AIBU to think people who tested positive should stay indoors?

[Fuchsake]

My neighbour and his wife have tested positive for coronavirus. They’re “self isolating” which basically means sitting out in the back garden all day. The houses are small terraces so the gardens are tiny and theirs borders three others. One neighbour (me) has small DC, the lady out the back is elderly and extremely vulnerable so has been shielding for five weeks, and the neighbour on the other side is recovering from a stroke. Their seating area is against the fence and my DCs sandpit is against the other side of fence so less than 2m away.

Everyone is having to stay in so these selfish twats don’t infect them. My littlest one is screaming to play outdoors and can’t because there are infected people literally on the other side of the fence. AIBU to tell them to stop being so selfish?

[lifestooshort123]

Just read update that op has lung problems so doesn't want to go out which changes things slightly. YABU to expect the couple next door not to use their garden but, as you are so clearly worried, the children will need to stay indoors for a week - a lot of families are struggling in flats at the moment so it's a small price to pay for your peace of mind and your neighbours' self sacrifice in working for the NHS and catching it in the first place.

[WtfIsThisEven]

Oh god, you’re one of those twatty parents, who somehow think pushing a kid out makes you entitled and superior to everyone else. May I suggest r/entitledparents on reddit?

Newsflash: your neighbours have every right to use their garden as much as you. Having kids doesn’t give you more right than them. There is no rule saying they must stay indoors.

Next you’ll be screeching about their open windows killing your baaaaaaaaaaabies. Hysterical.

[iLovee]

I'm going to go against the grain here OP, I get where you are coming from. I think if I had tested positive I wouldn't use the garden for 7 days because I would not want to risk passing it on.

But, and this is a big but, they are just as entitled to use their garden as you are. If you are uncomfortable with it then you need to stay inside. They are frontline NHS staff and got the virus in the line of duty, you should be the one to sacrifice going outside - not them.

[Inkpaperstars]

You can fit 20,000 virus particles on a pin head. It is thought you need about 20 to be infected. Those who think fences are a barrier must have some seriously airtight fencing material.

Also, we do not yet know that it is only spread by droplets expelled when coughing or sneezing. There is a strong possibility of spread through breathing and talking, one of many articles out there linked below.

www.livescience.com/covid19-coronavirus-transmission-through-speech.html

Don't know who should use garden, but I think if I knew I had covid and also that a neighbour was recovering from a stroke, I would try to not sit out there all day.

[RedcurrantPuffs]

Oh the irony of all the smug people telling you that the virus can't jump over fences and you are a fool for not understanding the science...

The "rules" and the whole point of lockdown is to reduce transmission not stop transmission of the virus. It's low risk that you could catch the virus from them but not no risk.

They are following the guidance though so there is not much you can do other than ask nicely if you could use the garden at different times because you are high risk.

[MigginsMs]

NHS guidance on self isolating actually says you can use your garden. Therefore YABVVVVVVU

[Haffiana]

Dreadful. Stay indoors - they may catch your unreasonable anxiety.

[Somebodysringingabell]

This is a prime example of the dangers of too much information in the internet age.

Reading an article or study without critical thinking and risk assessment and erroneously concluding you have to quarantine an envelope and your children can't go outside because COVID might be in the air.

[L897]

I think OP has got every right to worry, it's not as if a pandemic killing thousands of people happens everyday. It's a new virus, its scary leave her be. I dont have any suggestions I'm afraid, I just know I would be the same as you. I'm sorry your neighbours are ill and I hope they recover well, I am also sorry you've got this worry OP.

[HoffiCoffi13]

FFS the poor couple. They have coronavirus, they can’t go out, the only thing they can do is sit in their own bloody garden. You can take your kids out for a walk, they can’t do that.

[Floatyboat]

Can you not nail a bit of plastic or a sheet over the holes op? Or does that not impinge on a nurse's liberty enough for your liking?

[ElephantLover]

Agreed @Porcupineinwaiting - however the concern that a coughing or sneezing neighbour could send aerosols over the fence is not unthinkable.

I've had this concern myself as we have building works going on next door & it's not possible to know if any of the workmen are infected.

Not saying OPs neighbour should stay indoors, but her concern for her children is not inaccurate.

I would just keep my children indoors if neighbours go into their garden. It's only a few days of worry anyway.

[Porcupineinwaiting]

@ElephantLover exactly, can be transmitted by aerosol, is not airbourne. Airborne is when the virus just floats around in the air, coronavirus has not been shown to do this, quite the opposite in fact. When air samples were taken and tested in wards full of coronavirus patients no virus was found.

[LilacTree1]

She’s a nurse

You want to punish her for her work by making her sit indoors because she tested positive?

If you’re that worried, you stay indoors, not her.

[ElephantLover]

To all those who believe C19 is not airborne, please see this:

[stella1know]

yadnbu
People are essentially selfish. These idiots too. keep your family safe. Do early mornings in the garden and away from their fence.

[10storeylovesong]

Anyway, don't worry. Your selfish neighbour will soon be back on the frontline caring for the most vulnerable in society and you can go back to using the sandpit as you see fit.

[10storeylovesong]

Just to reiterate what others have said above which you appear to be ignoring... The isolation period for those with symptoms is 7 days. I've been tested. It took 5 days to get a test and 5 days to come back, by which point I was obviously well past the isolation period. If they have had time to show symptoms, get tested and get their results back, they are probably past the 7 days isolation period anyway, and if not it is likely to only be a day or so (minimum 72 hours for test results).

[MerryDeath]

it is not airborne..

[Emeeno1]

It is quite normal to feel anxious right now but as with a lot of anxiety it is better challenged than allowed to grow.

Fear makes the wolf look bigger.

[Fuchsake]

Unlike you, the neighbours cannot leave their house and garden
I haven’t been out for nearly a month. I have lung problems, it isn’t worth the risk. The other two neighbours certainly can’t go out. And a fence with gaps isn’t the same as a solid brick wall.

[MissBax]

YABU

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

I’m really struggling to see how three households can’t be 2m away from this couple. Are all your gardens less than that size?

To be fair it is possible. My garden is 2m wide as I live in a maisonette and the gardens run alongside each other. If us and the neighbours either side are in the garden at the same time it's possible we won't be 2m away. There's a 3ft fence one side so we are being sensible there, but not worrying too much who is the other side of the 6ft fence.

[AhComeOnNow]

@Fuchsake. Genuine question - are you going to keep your children in your house/ garden until a vaccine is found? The current 'lockdown' is to ensure that the number of very sick people doesn't overwhelm the hospitals. It is not about making sure nobody ever gets it. If you or your children caught it now from your neighbours (and I won't go into how absolutely ridiculous that is as I think it's been we'll covered above) then IF, in the unlikely event that you needed hospital treatment, hospitals would very very likely not be at a critical capacity at that time.

A very small percentage of people will have a life-threatening reaction to the virus. This won't change in the coming year (although maybe better drugs to treat it will be available). The virus will still be around when your kids go back to school/ nursery/ see family. So if you are demanding that your neighbours stay in now, will you be demanding that ANY person (as they may be asymptomatic) stays more than 2m away from you and your family for the next 12 - 18 months?