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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Exchange student from China...what to recommend?

74 replies

RomeoLikedCapuletGirls · 31/01/2020 16:32

It's a personal arrangement and the student is arriving next week, from from Hubei but still...

Would you ask that they stay in an AirBnB for 14 days or just assume that the airport checks are adequate and she's not from Hubei itself anyway.

I'm asking for a friend who is worried. I didn't know what advice to give as the FCO online seems to recommend a 14 day quarantine period but that's not really feasible as the poor girl has to start her studies. So what else to do except turn to Mumsnet?

OP posts:

msmum007 · 31/01/2020 17:46

Brilliant idea. Should have been done four years ago - Brexit would have been done and dusted back then!

MrsFogi · 31/01/2020 17:55

Your friend needs to cancel. Even if there is no one vulnerable in her household I take it that the student will leave the house and therefore come into contact with vulnerable people. Also, a lot of companies in the UK have now told their employees not to come to the office if they have been to China or come into to contact with anyone who has been to China in the last 14 days - if your friend/her partner work they may find they cannot go to work if they host someone who has been in Chan recently.

msmum007 · 31/01/2020 17:58

*@FourTeaFallOut

I think they should pop some quarantine facilities in the houses of parliament, see if it doesn't concentrate the mind.

See above comment re Brexit

BiBiBirdie · 31/01/2020 18:01

No I would be cancelling the trip.
Whether the mate has anyone with underlying health issues or not, this individual is still at risk of exposing anyone they come into contact and if they're compromised due to ill health it's a danger.

TSSDNCOP · 31/01/2020 18:03

Your friend should delay the trip. Particularly as it seems that this visitor isn’t attached to a university and is therefore not in any system.

They would fly on at least one plane, probably through hubs, then to this country as a tourist/student with no viable symptoms for 14 days. God only knows how many vulnerable groups they could come into contact with.

The travel is non essential. Postpone it.

Dyrne · 31/01/2020 18:03

Your friend sounds like she is taking a massive risk in general to be honest - surely it is far more sensible to host these sorts of things officially through the university, therefore getting access to all the support and guidance from them? (As PP have said, most universities with Chinese students will have consulted on this and informed a policy). If it wasn’t this, it was surely only a matter of time before such a sketchy unofficial arrangement blew up in her face.

NameChange84 · 31/01/2020 18:08

Based on the information the university I work at has released, I would be cancelling. As well as the policies already mentioned above, our Chinese New Year Celebrations and Chinese Society events which are generally very busy have been postponed too. Staff returning from China are working from home over the next few weeks. Future staff and student trips are currently postponed.

bookbuddy · 31/01/2020 18:15

Public health England has guidance that is being updated fairly frequently as the situation develops the university should be directing you to that advice. It is not just immunocompromised people that are dying of this it this virus, it can caused severe complications in otherwise healthy people. Your friend should cancel the placement.

beautifulwhiskers · 31/01/2020 18:17

No one knows if she's carrying the virus or not.

The chances are very small but it has been declared a global health emergency by the WHO.

TSSDNCOP · 31/01/2020 18:30

Given it’s a private arrangement is it possible your friend profits from this arrangement and therefore that’s why she’s reluctant to cancel?

Lordfrontpaw · 31/01/2020 18:33

If she is concerned then the trip can be postponed maybe? I don’t think the Chinese government is advising people not to travel - there are loads more than usual Chinese tourists around us at the moment. I’ve never know so many Chinese tourists!

bohemia14 · 31/01/2020 18:39

I'm currently on holiday in a European city. Every tourist attraction I've visited has been busy with Chinese tourists. I'll be coming back to the UK this weekend. I'm not sure how they can fully contain this virus.

That being said OP, I'd be surprised if the exchange goes ahead. But on balance I'd probably go ahead and host.

cuparfull · 31/01/2020 18:48

Hear hear,,,
NameChange84 Fri 31-Jan-20 18:08:11
Based on the information the university I work at has released, I would be cancelling. As well as the policies already mentioned above, our Chinese New Year Celebrations and Chinese Society events which are generally very busy have been postponed too. Staff returning from China are working from home over the next few weeks. Future staff and student trips are currently postponed.

Makinganewthinghappen · 31/01/2020 19:10

I wouldn’t have her to stay.

I had pneumonia from a complication of flu (not even on of the “bad” flu strains!) as a totally healthy 30 year old a couple of years ago and nearly died.

Previously I would have been one of the “it’s only vulnerable people who need to worry “ group but tbh after being just “a bit of flu” int the morning to total collapse and not knowing what the hell was going on in the afternoon I am less convinced that this is no reason to worry!

Makinganewthinghappen · 31/01/2020 19:12

Meant to add to that - I doubt the flights will be running - my step mother just left China and had to go to Korea first because she couldn’t get any flights to London. In a week I’m guessing even that will be impossible.

Cam77 · 31/01/2020 19:24

It’s less about whether this student should/shouldn’t be in your house and more about she shouldn’t be travelling full stop right now. She will be passing through taxis/buses, airports, sitting on planes on her way over. She shouldn’t be travelling full stop. Part of my job is teaching Chinese students online. The majority have not stepped out their apartments for a while week - not even for a breath of fresh air. The whole country is in lock down. Tell your friend that.

Peanutbutterbean · 31/01/2020 19:24

I would cancel without hesitation and arrange for another time if possible.

NaturalBornWoman · 31/01/2020 20:04

my step mother just left China and had to go to Korea first because she couldn’t get any flights to London.

Hopefully she’s put herself in quarantine if she’s ignored advice not to leave China and come here anyway?

Makinganewthinghappen · 31/01/2020 20:12

Natural - as far as I know they are staying in for the next two weeks as advised (my stepsister has a flat in London) we are not close !

ChardonnaysDistantCousin · 31/01/2020 20:21

Hopefully she’s put herself in quarantine if she’s ignored advice not to leave China and come here anyway?

Somehow I doubt it.

I had a chest infection earlier this year and am getting over it was a bugger, am terrified of this virus.

TSSDNCOP · 31/01/2020 20:21

we are not close !

Every cloud

ChardonnaysDistantCousin · 31/01/2020 20:21

Oh sorry!

edwinbear · 31/01/2020 20:30

I’d cancel. I’m usually quite laid back but I think we don’t have enough information about the scale of things yet,nor the effects it can have. Not a risk I would want to take on behalf of my family.

TheOrigRightsofwomen · 11/02/2020 16:36

What happened OP?

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