Partner’s Colleague Came To Work Despite Daughter’s School Being Shut Early

Allyo19 · 23/12/2020 05:57

I think he's acted in line with the guidelines. He wouldn't have to isolate himself until he had contact with a confirmed positive case (his daighter)

TW2013 · 23/12/2020 05:58

The family do not need to isolate, only the person who has been in contact. Likewise with the testing if it was precautionary to test the whole family at the request of the school, rather than because the child had symptoms he has done nothing wrong. Although logically it would make sense for him to have isolated it is not in the rules or guidance. He should now isolate though because although currently negative, he might catch it from his daughter over the next 10 days.

DonnatellaLyman · 23/12/2020 05:59

Unless there was something different about this outbreak, contacts of contacts (ie your partners colleague) don’t need to isolate. Equally your partner doesn’t need to isolate even though his colleagues daughter is positive (also a contact of a contact).

The asked to get a test by the school is odd but they might be participating in the lateral flow study? If the daughter had symptoms and was tested because of that then her dad should have isolated with her awaiting results.

Original poster

CatherineHale · 23/12/2020 05:59

Btw; he’s saying the daughter at no point has symptoms and only got tested because they were asked to by the school. She apparently was on the ‘tail end of the contagious stage’ according to him/the nurse. How he knows this; I have no idea - especially since she got the positive result yesterday. He said she most likely had it from the 10th onwards and is getting over it now. Again; I’m not sure how he knows this. My partner doesn’t want to get a test because he sees no reason to as his colleague’s test came back negative.

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myhobbyisouting · 23/12/2020 06:00

How is not isolating when your daughter tests positive "acting within the guidelines"?

TW2013 · 23/12/2020 06:01

Your dh only needs a test if the colleague tests positive or develops symptoms within 48 hours of last contract with the colleague. As his boss though he should send him home for ten days and arrange to pay him to stay there.

Original poster

CatherineHale · 23/12/2020 06:02

I still don’t think she was isolating in the house by any means - and he was still going to work prior to her results. I find that really reckless. The school had been shut due to a COVID outbreak and he didn’t think to even mention it to his fellow workers/colleagues....?!

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Jubaju · 23/12/2020 06:04

He needs to isolate for 10 days from her positive test or whenever symptoms started (as she had none, then 10days from 20th).

It’s quite clear guidance and he should not be at work now.

Allyo19 · 23/12/2020 06:04

@myhobbyisouting

How is not isolating when your daughter tests positive "acting within the guidelines"?

I said he didn't have to isolate UNTIL he had contacted with a confirmed case, so before that he wouldn't have needed to tell anyone that the school was closed.

FedUpFanny · 23/12/2020 06:05

Your partner doesn't need a test unless he develops symptoms. The dad of the CV19+ should now self isolate and really I suppose 10 days from the school closures/positive test result. I've come into contact with this exact same situation. You carry on as normal (PPE/SD) and only get a test if you have symptoms. It's all there in the guidance.

Sinful8 · 23/12/2020 06:05

@CatherineHale

My partner’s colleague has been coming into work since Dec 10th. (It’s 23rd Dec at the time of writing this). His daughter’s school was shut early due to a COVID outbreak. The colleague never mentioned this until yesterday (22nd). He only mentioned it after it turned out her test result was positive. Turns out the whole family were asked by the school to get tested over the weekend. They all got tested on the 20th. His results came back negative. He never once mentioned the school being closed/the outbreak. He also never mentioned that they all had to be tested over the weekend - only mentioned on the 22nd that the daughter had tested positive.

AIBU in thinking that’s highly irresponsible and dangerous?! Most colleagues are working from home from their office due to their roles allowing them to do so but this colleague needs to be in the building due to the nature of his job. My partner said they work in different areas of the same building but obviously share a front door/kitchen; but he feels like he doesn’t need to isolate and get a test at any point because they have so little actual contact. I’m really annoyed at his colleague but also annoyed at my partner for seemingly being so lax about it all. I’m not seeing my parents this year for obvious reasons - and my partner isn’t doing the same (his father has cancer). I find the colleague’s attitude really horrible and am wondering if someone can be fired for knowingly coming into work when their child is supposed to be isolating at home?!? At no point did he think to mention it to my partner who is his boss?!?!

