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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:
iloveredpandas · 19/07/2021 12:49

Outside does count as contacted there is no difference.

iloveredpandas · 19/07/2021 12:50

I'm not sure it's ethical for a head teacher to severely restrict an entire school of kids in this way just because they are vulnerable 🤨

delilahbucket · 19/07/2021 12:51

Some schools are doing class bubbles, some aren't. DS's school hasn't done bubbles throughout, just those in contact to isolate. He's on his last day today and back in tomorrow. Out of all those in contact at the same time as him, half have tested positive at some point. Some asymptomatic and picked up with lft's and some have been poorly. To me that shows the right decision has been made.
I can imagine in primary school it is very difficult to determine those who have been in contact. They may not be sat next to each other in class, but have they been at lunch time, or playing together? Or sat next to each other in assembly? Or asked to do help the teacher together. There are so many instances and where they have bubbles there is no need to distance from each other, that's the whole point.

Original poster
lftorpcr · 19/07/2021 12:51

Please read the full thread. We were asked for close contacts from 2pm on Friday!!! I said from lunch at 1.30 they stayed in the class and watched a movie and did not get an afternoon playtime and my son was well over 2m from the girl for this time as there was no movement allowed.

Why keep questioning this especially as i have posted the up to date legislation which states no isolation unless very close ie a sleepover not being in the same class!!!

OP posts:
TeanupFlutter · 19/07/2021 12:53

It's very frustrating. Your school will be led by the advice of your local Public Health Dept, it's not just the schools decision to close bubbles. Ours is recommending that bubbles and isolations etc remain until the end of term in view of the rapid rise of cases in our area. Also that a bubble pops with a positive LFT. A PCR is then needed and they could go back if its negative but with the numbers of cases in schools they need to act with the upmost caution at the moment.

4PawsGood · 19/07/2021 12:54

You’ve just said it again though they dont have afternoon play

iloveredpandas · 19/07/2021 12:56

@lftorpcr

Please read the full thread. We were asked for close contacts from 2pm on Friday!!! I said from lunch at 1.30 they stayed in the class and watched a movie and did not get an afternoon playtime and my son was well over 2m from the girl for this time as there was no movement allowed.

Why keep questioning this especially as i have posted the up to date legislation which states no isolation unless very close ie a sleepover not being in the same class!!!

'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.'

Your posts are confusing OP - you said they never leave the classroom so no** wonder people are getting very confused!

UndertheCedartree · 19/07/2021 12:56

Really hope for your son and his friends' sake the PCR comes back negative.

My DD had to miss 3 days last week (last week of term) as I was self isolating. She missed the 'fun swim' they do and was really upset. Luckily she got to go in the last 2 days.

HollaHolla · 19/07/2021 12:56

With the greatest of respect, OP, it seems like you are going to make your own judgement call on isolation (or otherwise), no matter the school’s instructions/guidance.
It may be better for you to step away from the thread; I’m going to, as it seems to me that you are going to continue to argue with any advice which doesn’t agree with you.
Stay well. X

AnneElliott · 19/07/2021 12:59

Op you'll need to check the guidance but I don't think a decision from the school (ie to isolate) has the same force as track and trace (in the way that a ping from the app doesn't).

My understanding is if you don't get contacted by T&T then you're not breaking the law by not isolating him. However the school won't have him back as the class will be closed and there's nothing that can change their decision.

I think it's because there's no right of appeal with the school contact decision and the app. Whereas if T&T ring you and say you need to isolate because of x - then there's a process for you to appeal that on the basis that you weren't there/ wrong person etc.

anon12345678901 · 19/07/2021 13:02

But if the school won't have the class back what are you hoping will happen?

