A South Surrey woman is raising concerns over COVID-19 messaging, after receiving conflicting directions regarding isolation requirements.

Deb Antifaev told Peace Arch News she was tested for the virus on Sunday (Nov. 22) morning, after learning that several of her family members 鈥� including two of her adult children and their spouses, as well as two of her grandchildren 鈥� had all tested positive.

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However, Fraser Health officials say it is a matter of 鈥済eneral guidance鈥� instructions versus follow-up on individual assessments.

Antifaev said paperwork from the collection centre stated that a positive test required a 10-day quarantine from the test date, however, 鈥渢he health nurse was saying that鈥檚 completely wrong,鈥� of information provided to her son following his positive result.

He was told 鈥溾�榠t鈥檚 still a 14-day quarantine, and then if your kids don鈥檛 test positive, then it鈥檚 another 14 days after your 14 days, in case they do test positive at some time.鈥欌��

鈥淪o that鈥檚 basically a month,鈥� she said Wednesday (Nov. 25). 鈥淚t鈥檚 not 10 days at all.

鈥淚f he hadn鈥檛 received a call from the head nurse (at the hospital), he would鈥檝e gone back to work.鈥�

Those who test negative should also isolate for a further week after their test, the nurse advised, 鈥渢o make sure you don鈥檛 develop symptoms,鈥� however, Antifaev said that that information was not on the form that she was sent home with.

鈥淐ould we just get one thing straight?鈥� she said. 鈥淚s it 14 days? Is it 30 days? Is it from your diagnosis, or from the day we feel the symptoms? And if we鈥檙e negative, why are we still isolating? How long does it take to show up in your nose?鈥�

Antifaev tweeted her frustration with the messaging on Tuesday (Nov. 24), pleading for consistency in the instructions.

So, four of our family members, in have tested positive for and have all received different instructions from We need some consistency, please

鈥� Debra Antifaev (@debantifaev)

The response it garnered was unexpected, she said.

In addition to sundry comments as well as interest from news outlets, 鈥渆veryone kept retweeting it,鈥� she said.

鈥淪urely other people are finding the same experience. There鈥檚 a lot of confusion.鈥�

Her husband, Todd, agreed, describing information that鈥檚 on the Fraser Health website regarding what to do as 鈥渁bout as clear as mud.鈥�

鈥淭here鈥檚 no clear, concise, 鈥榯his is it,鈥欌�� he said.

鈥淩eally, the public health authority has to get their act together and give a clear direction.鈥�

In an explanation emailed Nov. 27, Fraser Health told PAN that information distributed at the collection centres 鈥減rovides general guidance,鈥� while a case-by-case assessment 鈥渢akes into account someone鈥檚 exposure to COVID-19, which can modify how long someone needs to isolate.鈥�

鈥淲hen an individual tests positive for COVID-19, Fraser Health Public Health will contact them directly with further instructions,鈥� a spokesperson explained.

鈥淲hen an individual tests negative for COVID-19 but has been exposed to someone with COVID-19, or has recently travelled outside of Canada, they are asked to self-isolate for 10 days from when they started feeling sick, or 14 days from the day they were exposed or returned to Canada (whichever is longer).

鈥淲hen an individual tests negative for COVID-19, has not been exposed and has not recently travelled outside of Canada, they are asked to self-isolate until they feel better.鈥�

The Antifaevs believe their family members鈥� COVID-19 exposure occurred either at Peace Arch Hospital or at one of their grandchildren鈥檚 schools.

Their home is near two schools and Deb Antifaev said she has been 鈥渉orrified鈥� to watch the degree of unmasked, close interaction occurring both on and around school grounds.

鈥淗ow on earth did they think it wasn鈥檛 going to spread?鈥� she said.