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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Child tested positive on holiday...AIBU to feel despair

142 replies

JudesBiggestFan · 21/07/2021 12:08

On holiday in the north of England, staying in a gorgeous cottage on the coast. Long awaited after (like everybody) an awful year. Three kids with numerous self isolations, emergency services job that's super hectic. Made it to the end of the school year with relief and set off on holiday on Sunday. Yesterday middle child felt hot to the touch and complaining of a headache, plus he had a cough. Did the responsible thing and got a Pcr test and it's come back positive!
We're packing up to head home and self isolate but I could weep. He's actually loads better but of course he's been sharing a room with his brother, we've been in the car together for days...I know we can't just carry on but I feel just despair at when this will ever be over! We're both double jabbed luckily so not too worried about the virus, but just so sad that even our much reduced holiday plans have been ruined.

OP posts:
SurferRona · 21/07/2021 13:40

Please please let your letting company know someone has covid, and also leave a note for the cleaning staff too so they can take precautions when cleaning the property. Flowers as it is a bit rubbish for you

StrongLegs · 21/07/2021 13:43

I'm really sorry you are having a rubbish time OP. Flowers

This is such a hard situation. Ideally you shouldn't be leaving your holiday house until your whole family are clear of self-isolation. However, if you only have it booked until friday, that's not going to work.

I really worry that a lot of people are going to be in this situation right now and the motorway service stations are going to become super-spreader hubs.

I suppose you probably need to bomb it home asap before you are all too ill to drive. Good luck there. Please do tell the house owner.

LadyCatStark · 21/07/2021 13:46

@HugeAckmansWife

Would you not be best to stay where you are rather than travel, use services et? And North East beaches are pretty empty, I'd say you could do some walks and beach time pretty safely, get food delivered. The damage is done re cleaning the apartment so it won't make a difference to the owner. Though you could leave a day or two earlier to allow them to quarantine the place for a day or so before cleaning.
Don’t be ridiculous! I’m pretty relaxed about Covid, but you can’t take a child who actually has Covid to the beach! It’s one thing if the child’s school ‘bubble’ has closed and the child hasn’t been near the positive child but this is an actual child with Covid!
emilylily · 21/07/2021 13:46

@StrongLegs

I'm really sorry you are having a rubbish time OP. Flowers

This is such a hard situation. Ideally you shouldn't be leaving your holiday house until your whole family are clear of self-isolation. However, if you only have it booked until friday, that's not going to work.

I really worry that a lot of people are going to be in this situation right now and the motorway service stations are going to become super-spreader hubs.

I suppose you probably need to bomb it home asap before you are all too ill to drive. Good luck there. Please do tell the house owner.

I'm sorry this has happened OP.

The only thing I'm unsure of is the logic behind travelling home and potentially stopping at a service station- this isn't too different to you (obviously not your DC with Covid) walking outside in the fresh air where you are on holiday and if anything is more likely to spread Covid!

lazyarse123 · 21/07/2021 13:48

@Schrutesbeets

Unpopular move, but I personally wouldn't have had a test.
Not only is it unpopular it's also selfish. This virus has really brought home how entitled and selfish some people can be. Fortunately it's also shown how kind, generous and helpful some people can be.
Getawaywithit · 21/07/2021 13:50

Right there with you. I am a single parent and panicked a bit and came home - I was worried about me getting ill whilst we sat waiting for the PCR result and then not being able to get home. Still awaiting test result 48 hours later.

goldfinchfan · 21/07/2021 13:56

No wonder those of us living in popular holiday places are dreading the invasion this year.

So OP going home is the right thing to do please do not be tempted to stay.

You and your famiy are right to go home. I wish more poeple understood that taking Covid to smaller rural area with less medical cover and resources is not really ok.

You just spread the Virus and tha tis why it is not going away.

alloverthecarpetagain · 21/07/2021 13:59

It's so awful for you and you totally have my sympathy, but you are doing the right thing and well done for that.

HugeAckmansWife · 21/07/2021 13:59

I mean if he was better and literally nowhere near anyone else. I live in the NE and lots of beaches, even in weather like this are deserted. I don't mean a popular resort beach with amusements and fairgrounds.

WaterOffADucksCrack · 21/07/2021 14:02

&Would you not be best to stay where you are rather than travel, use services et? And North East beaches are pretty empty, I'd say you could do some walks and beach time pretty safely, get food delivered* isolating means you can't go for walks/to beaches etc. How do people not know this by now?! It means you can't leave you're home (or garden, if, like OP you have one).

