Once you have been deemed a close contact you have to self isolate for 2 weeks no matter if you test negative or not. Being considered a close contact is a tough call. So no wonder the HSE likes to decide. Asking those who are Covid + to let their close contacts know this must be terrible if they are feeling unwell themselves or are placing an unwelcome burden on a contact etc.
My friends 19 yr old contracted Covid about 3 weeks ago. So she was confined to her bedroom, but the rest of the family, mother, father, siblings all had to self isolate for 2 weeks from date of result. The kid with Covid only had to self isolate for 10 days post test, so she was free from her bedroom, and free to go back to college, 4 days before the rest of her family, who missed work, school, university etc. It was really hard for them, their work places were not appreciative or sympathetic about the news. They all had to be tested twice and luckily none came down with it.