To think you don’t have a kids Covid isolation party?

[ComeONreally]

NC as very outing, our school has an outbreak, kids and teachers, they aren’t closed they are pulling classes and random kids out (not mine).

Just had an email letter out and it’s basically a firm but polite bollocking from the head around poor decision making making it impossible for him to control the school.

Examples given:

• children with symptoms/isolating having sleepovers

• children with symptoms/isolating still hosting their birthday party

• children sent out of school isolating still going happily along to the sports clubs

• parents of positive Covid kids still sending the sibling to school

I mean, I’m a bit of a “we have to just be careful and learn to live with it” but COME ON?! Really??

I’m afraid the message isn’t getting through to some people. So many people are just getting on with their lives as normal, not bothering with any rules, just because they don’t know anyone who has had it or they think if they get it symptoms will be mild. The government know not everyone is adhering to the rules, but hopeful that the majority will. But how to get it across to those who are not bothering, I really don’t know what more can be done.

I do wonder if not knowing anyone who has had it affects compliance.

absolutely,
my own dd asked me if i knew anyone who had had it,
it is a common question,

it should not make a difference, people have had it and many have died. if you are not directly affected that is just luck

My teen has just been in self isolation due to a positive case in school.

It was very clear what we needed to do and it angers me that some parents are ignoring the rules, because it will result in school closures and puts staff and pupils at risk.

I know of kids who’s parents are isolating who still went to school and a sports club.

Schools threshold for symptoms are slightly different though aren’t they. I know some schools are sending pupils home with slightest cold. I do know it’s hard to differentiate symptoms at the moment with winter bugs coming. Though I agree any sort of party at this stage is madness

In the first week of re-opening, our local high school had to send kids home after a mother arrived to collect her son because his covid test (from 2 days before) had come back positive.
The kids hadnt isolated at all.
So stupid.

I'm definitely all for asking the elderly and vulnerable to shield (with help and support from the rest of us, including financially) and the rest of us get on with our education, jobs and saving ourselves from a mental health and economic armageddon

The thing is: if by 'the elderly and vulnerable' you mean the extremely vulnerable who were previously shielding, that won't be enough, unless others are careful as well. For one thing, you can't truly shield a group of people who, by their nature, are likely to be at least somewhat dependent on care from others, unless you also isolate their family and/or paid carers. More importantly, these are only the most extreme cases of those who may be vulnerable to Covid. Nearly a quarter of the UK population is over 60. About 40% of the population have some sort of chronic condition. There is some overlap between these groups, but even among younger people, a significant number have an 'underlying condition'. Most people, even those who are older or have underlying conditions, won't die if they catch Covid (though some will); but they may be very ill, and in some cases long-term. And you can't just isolate what would be nearly half the population.

I certainly don't recommend long-term lockdown either. Yes, jobs and the economy and public services and education are necessary and can't be put on hold long-term. But I think we could manage to an extent, if everybody took precautions and wore masks (if they are able to so) and socially distanced and avoided parties and huge gatherings and didn't break rules like in the examples you give. I can slightly sympathize with, though not condone, people who send a child back to school too early, or send a sibling, because in some cases they cannot afford childcare or taking time off work, and Granny cannot be asked to help with childcare. Some of these problems could be reduced if there were more availability of paid sick leave under the circumstances, and if the DWP over the last 10 years hadn't devoted itself to making it more difficult for people with short- or long-term illnesses to take time off work. But there is ABSOLUTELY no excuse for parents who have playdates and parties for children with symptoms or for their exposed siblings, or allow them to go to parks and other public venues.

This is one area where, as a school we are NOT following government guidance and are insisting on seeing a negative test result before a child with symptoms is allowed back. It is unfortunate that we can't trust our parents but, as experience shows, in this case many feel they can just ignore COVID and simply lie!

Doesn’t surprise me at all. I would say everyone I know who has had to self isolate has broken the rules, be that having to go for a run when another member of the household tested Positive, not isolating for 2 weeks at home after holiday (cause “the cases are lower over there then here”) or not getting tested cause they know the new cough is actually not Covid cause it’s wet...

These are all professional people. You only have to look on MN about how people are very good at telling others what to do, but then they will still have to walk Fido, go for a run etc.

