This Matt Hancock returning to work business is really important

Not only is he the Minister of Health, but how soon someone can return to work post- #Coronavirus #COVIDー19 is going to be a major question in the coming weeks

A (very detailed) thread

So the facts of the matter first

Hancock started to have symptoms Thu 26 March
https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/world/matt-hancock-coronavirus-felt-like-razors-in-my-throat-and-was-really-worrying-991952.html
He says he had two bad days, but when those were is not stipulated

He confirmed he had tested positive on Fri 27 March https://twitter.com/MattHancock/status/1243522325397622784

Tim Shipman says he was in isolation before the confirmed test
https://twitter.com/ShippersUnbound/status/1245772989213392898

And he was out of isolation and on BBC Question Time last night Thu 2 April
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000gxw2/question-time-2020-02042020

So what are those with #Coronavirus supposed to do?

Here is where it gets more complicated

There are two groups: those with Coronavirus *symptoms* and those who have had a Coronavirus test and are confirmed to have had the disease

The focus in , and indeed pretty much everywhere, has been on those with symptoms - as really widespread testing is not available

And the NHS has guidance for those with symptoms:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/self-isolation-advice/

Screenshot of the relevant part

Did Matt Hancock do this?

YES

He says he has no further symptoms, and returns to work 7 days (more or less on the dot) after symptoms first started

But sharp readers will have spotted two issues...

There is nothing about *when* during the 7 days the symptoms have to have ended
Hancock did not just have symptoms, he was also tested - and tested positive - for Coronavirus

On the period without symptoms...

This is what the CDC says

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/care-for-someone.html

Thanks @mrmattjackson for pointing me to this one

with no symptoms before ending home isolation: 72 hours

Screenshot of the relevant part

On the period without symptoms... the guidance in

Source: https://www.bag.admin.ch/bag/de/home/krankheiten/ausbrueche-epidemien-pandemien/aktuelle-ausbrueche-epidemien/novel-cov/selbst-isolierung-und-selbst-quarantaene.html#-1166878863

with no symptoms before leaving self isolation: 10 days (10 Tage)

Screenshot of the relevant part

And in

Source:
https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/self-isolation-and-limited-social-interaction.html#self-isolation

with no *fever* before leaving self isolation: 5 days

Thanks also @dloredonline https://twitter.com/dloredonline/status/1246015750713860096

Screenshot of the relevant part

Summary on period between symptoms ending and leaving self isolation
no guidance
3 days
5 days (since last fever)
10 days
(I am not researching every country - you get the idea by now)

But hang on

Hancock actually TESTED POSITIVE

Is there simply the assumption that everyone who has symptoms actually has Coronavirus?

Or should a case be made to be *extra* careful with those who are confirmed to have had it?

The problem in is testing has been slow to be ramped up, the NHS has no specific public guidance as to whether confirmed cases should be dealt with differently to those who only show symptoms

A few of countries are doing more testing, and have guidance for confirmed cases...

Source https://www.fhi.no/nettpub/coronavirus/fakta/rad-til-pasienter-som-isoleres-i-hjemmet-ved-koronavirus-coronavirus/
via @kristianaas who pointed out the 7 day limit

"people who have been diagnosed with covid-19 but do not need hospitalization [...] [isolation] lasts for 7 days after you are completely healthy"

Google translate:
https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?depth=1&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&sp=nmt4&tl=en&u=https://www.fhi.no/nettpub/coronavirus/fakta/rad-til-pasienter-som-isoleres-i-hjemmet-ved-koronavirus-coronavirus/&usg=ALkJrhjlhd9Iuqd5qY4xcobn32hgJHwt2Q

Source (PDF) https://www.landlaeknir.is/servlet/file/store93/item38989/Lei%C3%B0beiningar%20fyrir%20almenning%20var%C3%B0andi%20einangrun%20%C3%AD%20heimah%C3%BAsi%2027022020.pdf

"after recovering from the illness (10 days after the fever disappears)"

Google translate (confirmed to be correct by an Icelander):
https://translate.google.com/#view=home&op=translate&sl=is&tl=en&text=Hann%0Agetur%20%C3%BEurft%20a%C3%B0%20f%C3%A1%20vottor%C3%B0%20%C3%BEess%20efnis%20fr%C3%A1%20heilsug%C3%A6slunni.%20Bi%C3%B0la%C3%B0%20hefur%20veri%C3%B0%20til%0Avinnuveitenda%20a%C3%B0%20s%C3%BDna%20skilning%20%C3%A1%20%C3%BEv%C3%AD%20a%C3%B0%20starfsma%C3%B0ur%20%C3%BEarf%20a%C3%B0%20s%C3%A6ta%20einangrun%20%C3%A1fram%0Aeftir%20a%C3%B0%20hann%20hefur%20n%C3%A1%C3%B0%20s%C3%A9r%20af%20veikindunum%20(10%20daga%20eftir%20a%C3%B0%20hiti%20hverfur)

So what I can find if countries have specific guidance on confirmed cases - period *after* symptoms have ended before a person can leave isolation
7 days
10 days (since last fever)

Oh, and what does the WHO say about the period *after* symptoms have ended before a person can leave isolation?
14 days https://twitter.com/WHO/status/1239582223810072576

Point is not whether Hancock complied with NHS guidance - he did

Important Qs
why does (unlike ) stipulate no period someone needs to be healthy before ending isolation?
should confirmed cases be dealt with even more carefully than those just with symptoms?

/ends