Clambering · 19/07/2021 13:03

[quote lftorpcr]www.tes.com/news/covid-contacts-what-schools-need-know-next-week?fbclid=IwAR20Bfc4QS4we7-kVx25vP8_z5ZJfHuAuh06dVP72lABVYXl3HpM-4uxHyo[/quote]
That's really helpful, thank you @lftorpcr

Canigooutyet · 19/07/2021 13:05

It would make more sense for the vulnerable head to have the pupils outside as much as possible so it's not floating around the building as much.
I do understand being vulnerable to illnesses and I would question his ability to do his job.

RumblyMumbly · 19/07/2021 13:05

Can anyone explain why my DS was asked on Sunday night to isolate as a classmate had a positive lft but the contact was from 15th Thursday so wouldn't have seen them in the 48hrs beforehand?

Surely that's not correct. Happy to let him do remote school for last few days but don't want to isolate beyond if not necessary.

Will they let us know about the classmates pcr result?

scrivette · 19/07/2021 13:09

You wouldn't get contacted by Track and Trace as the school have been doing T&T on their behalf. (I understand this is changing, possibly from today).

My D.C. is isolating after a child tested positive in his Primary... 10 of the class have now tested positive so it's very easily spread in classrooms.

Titsywoo · 19/07/2021 13:10

When is your holiday? And when did your DS last have contact with this child or is he in school now? If it was Friday then it is 10 days from then not today.

iloveredpandas · 19/07/2021 13:13

@RumblyMumbly

Can anyone explain why my DS was asked on Sunday night to isolate as a classmate had a positive lft but the contact was from 15th Thursday so wouldn't have seen them in the 48hrs beforehand?

Surely that's not correct. Happy to let him do remote school for last few days but don't want to isolate beyond if not necessary.

Will they let us know about the classmates pcr result?

He may have started having symptoms on Saturday for examples it's 48 hrs before a positive test or onset of symptoms.
Canigooutyet · 19/07/2021 13:18

And just because they had the results on x day doesn't mean they were tested that day.
Takes a couple of days if you are getting a home test.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 19/07/2021 13:27

@lftorpcr

Yes but the advice from PHE has changed from today for schools so that only very close contacts are meant to isolate - the example they give is someone who has had a sleepover.
Yeah, we had one sleepover event happening a couple of weeks ago for two kids. Within 3 days, seven more had seemingly caught it from the close contact on Monday morning, had symptoms, taken a PCR and tested positive.
Thoughtcontagion · 19/07/2021 13:27

I believe that the isolation for 10 days thing foe schools ends on the 16th August so anything before that date and even today “freedom day” you are still required to isolate for 10 days.

I work in a school, have just had my bubble pop, PCR, negative LFT and cancelled my much looked forward to UK break this weekend.

Let me try and find a link

RumblyMumbly · 19/07/2021 13:38

@Canigooutyet

And just because they had the results on x day doesn't mean they were tested that day. Takes a couple of days if you are getting a home test.
Yes but lft would have tested yesterday on the Sunday, the results are within 30mins but according to school timeline of when isolation stops the contact was on Thursday?

There are no pcr results yet (or not that the school have informed us)

Original poster
lftorpcr · 19/07/2021 14:26

Holla - that is so rude to say I would ignore isolation. I have never broken any rules and would never dream of doing so. I am questioning if process is being correctly followed as per new guidelines as it seems unfair not to follow correct process when it affects DS so much. Obviously if school is closed he cant go but this is about his much needed holiday after coping with my illness for so long.

OP posts:
Original poster
lftorpcr · 19/07/2021 14:30

Thoughtcontagion if you read the link you have posted it says school can stop contact tracing on 18th july and leave it for track and trace (who only contact very close contacs (ie they quote example of sleepover not being in class bubble)

"Settings only needed to do contact tracing up to and including 18 July. Close contacts will now be identified via NHS Test and Trace and education settings will no longer be expected to undertake contact tracing."

OP posts:
YellowMonday · 19/07/2021 15:07

Is it the delta variant?

The problem is, delta is so highly transmissible. It's causing a world of problems here in Australia. For instance, we are seeing community transmission from an infected person going to the supermarket, leaving, then someone else going in and getting infected (after the initial infected person has left).