Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

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

We think DH has coronavirus....

147 replies

ChippityDoDa · 13/03/2020 21:30

Hi, so this morning DH rang me from his work to say he’s developed a sudden cough and felt hot. He came straight home and we put him in the study which has its own bathroom and sofa bed. He’s been in there all day. I am literally putting food at the door for him and he’s self sufficient in the room. I’m sure he’ll be ok even if it is CV19 as he’s under 40 and pretty healthy however my question is this.... do I now need to isolate for 7 days? We have two young children, one of whom is at school and one at preschool. We are all well apart from DH. Would be a bloody nuisance to be honest but will I be unwittingly infecting folk if I go about my usual business? Our own elderly relatives have been isolated all week anyway so I wouldn’t see them now. Dilemma!

OP posts:
BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 13/03/2020 21:58

You all need to self isolate now. No harm him keep8ng himself tucked away in the study for a week. Keep yourselves at home for seven days.

MoltonSilver · 13/03/2020 22:00

Pull the kids out of school and quarantine yourselves. You could literally kill someone.

McFarts · 13/03/2020 22:06

I would isolate the whole family. The governments advise is poor! i wouldn't risk passing it on. Fingers crossed its just a cold!

adaline · 13/03/2020 22:09

I think you should all self isolate regardless of what the government is saying.

PeachesPlumsPears · 13/03/2020 22:10

This was published in our local newspaper. Hopefully your DH only has the cold or flu.

We think DH has coronavirus....
Devlesko · 13/03/2020 22:10

Aw, poor dh, hope he's better soon.
Yes, you need to self isolate, and keep an eye on the old boy for his breathing.

Inkpaperstars · 13/03/2020 22:10

I think right now the official rule is that you could go out, but the fact is you and dc are very possibly infectious (sorry to say).

Officials know people are infectious before symptoms and they know that household members will spread it if they go out. They are only limiting the advice to seven days from symptoms/only for affected person because they think people won't tolerate more restrictions for long and they want to save that for at the peak. It isnt that it doesn't matter now.

There will be people dying, many people, due to the limits of the current advice. Even the govt would admit that is a fact, even those who agree with their strategy.

So if I were you I would isolate all of you. Ask a friend to drop off some supplies and put the telly on! Really hoping your DH has a mild and easy case. Well done getting him set up in isolation.

thepeopleversuswork · 13/03/2020 22:10

Why are people still listening to the government advice? The WHO and almost all other governments are taking a much tougher stance. I'm astonished that people are suggesting you just isolate from him on when your DH has suspected coronavirus. If we do end up overburdening the NHS these sorts of attitudes will have played a part.

Isolate your whole family for at least week, more if you can afford to and can manage the logistics. His work should also require people quarantine themselves.

I'm not generally alarmist about this sort of thing but its very clear that these steady-as-she-goes tactics are not working.

HelpFlattenTheCurve · 13/03/2020 22:11

@ChippityDoDa If your DH is normally fit and he is now easily out of breath, then I would be super careful in watching his condition and have a plan to get him medical attention if It gets worse. There are some relatively fit people who have needed hospital care to get through this.

gluteustothemaximus · 13/03/2020 22:11

We had a confirmed case with a parent today at school. Government advice was that student could still attend school. We went against that advice and send him home.

If in avoiding the virus, you must keep aware, don't touch, don't go near unwell people etc and it can be caught via direct or indirect contact mainly surfaces, cough droplets and close contact, then how can you live with someone who has it, and carry on with your daily lives?!?!

It makes no sense.

Toybox88 · 13/03/2020 22:13

But CV is a dry cough so maybe your Dh has a flu or chest infection or just a normal winter cough?

lljkk · 13/03/2020 22:14

When I checked the official advice this morning... Well people in your household aren't required to isolate, OP. Not unless he actually tested positive.

justasking111 · 13/03/2020 22:16

He could be properly poorly whatever it is so keep an eye on him. Has he notified his employer, they may be able to chase up a test for you rather than as an individual. But I think they are short of swabs so are saving them for hospital cases.

Duchessofblandings · 13/03/2020 22:17

Chippity: I am so heartened to read your post. It is the thoughtful and responsible actions of people like you and your LOs who are yourselves thankfully at low risk that will help to keep people like the 6 vulnerable members of my family safe. Thank you, so much.

Stuckforthefourthtime · 13/03/2020 22:18

Yes, official advice in this country is just for him to self isolate, but pretty much anywhere else it would be all of you, and that is the moral thing to do, given it's a nuisance for you but not a nightmare (you're not required to go to a zero hours job to put food on the table, your kids aren't direly unprepared for GCSEs in a few weeks etc).

Stay home, save others!

starrynight19 · 13/03/2020 22:20

Unless your a footballer and then the whole team is self isolating. Don’t get it 🤷‍♀️

foamrolling · 13/03/2020 22:22

What's not to get? The official advice is just that - advice. If a team of footballers want to isolate themselves they can. If op wants to isolate herself and her family she can. The official advice is that she doesn't have to.

FromEden · 13/03/2020 22:22

They said that coronvirus develops gradually like a cold. Something that comes on suddenly like that is more likely to be the flu as sudden onset is one of the classic signs that distinguish it from other illnesses. So probably just the flu but he should still self isolate given that you have young kids and it can be dangerous for them.

partofthepeanutgallery · 13/03/2020 22:23

People are contagious for at least 5 days before showing any symptoms themselves ... yes, please stay home and get your kids home.

ManlyMenAreWe · 13/03/2020 22:23

Whereabouts are you, op?

Whataboutthismess · 13/03/2020 22:29

The usual winter Flu is still circulating according to Public Health England. but with those symptoms he does need to isolate.

Mummy0ftwo12 · 13/03/2020 22:30

doesn't it involve a temp of over 38.5 that's a bit more than just feeling hot

FizzyLimes · 13/03/2020 22:31

Why would you not isolate yourself family.

Original poster
ChippityDoDa · 13/03/2020 22:32

Luckily my DH is the boss, it’s his own business! He can do quite a lot from home, he’s been on the phone all day so can’t be that bad. It’s not a phlegm sounding cough but sounds sort of heavy, it’s weird. He’s eating bloody loads 🙄. I’ll keep my eye on him with the breathlessness or my ear, since I’m not opening the door!)
We are in South Yorkshire.

OP posts:
Original poster
ChippityDoDa · 13/03/2020 22:34

Temp has ranged from normal to 39, very up and down.

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread