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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to think DS should not need to isolate

102 replies

lftorpcr · 19/07/2021 08:15

Been told by school that DS's class has to isolate today as a girl has a positive LFT. If the PCR comes back positive the whole class has to isolate for 10 days according to school. Surely this is not correct DS has not been within 2m of the girl not even for a moment and they all sit in forward facing seats in rows and there was no movement.

OP posts:
SorryPardonWhat · 19/07/2021 08:17

It's nuts I agree and he shouldn't have to isolate but if they are in the same bubble that's that. I would just treat it like school is finishing early.

Mayra1367 · 19/07/2021 08:18

If they are in the same class there will be some contact between them . How do you know he hasn’t been within 2m ?

RIPworkingmums · 19/07/2021 08:19

Urgh we have the same problem. My primary dd is having to isolate as someone in the (huge) bubble has tested positive. I know she has nothing to do with this person and extremely unlikely to have caught it from them but it is what it is!

Original poster
lftorpcr · 19/07/2021 08:25

It is year 6 so has HUGE implications as will never say goodbye to everyone, miss leavers prom and then miss our summer holiday. It is not the same as breaking up early as may never see any of these friends again.

I dont believe there was any contact as they sit in rows and stay in same rows for lunch and are not allowed to turn round to speak to those behind them and DS is sat 3m apart. They have been sat like this since covid and missed so much by never leaving the classroom or being allowed to mix groups and only working with their partners. The benefit was meant to be to reduce risk. If they were one bubble they may has well have been able to speak to their friends at lunch and not sit in a row watching TV not allowed to speak all year.

OP posts:
NailsNeedDoing · 19/07/2021 08:28

It will be very unlikely that your ds has had no contact whatsoever with this girl, even if your school has been especially strict within their bubbles. Distancing within bubbles isn’t supposed to be a requirement. That said though, I agree with you that your ds shouldn’t have to isolate. At this point, the practice of sending healthy symptomless children into isolation is ridiculous.

cansu · 19/07/2021 08:31

Of course they have mixed at playtime OP. It is rubbish and stupid but you can't seriously be suggesting that she hasn't had the potential to be exposed. The virus is airborne and there are plenty of models to suggest that it reaches throughout the room which is why the seating plans within classes are utter nonsense.

Get some LFTs and do a daily test for her. Stick primarily to outside activities.

Whinge · 19/07/2021 08:43

It will be very unlikely that your ds has had no contact whatsoever with this girl, even if your school has been especially strict within their bubbles.

Sorry OP, it's a rubbish way to end the year. However, I agree with this. Class bubbles are a way to try and contain any contacts to a class, but within that class it's very likely there will have been close contact at some point.

perhapstomorrow · 19/07/2021 08:44

You have my sympathies as the same thing has happened to my ds. He has missed all the year 6 end of school activities as his bubble burst last week. It is very upsetting and frustrating.

modgepodge · 19/07/2021 08:50

@lftorpcr

It is year 6 so has HUGE implications as will never say goodbye to everyone, miss leavers prom and then miss our summer holiday. It is not the same as breaking up early as may never see any of these friends again.

I dont believe there was any contact as they sit in rows and stay in same rows for lunch and are not allowed to turn round to speak to those behind them and DS is sat 3m apart. They have been sat like this since covid and missed so much by never leaving the classroom or being allowed to mix groups and only working with their partners. The benefit was meant to be to reduce risk. If they were one bubble they may has well have been able to speak to their friends at lunch and not sit in a row watching TV not allowed to speak all year.

I do sympathise, I really do. I teach year 6 and I was dreading our bubble bursting before the end of term (our y5s went down 3 days before). It’s such a crappy ending to primary school.

However, if the school have said he has to isolate, the class won’t be open. You can choose not to make him isolate, but you can’t send him to school. None of the other kids will be there or possibly the staff!

It does sound rubbish that he hasn’t been able to socialise within his bubble all year 🙁

roses2 · 19/07/2021 08:54

Your school are being quite harsh - he shouldn't have to isolate with a positive LF. Only a positive PCR.

changingstages · 19/07/2021 08:54

It's almost as though it's an airborne virus...

