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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:
riverrunning · 21/07/2021 17:14

goodness, how miserable, that sounded like a great holiday mustfly - glad you're on your way home for your sake.

saveyourbreath · 21/07/2021 17:18

@Schrutesbeets me too 🥴

LondonJax · 21/07/2021 17:18

You've done the right thing @Mustfly. As you say, if the adults come down with this tomorrow or Friday and feel worse than the kids, which is often the case, you'd be stuck with nowhere to stay and no way of getting home.

At least at home, those who feel grotty can take their time to recover with no pressure. Plus, if you need medical help, the GP surgery is on hand for prescriptions and friends are close by to help with food deliveries etc.

I hope everyone stays safe.

MsSquiz · 21/07/2021 17:22

@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.
@HugeAckmansWife have you been to North East beaches recently? They are not "empty" in this beautiful weather!
thenakedmolerat · 21/07/2021 17:25

I wouldn't have tested .
Saves all this angst

GrealishHairband · 21/07/2021 17:26

Just as a totally irrelevant aside. Neither Scarborough nor Whitby are NE beaches…

Hope you all stay well OP. You did the right thing but I’d be as utterly gutted as you are.

Nocutenamesleft · 21/07/2021 17:27

@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.
Not ok to advise

My 7 yr old child is shielded. So what if you came upon her on one of your walks? You’re ok with that?

Rainbowbrite82 · 21/07/2021 17:44

It's a shit situation and I really feel for you OP but you are doing the right thing.

@Schrutesbeets You wouldn't have tested even though the child clearly had symptoms?? It's attitudes like this that have contributed to the spread. This pandemic has really revealed those who are willing to do the right thing to protect other people and those who simply don't give a shit because it's too much of an inconvenience.

drspouse · 21/07/2021 17:47

@comebacksunshines

Have I missed something where has the op said she has used , or needs to use public transport to get home. What’s preventing them just getting in their car and going home, without stopping, or just using self service petrol pump if they need fuel ?
The fact that they have DCs with them that will need to use the loo.
LozMuffin · 21/07/2021 18:00

This happened to us last week - both my husband and daughter tested positive after feeling unwell. It’s was in our T&C’s that we had to vacate immediately, so we had to cut our holiday short - the poor family in this week then had their holiday cancelled as a safety precaution so it could be cleaned fully. I have now also tested positive - we’ve been poorly too, despite being fully vaccinated!

HugeAckmansWife · 22/07/2021 07:10

nocutenamesleft.. If people are out walking on a coastal path or spacious beach (and yes, not Scarborough, Whitby etc) it's fairly easy to see anyone and keep a very wide berth. I do agree in hindsight, with actual symptoms and + test they shouldn't go out but they do have to get home which will likely involve more 'risk' than staying put at this point. It's not easy.

Covidworries · 22/07/2021 07:45

Most coastal paths are narrow so would be hard to pass at distance through.
Most people are away for up to a week as isolation is 10 days then how do people manage to stay put for whole 10 days assuming no one else tests positive and restarts there 10 days.
Term and conditions of booking will likely say you have to leave premises or if staying will need to cover rental and compensation for those who bookings are cancelled moved plus cost of additional cleaning.

If travelling back the positive person doesnt leave car. Other people only get out of car for essential things like fuel.

CeeceeBloomingdale · 22/07/2021 07:53

Hope DC is feeling better OP and well done on doing the responsible thing. I'd have been gutted too but you've considered the cleaner and the next occupants by leaving the place fallow for as long as possible before anyone need to enter. I'm amazed at people suggesting it's ok to walk to outside, even in remote places, with a positive covid case. My DC has just recovered from covid and no one else in the household caught it thankfully so hope you have the same luck.

Newkitchen123 · 22/07/2021 08:07

@goldfinchfan

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.

Well I'm sure that made the OP so much better
StealthPolarBear · 22/07/2021 08:15

Nhs test and trace ask where you are and ask where you will be isolating.

JaninaDuszejko · 22/07/2021 08:48

Contact everywhere you've booked and see if you can get refunds. We've just all had to isolate and we were suppose to be going to a theme park the day after SI started and we got our money back (we assumed we wouldn't because of the short notice). And book again for next year, Northumberland is lovely and well worth a visit.

Lemons1571 · 22/07/2021 09:04

I don’t understand the vitriol you’re getting from some posters on this thread. In 3 weeks or so, close contacts are free to go to as many beaches as they like, and there will be no contact tracing in schools. There’s going to be tonnes of infectious people walking around among us with covid, maybe before they get symptoms, or children that don’t present with the main 3 so don’t get tested. I think you could have posted this on here on 15th August, and you’d still get berated for your family daring to leave your own home during 2021.

FWIW I think most people would use public transport if they had no other option, they would all mask up and keep well away from others as far as possible. Not many average families can afford to add thousands of pounds onto their holiday bill for private vehicles with a screen between them and the driver, to travel hundreds of miles. Bet many families wouldnt do this even if they did have the funds. If the government wanted to avoid this scenario at all costs they should have legislated against it like they did last winter.

sociallydistained · 22/07/2021 09:09

Gosh I really feel for you! It could happen to anyone at anytime but whilst finally on a lovely holiday. Just about sums this all up 🤦🏻‍♀️

HugeAckmansWife · 22/07/2021 09:18

Covid worries they are also in the wide open air with space on the land side to step aside as you pass for a matter of seconds. As a pp said, in a couple of weeks when SI rules change there will be thousands of people out and about potentially with it, and this is really how it has to be for life to progress. We cannot live forever with these restrictions and fears of passing near someone in the open air. I think the holiday cottage being quarantined for a week is also OTT. Get in there after a couple of days, get all the windows open and get on with it.

GreenClock · 22/07/2021 09:25

Quarantining the cottage for a week seems ridiculous I must say.

Hope you’re all feeling ok today OP. How disappointing. Hopefully you can enjoy your garden for the remainder of your hol. Definitely get a couple of takeaways in!

overthethamesfromyou · 22/07/2021 10:04

We did our mad dash back earlier this week after one night in our cottage. The owners were very grateful that we told them, left immediately, so they had time to air and clean it.
Now in garden with a big pile of books to read Smile

Covidworries · 22/07/2021 10:44

@HugeAckmansWife

Even after 16th august changes you still wont be able to go out if positive.
Maybe the paths by you are different there is no way on the coast path you could distance they are very narrow

drspouse · 22/07/2021 10:47

Is there any evidence you can catch the virus from walking past someone for 10 seconds?

Karwomannghia · 22/07/2021 10:51

Had the same dilemma recently- dd tested positive on 3 LFTs the day before/morning we were due to leave. Kept doing them hoping for a different outcome!
Took a while to accept there was no way round it, briefly wishing we’d never taken a test, isolating there etc. She had a pcr test that day but still no results 4 days later! Hoping we can go for the second week…

Marmitemarinaded · 22/07/2021 17:22

Unless ill
I’d have stayed without hesitation and kept a low profile ie no restaurants, evening and morning walks etc

I’ll - then head home. For their sake, not because of the result