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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to be upset about people not self-isolating

43 replies

igetitigetit · 07/07/2021 18:27

I work with children in an extra-curricular club setting. We have kids from a number of different schools. We are a private/independent organisation. One member tested positive for Covid, and so we've asked all those the child has been in contact with to self-isolate for 10 days as per the guidance. We've moved our activity to online, seeing different small groups each day. Today, 5/5 kids we saw had obviously been to school and are not self-isolating. I'm really upset. I get how frustrating it is, but there is very good reason to self-isolate as they were all in close contact.

This is bad enough but my employer thinks it's not a big deal and it's up to the parents to decide. If they decide not to make their kids self-isolate, then it's up to them. I disagree. Moreover, the kids will be back at the club next week, and I'm expected to go in and work with them. I expect a certain degree of risk (as in most things at the moment) but I feel now I'm obviously dealing with people who are not taking things seriously, so the risk is greater. I've said I'm not happy going in, but not sure where I stand. This is only one part of a bigger job, and the rest of it I can do from home (I'm self-isolating) so I'm not idly twiddling my thumbs. This is causing big conflict in the workplace though.

OP posts:

PomegranateQueen · 07/07/2021 19:56

I can't say I blame them, children have missed enough school as it is. Most people over 18 have had at least one jab now, we need to get on with our lives.

PomegranateQueen · 07/07/2021 20:02

They can if they claim the self isolation payment.
If they’re a close contact they legally have to isolate

What payment? £500 only if you are on a low income. 10 days off work would leave many people very short, especially with the school holidays coming up.

wasthataburp · 07/07/2021 20:02

People care more about their employment and paying their bills than self isolating. Quite rightly so!

MrsApplepants · 07/07/2021 20:04

Very few people care any more. Let it go

osbertthesyrianhamster · 07/07/2021 20:06

*They can if they claim the self isolation payment.(
If they’re a close contact they legally have to isolate.

Lots of people cannot claim this, they fall through crack in the system. It's a pittance and won't cover a lot of people's bills. And the parents don't have to unless the child tests positive. The tests are not a legal requirement, however.

user1471462428 · 07/07/2021 20:11

I was in Tesco at lunchtime and overheard two mums with primary aged children with chatting about how they were having a week’s holiday as they’re kids bubble had shut. Tesco was rammed with people not wearing masks. It is hideous to see and proves what short memories people have.

Saidtoomuch · 07/07/2021 20:13

By the time the summer school holidays are up all adults who can will have had their second vaccines.
It is frustrating, my household is insolation and luckily we haven't had to isolate much since schools went back. I would start to loose patience though if they had to miss much more school because of this virus. Their education has suffered enough.

warmfluffytowels · 07/07/2021 20:25

They can if they claim the self isolation payment.

Very, very few people qualify for this.

Bryonyshcmyony · 07/07/2021 20:27

Please let it go. Ask them to do a lft if you are worried

Original poster

igetitigetit · 07/07/2021 20:34

To repeat: half of them are secondary age so could stay home alone which is what they do in the holidays.

We ask them to do LFT but that only applies to secondary school age. And we can’t be sure they do it. I rather doubt it, given their general attitude.

OP posts:

osbertthesyrianhamster · 07/07/2021 20:36

@igetitigetit

To repeat: half of them are secondary age so could stay home alone which is what they do in the holidays.

We ask them to do LFT but that only applies to secondary school age. And we can’t be sure they do it. I rather doubt it, given their general attitude.

Not all secondary age pupils can stay home. LFTs are unreliable. You can't force people to do them and personally, we never do as they are unreliable.

You can let this go or just be upset about it, but people won't change.

Sounds like you don't like the pupils where you work or their parents, lots of posts about how they all have money, can leave their kids at home, the pupils' 'general attitude'.

Onlinedilema · 07/07/2021 20:45

It's all getting ridiculous. I totally understand where you are coming from op. I have socially distanced theatre tickets booked. I will not be sat within one metre of any one else, yet I'm now told I will have to wear a mask throughout the entire performance unless I am drinking or eating. I am watching the England match and thousands and thousands of people shouting, singing and in close proximity at Wembley. I know for absolute fact that not all of them have been tested for covid.
Covid does not suddenly start spreading inside a theatre and stop at a football match.

Original poster

igetitigetit · 07/07/2021 21:00

I don’t really know the parents but I’m unimpressed by this behaviour. One rule for them, another for the rest of us. Still, at least I know not to bother feeling sorry for them. I won’t be putting myself out anymore either. They can stuff the unpaid overtime and all the extra nice things I’ve done for them.

OP posts:

sempiternal · 07/07/2021 21:16

OP I agree with you. It's frustrating. I'm glad the rules change soon because many aren't following them anyway so what's the point.

A local primary school had to close recently, and had almost 50 positive cases in the end. I wonder how many of the 50 actually isolated, and how many just didn't bother and probably passed it on to goodness knows how many other people.

doesparentingsuck · 07/07/2021 22:51

@warmfluffytowels

Meh, I think most people just really don't care anymore.

If this had happened in 12 days time, none of them would need to isolate anyway.

They do. I work with a group of people that are fucking ridiculous about it.

HugeAckmansWife · 08/07/2021 07:38

But we KNOW cases are rising, most of us will get it and most of us will either not notice or be a ill for as short period. We have to stop acting like the vaccine hasn't happened. We will not be 'back to square one' or 'back to last Autumn' because the vaccine has changed radically the outcome of infection. We can't irradicate it and we can't live indefinitely in this situation and we don't need to. Oh and my summer born y7 most certain cannot stay home alone all day. A couple of hours yes, but not all day. He'd be safe, but horribly lonely and unproductive.

sirfredfredgeorge · 08/07/2021 07:47

we've asked all those the child has been in contact with to self-isolate

But it's not your job to ask, and if track & trace who's job it is to decide who needs to haven't then of course the kids should be going to school.

Flowerlane · 08/07/2021 08:02

@igetitigetit

So you don’t really know the parents but know they can afford to have time off to look after their children

many people can look like they have money to flash when in reality could be on the edge of loosing everything.

Did track and trace actually inform them that they have to isolate? If no that’s probably why they are also at school.

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