My girlfriend tested positive. Logistics?

Thurrafork

Hello folks

I live with my girlfriend and a few days ago she started feeling a bit poorly. She took a lateral flow test and it came up positive. I then also took a lateral flow test and it was negative.
We then both went to a PCR testing centre. The results came back yesterday: She's positive; I'm negative.
Fortunately her symptoms seem pretty mild.
We live in a small flat, but we're making things workable. We can sleep in separate rooms, keep the windows open for ventilation. And we keep our distance as much as possible.
As things are now, we both need to self isolate until the 21st.

I have a hospital appointment on the 18th. As things stand I would be unable to attend. But on the 16th I understand the regulations are changing and the 'contact' of someone who has tested positive will not have to self-isolate if they have had both jabs. Is that right?
I have indeed had both jabs. My girlfriend has only had her first.
I rang the hospital this morning but the bookings person I spoke to seemed a little clueless and was not aware of the regulations. She said her supervisor would call me back later today. Of course that has not yet happened.
But what do you reckon? Do you think I'll be able to go to my hospital appointment on the 18th?

Thanks 

ThisnotThat

You don't need to self isolate from the 16th, regardless of whether you were told to self isolate before then.

Thurrafork

That's what I thought.
I just wanted to double check. The regulations mention that to be the case for people who have contacted someone who's tested positive, I wondered if that also applied to someone who actually lives with someone who has tested positive. As living with someone runs the risk of more sustained contact than simply bumping into someone who tests positive.

ThisnotThat

jamieboo said:

That's what I thought.
I just wanted to double check. The regulations mention that to be the case for people who have contacted someone who's tested positive, I wondered if that also applied to someone who actually lives with someone who has tested positive. As living with someone runs the risk of more sustained contact than simply bumping into someone who tests positive.

If you haven't been contacted by Track & Trace then legally you don't even need to self isolate now.

Thurrafork

I have been contacted by track and trace. Anyway, she tested positive and we live together so it seems the right thing to do, at least until the regs change.
But good to know that I won't have to reschedule the hospital appointment!

Thurrafork

Now some rather more emotional logistical problems.

As I said, her symptoms are pretty mild thankfully.
She doesn't like to be fussed over, and initially she was quite grumpy with me frequently and sympathetically asking 'how do you feel'. So I just said - 'I wont smother, but anything you need, let me know'. And everything was lovely again.

Generally if we were in the sitting room together for more than 30 seconds I would put on a mask. She generally wouldn't - she's not so keen on masks.
Earlier today she was sitting maskless in the sitting room, while I was in my room at the computer. She was coughing a bit and I leaned over so I could see her through the door and said very mildly 'Hey if you're going to have a bit of a cough or a sneeze would you mind putting a mask on'. I was just thinking of airborne particles and stuff.
Anyway she glared at me said 'But they just come on suddenly and very briefly' I said 'Ok' ... and then she strode into another room, slammed the door and has been there ever since.
There's been no further contact all afternoon.
I just poked my head around her door and asked if she wanted a cup of tea. It was difficult to open the door as she'd blocked it with a door wedge and a pot plant from the windowsil. She was in bed and just shook her head at my tea offer.
She's clearly upset/angry with me. And I too am pretty upset by all this.

Was my request reasonable?
I really did make the mask request very mildly.
I checked the relevant gov web page and it says this...
"Stay as far away from other members of your household as possible. Wherever possible, avoid using shared spaces such as kitchens and other living areas while others are present and take your meals back to your room to eat. Wear a face covering or a surgical mask when spending time in shared areas inside your home."

So I really don't feel I was being unreasonable.

What have I done wrong?

Help!!

ThisnotThat

Have you got a cage outside you can put her in?

Thurrafork

Gah, I can't tell if you're being flippant or if you're implying something about the way I've treated her!
Maybe this all seems silly, but I'd really be keen to hear some thoughts about this!

Thanks

Pollycat

It doesn't matter if we think your request was reasonable or unreasonable.

The point is...your girlfriend took exception to it.
It's hardly going to make things better if you stride into the room she's sleeping in and announce that 9 out of 10 people on MSE forum think she's being unreasonable.

Maybe she knows she should have been wearing a mask and feels either pretty stupid or pretty guilty and that's why she's behaving as she is.

I would try again with the offer of a cuppa or some food.
If she's still unresponsive, I'd leave her to it until she's ready to come out of her sulk.

Thurrafork

Thanks Pollycat

That's exactly the kind of thing I wanted to hear!
I'll try again with a tea/food offer in a little while and see what happens.

Obviously I wouldn't go in there brandishing a forum response, I just wanted to get some perspective. Over the last 2 years there've been one or two instances where a seemingly innocuous remark/behaviour from me has prompted a strong and, to me, baffling response. There are some cultural differences between us: I try to be as open and communicative as possible whereas  she prefers not to talk about emotional stuff.
I just wanted to get some sense as to whether I might in fact be a huge !!!!!!.
*[Ah! Censored word. I guess a milder substitute might be 'Git']
Thanks for the advice!

Brie

Quite frankly as someone who cannot wear a mask to be told by someone to wear one is not very helpful.  Add to that the ick factor of coughing sneezing into the mask or even a visor!  Super yuck!!!

But it sounds like you're trying to be nice, helpful considerate but you know what it's like when you feel dreadful - everything is likely to cause upset, including being offered some nice soothing tea.  

fyi - I came down with the lurgy about a month back and am still recovering.  Had a test which was negative so I guess it's just a summer cold.  Best things for it are sage tea (supposedly antiseptic but def soothing for a scratchy throat) and if I still can't stop coughing I munch on Airwaves gum.   I think the cherry is best but hard to find these days but any of them are nicely mentholated so help with congestion and that bluergk that sets off the coughing.  These have both been my go tos for colds for a number of years now.  Particularly helpful if, like me, you can't take the chemical remedies available from the chemist.