COVID has apparently turned my family into social pariahs

[Thidwick]

Large COVID numbers at DS2’s school - all pupils in his class were asked to take a precautionary PCR test. His was negative, I took one at the same time which was positive. DS 1 and DH have since tested negative too.

The reaction to DS1 returning to school as per government guidance that he doesn’t need to self isolate has been shock, horror, outrage etc. particularly from a few parents who have chosen not to get vaccinated.

Wtf am I meant to do - keep him at home?! I don’t make the bloody rules. Not that it makes a difference, but I’m asymptomatic - wouldn’t have known I had bloody COVID if I hadn’t had to take DS2 to be tested.

I get why they feel uncomfortable, I feel uncomfortable about it but you're not doing anything wrong.

It's such a shit situation. You aren't breaking any rules sending him in, he may well not be the only child in this situation. Not sure why everyone has to know about it apart from the school though. At some point most families will be hit.

I wonder if the ones who chose no vax are having second thoughts

Maybe those unvaccinated ones should rethink their decision rather than berating you for following guidance

I would have kept him home and I would feel uncomfortable about him being there, but you haven’t done anything wrong in following the rules. I felt uncomfortable when one of dd’s friends was in school and her whole household positive but I’d never have said anything.

Your not doing anything wrong but I'm annoyed that a parent in my daughters school done the same except all of them tested positive apart from one of their child who they sent in. A few days later she tested positive and now my daughter has tested positive and 5 other kids had been sent home yesterday.

Your not doing anything wrong in regards to the government advice but I wouldn't send my child in if my whole family tested positive and they tested negative. It's not worth the risk to the others in school in my opinion.

I think the rules are stupid, but it's not at all unreasonable to follow them.

You did the right thing in my opinion and its not before time children's education and well-being is being prioritised. Everyone who can be jabbed has been given ample opportunity. It's really shit for those who can't but we can't expect schoolchildren to shoulder that burden for them.

We are currently in this situation and our negative dcs are in school. I feel bad but I don’t make the rules and don’t want them to miss any more school in important years.

I can only think the government must want it to spread at this stage because it’s inevitable with the amount of mixing in school.

As far as the unvaccinated people, we’ll they should have thought about that at the time
and I don’t lose too much sleep over them. But I do feel for the more vulnerable and teachers.

You'll be even more of a pariah if he tests positive in 5 days but there you go. Brave new world.

I don't understand how they know your test result?

How did everyone find out?

The main reason he doesn't have to isolate, is because he's very likely to have already had it, and therefore isolating is purely harm on him, and protective of no-one. With it "Large covid numbers" both in his school and his family, it's unlikely he's avoided it, so he probably brought him to you and already cleared it without symptoms.

Because of that likelihood, and the resulting balance of risks to himself and others, he's better off not isolating.

Isolating harms.

It’s dumb to send him to
School.

Actually anti vaxxers don’t care.

I am in this situation, but DS2 is y11 and spent 7 weeks in isolaton in his room between Sept-Dec 2020.

He had Covid in November 2020, tests daily with LFTs and PCR also negative.

There was a parent on Twitter who shared the LA's letter saying her son's attendance would be monitored, after she kept him home for 10 days when his brother tested positive.

What are parents meant to do?

You may be following the rules but it’s doesn’t mean others will be happy. Surely you can see that?

I’d have kept him home personally as a test at the start doesn’t mean he won’t pick it up from the household, just that he didn’t have it at that point.

Why do they all know?

I can absolutely see why they are annoyed but what are you meant to do? Not everyone can afford the fine!

@WoozySnoozy

Why do they all know?

Good point. How do all these shocked and horrified people know your personal medical information? Ignore them. It’ll be forgotten in a couple of months. Children belong at school.

Where we live there’s no way the whole neighbourhood wouldn’t know who had covid.

Our school have been very clear that children who don't have covid (or symptoms of other illness) should be in school. This is government policy and the other parents are in the wrong to be off with you. We had several parents take their kids out of school because they were afraid last week (following a couple of cases), crazy and unfair on the children.

Absolutely send him in. It will be an unauthorised absence otherwise.

I would be annoyed as well because I am due in 1 month and having DS sick would complicate things, but you followed the rules and at the end of the day I would have to accept it.
I wonder how do they know???

How do they know? Am currently isolating and my ds but dd is still going to school In fact school have encouraged she go an have said if I need her picking up togo they will arrange it. Sister has been taking her an no one has said anything as they have no clue i tested positive.

I would keep him at home but the problem is that you are not allowed to do this and can be fined. I think him being less active and just going to school (staying away from clubs etc) is probably the best option. His classmates have a right to keep a bit of distance from him for 2 weeks it would be understandable but parents can’t comment really because you are just following rules.