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Related: Lockdown Learning, discuss home schooling during lockdown.
Covid
Self isolation and children - is it just me or is there a lack of clear guidance?
cheeseismydownfall · 12/03/2020 18:23
Given this evening's latest update on self isolation, is anyone clear on what is recommended in the case of a young, dependent child showing symptoms of cough or fever? The advice seems clear enough for those living alone (no visitors, doorstep deliveries) or with other independent adults (avoid sharing common spaces as much as possible), but what are you supposed to do if your three year old comes home from nursery with a fever? Clearly it won't be possible to achieve any meaningful isolation from a toddler! So what does that mean for the adult carer? Should they self-isolate too? And if not, surely that defeats the object, since the chances to transmission from a child to their parent must be high? I guess the same goes for those caring for dependant adults too. I think there has been a real lack of clarity about what is expected of people one step removed from those in isolation.
coconuttelegraph · 12/03/2020 18:25
I believe the news conference today said specifically that if one family member is isolating everyone else in the house must do to.
cheeseismydownfall · 12/03/2020 18:27
That's interesting, thank you coconut! I was going off the latest update on BBC news, which I don't think covers this.
theendoftheendoftheend · 12/03/2020 18:31
I think they expect people to use their common sense to a certain degree.
FreakForHummous · 12/03/2020 18:31
Watching with interest. I'm currently at home with 11yo DS who has been told to self isolate due to a fever, cough and shortness of breath. He's been ill since yesterday and I've been giving him lots of sympathy hugs. Today the NHS advice states to keep a 2 metre distance!
cheeseismydownfall · 12/03/2020 18:31
From the BBC:
"Those with even mild symptoms of infection should stay at least two metres away from other people in their homes, and should sleep alone."
I don't think my children got the memo about not clambering all over me and sneaking into my bed...
cheeseismydownfall · 12/03/2020 18:34
theendof, yes, I agree - it will have to come down to common sense and what is realistic and practical. But I think some clear guidelines for those caring for people who are self isolating would be useful given that potentially there will be tens of thousands of people in this exact position over the coming days.
glowingtwig · 12/03/2020 18:38
Was there anything about babies said? I can't stay 2 metres away from my exclusively breastfed baby?
Feeling worried now, where I wasn't before 
cheeseismydownfall · 12/03/2020 18:39
I also wonder if the advice would be clearer if the people delivering it were actually facing this scenario themselves. Cynically I expect that it hasn't crossed Johnson's mind to think about this. And of course women will bear the brunt of this (am in the middle of reading Invisible Women and it has got me fired up!)
cheeseismydownfall · 12/03/2020 18:43
glowing, sorry, I didn't want to raise a concern! I am thinking more of the scenario where the child is the first one to exhibit symptoms (having caught something from nursery, school etc). I'm guessing that would be unlikely in the case of a young baby. As for the risk of the baby catching something from you, the evidence so far seems to be that children are not at risk of serious illness as a result of coronavirus. So I wouldn't worry unduly.
Tddnamechanger · 12/03/2020 18:51
At present the advice is that anyone showing symptoms self isolates for 7 days. This does not extend to family members at present but will be a possibility in the coming days/weeks.
Obviously if you have to take time off work you need to look at your pay policy as my husbands work does not cover time off for dependents
cheeseismydownfall · 12/03/2020 18:53
But surely the point is that a young child can't self isolate in the manner that is being advised? So what then?
Tddnamechanger · 12/03/2020 18:57
The 'science' currently shows that it is contagious in the mild phase.
They said that symptoms are mild for 5 days and some people then recover but for others there is an immune response which then gets more serious symptoms.
Hence the mild, however if you currently have no symptoms, regardless of if a family member has it, then they are not advising isolation.
They have looked at behavioural science to come to this conclusion.
The peak is still around 13 weeks away and they accept that it will spread.
They will only test people in hospital going forward so you cant rely in figures and need to exercise self caution.
Tddnamechanger · 12/03/2020 18:58
You are expected to do the same as you would any other time that your child is sick.
Tddnamechanger · 12/03/2020 18:59
I am just thinking in terms of sick pay, it might be "better" for you to have the symptoms as some workplaces do not pay for time off for dependents
Bufferingkisses · 12/03/2020 19:00
At the moment families don't have to isolate although that may happen in the coming weeks.
Tddnamechanger · 12/03/2020 19:01
Self isolate from society, it is accepted that parents will need to look after their children etc..
Bluntness100 · 12/03/2020 19:05
I’m sorry but isn’t this obvious?
They say if one person is ill they self isolate at this stage they have stated no one else has to in the house. Self isolate is stay in one room in your house, no contact with other family members. Clean the loo after you use it.
But if it’s your child, they cannot self isolate. Obviously.
So if it is a parent of course they have to self isolate too because a three year old cannot be left alone or asked to clean the loo after they used it.
How is this not obvious?
Bufferingkisses · 12/03/2020 19:06
Sorry, pressed post too soon! In reality with a toddler an adult is going to have to isolate with them, there is no other way to do it. Pick the adult who can most easily isolate. I am isolated at the moment (symptomatic, no travel) but my kids are older teens so lots of through the door conversations and over the phone instructions for cooking. Overall it's working ok but my youngest has just told me she has a freckle that has suddenly changed shape and she's worried. As a single parent I'm having to arrange another adult to come and look at it and assess if it is something to worry about. That sucks.
cheeseismydownfall · 12/03/2020 19:11
bluntness, no, it isn't obvious at all. If we have a child that needs to self isolate, then obviously DH and I will need to take time of work to care for said child, as we would for any illness. But us taking time of work is absolutely not the same as us self-isolating! Self isolation means not leaving the house, even going for a walk. Hence my question. If you are sharing a house with someone who cannot self isolate from you (by staying 2m away, not sharing a bathroom etc), thus leaving you at high risk of transmission, what does this mean for you in terms of self isolation? This is not the same as juggling childcare to look after a child who is off school.
RB68 · 12/03/2020 19:19
if you directly care for someone with symptoms who has to isolate this then includes you too as you are not able to maintain the measures to leave you still able to go out in the world
With regard to whole family isolating if one has symptoms - this is not the case yet but BJ suggested its one of the things that would happen in coming weeks
RB68 · 12/03/2020 19:19
I would suggest one of you isolate with the child or the other partner stays elsewhere for the period you need to isolate
cheeseismydownfall · 12/03/2020 19:23
Buffering, RB68, I agree that that seems like a logical approach. I'm just really surprised that this advice hasn't been made more explicit because it seems like it is going to be a very common scenario now that the scope of self isolation has broadened.
PurpleCrazyHorse · 12/03/2020 19:27
Either myself or DH would self-isolate with the child as we couldn't maintain a 2m distance to reduce the chance of catching it.
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