Secondary covid exposure

[catandasthma51]

Hi; my mum is a support worker and I have asthma. She got a text tonight from a work college that her work made her drive home yesterday. She was exposed to someone who since tested positive and was then in the car with my mum for 45 minutes wearing a mask. I was in the car maskless today for about ten minutes and then found out tonight that that college was in contact with a positive person. So it's like third or fourth down-the-chain exposure. My mum sprayed the car with Dettol before I came home but now I'm worried. My mum and nan have both had their vaccines but I haven't had any because I have allergies to very basic ingredients in most medicines. After my severe reaction to amoxicilin, my doctor advised against the jab. Now I'm shaking in fear even though my doctor is 90% sure it was covid that made me asthmatic, to begin with. Any advice besides panic and cry?

[strongmouse]

Covid 19 is spread by droplet infection, that is in the air, usually by being close to a person infected (hence wearing a mask reduces the risk of passing on the infection). So your risk factor is low. If you have followed the general advice to not touch your face and washed your hands on arriving back home then your risk factor of being infected with coronavirus, in my opinion, is pretty minimal.

Sorry to hear you can't have a vaccine. I am allergic to pencillin and have many other allergies but have been able to have two Oxford-Astrazenic vaccines with no side effects. (I went to a GP run vaccination centre and they knew of my allergies and asthma.) Sleep well.

[Foxy79]

Hello Catan

Carm down your panic over nothing firstly before anything my advice would be get a test done on everyone incul yourself because there's soo much fake news going around specially on fake text and email I even got it myself trust me seems soo real like nhs sent you. Before anything get tested then seek advice that's my advice to you and everyone else take care hope it's nothing good luck

[twinkly29]

It's highly unlikely that you will get it in this way. I can't quite make sense of what happened where but assume mum was in contact at work and has been told she's a contact of a positive case which happened at college...you were in the car with your mum after she'd had the contact with the positive person?

If that's the case then as it takes time for someone to develop the virus themselves and so be infectious, it's really unlikely that your mum would have been carrying anything at that point. No vaccines aren't a magic shield but they do help to reduce transmission and she's had both. And you were wearing masks apart from 10 mins. And she cleaned the car. So all things considered it's unlikely.

If you do get covid, not necessarily from this but generally, having asthma doesn't mean it will be awful. Most breathing symptoms caused by covid are not asthma related, not making asthma worse etc. Yes it can cause quite noticeable shortness of breath but it's like a mechanical breathing pattern thing, not asthma, and simple breathing exercises resolve the symptoms. Such exercises can also help with anxiety too so this info on breathlessness from the BLF (British Lung Foundation) might be of interest:

blf.org.uk/support-for-you/...

Definitely try to not panic/to reduce your anxiety for now though as that will give you some horrible symptoms - which people often also confuse with asthma symptoms and in some people actually triggers their asthma. So try to reduce that and remember that it's highly unlikely that you'd get covid this way.

[Poobah]

I agree with others that you are highly unlikely to catch covid the way you have described. This past week the Duchess of Cambridge had to isolate as she had been in contact with someone who had since tested positive, however, her husband and children didn't have to isolate as the risk to them is negligible. This is pretty much your experience, in that your mum has been in contact with someone who has tested positive so she isolates but your risk is not at all high.

As for receiving the vaccine, even those who have to carry epi pens are receiving the vaccine but under strict supervision, in the event that they have an allergic reaction they can receive immediate treatment. More information about the safety of the vaccines can be found on this website for those with severe allergies: anaphylaxis.org.uk/covid-19...

It may be time to have another chat with your doctor about receiving the vaccine as advice has changed, based on the millions who have safely received both shots, including those who have severe allergies.

[elmothebrave]

Totally feel for you. However, have a small panic then breathe.2 weeks ago my parents both tested positive following symptoms. I live with them, having spent considerable time in the same room although I had stopped allowing them to touch me when my dad seemed to just have a cold. As that positive test came in, I cleaned down the rooms I decided to isolate in. Put no entry signs on doors. Parents were not allowed in the rooms nor if I was walking through the house. Always in a mask, washing hands constantly. Parents in masks in the kitchen etc.

I did not get covid. Tested negative multiple times. I was briefly terrified, but you can avoid it. 10 minutes of second hand exposure should hopefully result in nothing.

Good luck!