To ask if you would keep your child off school because of coronovirus?

[Thelowquietsea]

We got a message from our school that a 'person in the school community' has come into contact with a infected coronovirus person and is now 'self-isolating' for 14 days. Whilst the school considers the risk low, we are told we can keep our child off if we wish.

I have no idea what to do. If we keep DD off, what then? Self-isolate? Surely that must be the only way to completely safeguard yourself but how practical is that?

No idea what to do for the best TBH

Well it’s actually on the whole community to protect its members but ok, pass the buck along with the virus.

It’s only 3 days until half term

Surely that depends where you are?

Op I'd be torn on this. On one hand I'm not particularly worried about the coronavirus, on the other hand I'd be worried about other people who's immune systems aren't great or have underlying illness.
The less people in school, the less chance it has to spread.

‘It’s only 3 days until half term
Surely that depends where you are?’

In Brighton and Hove, the affected areas, it’s only 3 days to half term. For me that’s relevant. If our school tell us to keep kids off if we want I will, partly because we’re winding down to the break.
If it was just after they got back from half term I might decide differently

Poorly - I'm in the same situation and have kept both off(different schools). I'm not saying I'll keep them off indefinitely til it goes away, of course I won't. My thoughts are the less exposure to this the better.
They're already driving me mad with fighting and I've threatened to send them in this afternoon 😂

Sorry that was to Pootle !

It depends on the child's age, health and stage of schooling.

Important exam year, robust child, useful lessons. Likely send in.

Younger child, prone to illness, tailing down to holiday. Stay home and think of It as helping stopping or slowing the spread.

The fact that DP and I both have flexible jobs that allow WFH makes a different obvs, we won’t have to take time off work to keep kids home. If we were both FT office based I think that would be a factor.
B&H council held an emergency meeting this morning. They aren’t advising. Shutting schools. Wash your hands, is the advice. Our school is actively encouraging kids to wash their hands.

Currently in a Brighton coffee shop and I can tell you the ONLY topic of convo so far around us has been the virus, the schools, why Worthing A&E is still open and how one washes ones hands properly!

Hot water and soap?!

Is the question as to how long to scrub?

Between the fingers also v. important apparently, not just round and round, palm to palm. Listening carefully, bloke next to me appears to be a nurse!

Honestly I would probably keep mine off, like others have said for us it’s half term next week anyway. Mine are young though and I wouldn’t take a risk especially if the school have said they can stay off. Not doing the school run in this weather with permission, win win!

Ah of course pootle!

Nails are important too. Can we bin the fashion for fakes along with hand shaking?

Pootle - interesting you say your school is encouraging them to wash hands.
I discovered this week because of the size of DC2 school, all they can do before lunch(3 sittings) in KS2 is use hand gel..which I doubt any of them do. With the current situation this seems crazy to me and I've had several emails with the head yesterday about it...doesn't sound like they're going to change the lunch routine so they can wash their hands immediately before eating. I realise with the numbers they have it's a logistical nightmare but FFS we have 5 cases in Brighton, the main advice is to wash your hands and the school has somebody in self isolation. It's not good enough.
That's another reason my kids are off today.

I would, it's only a few days till half term and we will have a better idea of when we're dealing with in the next week.

Notstrong I would love better hygiene standards in schools to be a positive outcome of this situation. Its the moment to push it forward.

I always cringe when I see the ipads being used by kids in schools and I doubt they are ever cleaned 🙈

Is this thread real?

I would 100%, without a seconds thought...but I have a child with underlying health issues.

What's with this "it's only 3 days to half term"? Will Corona virus have vanished after half term? Surely it with be even more prevalent.

I think you either self-isolate for months or take your chances.

What's with this "it's only 3 days to half term"?

I suspect people are thinking not much will be done at school, then they're off for a week anyway and then hopfully in a week's time things will be a bit clearer for people to make decisions.

I think I would keep mine off. Mainly because one has diabetes and they seem to be less likely to fight it off than others. My other child who is healthy I would normally have sent in but would keep off to protect the other. Are people with diabetes getting worried? I’ve seen a few people mention autoimmune issues on this thread. I’ve been fairly relaxed until this thread.

Porcupine- what I mean by 3 days is it buys us extra time to assess what's happening and get a clearer picture on confirmed/suspected cases locally.
Schools are a hotbed of germs at anytime and if the school have said we can take them out with no penalty then I'll certainly do it, because I can at the moment.
At DD's school they're not even washing their hands because of logistics..in a city with 5 confirmed cases. Send my child into that? No thanks

I’m curious, for those saying “keep them off, it’s almost half term” will you self isolate over that time too? Or go out as normal

all they can do before lunch(3 sittings) in KS2 is use hand gel

@Notstrongandstable Ethanol disinfectant has been shown to be very effective against coronavirus. A high percentage alcohol hand sanitiser (90%) is better than soap and water against viruses. Particularly as young children (and many adults) are unlikely to wash their hands effectively. It also reduces the risk of recontamination after washing hands (eg turning off the tap, drying hands) if they are using their own personal hand sanitiser. Like washing hands, you need to make sure you use it properly, remembering to apply it between fingers and the wrists etc.

"What's with this "it's only 3 days to half term"? Will Corona virus have vanished after half term? Surely it with be even more prevalent"

I don't have a crystal ball. For three days off now, we get 12 days of no school and the opportunity to significantly reduce contact (by staying elsewhere with rural family member, a place DC visiting because of their animals). And in 12 days time we will know considerably more about the progress of this local outbreak