To consider having workers in the house?

[daydreamdaisy]

Partner and I have been renovating our house for the past year or so, I am also due to give birth very soon. Because of this, we are both working from home and isolating - luckily we have jobs which allow this.

However, as it stands we have no flooring or carpet in large areas of the house (had just taken up before all this kicked off) and had booked two tradesmen to come and put it all down at the end of the month.

They estimate it at two days' work. I know it's a risk letting people in, but I really wanted it done before the baby arrives and this is the last chance. The house feels dirty and unsafe.

Assuming they are still willing and allowed to come and do it, AIBU to open all the windows, shut myself upstairs and let them do it?

YABU - don't take the risk
YANBU - should be fine

Please be honest as I'm really struggling to see whether I'm being OTT being worried about it (partner thinks absolutely fine)

Thank you!

I'd get it done before the baby arrives.

Its a hard one to call. If you caught CV now it would likely be passed onto your baby which could be very dangerous. On the other hand realistically the risk is very low and rewards very high if it all goes to plan.

I think if you stay out of the way and spray antibacterial cleaner on all doors, toilets, light switches etc you should be fine. I would insist that they limit their presence to as few rooms as possible and not touch anything unnecessary.

We were due to get work started on an extension. The guy (a friend of ours) is particularly keen to get started now as his other work is drying up and he will get it done quicker. He will be working outside and only coming in to use the toilet/eat. He is a very clean man and conscious about the virus so I think he will be as safe as he can.

Personally I'd get it done before the baby arrives. But I'd take precautions - I wouldn't meet with the guys at all, get your OH to wipe surfaces and door handles with sanitizer each night when they go. Wash your hands frequently.

I'd get it done asap we could potentially be in lockdown at the end of the month and it wont be done as they are not keyworkers.

Yes I think I would. Take all the precautions and make sure they do too (insist they bring their own coffee cups/ kettle/ hand wash etc) and get it done.

I do think it's good when we can continue to support local businesses through this.....

I had been planning to get workers in to rebuild a wall for me. It is actually in an isolated extension room, which I can completely cut off from the house and give them a key for with separate entry. So I am going to go ahead. I don't greatly need the wall done now but I think businesses do need the support and can't see any real risk in either direction.

Note though you would have to not enter the area they had worked for two days after they leave to be absolutely sure any virus traces were gone....

@Lima1 there is NO evidence to suggest that the virus is passed on to babies in the womb.

OP I'm in a similar position. We're going to get the work done if possible.

I run an electrical business and our lads are still working, although it definitely is slowing down so no idea how much longer they will work.

I think you should be okay. Make sure they wash their hands and sanitise them as soon as they arrive and that they wear clean gloves and face masks after that. Open all windows and doors whilst they are there.

Yes, get it done. If you stay out of the way and they observe hygiene standards, I doubt there'll be any risk

I have a leaky kitchen roof. Was due to be done last week but he was in isolation! I'm hoping it can be done after as there needs to be no contact apart from walking through house to get to roof. Although I guess he would need to buy supplies which involves contact

Disinfecting door handles, etc is a good shout. I wouldn't be able to avoid all the areas they had been for two days as it's literally the entire downstairs, but I would do everything I could.

YANBU- I'd risk it.

@unrulysalvia there is evidence to suggest it does get passed on to newborn babies as there have been cases where newborn babies have tested positive straight after birth.

See this as an example www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/14/newborn-baby-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-in-london

@lima - the latest I saw on that was that the baby was believed to have caught it very shortly after birth from a cough etc. No guarantees of course, and it's certainly not an "ideal" time to catch it, but there's no actual evidence to say that the virus is transmitted to babies in the womb. I understand that none of the babies born in China to coronavirus patients (all born by c section) were found to be infected.

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8113665/Newborn-baby-worlds-youngest-coronavirus-victim-danger-recovering.html

(Apologies for the daily fail link - I'm officially "at work" so don't have time to trawl Google for something more reputable..)