Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Dd has a new cough, do we all isolate??

50 replies

Helenj1977 · 13/03/2020 20:47

Someone in her school was sent home earlier with a cough and she's now coughing.

Temp is 37. Do we all isolate, just her?? If she gets a temp will calpol bring it down?

I'm so bloody confused on what to actually do.

OP posts:
Polkadotpjs · 13/03/2020 21:03

This is what I don't get either. Is it just cough and fever = enough to assume its Corona?

Minesabecks · 13/03/2020 21:05

Government advice is very simple. Self isolate for 7 days if you have a new, persistent cough AND/OR a fever.
Advice has not been for entire families to do it yet, just the person with the symptom.

Glittercandle · 13/03/2020 21:05

I thought at the moment only isolate if symptomatic, in a few weeks the whole household will have to isolate if even just ne person is symptomatic.

Minesabecks · 13/03/2020 21:06

With the amount of people on here who don't understand this simple information, quite frankly we are all fucked.

foamrolling · 13/03/2020 21:06

It's cough and/or fever. She needs to isolate, you don't unless you develop symptoms. Yes of course you can treat her temp like you normally would.

foamrolling · 13/03/2020 21:07

I am struggling to get my head round why people are finding this very simple advice so difficult to understand too. Its way less complicated than it was. 2 symptoms to remember. Only isolate if you have them. That's it.

LowcaAndroidow · 13/03/2020 21:09

Is she old enough that she can isolate herself?

If she is 14 she can probably spend a week in her room with you leaving food outside the door, cleaning the bathroom after she has used it.

If she is 4, I'm guessing she can't, so at least one adult will have to isolate with her to care for her?

Quizeerascal · 13/03/2020 21:09

How persistent is persistent? Genuine question, I'm not sure how often you need to cough for it be a symptom, what if only coughing at night for example?

homemadecommunistrussia · 13/03/2020 21:10

Yes the advice is to isolate for a week.

SomeoneElseEntirelyNow · 13/03/2020 21:10

Im confused as to how this is confusing for you. The advice clearly says to isolate if you have a new cough. Your daughter has a new cough. Obviously she can't be isolated from you all, as she is a child, so you all isolate.

Im quickly becoming far more concerned by the number of people who can't follow simple instructions and apply a little bit of common sense than i am by the virus.

slipperywhensparticus · 13/03/2020 21:10

It's hard because NHS 111 are telling people with one off fevers to self isolate telling people with children who have a cough that they all need to self isolate it's not consistent

TopsyTheReindeer · 13/03/2020 21:14

How new does a cough have to be? A day? A week?

PickAChew · 13/03/2020 21:14

That's because small children can't exactly be locked in a room and left to fend for themselves slippery

GruntBaby · 13/03/2020 21:16

She needs to isolate. We are in a similar situation, and GP today and pharmacist both separately said you can't properly isolate a young child, due to need to look after them, comfort them etc, so whole family should be considered potential spreaders of Corona. We picked up other DC from school and are now all in isolation.

SouthWestmom · 13/03/2020 21:19

It's really difficult to actually do because self isolation is really drastic over some thing no one would have blinked at a couple of months ago. I don't think we've seen any kind of justification for it here so can't quite get our heads round staying in for a cough.

AHippoNamedBooBooButt · 13/03/2020 21:20

Ds(4) has a fever and I've taken the interpretation that he has to self isolate but no one else in the household does. Therefore dh and I continue to alternate days off with him and otherwise continue with work/schools etc

I agree that the basic advice is simple and understandable but it has been very much based on an adult who can self isolate themselves. There seems to be no advice for caring for small children with these symptoms.

StealthPolarBear · 13/03/2020 21:27

Surely children can't self isolate. And if a parent is with them then they're not isolated.
So not that simple all in all.

Lweji · 13/03/2020 21:31

I'd say you both need to isolate, as you care for her. Take precautions.
Recent advice includes opening windows, washing at 60oC, cleaning all surfaces very well, washing dishes and cutlery in the dishwasher or with some bleach (not sure this is a good thing, though).

It could a number of other viruses, though.

FoxtrotSkarloey · 13/03/2020 21:31

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ.

SomeoneElseEntirelyNow · 13/03/2020 21:41

@AHippoNamedBooBooButt that is the stupidest thing ive heard today. He's not isolated from you, so if he has it there's a high chance you do too. Therefore you should be isolating too, not going about your business as usual! FFS where is the common sense?

foamrolling · 13/03/2020 21:44

Hippo is following official advice so its completely unfair to lambast her as stupid or lacking in common sense.

Chilver · 13/03/2020 21:48

But Hippo is exposed to him and she is exposing other people, just 'on alternate days'!!!??

StealthPolarBear · 13/03/2020 21:49

No advice to self isolate if you don't have symptoms AFAIK!

DrSheldonCooperPHD · 13/03/2020 21:59

One of my twins got sent home from nursery today with a slight temperature and he'd been seen coughing "sporadically".. nursery said he can't come back for 7 days but it's fine for his twin brother to stay the rest of the day and come in all of next week as usual even though they sleep maybe 1 meter away from each other and share EVERYTHING!

Bonkers, in my book if one of them is being isolated then so is the other one and me!

AHippoNamedBooBooButt · 13/03/2020 22:02

I dont dispute the stupidity of the situation. Yes I know I am caring for him and in very close proximity yet going into work and spreading it around. And my dh is also doing the same. However the official government advice is only for the person with symptoms to isolate and not all family members although this may be the enforced soon. But as of right now, I can only follow official advice otherwise I will risk losing my job. Hands are tied so to speak