Will you tell your neighbors if you test positive ?
 

Greetings -

A neighbor of mine in her 60's two months ago relayed to our block residents that although she was asymptomatic, she tested positive for Covid and initiated her self quarantine. Although she was medically cleared four weeks ago by her physician, several members on our block have refused to communicate, socialize or even walk near her when she steps outside her residence in order to walk her dog. Several of our neighbors have completely excluded this lady and have secretly relayed to me that they will not ever socialize with this lady again until they have been vaccinated.

My neighbor has been unjustly treated like a "walking disease" although he has been medically cleared and advised by her physician that currently she will not be subjected to getting nor passing-on COVID for at least the next 90 days. I just wonder how many other Villages residents that are asymptomatic and have tested positive for COVID will not advise their neighbors in order not to become ostracized like my neighbor.

So I ask, if you test positive for COVID, will you tell anyone????

I would not tell anyone about a positive COVID test just as I would not tell anyone about any other medical conditions I might have. Primarily, this is because it is none of their business and there are more interesting and positive things to talk about. However, the story shared above provides even more reason to keep private medical information private.

I would, of course, inform anyone who I had been in close contact with at a time when I might have been contagious.

I would also be sure to remember who my friends were. Those that acted as though there was a scarlet letter on my chest would most likely be dropped from my Christmas card list.

I would not be so hard on the neighbors, research indicates the virus hangs around a long time on surfaces that may have been touched while infectious:

“Research published in the Virology Journal by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, is reporting that SARS-CoV-2 can survive for as long as 28 days on surfaces such as plastic, glass, steel, vinyl, and even paper.”

Some people are very vulnerable. The vaccine is here, all this will change soon.

I would tell. I am very transparent. There is no SHAME in becoming ill with a virus that is highly contagious AND EXTREMELY dangerous to those over 75.

I would not be hurt if people kept their distance.

It has taken the entire world a year now to TRY to figure out exactly how this damned thing is passed, and who it makes the sickest, let alone the fairy stories about it being "manufactured on purpose". People are right to try to remain healthy. No one did anything "wrong" here.

Wow. If all Villagers kept their medical conditions private, what would there be to talk about?

If I had reason to believe any of my neighbors were in close enough proximity to me that I felt they should know that their health might have been compromised, I would absolutely tell every single neighbor potentially affected.

But I don't know the people behind my house, and they don't know me. There's no reason they should know my situation, and none for me to know theirs.

In my neighborhood, most of us kind of look out for each other. It's one of the #1 things that "clenched the deal" when we were making a decision to put the deposit on the house. We met with many of the neighbors before we signed that contract. I would want to make sure my neighbors are safe and as healthy as possible. That includes letting them know if I might have passed a potentially deadly illness to them when I sat with them on their lanai, or walked with them while they walked their dog, etc.

I would hope they'd do the same thing for me. Actually - no, I know they would do the same for me. I'd probably bring them treats and leave them at the doorstep for them to take after I walk away, or get their groceries for them, pick up their prescriptions if necessary, and have them call me once a day so I know they're okay in there. Maybe I'd even sit outside their lanai while they're on it, and we can talk through the screen, at a significant distance (more than 6 feet).

If what the OP says is true, I feel horrible for anyone who moves into that neighborhood expecting it to be part of the "friendliest" retirement community. Because there's nothing about that situation that screams "friendly" to me.

For the last 10 years, I've been telling everyone I have COVID.


STAY AWAY!!!

Responsible thing to do.
Then again your in The Villages

I would tell anyone we had been in close contact with but would not hang out a sign outside our house.

Several in our neighborhood have tested positive and have put out the word. They also keep us posted on their quarantine status and when they receive the negative test. We do know there are those that are not willing to help their neighbors stay safe so will not give any information......so lucky I don't live near them. Actually heard of those that being with family was so important they were positive and didn't tell their family.

No wonder this virus is spreading like wildfire. I don't understand how anyone could be that inconsiderate, especially with family. It is unconscionable to me.

None of anyone’s business except those I was in contact with.
Since I am basically at home I don’t have to worry about anyone
except my Son & his family.

In the old days, didn’t people hang a black wreath on their front door if someone had ******* (whatever pandemic was occurring; the Black Plague, polio, etc etc) ?

That reminds me, when we didn’t know that much about Covid in March, hubby pasted a large biohazard sign on the front door. He was just kidding but people stayed away.

I would put the sign out front, many times neighbors get close when outside and do not wear masks. I think it is the responsible thing to do.

Yeah, isn't it. There are a lot of unconscionable actions going on here.

Thank goodness our friends who are neighbors put out an email to let us know they tested positive. My spouse had some symptoms but thought it was allergies. When we heard our friends tested positive we signed up for a COVID test. We both tested positive.

