For those who find themselves at risk of discrimination or bullying, the end of self-isolation rules provides them with more freedom to speak their mind and be heard. For some people it’s a relief while others worry they’ll still face rejection.
The “how long to isolate after positive covid test” is a question that many people have been asking. The answer is that it depends on the type of infection and how long the person has been isolated for.
Those at at risk of becoming very sick as a result of Covid say they feel abandoned, with little safeguards in place to protect them. (Photo courtesy of Pippa Kent / Getty)
People who are more prone to get very sick as a result of Covid claim that removing self-isolation requirements would make them feel unsafe every time they leave the house.
Boris Johnson informed parliament today that his government wants to repeal the law requiring persons who test positive for the virus to remain at home.
The emergency legislation is slated to expire on March 24, and the Prime Minister has said that he does not want to prolong it, and that this date may be pushed ahead.
He plans to replace legal restrictions with guidance and counseling, enabling individuals to continue about their everyday lives even if they are infected.
The move is part of a strategy to ‘live’ with Covid, but many people are concerned about how quickly the rules are being eliminated.
Those with underlying medical concerns say they feel overlooked and that there are little safeguards in place to protect them.
Pippa Kent, 32, who underwent a double lung transplant five years ago, called the decision ‘ridiculous,’ considering the high Covid infection rates.
In the last 24 hours, more than 100,000 individuals tested positive for Covid, with 359 people dying.
Five years ago, Pippa Kent had a double lung transplant (Picture: Pippa Kent)
Pippa is presently in self-isolation at her London home after contracting Covid despite being very cautious and avoiding contact with others.
Despite the fact that her symptoms are now minor, she believes this demonstrates how simple it is to get the virus, particularly since the Omicron version is far more transmissible.
‘It’s terrifying to think that you may be sitting next to someone who is Covid positive every time you go to the shops, the doctors, or the dentist,’ Pippa told Metro.co.uk.
‘Unlike today, when you hope the majority of individuals who have been informed they have it remain at home, there will be no duty for anybody to notify you if they get sick.’
‘It will very certainly spread like wildfire.’ I’ve known individuals who have died or been extremely sick as a result of the virus, and despite the fact that we now have vaccinations and additional therapies, it’s still a terrifying possibility for those who are immune-compromised.
‘I understand that we can’t live with limits indefinitely, and we all want to return to normal.’ However, this seems to be a knee-jerk approach that will only exacerbate the situation in the long term.’
Even if individuals choose to remain at home to protect others, Pippa believes that the change would make it more difficult, especially if businesses put pressure on their employees to come into work.
Anyone who does this now is breaching the law, but Pippa thinks that the new restrictions would force individuals to make the “difficult decision” between protecting others and preserving their work.
No one will be forced to self-isolate by law (Picture: PA)
She claims she won’t be able to continue shielding forever, so she’ll keep going out, despite the fact that she’ll almost certainly run across Covid positive individuals.
‘For someone who is immune weakened, this implies that every encounter with others now has an increased danger; I’ll have to choose between drastically restricting my movements or risk coming into touch with several persons infected with Covid every time I leave my house,’ she said.
‘Our government’s statement that people will have no duty to minimize their exposure to others when sick is yet another action that implies they respect the more vulnerable’s liberties less than the rest of society.’
Samantha Renke, a journalist and disability advocate, told Metro.co.uk that handicapped individuals have already been compelled to take actions to protect their health because they don’t believe the government is on their side.
Disabled individuals, according to Samantha Renke, have had to take precautions to preserve their health (Picture: PA)
‘I’ve never felt completely comfortable with government rules and the like because you still have to guarantee that people would respect them – I still had to depend on the general population to apply common sense and understand the worth of handicapped lives,’ she added.
‘Unfortunately, this was not the case. We were labeled as helpless and burdensome, and the disability community’s deaths were seldom reported in the media.
‘We’re still fighting institutional and systemic ableism, and nothing will change unless we recognize the value of handicapped lives.’ Disabled people will have to protect their own health and work past the ignorance and indifference that surrounds us.
Mr Johnson has abolished Plan B procedures put in place to attempt to stem the spread of Omicron, in addition to revealing his decision to eliminate self-isolation requirements.
Further reading: Coronavirus
From January 27, individuals will no longer be required to wear masks in stores or on public transportation because of guidance instructing them to work from home.
Sassy Wyatt, a visually challenged disability awareness consultant, said the news made her ‘dread the implications,’ and she believes it would isolate handicapped people and make them afraid to go out.
‘I’m furious at the news that, starting in March, self-isolation will no longer be required for people who test positive,’ she added.
‘This is simply another ruse used by Boris Johnson and the Conservatives to divert attention away from their failure to obey their own rules.’
‘Earlier this week, I had to use public transportation to another medical visit, and I noticed that no one was wearing a mask around me’ (you can tell when a person is wearing a mask even if you are blind because their voice is muffled).
‘Since the Omicron form was discovered, I’ve been minimizing my public exposure; it makes me fear the ramifications in March, when many people in the UK are still unvaccinated and refuse to wear masks even when it’s required.
‘Immunocompromised individuals, as well as the disability community as a whole, have been battling to be heard and taken seriously since the beginning of the epidemic; with these divides in place, I worry that more handicapped people will be entirely ostracized.’
A spokesperson for the Department of Health was reached out to for comment.
MORE: Will self-isolation rules be abolished entirely, and when will the new ones take effect?
MORE: Boris Johnson confirmed mask-wearing, and Covid passes will be phased out before the end of the week.
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The “do i need to keep self-isolating if i have received a negative covid-19 test result?” is a question that many people ask when they are told they cannot be around other people. People like me are still dying every day.
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