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?

[modernfemininity]

I support the OP. The infected couple should stay indoors to protect others, help the NHS and to save lives! Stay indoors is what they say if you are positive. If the neighbours sneeze or cough, the droplets do carry. Aalto university did a computer simulation of a cough in a shop..

[QuimJongUn]

Your poor neighbours, OP. Frontline NHS, caught Covid in the line of duty, will no doubt go back to work when recovered - and STILL have to put up with this bullshittery from their neighbours.

Have you thought whether to ask them if they need anything? Any shopping, as they're having to self isolate? Or are you too busy frothing?

Use your garden but more importantly, use your sense of decency and compassion. If you have one.

[AndwhenyougetthereFoffsomemore]

Wow: can you explain why families with well children (who can continue to exercise safely outside) have more right to their gardens that poorly healthcare workers who are self-isolating? And as others have said, if your concern is air 'leaking through' the fence, then put up plastic, or a sheet on your side of the wall. And play at the far side of the garden with something other than the sand pit. I mean, I get that being stuck in with little ones is tough, but I'm afraid poorly people get priority here.

Oh, and fwiw, we have a TINY garden, our neighbours have had covid (seriously on one case) and I was delighted to hear them out there when they were well enough to make use of the garden - we limited our time outside slightly so they didn't worry about making more use of the garden because there need was so clearly greater...

[QuimJongUn]

@modernfemininity the advice us to stay home, not indoors. A garden is home.

[PurpleDaisies]

Stay indoors is what they say if you are positive.

You need to read the guidance properly. You can use your own garden.

[crustycrab]

Surprised at the responses on this thread. There is absolutely no need for them to sit next to someone's garden and sandpit all day whilst knowingly infected and infectious.

As for "it can't jump over fences ffs"

Some scientists clearly disagree with you.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.express.co.uk/life-style/health/1267053/Coronavirus-video-infection-COVID-19-supermarket-shoppers-cough-latest/amp

[Makeitgoaway]

@modernfemininity Nowhere does the guidance say stay indoors. It says stay at home, which the guidance specifically states includes your garden.

[theemmadilemma]

@modernfemininity I was going to mention that also. A fence would act the same way, so not the same as being next door inside a terraced house.

[NailsNeedDoing]

The infected couple should stay indoors to protect others, help the NHS and to save lives!

But even if the risk exists, they really don’t need to stay indoors to protect others. They’d just need to not be outside at the same time. That could be easily arranged with a little communication, but the OP seems unwilling to do that and would rather have two people unable to access any fresh air so that she can pander to her own fears and go in and out as she pleases.

[MigginsMs]

Calling them selfish is a bit much. They’re unwell with a deadly virus and are entitled to sit in their own garden. It’s hardly like they’re wandering around Waitrose licking the shelves.

[BigChocFrenzy]

YABU

Your neighbours are not the ones who are "selfish twats"

A garden is not a fully enclosed space like a supermarket; totally different risk
They are staying at home, in their garden
You can go outside your garden; they can't

[corabel]

I'm absolutely amazed at the level of paranoia some people have reached in a very short time. Some people seem to have lost all sense of proportion.

[Porcupineinwaiting]

They cant ho out to exercise, you can. Dont think they are the ones being selfish here.

[Sunshineeeee]

What @P1nkHeartLovesCake said!

[Makeitgoaway]

When did they first become ill anyway? For all you know the infectious period has passed.

It's a sad state of affairs when your first thought on hearing that the nurse who lives next door is having to self isolate isn't "what can I do to help?" If you'd done that you'd probably know that the symptoms started 10 days ago and the risk of infection is passed. Or do you want them to stay indoors forever?

[MigginsMs]

Yes I think the desire of one couple to sit outdoors is trumped by three other families with children wanting to use their gardens.

I thought it was only you with young kids? Or do the elderly shielding lady and the neighbour getting over the stroke have them too?

[Andorra155]

When we're they tested? Their 7 days from when symptoms started are likely up or very nearly up anyway. It's just a few days, can you and your children cope just for a few days if needed?

[mrsm43s]

Yes I think the desire of one couple to sit outdoors is trumped by three other families with children wanting to use their gardens.

I completely disagree with this. I would say that if everyone can't go out together (which I disagree with), then the priority should absolutely go to the people who cannot go out and take their daily exercise outside of their own garden, and need the fresh air to recover. So you should be staying out of your garden to allow these health care workers, who have contracted a horrible illness in the course of their work caring for others to get some fresh air and recuperate. And please teach your child to stop screaming to get his/her own way, very selfish, unneighbourly behaviour to allow screaming when you know you have sick people living next door.

Get off your behind and take your child for a walk/scoot if they so desperately need the fresh air, and you do not wish them to be in the garden when the neighbours are in theirs. Unlike you, the neighbours cannot leave their house and garden.

I really think that some parents just cannot understand that having a child does not make them super special. You and your child are the LOWEST PRIORITY in this situation, and should be the ones helping your neighbours out.

[Howmanysleepsnow]

Sitting outside will help their recovery as opposed to being in an unventilated room.
Are you expecting them to prolong their illness so you can use your garden in addition to taking your daily exercise? YABU. It’s 7 days (in all likelihood) for people risking their lives for you on the frontline.

[forkfun]

BiggerBoat1 I recommend a full hazmat suit.

[MRex]

I wouldn't knowingly sit in the garden while they're infectious, because DH is asthmatic so we're trying very hard to avoid it, for whatever reason I guess you are similarly anxious. Have you spoken to the other two neighbours to know if they are actually concerned or if it's just your assumption? Everyone has a different risk threshold with these things so you can't make an assumption just based on vulnerability. Regardless, you'll all just have to lump it for an extra week and stay inside, it's only a week and there's a lot longer to go than that, your DC will enjoy the garden even more from having a break. Do some indoor obstacle courses and enjoy your daily walk instead.

[CXG1]

But you can go for a walk to get your DD out the house. They shouldn't - so there needs far beats yours

[WeBuiltCisCityOnSeeingSouls]

Yes I think you should go round and tell them not to be so selfish as to use their own garden when they are ill, as your DC are more important than their well being. Don't forget to stand more than 2m away, so you may have to shout this to them.

Don't forget to give your neighbours a little bell to ring too.

[Cary2012]

Don't forget to clap for your neighbours at 8 pm tonight OP!

[SylvanianFrenemies]

YANBU