…to think I should not be visiting my vulnerable parents if my son has Covid?

[ZebraDanios]

DS (6) was v ill Thursday and tested positive for Covid. Much better now but still positive. I’m supposed to be visiting my parents, along with my brother’s family, on Boxing Day. Dad is CEV. Parents say I should just go anyway. Just spoken to my brother and he agrees with them.

I understand everything’s a risk but surely knowingly taking a contagious child to visit a vulnerable elderly person is a bad idea?

I think it’s an immensely bad idea (if your DDad came down with Covid in the next week or so and became v ill and DC is aware he could have passed it on - even if there are other possibilities - then it could be difficult for him; all depends on his level of understanding though)

But also I think you should respect your DParent’s wishes. Unless you are SI an not going out at all

Current NHS advice is that children under 18 aren't considered contagious after three days, so you're good to go!

but surely someone could just say “mum you’re being a bit daft about the turkey! cook “em both and we will feast on leftovers!”

out of interest do you have a link for this?

I wouldn’t go. Your son might not be a risk by Boxing day but who’s to say you are not brewing a dose of covid having been in close contact with him.

I'm CEV and would be happy for you to come over (if you were one of my family clearly...). I'm a competent adult and can make my own assessment of the risks. It's a bit patronising to assume otherwise.

Yep, scroll down to bottom.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/covid-19/covid-19-symptoms-and-what-to-do/

The same section says to avoid anyone vulnerable for 10 days…

If you are in doubt I'd avoid it for your DS's sake. Imagine how he would feel if his grandad became seriously unwell after catching covid from him...

That is a political choice to reduce school absence figures. Children remain infectious for as long as adults, but (since no-one considers adults in school - or vulnerable adults in families with school-age children - to be worth protecting), the risk of them infecting other children is considered worth ignoring to massage the school absence figures. It’s in line with the old ‘children don’t spread Covid’ line that was used to declare school to be ‘safe’ to re-open in conditions that were illegal in any other workplace or social setting. It’s a politically convenient lie)

One study I’ve seen suggests children are infectious for less time - but it was done in October 23 so well after this guidance was implemented.

Yet another thread with someone infantilising older people. Your parents don't care, so FFS just stop testing, relax and go visit them. It does need to be such a big deal.

We've just had it for the 3rd time. CEV dh is really struggling. I've got long covid from our first Easter 22 infection. One of our dcs tested negative in 3 days though so you never know.

My parents are a bit daft and would still show up at ours if we were positive, I couldn't consciously do that to them though. I ALWAYS test if I'm knowingly going where elderly or vulnerable people will be and stay at home.

I can’t trust my gut because I have some mild health anxiety going on so I always err on the side of panic whether it’s justified or not!

Ah, I missed your dad being CEV. But given the time that's lapsed and that your dad is presumably had the booster vax, it doesn't sound like a high risk scenario. And I say that as someone who tested last week after having a sniffle.

op

say to your parents

Desperate to come
Worried about risk
underlying low level health anxiety
please could we get over the angst of the second turkey. You may have loads of leftovers… and that is no bad thing!” but let’s be optimistic!

presumably they’re both vaccinated to the max?

It’s up to your parents

NO! I've lost count of the celebrations even pre covid that we postponed because we didn't want to pass on bugs. Christmas can be done on another day you know....

Ask your parents. If they’re happy, then fine.

I wouldn't. My father in law died of covid last year. He was fully vaccinated with no other complications.

I'd wait until you are all testing negative then go. I'd not be able to live with myself if something happened and I'd passed it on.

I am generally a bit anxious about that kind of thing though.

The latest strains of Covid are really not nice. Ex NDN’s/friends in Toronto have had it badly recently and colleague at work had it badly complete with lots of sore mouth ulcers and badly swollen lips and mouth, she looked like she’d had lip fillers and she definitely doesn’t have them.

I wouldn’t personally. Covid would have killed my dad (lung disease). I guess you’ve got to weigh it up, could you live with it if he got sick or worse?

Don't risk them.,Elderly people are still dying, even now.

@Hbh17 and @mynameiscalypso - I understand what you’re saying but I don’t think I’m patronising or infantilising my parents by being pretty sure I have a better grasp of the risks than them. A few years back my Dad was exposed to chickenpox, which could have been really dangerous for him - it was only because I looked it up and got in touch with his specialist (who was really worried about it) that he got put on antivirals, otherwise he could have been really ill. I read a lot of studies about Covid whereas my parents just think it’s a cold, so I don’t think I’m patronising them in this case by thinking I am more aware of the risks than they are.