Redlocks28 · 19/07/2021 08:56

I’m a teacher of a class who has been in rows who aren’t supposed to turn round.

That is absolutely impossible to enforce-they all do it. They all mix at play time/lunchtime, they line up to go out, they mix by the toilets, getting their water bottles, washing their hands and getting resources. It is naive to think otherwise. A sad end to Y6, but schools are a covid pond at the moment-both mine finished early and unexpectedly this year.

Lulu1919 · 19/07/2021 08:58

Think about playtime ...
Moving in and out of the classroom
Touching doors....books
Standing by teachers desk

I know it sound crazy but.....

Original poster
lftorpcr · 19/07/2021 08:58

I understand school may be closed so there wont be the option to go but we wont be able to go on holiday if he has to isolate. The test was done sunday afternoon so 48 hours before is Friday afternoon. They dont get playtime so just sat in rows watching a movie. Even if they had playtime they have never gone near each other out of choice but even if they had it is meant to be close contact.

The rules before todays relaxation of isolation in schools was -

face to face contact including being coughed on or having a face-to-face conversation within 1 metre
been within 1 metre for 1 minute or longer without face-to-face contact
been within 2 metres of someone for more than 15 minutes (either as a one-off contact or added up together over 1 day)

OP posts:
Whinge · 19/07/2021 09:00

They dont get playtime so just sat in rows watching a movie.

So for an entire year the class have spent all day in their classroom? No playtime, eating lunch, no PE? I'm surprised no one has complained about this. Shock

FortniteBoysMum · 19/07/2021 09:02

Does oxygen stop moving in the class room when it reaches a 2 meter distance? If so then I'm sure your ds is fine but if like anywhere else the air circulates in the whole class who's to say he hasn't breathed in the same air. They could both have spoke to the teacher or the same child.

Original poster
lftorpcr · 19/07/2021 09:03

No we have been told it is just the 48 hours from taking the test so from 2pm on the Friday. They dont get afternoon play so from end of lunchtime to end of day they watched a movie. However this year they have eaten lunch sat in rows in their classroom every day and trust me there have been many complaints!!

OP posts:
Original poster
lftorpcr · 19/07/2021 09:07

Of course they could breathe the same air but government advice was as below before it was further relaxed today

face to face contact including being coughed on or having a face-to-face conversation within 1 metre
been within 1 metre for 1 minute or longer without face-to-face contact
been within 2 metres of someone for more than 15 minutes (either as a one-off contact or added up together over 1 day)

The government advice says nothing about sharing air at distance otherwise the whole country would be isolating instead of just 2 million or whatever it is.

OP posts:
Howcanthisbe123 · 19/07/2021 09:10

It’s law to isolate if the school tell you too.

You either ignore it and risk a fine, or adhere to it. No matter of opinions or explaining changes the two options you have available.

Skihound · 19/07/2021 09:18

It does suck but think you have to isolate - The 3rd point to the two you have quoted is if you spent a large amount of time with someone indoors

“spending lots of time in your home, such as cleaning it”

this not be the same risk as spending all day in classroom ?

Original poster
lftorpcr · 19/07/2021 09:19

Thats fine I am just trying to ensure school follow correct guidance before they tell us to isolate. At moment we are awaiting PCR. Far better to ensure guidance is correct before kids are told to isolate as then it will be too late to change decision.

OP posts:
Iggly · 19/07/2021 09:21

This has happened to us.

Kids go back tomorrow (also y6). The rationale from school is that they’ve all been mixing because they’re practising for their school production.

Original poster
lftorpcr · 19/07/2021 09:21

Siki - 3rd point is within 2m - He has never been within 2m in the class as they stay seated. Even walking to the toilet wouldnt take him within 2m and it had to be for more than 15 minutes

OP posts:
Skihound · 19/07/2021 09:22

My daughter has had to isolate 5 times (never caught it) and each time has been after positive LFT awaiting PCR - I agree it’s nuts - they then called out her lack of attendance 🤣

Original poster
lftorpcr · 19/07/2021 09:23

We had no school rehearsals on Friday and they are just doing 48 hours before test as requirement for isolation. Even so our school rehearsals are filmed in tiny groups within a class as there is no performance just a film.

OP posts:
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