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?

[LastTrainEast]

The OP is exaggerating about 3 families because only one can be within 2m if they are sitting by their fence AND while not ideal the kid can play on the other side so not completely stuck indoors. Also she ignored that these people are infected because they were working to protect others.

I'd only really be worried if they were likely to lean over a low fence to pat him on the head or give him a sweet.

On the other hand some of the responses are no better.


"The virus does not jump over fences.". cos it's likkle legs are too small?

Oh and "There's only a solid wall between us" because of course a garden fence is the same as a house wall.

"statistically zero risk to your child." didn't consider that the child could then pass it on.

[SarahTancredi]

Its there house. Their garden which they pay for. You simply cannot tell them they cant be there .

You can go out. They can't

[Cary2012]

FFS! Stick some of the sand in a box or on an old tray and move it to other side of the garden. Then your DD can play happily and the poor nurse in his garden can get fresh air. I had some sympathy for your anxiety until your 'and they walk around the garden too' comment. How bloody dare they!

[MrsHoolie]

My neighbour has tested positive also,since he has done his self isolation we have chatted at distance in the gardens. My husband is on the at risk list.

Yabu

[PrincessConsueIaBananaHammock]

Just let your kids out FFS. If you're really worried about the the danger zone just move some of the sand to the other side of the garden, or cover the sand pit up,say there's something wrong with it and play with something else. Even small children can find something to do in a garden that isn't their sand pit. Blow some bubbles.


Unless they're leaning over the fence,trying to talk to you and your kids,or spluttering all over your garden it will be fine.


They're not forcing your kids to stay inside,you are.

[Looneytune253]

We've had it and (shock horror) used our garden. You'd be surprised how lovely the fresh air is when you've been poorly. We also chatted to our neighbour (shocking) and he hasn't caught it. You can still use your garden and if it makes you feel any better stay a cpl of metres away from the fence.

[practicallyperfectwithprosecco]

Ffs if your garden is that small you feel you can't socially distance from your neighbours then none of you should be out there - you and your child might be asymptotic, your other neighbours might.

Perhaps everyone should stay indoors with all the windows closed? Just in case!

I personally am enjoying being out in my garden and speaking to my neighbours - apart from the strange family next door ( they are a stay inside with windows closed family ) everyone here is checking that we are all healthy and if anyone needs anything.

[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?

[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.

[MissBax]

YABU

[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.

[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.

[MerryDeath]

it is not airborne..

[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).

[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.

[stella1know]

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

[ElephantLover]

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

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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?

[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.

[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.

[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.