Should dd go to the UK on Monday

[notmycuppa]

We live in Ireland and dd has had a week booked to go and stay with her brother who lives in the UK countryside for months. She is due to fly out tomorrow and back next weekend. I am worried that now is not the time to travel and she might be stuck there for months. Also that the situation in England is worse than they're letting on. She's 17 and her db has organised work experience in an area she wants to specialise in (think animals) and lives in an area so far unaffected. I really can't think straight anymore.. Coronavirus could go on for months and I doubt there will be any school here until after Easter, so at least she will be busy and learning but at the same time no one knows what the next week will bring. She would be flying from one small regional airport to another. Any words of wisdom please.

Hmm, as she’d be coming back in a week she may be ok. Public events only due to be stopped next weekend so I’m sure flights will still be running next weekend. Although if you have any elderly or vulnerable relatives you may not want to risk her travelling around increasing her risk of carrying it about? I’d probably cancel to be honest, things are evolving so quickly.
We have family due to come over at Easter from Ireland and I really can’t see that they’ll be able to- just not worth the hassle and risks.

I’d let her go.

I'd let her come. I can't see transport between Ireland and the UK being shut down completely.

I think she'll be fine next week.

It sounds like a good thing for her to do.

I think the situation in England is probably comparable with Ireland, but our government is just responding in a different (worse) way.

Thank you. We do not, thankfully, have any elderly or unwell family members

I’m in Ireland and at home with DH and DS.
I wouldn’t let her go. The virus will be much more widespread in the UK because of stupid Boris and too many people not taking it seriously enough.
If she does go and return, she needs to self isolated for at least 2 weeks when she gets home, assuming they let her back in the country by then.

Yesterday I would have said yes. Today I say no. The situation is changing so quickly that it’s impossible to predict where we might be in a week.

I’m reluctant to travel to see family within mainland UK at the moment in case I can’t get home. I wouldn’t have said that yesterday.

I would worry more about the flight than coming into the country.

If she is staying in the countryside and can severely limit her social contact her risks will be low.

I think we've got a few days before restrictions, so I'd let her go. If things start escalating, I know it'll be expensive, but she can get a flight back within hours.

DD is at home but has got to travel 650 miles back to uni to put her stuff into store. She's going up early next week, getting stuff into store and hopefully having a few days with her friends. She's going to basically live out of her suitcase, so can leave within an hour if needs be though.

No way! We're in for a lockdown soon and I'd hate my 17 year old be away from home in these circumstances

I don't think I'd let her go. If she misses a trip it won't affect her in the long term. What if she gets sick in the uk and you can't get to her? What if Ireland decide they're restricting travel between the uk and Ireland (because our government seems to not give two hoots). What if something small happens like she fractures a bone and can't get medical help. What if the airline she's flying with folds? There's so many things that could change in a week.
Keep your baby at home with you. You'll only spend the week hyperalert and on edge.

No

No. She may well be OK.
Ireland may not let her back in.
I have students stranded in various European countries because flights have been grounded.