I had to email the school the negative test result for DS before DD could return last week. Maybe if the gov changed the ruling on this it might stop some people being so stupid

They need to change the rules regarding proof of test results. There is no reason why someone should not be able or willing to show a negative result with their school, if they are genuine.
My DC were each tested on different weeks, and each time I let their school know they were coming back, I attached a copy of the results on to the email.

While these parents are in the wrong because they should follow the rules, I can understand now why people aren’t. The whole thing has been handled so badly that people don’t trust ‘the rules’ to be in their best interests anymore.

There are so many restrictions that don’t make much sense, and people have had so much taken away from them personally for nothing but detriment to their own family by doing as they’ve been told, that the time has come when inevitably, they’re now making their own choices. This situation wouldn’t happen if we had a decent testing system, the blame lies with the government.

YANBU that's ridiculous!

@NailsNeedDoing

I completely disagree. The rules surrounding self isolation have been in place, consistently since March. There is no excuse for not following.

@DumplingsAndStew agree with you. People use the excuses “the government advice is inconsistent/changing/Dominic Cummings...”, cause they don’t want to follow the rules and have to isolate for 14 days.

Guidance is perfectly clear people are just too selfish to follow it.
My Ds school requested to see his sisters negative test, ( and she is at a different school) after both being in total isolation at home, following dd coming down with a bad cough.DS had no symptoms.

I was happy proof was requested, but then l care for my elderly parents who live with us (both vulnerable,) so my tolerance for this selfish and idiotic behaviour is non existent.

If my 14 yr old dd can uncomplainingly stay in her bedroom entirely, working remotely from her laptop, feeling rotten for the 5 days, it took to be tested, then adults not taking responsibility for keeping their dc home is pathetic.

I agree with pp. the guidance/laws on meeting others, inside, outside, masks, work and so on has all been shambolic, inconsistent and arguably illogical.

The guidance on isolation, whilst it initially seemed complex, has been in place for some time now with plenty of schematics to explain it if the words are hard to follow.

It is just people being selfish. People who have had a sniff of normality as kids return to school, or need to be earning again who don't want to lose that, are putting wider groups at risk.

I can understand (but disagree with) people not isolating properly but reading here of those with actual symptoms or positive results going out and about beggars belief.

I think this is happening all over the country - kids who are supposed to be self isolating out and about in the community. Recently, whenever I go for a run, go into town, etc I see kids out during the school day. Why aren't they in school? Because presumably they're supposed to be at home self isolating

@ZappBrannigan

Nothing surprises me. We've had to turn away numerous children/adults who should be isolating who have arrived to attend hospital appointments. Apparently they didn't think this meant exclusion from everything 🙄

I understand this though. Presumably you are allowed to break isolation to seek urgent/ vital medical assistance. I imagine that firstly, it's hard to explain to people that they can attend some medical appointments and not others, and secondly, there may be some confusion about what is "vital".

For instance, I attend pre-natal appointments. I assume these are necessary (otherwise why are they offered?!) If I was meant to be self-isolating, I'm not actually clear whether or not I should still attend them. (My solution would be to phone or text the midwife to find out beforehand, but not everyone would think to do that!)

I recently discussed the prospect of self isolation with a very well educated friend (she is in fact a teacher) as a mutual friend has to do it. She genuinely had no idea that it was a case of staying in for 2 weeks and that's it. She thought the process was you get a test and then you're clear.
There are a lot of stupid/arrogant people about. But there's a lot that are just ignorant and don't know. I'm not sure either is excusable.

Yanbu. I mean ffs come on.

I'm very much of the mindset that we need to be careful and carry on, but these people are just being utter cunts.

Wtf is wrong with people? They just don't care do they?

Why are kids with symptoms who are sent home not then required to show the test results to school?

This is why I cancelled my sons swimming lessons! Idiots.

As soon as the 3pm bell rings and school is over, once the classes have all (socially distancing) left the yard, the kids all gather together and play in the neighbouring streets.
Parents wander off home alone (or in groups) and the kids are left to it until bedtime or until they're hungry.
It's scandalous.
The two local primary's are very close together and all the kids know each other and live in the same area so mix too.
Only yesterday I had four different kids calling for my DC and then I had upset, angry children who couldn't understand (and felt left out) why they were the only ones not allowed out to play- and I was the worst mum ever!
DD also mentioned a classmate was having a hot tub party at the weekend with some friends.
The schools here have no chance with such fools about.