Alton Towers on day 13 of 14 isolation period.

[Autumnly]

Both friend's son and my son were sent home from school to isolate for 14 days and given a date to return to school after being in contact with another pupil who tested positive for covid.

Just found out today that friend took her son to Alton Towers to the before they were due back at school.

AIBU to think that this is an incredibly selfish to do?

I may be biased because she once took her other son (3 at the time) to an indoor shopping centre with chicken pox (before the spots dried up) because 'he was bored with staying in'.

Kid he’s not symptomatic now then he’s unlikely to have the virus, or even if he’s asymptotic 12 hours is neither here or there.

It’s exactly why the government are looking into lowering the isolation period.

I’m isolating as my sons tested positive, 12 hours is neither here nor there tbh.

Well they’re considering reducing it to 7 days and agree with pp that 12 hours is neither here nor there

It’s the rules until they changed. And given I’m currently stuck indoors during precious annual leave/half term with a 5 year old who is isolated due to someone in their class with covid YANBU.

Honestly FFS we have got a long winter ahead of us. I think we are all deluded the schools will stay open. There will be so much covid around hardly any classes will be there. Can people please start following the rules and stop being selfish

Why is it selfish.... Rationally? If he hasn't developed symptoms by day 13 after exposure, he isn't at risk of spreading Covid.

From an emotional point of view it might be a bit annoying but from an objective, common sense, risk assessed point of view, it's fine.

The average incubation is 4-5 days. Day 13 is pretty much zero risk.

Schools need to stop sending children home to self isolate. It is not up to schools.

The child’s parents should make the decision on whether to self isolate and only need to do so if the child, a member of the household or support bubble has symptoms or has tested positive. Or if they are told to self isolate by track and trace. Not school.

So on that basis YABU. As it doesn’t sound like they needed to self isolate in the first place.

No it's not up to schools. They contact public health if they have a case and are advised. Similar to track and trace.

Isolation is going to be reduced to 7 days soon to help people comply.... or spread the virus, however you wish to see it. YANBU to think she shouldn’t have taken him. Fortunately it sounds like he was not a risk.

@Thisismylife1

It’s the rules until they changed. And given I’m currently stuck indoors during precious annual leave/half term with a 5 year old who is isolated due to someone in their class with covid YANBU.

Honestly FFS we have got a long winter ahead of us. I think we are all deluded the schools will stay open. There will be so much covid around hardly any classes will be there. Can people please start following the rules and stop being selfish

Do you really think that if you obey rules you are safe and if you disobey them you will get covid and die are not safe BUT If the rules change, you will then be safe doing them.

That Covid looks at the rules and won't affect someone following them but will seek out someone breaking them.

I am sure you don't but that is what your post says

@Florencex schools are being instructed to run a track and trace system within their establishment by PHE. When a student tests positive they spend a long time combing through seating plans to work out who needs to self-isolate and for how long. As a teacher who is having to cancel all plans and stay home during half term (the one week in the term that we can have appointments etc) due to a student testing positive, I would urge parents to take this seriously.

Could you clarify something OP.

Was the day when the children were asked to return to school the same day that their self isolation ended?

For example, suppose they were in contact with a child on the Friday who subsequently tested positive. The self isolation would have ended 14 days later on a Friday but the children would not have returned to school until the Monday. So was it day 13 or day 15 when this child visited Alton Towers?

'No it's not up to schools. They contact public health if they have a case and are advised. Similar to track and trace.'

Exactly! Do people really think schools make up the rules 🙄.

Compliance is and always has been the problem. Others have made excuses about financial issues with adults but the fact is with kids many parents just cannot be arsed to enforce the isolation rules.

In our local school a few kids were sent hime on the fri to isolate, by the tues they were all out and about. Imo real draconian measures should be brought in to enforce isolation. What happened to the covid marshals that mumsnetters were outraged about a few short weeks ago? They should be knocking on the doors of those told to isolate and if they aren't in then on the spot fines should be given.

The 14 days is arbitrary and disproportionately long in my view. Most people develop symptoms by 5 days of contact with someone infected, so it's more than likely that you are ok if you've got to day 13 without any symptoms.

It's about time the government reduced it to 7 days with a test at 5. Negative test should then = you can go about your business.

Wouldn't bother me, and I'm generally a rule follower. I've seen the stats and the risk on day 13 would be virtually zero. I mean really infinitesimally tiny if it exists at all.

Ds bubble was infected on the 16th, ds tested positive on the 23rd and we have to isolated until the 6th nov....

Even tho we have both been tested on the 18th and 27th due to our jobs and both have tested negative each time...

But the government says we have to isolate for 14 days...

TVWife - I believe the contact was on the Friday but they weren't sent home until the following Tuesday as I assume that's when the infected pupil got his/her positive test result.

We were told they must isolate until they return to school on the Friday. Friend went to Alton Towers on the Thursday.

Having just spent 14 days in isolation I absolutely agree it’s pretty awful. That said, I wouldn’t have made this choice myself, regardless of how tough I’ve found it.
We lost our half term holiday and have been stuck indoors the whole of half term so I know how they feel but unfortunately I think at this point in time it’s necessary. I want my DC to be able to return to school and if another child in their class tests positive next week we’ll all be at home again. For this reason I’d be avoiding places like Alton Towers regardless.

I think it's fine. Aren't they thinking or lowering the isolation period anyway? I have also never understood keeping kids at home with chicken pox as they all have to get it anyway.