I would certainly let anyone that I had been in close contact with know that I have tested positive....and presently this is a very small number of people that I would potentially have to let know

and would hope that anyone that I had been in close contact with that tested positive would let me know

matter of fact, not telling me would end whatever relationship we had

Yes of course. We all will get Covid19 sooner than later! You may have already had it! Grow up

Back in the spring we were directed to put out a yellow flag during quarantine... that campaign never caught on !

It is difficult to understand what others will do. I know what my feelings are. I would act as normal by wearing a mask and social distance. I think a bigger question is, what did you do? Did you tell the neighbors she was not contagious? Did you stay away?

When you refer to "close contact", what exactly do you mean? We, as a population, have been instructed to socially distance ourselves and wear masks when in public or anywhere near people that do not live with us in the same home. My family circle includes my husband, and that's it!

Just walking down the street for exercise, my hubby and myself do not get close to anyone, even if they try to get close to us (to chat for example). I step back and remind them to PLEASE do not get close. It really is quite simple to do this.

You mention "close contact". There should be NO CLOSE CONTACT with anyone other than who lives in your home with you. I will never understand how people do not follow this simple rule. I've almost given up on the mask debate. That seems to be a lost cause so I'll just hammer home how important it is to not get close to anyone other than who lives in your home and sleeps with you in your bed.

Thanksgiving and Christmas has all been called off in our household this year. I have family who live in The Villages but will NOT be spending the holidays with them this year. We are being careful. "Close contact" is not in my vocabulary until hubby and I are vaccinated.

Only the ones I don't like.

Of course I would tell those who I had contact with. To not do that is lousy and negligent. As far as telling neighbors? HA. This is TV, the gossip capitol of the world. Once you tell one person, it will be the local gossip for years. So? You are wearing the scarlet letter? Do you really care?

The sad truth of some who know no better, ignorance at its best......unless you come in contact with any of them, no you don’t need to tell any of them...I’m truly sorry she has to deal with this...

Exactly! As that is all that old people talk about.

I guess you find out who your friends are when the going gets tough. No need to interact with those idiots anymore and get on with your life with your real friends.

I wouldn't advertise it.

Funny that we never heard about doing any of this silly stuff with the seasonal flu (which made millions sick in 2019 and killed 10's of thousands). I guess all this scare mongering has worked. For all those who think that a lady quarantining in her own home should have alerted her neighbors who live in different houses, please consider moving to the next post as I am NOT wearing a mask while writing this. And for those who are worried about something she might have touched, have you considered that your mailman is infected. He/she is much more likely to pass COVID to you than your self-quarantining neighbor.

Good answer. :1rotfl:

I do not intend to become infected so I have not planned on what I would do as far as giving notice to anyone else. I see no reason to announce that one is infected unless they intend on being in contact with others. If one is social distancing, wearing protective gear, etc, even if infected there is little chance of spreading it to others if you are staying away from them and them from you. I guess if you are looking for sympathy or attention, you can send out flyers and emails announcing to the world that lil' ole you are infected. One doesn't know how they will react to a situation until it happens to them.

amazing 12 months ago we knew little or nothing about covid 19
12 months later we've become experts

Unless the neighbor is taken away in an ambulance and hospitalized and someone has to go in and care for the left behind pets or spouse. Does it really matter if we know or not? Wearing the mask ,social distancing and washing hands is still priority for Flu and Covid to be decreased. Now if I wanted to keep everyone away a scarlet letter C will work.. Although I prefer Purple.. Merry Christmas.

Shows the ignorance of some people. The one who had it is probably the only person in the neighborhood that can't infect others because of immunity. I had it. Told my neighbors after quarantine. For about a month, those already not healthy stayed away, then they came back to normal. I would tell them. The ignorant ones may back off. Which is fine. The educated ones will rub shoulders because you can't give them Covid.

Put a sign out front? You’re kidding, right??

All of our neighbors are as considerate as your friend. Not one is as ignorant as the rest of your neighbors. I guess we are lucky.

The ignorance of understanding that the neighbor is now safer to be around than anyone is predictable.

All of our neighbors were upfront about it. Everyone treated them well.

All you folks who will not tell are the reason it is spreading so fast. I personally think that is very selfish on your part. Wouldn’t you want to know to help protect yourself? I would tell everyone in my Village and anyone else I thought I might have made contact with. That is the only honorable thing to do.

Ohiobuckeye
 

First of all yes I would let everyone I know that I had Covid, that would be a terrible thing not to tell my neighbors. To me that would make me as bad as Hitler. When people see her outside with her dog I hope everyone is THANKING HER for letting them know. Thank you whoever you are, you just showed us how concerned you are about other people!