Nursery staff are positive - my colleague

[Buzzfrightyears]

Hi, my colleague’s daughter is in nursery full time and one of the staff there (daughter’s key worker) has tested positive for COVID-19. The nursery have said that the daughter (who is 3) does need to self isolate for 14 days but my colleague doesn’t. Unless she becomes symptomatic or someone in the household develops symptoms. I am obviously terrified now - I am asthmatic and although not shielding I suppose it is an underlying condition. Any advice please?

The only comfort I would offer is that asthma is increasingly shown not to be a risk factor for the virus.

But their policy on isolation is clearly not watertight to say the least.

Thanks.. colleague is very blasé and doesn’t seem arsed either way. Is what she’s saying correct does anyone know? She’s very career minded, the sort to come in during the winter with a streaming cold

Try not to worry. I know it is easier said than done but you could catch it from anywhere. It is better to be aware and vigilant. But this isn't going to go away anytime soon so you have to get used to there being a risk anywhere. So good hand hygiene and keeping a distance from people should be OK. Can your colleague work from home or is it not that sort of job?

Colleague has been working from home but is due back next week which is the first time I will see her. Daughter is self isolating from today (or yesterday) I believe. Boss is saying colleague is following guidelines and is safe to be at work. We can work from home but I think they’d rather us be in an office.

I will be able to maintain social distancing, have my own workspace and am at least 2m away. It just seems so scary. Thanks for the replies!

Yes, she's right. Try not to worry too much. I've got athsma too, it's not thought to be a risk. Are you social distancing from your colleague? If so keep doing that and washing hands and don't share anything and you'll likely be fine. Her child may not even have it, and there's increasing evidence that children don't pass it on to adults more the other way around.

She is following the.corect guidelines and not doing anything wrong . Try no to.worry

@Redolent

The only comfort I would offer is that asthma is increasingly shown not to be a risk factor for the virus.

But their policy on isolation is clearly not watertight to say the least.

The nursery are following the guidelines, as set out by the UK government top the letter.

@rainbowunicorn

Yes I heard as such.

The UK government’s policy is foolish.

[quote Redolent]@rainbowunicorn

Yes I heard as such.

The UK government’s policy is foolish.[/quote]
It has to stop somewhere though doesn't it.

Both parents isolating potentially over and over again?

Today;

Only 22% of people testing positive for coronavirus reported having symptoms on the day of their test, according to the Office for National Statistics.

This hammers home the importance of "asymptomatic transmission" - spread of the virus by people who aren't aware they're carrying it.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-53320155

[quote Redolent]Today;

Only 22% of people testing positive for coronavirus reported having symptoms on the day of their test, according to the Office for National Statistics.

This hammers home the importance of "asymptomatic transmission" - spread of the virus by people who aren't aware they're carrying it.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-53320155[/quote]
The WHO don't think asymptomatic transmission is a thing do they?

I personally think all children in the bubble should be tested, alongside their household so everyone who tests positive stays home and those who test negative can return to school and work.

@TrustTheGeneGenie

I agree that it’s really onerous for those who have to self isolate, in the short term.

But in the medium-term you’ll have really effectively stamped out loads of chains of transmission and life will be better all round. The idea that your DH, say, can test positive for the virus, but you can continue to serve hundreds of people in a pub over the coming days makes no sense.

The idea that your DH, say, can test positive for the virus, but you can continue to serve hundreds of people in a pub over the coming days makes no sense

That isn't the case?

@TrustTheGeneGenie

The WHO cocked up their messaging here (what’s new?) They meant asymptomatic i.e. will not develop symptoms throughout the whole duration of their infection. They did not mean ‘pre-symptomatic’, ie displaying no symptoms initially, but will develop them soon.

Many people haven’t grasped that distinction.

@TrustTheGeneGenie

The idea that your DH, say, can test positive for the virus, but you can continue to serve hundreds of people in a pub over the coming days makes no sense

That isn't the case?

Have I misunderstood? I thought only the affected member has to self-isolate, not the rest of the household. Isn’t that OP’s issue?

You’re right, I have misunderstood. My example didn’t make sense. I guess it’s like your DH’s work colleague testing positive.

Still doesn’t seem enough.

[quote Redolent]Today;

Only 22% of people testing positive for coronavirus reported having symptoms on the day of their test, according to the Office for National Statistics.

This hammers home the importance of "asymptomatic transmission" - spread of the virus by people who aren't aware they're carrying it.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-53320155[/quote]
The study says nothing about asymptomatic transmission - that's an addition from the BBC. It could be that the other 78% never infected anyone - it's impossible to tell from that study.

[quote Redolent]@TrustTheGeneGenie

The WHO cocked up their messaging here (what’s new?) They meant asymptomatic i.e. will not develop symptoms throughout the whole duration of their infection. They did not mean ‘pre-symptomatic’, ie displaying no symptoms initially, but will develop them soon.

Many people haven’t grasped that distinction.[/quote]
But that article is talking about asymptomatic.

There's really fuck all you can do about presymptomatic people unless you start routine testing the entire population.

If she can work from home it would be sensible. Gov advice is about saving money. (They sent the italy skiiers into work and school...)

Average incubation is 5d i think so by next week the dc may well have symptoms. As it will have been at least 24h to get tests back, and contagious before symptoms.
If several staff have it i would have thought they got it from another member of staff or a child (asymptomatic?)

If a 3 year old can self isolate without coming in contact with her parents then of course they might be able to go to work. But they can't, so your colleague if any common sense were applied, should work at home for another 14 days. The boss should be actively encouraging that otherwise his whole workplace has the potential to come down with it.

@roundturnandtwohalfhitches

If a 3 year old can self isolate without coming in contact with her parents then of course they might be able to go to work. But they can't, so your colleague if any common sense were applied, should work at home for another 14 days. The boss should be actively encouraging that otherwise his whole workplace has the potential to come down with it.

She's just following the guidelines...

@TrustTheGeneGenie

They manage to do it in South Korea. Tested 45,000 people connected to some outbreaks in a few nightclub. They also published the anonymised information on a website so that people could see it they’d been exposed.

People are going to be moving around a lot more now. Visiting different households throughout the week, going to bars and cafes etc. I still think this guidance isn’t going to cut it.

Did she have swab test or pin prick do you know?

@roundturnandtwohalfhitches that isn't the advice though? Of course if she can work from home then better to. But not everyone can and not everyone can just take 14 days off work everytime there is secondary contact like that!

There's really fuck all you can do about presymptomatic people unless you start routine testing the entire population.

Surely the whole track and trace thing is about getting people who have been in contact with a case, and who therefore might be infected but presymptomatic, to self-isolate. Or have I got that wrong?