impossible that the UK approach is the right one.
Sorry for the source, but this really is an excellent article:
