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

to ask if your kids are going to school on Monday?

297 replies

MoonBlood · 14/03/2020 22:13

I’ve been quite happy to follow government recommendations so far, but today my DD couldn’t go swimming with her mates as their parents are keeping them home. I made a comment that they’ll be surrounded by kids at school on Monday anyway and she said that their parents will be keeping them off now as they disagree that schools should be open. I was going to keep sending mine as long as they’re open, I’ve got three healthy teen kids but also a preschool child with asthma who ends up in hospital fairly regularly just from basic colds and am second guessing myself now?

OP posts:
Meaniebobeanie · 15/03/2020 22:47

Sending mine in until they say otherwise.

110011pi · 15/03/2020 22:57

If you can keep them off, do it, for all our sakes. This government is being reckless and irresponsible. Vote with your feet.

ThrowThoseCurtainsWide · 15/03/2020 23:04

I'm trying to decide whether to send mine in tomorrow. They are fine, no health conditions. However, I am immunocompromised at the moment. In the last 6 months I've had sepsis, MRSA and 2 bouts of pneumonia. I still haven't had the MRSA final all clear and my lungs are still not back to normal. I am very concerned about the affect the virus could have on me.

I know that we are taking every precaution to avoid getting the virus when not at school. I have to go to ASDA tomorrow to collect my medication, but I will be staying as far away from people as possible and antibacing myself when I get back to the car. Once I've done that I am going to self isolate.

I don't trust the other parents to be taking the same measures that we are. I know other children in the DCs' class went to the circus this weekend and others have been to the theatre in the nearest big city. My DCs will just be mildly ill, but my concern if for myself (and how that would affect the DCs)

I'd be stupid to send them in wouldn't I?

Nearlypassover · 15/03/2020 23:05

Yes, meant nicely. They need their mum.

alloutoffucks · 15/03/2020 23:06

If you believe what the government is saying about herd immunity (I don't), then no not everyone will get it. 60% will get it. So why would you risk your kids getting possible side effects if you don't have to? Wait for herd immunity before sending them back.
There will be plenty of "its only the flu" types sending their kids in.

If like me you don't believe what the government is saying, why would you believe them when they tell you it is fine to send your kids to school?

In terms of side effects there are reports that some are getting long term lung damage and possible male infertility. We have no idea how common this is. It may be incredibly rare, or relatively common. We don't know. I for one am not taking the risk.

feelinguseless101 · 15/03/2020 23:07

ThrowThoseCurtainsWide in your situation, if I didn't have to go in to work, I would keep them off. I'd keep mine off if we didn't need the child care.

alloutoffucks · 15/03/2020 23:07

@ThrowThoseCurtainsWide I would not send them. They do need their mum.

LuluJakey1 · 15/03/2020 23:09

DD (almost 3) is not going to nursery- she has had a dry cough this weekend. DS1 is going to school (he is in Reception). DS2 is only 7 months.

ThrowThoseCurtainsWide · 15/03/2020 23:17

Thank you. I had to leave my job in January because I'd got to the end of my sick pay and had got to formal absence territory with no idea when I'd be well enough to return. So we agreed a mutual termination.

ExH is self-employed but his work has dried up until this has blown over. We are lucky in some respect that the DCs can spend their time between our two houses, we will both be self isolating the rest of the time as he has (poorly controlled) asthma.

MacronsPENswiper · 15/03/2020 23:22

Throw...

I feel sad your in a position to be even agonising about this. If your happy to keep them off, I would in a flash.

ThrowThoseCurtainsWide · 15/03/2020 23:26

Macrons...

I think it's mostly because, until the last 6months, we've always been healthy. I am also a school governor so feel like I should be setting an example and generally not the type to let the DCs have time off school unless it's really necessary. I guess I'm trying to figure out whether it is necessary now or not. The more I write it down, the more I realise the sensible decision is to keep them home

catspyjamas123 · 15/03/2020 23:58

They closed all the temporary hospitals in China today because what they did has worked. Britain is failing to follow best practice.

JuanSheetIsPlenty · 16/03/2020 00:05

How are you all avoiding the fines/poor attendance? I really want to keep mine off but not sure best way to do it

Our primary has said attendance won’t be affected if we choose to keep them off.

I don't trust the other parents to be taking the same measures that we are.

This is a huge part of it for me. People either don’t understand what they need to be doing, or don’t care what they need to be doing.

alloutoffucks · 16/03/2020 00:09

Yes some parents will send their kids in even if they have a temperature or a cough. They already do it will all kinds of infectious illnesses.

Ididit2019 · 16/03/2020 00:10

ThrowThoseCurtainsWide:keep them at home, it's just not worth it for any of you.

MooseBeTimeForSummer · 16/03/2020 00:28

They’ve just closed our schools indefinitely here (Alberta, Canada). 17 further cases in the last 24 hours, taking us to 56. Some are community spread. They’ve all been travel related up to now.

alloutoffucks · 16/03/2020 00:32

Actually I have just seen on Facebook a friend abroad talking about children who have caught this virus being left with long term lung damage. That bloody terrifies me.

DowntonCrabby · 16/03/2020 00:36

FFS our 7 y/o is has in the last hour spiked a temperature of 39.3.
Do we keep our teen home or send her in? Its an exam year.

ViveLEntenteCordiale · 16/03/2020 00:37

No, the schools are all closed here.

JuanSheetIsPlenty · 16/03/2020 00:37

talking about children who have caught this virus being left with long term lung damage.

When you look at the progression of the virus on the body, particularly the lungs it’s really not surprising.

I think people referring to it as “like the flu” has given a false sense of security. This is a new corona virus- it’s still unknown what the long term effects might be. People really need to wake up and stop being so blasé about it.

alloutoffucks · 16/03/2020 00:44

Yes they are being blase about it. If you have know anyone with long term lung damage, you will also know that you really do not want your child to risk that.

teaandajammydodger · 16/03/2020 00:45

I’m a teacher. My child is going to school. I’m not exactly pleased about this.

LimitIsUp · 16/03/2020 09:05

alloutoffucks - was your friend quoting a reputable source or first hand experience? I ask because everything I have read points to children experiencing mild cases of the virus

Notcoolmum · 16/03/2020 09:15

Wow lynette why on earth would you send your child to school in those circumstances? We know you can be asymptotic and still shred the virus. You know there will be children with underlying health conditions and vulnerable members of their family.

It's this sort of irresponsible behaviour that makes me feel relieved to have made the decision to keep my children. who both have asthma, home today.

InterviewTerminated · 16/03/2020 09:37

I would have sent my child into school today except he has developed a fever over the weekend with mild flu like symptoms. I will keep him at home for seven days as advised even though it is most likely not coronavirus.