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

[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?!?!

I think you can drive your self slowly mad tbh.
I have friends all over the country with secondary age kids. In one place they are testing all kids and their families. This has thrown up positive but symptomless cases that would havr been undetected before. Many of these kids havr been off school at various points due to their year group closing.
Unless you know an actual person who has tested positive and is going about their business, just focus on making sure you are doing the right thing.

Like others have said, contacts of contacts don't isolate. You isolate if a contact tests positive or shows symptoms. Otherwise hardly anyone would be at work!

2 issues. 1. He did nothing wrong before her + test.

1. He should be isolating til 30th Dec now due to positive in his household.

It’s really not difficult. If your husband is bothered tell his manager and they should send the man home ( if he hasn’t finished for Christmas?)

As far as I understand, as others have said, he’s followed the guidance.

No he’s not done anything wrong
But the system is flawed agreed

This is a good example of why Christmas mixing was always a bad idea regardless of whether it was allowed or not . People are almost happy to absolve them selfs of any responsibility as long as they are following the rulllleeesss

He wasn’t required to isolate when she was a contact and sent home. If she had no symptoms he wasn’t doing anything wrong at all.
Now she has tested positive he should be isolating.
You aren’t required to isolate children (or adults) who are contacts of positive cases from others in the house.
I understand this is distressing news but I don’t think your DHs colleague has done anything wrong.

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).

Well yes, but you’re ignoring the other factor I mentioned, which is that he tested negative. If he had tested positive, then the risk would be much higher, obviously. But people touch door handles all the time in public places where it’s a near certainty there will have been contamination at some point. Many viruses don’t live long outside the body.

If he was positive, then the risk of him contaminating handles with significant viral load is higher. Think wiping his nose or coughing into his hand. But the chances of him carrying live virus on his hands from home are much, much lower. Presumably there are instructions in place to handwash and/or use alcohol rub to decrease that risk even further. If you start to think about door handles someone might have touched after being in contact with a person who tested positive, you’re going to drive yourself into a state of worry that won’t help you at all.

He didn't have to isolate until his daughter tested positive and actually his daughter didn't need to take a test until she showed symptoms although she had to isolate from the time of her last contact with the infected person. It seems to me he has followed the rules. My dd was asked to isolate for ten days which she did. She had no symptoms. I and my partner were told to continue working in school throughout her isolation. It is surprising but true that these are the rules.

The colleague tested Negative.

He followed guidelines before that.

Your partner needs to check his hygiene practices.
eg Wash hands. Use tissue on door handles. Use a face covering. Use gloves when handling shared computers (or just wash hands after handling). Always wash hands after using the toilet (many do not - grim!)

Yabu.

Jemma is quite correct in what is being asked of families in certain areas.

@LuckyNumberThirteen

I feel like you're drip-feeding info' to try and get people on your side.

He followed guidelines. You may not like it, but he's done nothing wrong.

Move on.

It does certainly feel like a froth

YABU he acted within guidelines and his family has a right to confidentiality surrounding their health

Your use of capitals is odd

@CatherineHale

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).

There's no ability to get tested here on the basis of being in contact with someone who has a confirmed case in their household. You can only get a test if you have one of the three main symptoms.

It's been around my kids school numerous times we still have to go to work everyday if its classed as no direct contact. They are only telling the kids who sit next to the infected child they have to isolate. Even though they mix at lunch.

YABU.

That’s odd. Where do you live? Here you can get tests without having symptoms (much like the poster above).

The household has to isolate while waiting for test results of someone in the household. Unless it’s a routine test for day nhs staff.

Say not day

@CatherineHale

That’s odd. Where do you live? Here you can get tests without having symptoms (much like the poster above).

It's the rule for most of England at least...

@Benjispruce2 Yeah, didn’t happen. Came into work for 2 days.

You only need to isolate as a household if you are getting tested because someone has symptoms. We live in an area with very high infection levels. My DDs school went from open to completely shut in a week due to a COVID outbreak. Due to the high levels of community transmission the council introduced mass asymptomatic testing for families of secondary school children. We all got tested (negative) but did not need to isolate whilst awaiting the results because it was asymptomatic testing.

The colleague did not need to isolate whilst awaiting the test results. He should isolate for 10 days from the date his daughter’s positive test was taken.

Lots of frothing from you OP over someone who hasn't done anything wrong.

His fucking daughter was positive he is a close contact and should have stayed at home FFS OMDG