DD2 has a cough. How do I get DD1 to school?

[allthesharks]

DD2 has woken up with a constant cough. Based on the new guidelines I have to keep her at home for 7 days. Logistically I don't know how to do this. I don't work on a Friday so keeping her home isn't a problem, but her older sister is well and should be at school. I don't have any one else who can take her in to school so my only options are to take DD2 with me to drop off and pick up or to keep DD1 off too. As children, if they do get coronavirus, they're likely to be fine, but I don't know the health conditions of the other children or the parents/grandparents who will be at the school gate. Realistically, I do think DD2 just has a cough and cold.

Logistically, what am I supposed to do?

[Gruffalosandbuffalos]

The official guidance is that your child with a new cough should not leave the house for 7 days. That includes even to go for a walk so she cannot accompany you on the school run.

[Mlou32]

If you are taking DD1 in late then you are still taking DD2 out of the house surely? Which means you are going against pubic health advice.

Please keep them both off. We can't afford for people to blatantly flout the advice the health advice that they are being given, the effects could be catastrophic for the vulnerable.

[Inkpaperstars]

The reason they are saying only the person with symptoms stays home is not because other people in the family aren't infectious. It is part of this whole thing of thinking people won't cope with restrictions for longer times.

When they do say yes, keep everyone in the household at home, it won't be because suddenly those people pose a risk when they didn't before. They are just as infectious now as they will be then. The only difference is they think people can only cope with rules like that for so long so they will wait to enforce them. I think that is a mistake but anyway...keep them both at home, we all have to do better than the govt think we can.

[Branleuse]

Keep them both off and reevaluate for monday

[ineedaholidaynow]

I hope they are both ok OP.

[allthesharks]

I have no idea what he thinks I should do but he's probably not thought that far ahead as he's not the one having to try to figure it out.

Realistically, taking them in the car would have them sitting within 2 metres of each other for half an hour.

Even if DD1 is fine, surely it's better to keep a 6 year old off for the day than have her go to school, risk spreading germs around (even if it were just a cold) and then having half the class off next week because they've got a cough.

She's actually great with learning. She enjoys doing her homework and learning her spellings, both of which we've got to do for Monday, so we'll get those done today. We've also got loads of books and she loves reading so it's not as though she's just going to be sitting around doing nothing all day.

With all of that said, DD1 has been coughing a bit now as well.

[Shakirasma]

Schools should not be worried about attendance as a new attendance code has been created to cover self isolation that shows the childs absence but doesn't count negatively against the schools attendance figures.

[ineedaholidaynow]

So what is he suggesting if DD2 can’t go outside?

I assume as a teacher he will be keeping an eye on any of his pupils coming in with coughs/fevers.

[allthesharks]

I'm keeping them both off. DP thinks I'm making the wrong decision but I don't care.

[MountDiogenes]

You won't be popular if your dd2 coughs at the school gate when you are dropping dd1 off, especially if people go on to catch it, , even if it wasn't from her/you, they may think it is!

[lowlandLucky]

You must keep your DD off, as you say they share a room and often kiss and cuddle one another, and yes if one has it the other will too. Dont be the reason your childs school becomes infected

[ineedaholidaynow]

But DD2 can’t go outside, surely that is the most important rule you need to follow. Not wrapping a scarf round her face and taking her on the school run.

Most people complained about our Government not doing enough compared with other countries, let’s at least try and abide with the one thing they have brought in so far.

Employers and schools will have to get used to people being off, it is only going to get worse.

[REdReDRE]

I'd call school too and see if a teacher can meet you at the car.

[PlugholePencil]

I have a 2yr old who I’m keeping off nursery for the first time today because he’s not himself. He doesn’t have a cough or a temperature, but he’s unusually clingy and didn’t sleep well last night.
I will put him in the buggy and drop DD off at school as usual. There’s no other way for me to get her in and I won’t keep her off school because her brother isn’t 100%.
I understand your situation is slightly different as your little one does have a cough, but you are right in that there’s no current instruction to keep your older one at home if she’s showing no symptoms.

[Kez0777]

Speak to the school and let them decide if they want your dd in. If they say to keep her at home then you can do so without anyone saying you did the wrong thing. If they would rather she went in then take her later and someone can come take her off you.

[ineedaholidaynow]

If you can’t keep them separated, then self isolate her too.

I am sure the rules will change soon again as things get worse. I would err on the side of caution

[SoupDragon]

I would phone the school and see what they suggest - go in late or keep her off.

I'd probably keep her off though.

[eeeyoresmiles]

Keeping them apart at home seems pointless though, and unnecessary if you're keeping them both off.

[DevonLulu]

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-people-with-confirmed-or-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection#use-of-shared-spaces-if-you-live-with-others

Just follow the guidelines as best you can. Er on the side of caution.
And hope that if it is corona, that your children will benefit in the future from any possible immunity that having it young may confer.

[eeeyoresmiles]

The rule we all need to live by right now is stay away from other people if you might have coronavirus. One of your dds has something that definitely might be cv and you know the other one almost certainly is carrying whatever it is too. Therefore you keep them off. It's actually very simple, and what employers might think or not doesn't come into it.

People like family who think it's not necessary just haven't adjusted to the new normal yet. They're still judging actions against what would have seemed normal vs over the top before coronavirus got here.

[allthesharks]

Keeping DD1 and DD2 apart seems like a more difficult task than trying to get DD1 in to school. They share a bedroom. They shared a bath last night (before the cough started). DD2 is currently saying she wants to give DD1 a cuddle!

[BabyLlamaZem]

Even if it's not Corona, your child will have a weaker immune system and corona is out there.

[BabyLlamaZem]

Keep them both off please!

[Random18]

Luna no it's not - not yet anyway

[Michaelbaubles]

Schools are going to shut extremely quickly if teachers with a small coughing child stay home when that isn’t even the advice.