AintPageantMaterial · 21/07/2021 14:02

It is ridiculous to suggest that the OP continues with the holiday. She (and any other adults) could develop symptoms at any moment which might make them too ill to drive home. And then what do they do? They presumably have friends who could help at home but are unlikely to have back up while on holiday.

heatwavehell · 21/07/2021 14:05

I think most people prefer to be at home when they are poorly, so it's best for the sake of the DC to be at home.

Plus it give the cottage a couple of days empty before anyone else has to go in for the virus to die off a bit, which is the responsible thing to do.

I hope your DC(s) feels better soon.

Crunchymum · 21/07/2021 14:09

My understanding regarding those who dont have own vehical is that they need to make arangements to travel home avoiding others any additional costs are their responsability

@Covidworries, do you have a source for this?

Are you suggesting that people who travelled possibly hundreds of miles by train are meant to find a taxi home / someone to come and collect them?

comebacksunshines · 21/07/2021 14:13

How long would it take you to get home in your car. Can you get home without having to stop.
Maybe use self service pump at Asda, or other supermarkets that have them, if you need to top up fuel.

Onairjunkie · 21/07/2021 14:14

Just came here to reiterate the importance of telling the holiday let owners about the positive tests so the cleaning firm can take precautions. This is very important. Don’t feel embarrassed or ashamed.

I own a couple of holiday lets and we’ve had problems with people hiding illness during stays. In one case, housekeeping reported ‘signs of ‘illness’ while they were working in the house (replenishing towels etc while the guests were seemingly out), such as used tissues everywhere, medication, a guest laying in bed and coughing profusely, lat flow tests laying about… now ordinarily someone’s health is fuck all to do with me, but during a pandemic I had to ask. Especially as we don’t allow quarantining guests. When I enquired, they awkwardly confessed (it’s obvious they wouldn’t have done had I not asked directly) and then they tried to get days in the cottage saying I had to let them stay for free. It was awful and my cleaner was so worried as they’d been in direct contact with all their virussy detritus.

So yeah, tell them.

lifehappened · 21/07/2021 14:16

Hope everyone feels better soon. That's so rubbish! Get a massive takeaway and buckets of wine for this eve

BoxHedge · 21/07/2021 14:18

I know two families who’ve had separate holiday cottages cancel on them because the previous occupants had COVID and therefore could not leave the premises. So I thought that was the rule?

Not judging but just surprised at the comments.

Blinkingheckythump · 21/07/2021 14:26

@Mustfly I really feel for you. So disappointing. But you have done the right thing in getting the test and heading home early. Let the letters know too.

I can't believe people are seriously suggesting it's ok to carry on and go to beach's as the north east beaches are quiet? The kids actually got covid. Only need to pass one other person to give it to them. Be sensible please people, not selfish

Heckythump1 · 21/07/2021 14:28

I totally feel for you :(

Another year group have just been sent home from my daughters school today... the year above her.... i'm so worried she's going to be sent home to isolate.... my husband only has next week off all summer as well.... totally not the same I know, as we haven't booked/paid to go away anywhere, but we have a few things lined up that we want to do!

AloneInSpace · 21/07/2021 14:28

[quote HavelockVetinari]**@AloneInSpace* Um, @NoIDontWatchLoveIsland* is correct. Having the virus is excellent protection against getting it again. It's not foolproof, but it makes the risk very low.[/quote]
No it doesn't - there are too many variations

Cloudninenine · 21/07/2021 14:29

I’m so sorry, what a terrible shame for you all. Just horrible horrible timing Flowers

TigerLils · 21/07/2021 14:35

Erm… sorry OP but I’m just going to do a wee side track on your thread. @HugeAckmansWife but go for a walk when isolating?!

Sorry about your holiday OP 😞

IAmAWomanNotACis · 21/07/2021 14:35

I'm sorry to hear this. Have some Flowers from me.

It won't always be like this and one day you will have the gorgeous holiday you deserve.

Covidworries · 21/07/2021 14:38

@Crunchymum

No source as such, but a family member recently went on a bus and hotel trip and the information sheet they had before trip said... if you get notification of close contact with a positive/isolation notification you you develop symptoms yourself you must leave the hotel imediately and make you way straight home at a cost to yourselves. Avoiding any public services.
Its one of the reasons i dont fancy trying to book anything this summer.

SueSaid · 21/07/2021 14:40

It is a shame but let's be honest in 2 days you were coming home it isn't as if you'd booked to go away for 2 weeks and have just found out.

It is shit though yes.

'And North East beaches are pretty empty, I'd say you could do some walks and beach time pretty safely, get food delivered. '

Yeah northeast beaches are empty just look at Scarborough or whitby 🙄. Comments like this explain the massive surge we have, some people just don't take it seriously do they.