Isolate the whole family or just me ?

[Babieseverywhere]

I read today that I should be self isolating myself as I have various conditions and use a cpap machine at night to keep myself breathing and therefore I am given the flu vaccine free every year by the doctors.

I have got a cough atm but it is a chesty not a dry cough and I have no fever, so I don't have it atm.

Our high school is partially closing (3 years out of 7 years) due to illness and lack of teachers. I have to protect myself as much as possible. Oldest child has been sent home where as they want my 2nd child to go in ! I have decided to self certified the 2nd child off until Easter holidays, as I need to protect myself as long as possible. So we will keep the oldest two home.

Q1. Should I be keeping my youngest two kids home too ? They are at a local village primary school which as far as I know, hasn't got any cases at it.

I will be ringing the primary school in the morning to talk to them. Can I or should I keep the little ones home too ? Or am I overreacting ?

If you have a cough then your household should stay home for 14 days

"If you have a cough then your household should stay home for 14 days"

Even though it is not the right type of cough ?

Nhs website just says cough

Is it a new cough

Most recent advice is that any type of cough you must self isolate.

The advice is that if you have either a cough or a temperature, isolate.

If it's a new cough yes!!

There's not a specific type of cough.

I can't remember when my cough started.

Advice is for any cough now ? I haven't read that bit before.

Coronavirus is a ‘new continuous cough and/ or high temperature’.

www.gov.uk/government/topical-events/coronavirus-covid-19-uk-government-response

So it doesn't look like I need to isolate die symptoms (thank goodness) just because I am deemed vulnerable and I get the flu jab.

So do I keep sending little girls to school until Easter and risk them bringing it home to me or just accept it is a small risk to take ?

Advice has always been any cough. I was working at 111 when this all kicked off. There was never any particular type of cough specified. You all need to self isolate I'm afraid.

How long have you had the cough? Supposed to self isolate for 7 days from onset of symptoms. Household then isolates for 14 days of onset of those symptoms. If you have gone past that time then you should be ok. The cough can linger for a few weeks afterwards

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults this might be relevant to you

Is it not a persistent cough as opposed to a mild couple of times a day cough?

Why don't you feel you need to isolate because of your cough?

I think I have had this cough for a week.

Sounds sensible to self certified the youngest three off school this week to protect me. Then see how things lie then. I suspect the high school will be closed completely by then. But maybe the little ones can go back to primary school if nothing changes.

If you've had the cough for a week then your family should be isolated for another 7 days as 14 days is the incubation period

I am isolating myself, mainly as I have other conditions which keep me home plus I currently have no transport.

I was asking more about my children. Whether they should be home with me or am I over worrying.
But I think the compromise is keep them off for the next 7 days and see where the schools are, at that point.

Yes they should have been home for 14 days from the start of your cough although I suppose that wasnt the earlier guidance

Watching this in the hope I get some clarification too.

Took daughter out of school (she has underlying issues) and was told by school that whole family should also be socially distancing. Can't find any official advice though!
Leaning towards rather safe than sorry....

Slavedrivers It is so tricky...I don't want to over react but this virus is deadly, I don't want to take risks either.

We're all currently isolating for 14 days. A relative (a Consultant respiratory dr working on a Covid ward) said a cough is a cough and we should all self isolate. It is massively inconvenient but better that than risk infecting vulnerable people. In the scheme of things, it is a very short time.

Hope your cough improves and you all stay well, OP.

Thanks. I only hope we don't get fined for removing the youngest three from school
But that will be a future problem.

You won’t get fined.