We all know it hasn’t gone anywhere, we’ve learnt to live in a world with Covid and we have all been affected by it to some degree. Recently it hit my family again.
Every member of my family has had covid once or twice. I imagine over the last three and a half years that’s the same for most families. My husband had to work throughout the pandemic and having James living at home with us at the time we were naturally extremely cautious. We shielded my parents as much as was possible in the initial stages, my sister Joan doing their shopping for them with socially distanced drop offs in their porch. We all followed the guidelines during lockdowns, we sanitized, we isolated and did everything we could to avoid bringing covid into our home. As soon as we were able, we had our vaccinations and we continue to have all the boosters offered to us. In fact, Darryl and I had our latest covid booster just last week and my parents had theirs later the same day.
Last week we had a change to our normal routine. James’ Wednesday carer was on holiday and whilst he could have stayed at his home that day, we decided we would like to spend some extra time with him and so he came to spend the day with us. In the morning we took him out for cake followed by a nice walk around a local pond as it was a really nice day. He had a slight runny nose but otherwise appeared to be his normal self. It’s not uncommon at this time of year to get a cold with the changing season and so, whilst I didn’t want him to be unwell, I didn’t think too much of it.
The following morning I was feeling perfectly well but during the course of the afternoon I began to feel like I had a head cold come on, you know how it comes on suddenly. I was sneezing, had a constantly runny nose, a headache and generally feeling pretty rubbish. Darryl was due to go away the next morning surfing for a week and would be house sharing with 6 other guys and so I decided maybe I should do a LFT (lateral flow test) purely as a precaution. I was somewhat surprised that it instantly gave a positive result. Darryl wasn’t feeling at all unwell but then did a test, and his came out faintly positive.
James
My thoughts immediately turned to James and I asked his staff to test him. Unsurprisingly, he tested positive. Out of courtesy I emailed both of James’ day services to let them know. I also asked what the latest guidelines would be for James’ return. One replied saying he needed to stay off for 5 days following a positive test and then can return provided he feels well and does not have a temperature. This seems perfectly reasonable to me. The other day service which is run by Hampshire County Council replied saying that there are no current restrictions and positive cases can return as long as they are well in themselves.
I know that they are following the correct procedures. I’m not for one minute disputing that. Personally, I feel that if someone is known to have covid the responsible thing to do is stay home for 5 days. I know this is going to be controversial and for some it’s easier said than done. I know there will be a lot of implications to having staff off in day services, schools etc. I know it would have repercussions on parents being able to go to work, it will again affect the economy etc etc. It’s endless.
What’s the right thing to do?
There’s a whole moral dilemma about what to do if you know you are infected with Covid. Darryl and I had this discussion on the evening we tested positive. Legally you are no longer obliged to test or even isolate if you are positive. However, it was a no brainer for us that Darryl could not go away on holiday and share a house with 6 other men when he knew he was positive, although at that point he was feeling well. Unfortunately, he lost the money he had paid for his accommodation. But if the tables had been turned and he went away with these other guys and a few days in it became apparent that one of then had knowingly gone with covid, I would not be impressed. No-one knows what vulnerable family members a person is going back to. Whether it be a disabled relative, an elderly vulnerable relative or someone who is immunosuppressed due to medication or treatment they are having. Darryl pulled out of his holiday and the other guys were disappointed but were all appreciative that he had done so.
I really do appreciate that in some cases where people have had little or no symptoms they have continued to work, go to school etc without knowing they are infectious. I also understand that others will have pressure put on them by employers to continue to work or will be in jobs where they do not get paid if they don’t go to work and so it is not a choice they are able to make.
We don’t know where our current bout of covid originated. I have read with the latest variant that it can take 2-14 days for you to show symptoms having been in contact with an infected person. But James was home unwell for 6 days. He had the runny nose and cough and didn’t seem himself at all for a few days before appearing to perk up. However, his sleeping pattern has been affected again and when he had covid 18 months ago his sleep was significantly affected for some weeks. Because we don’t want this to become a long term issue the doctor came and gave him the once over and prescribed Piriton to try and help with his sleep as this has worked effectively before. Unfortunately, the first day James returned to his day service for what was a planned shortened day to break him in gently, he had a seizure. An ambulance attended and there was no obvious reason for this but we feel it’s a combination of the after affects of covid and the continual poor sleep that has lowered his seizure threshold. As I write this he is back at home recuperating.
Darryl and I were both unwell with colds and coughs for a few days, I actually stayed in bed for the best part of 2 days as I felt so unwell. I am on medication which potentially reduces my number of white blood cells therefore reducing my ability to fight infection. Three days after we tested positive my parents both tested positive too. They are both in their eighties but thankfully appear to be recovering well.
Latest covid advice
If you have tested positive for covid the NHS website advises that you:
- Try and stay home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day the test was taken if you or your child are under 18 years old – children and young people tend to be infectious to other people for less time than adults.
- Try and stay home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days after the day you took your test if you are 18 years or over.
- Avoid meeting people who are more likely to get seriously ill from viruses, such as people with a weakened immune system, for 10 days after you took your test.
You can find advice on how to look after yourself at home if you have Covid on the NHS website.
You will find a list of who is eligible for the Autumn 2023 covid booster on the NHS website.