He's wothon4he guidelines towtill go to work.

I assume your partner, his boss, wouldn't be paying him to isolate every time the school shuts?

Jubaju · 23/12/2020 06:06

He did nothing wrong before she had a test as he was not in contact with a direct case.

TW2013 · 23/12/2020 06:07

She apparently was on the ‘tail end of the contagious stage’ according to him/the nurse. How he knows this; I have no idea - especially since she got the positive result yesterday. He said she most likely had it from the 10th onwards and is getting over it now.

Maybe the 10th is when her bubble closed and she hasn't seen anyone/ been out of the house since, but unless it is just the daughter and father at home, she might have caught it from a third family member who is now clear of it so it would still be wise to isolate the colleague.

MawkishHawk · 23/12/2020 06:07

You might find it reckless, but thems the rules. Contacts of contacts don’t isolate, and he has no obligation to inform his employer of anything until it actually affected his ability to come to work - ie when his daughter actually tested positive - which it seems he did.

Bonnieonthelam · 23/12/2020 06:07

He knows exactly what he was doing. It’s people like this that cause the spread. He might test negative for now but positive later. He should have stayed home. It’s part of the guidelines. Regardless of his negative status.

ineedaholidaynow · 23/12/2020 06:13

He should only stay home once his daughter tested positive (as she had no symptoms).

So many schools are closing/part closing and it is only going to get worse after Christmas

Subordinateclause · 23/12/2020 06:13

As soon as his daughter was tested, he should have isolated. However before that he was doing as thousands of parents up and down the country will have done - at any one time about 20% of school children have been at home because of positive contacts, it is not feasible (nor within guidance) for their entire family to isolate each time. And for some families, outbreaks at their children's schools have happened so often it certainly wouldn't be something newsworthy to tell colleagues.

Original poster

CatherineHale · 23/12/2020 06:16

It was the fact that they were (apparently) asked by the school to get a test for the family - and whilst awaiting results; he continued to come into work and not disclose anything. His job involves handling tech/computers that are then sent out to schools/individuals - so I’d think HE would think to say something?! Anything?! (He would have been paid to stay at home!)

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inquietant · 23/12/2020 06:19

I said he didn't have to isolate UNTIL he had contacted with a confirmed case, so before that he wouldn't have needed to tell anyone that the school was closed.

This is correct but a major reason we have lots of transmission caused by schools - schools are unsafe, and parents take it to work having caught it from asymptomatic children.

The government have known this all along but didn't care to do anything.

CarlottaValdez · 23/12/2020 06:20

We’ve just had a very analogous situation at my work so I’ve just looked this all up and he’s correct if I’ve understood the timeline.

rawlikesushi · 23/12/2020 06:21

School wouldn't have asked the whole family to get tested. If there was a positive case in her bubble, she'd have been sent home to isolate for ten days from the day the positive child developed symptoms. The rest of the family wouldn't have had to isolate or get tested.

AnyOldPrion · 23/12/2020 06:29

I think the system is flawed, but that he didn’t do anything wrong. If everyone who had any contact with a contact of someone positive stayed home, there would be nobody at work at all.

If the system mandated that he should stay home after the point when he was deemed high enough risk to have a test, then it might be better, but it doesn’t and that is the background to this situation.

And ultimately he’s negative, so I don’t understand why you think your partner should be tested, especially if he doesn’t have much contact with this man. Where’s the risk?

MrsMiaWallis · 23/12/2020 06:34

He, and the company, have done absolutely nothing wrong.

Wash your hands, wear a mask and chill out.

Original poster

CatherineHale · 23/12/2020 06:34

Hi. I think my partner should be tested because they share the same kitchen/doors - but more than that - they handle the same equipment - (laptops/projectors/monitors) all of which are being sent to schools/homes given the home learning/WFH situation we’ve all experienced this year. So whilst the two men might not be literally close - there’s still ‘contact’ via items (due to the nature of their jobs).

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MrsMiaWallis · 23/12/2020 06:35

Of course they use the same doors. Get your partner to wipe handles with bleach or use paper towels to open them and discard straight away if he's that concerned