Would you do this? Shielding

[Pinktornado]

I’m a teacher and in the hugely fortunate position of having holidays coming up soon. My DC will be in childcare up until the holidays and I will be working in contact with various children and staff.

I have 2 small DC and we haven’t seen my father since February due to my job. He has a pre-existing condition and is in a high risk category and shielding - basically he probably wouldn’t make it if he caught Covid-19.

My plan is for me, my DH and the 2 DC to self-isolate for 14 days (see no one, get food delivered etc) and then drive to stay with my father. DC are small enough that they’re happy staying at home and round the garden.

My fear is that we may catch CV before we isolate but be asymptomatic but still infectious. I’ve been reading all the research and I just don’t know that it’s worth the risk. Am I being totally paranoid?

Given that we need 2 weeks to isolate before seeing my father, and given that there isn’t the likelihood of a vaccine happening any time soon, we probably wouldn’t get to see him until summer 2021, if we don’t go now.

Would you do it? I’m totally overwhelmed with the decision. My DF says he’ll understand if we don’t see him but I know he’ll be devastated, as will I.

Would you feel happier with the risk if you camped in his garden, just going inside to use bathroom/kitchen. Would be weather dependent.

Shielding pauses from 1 August, but the change that allows a single person shielding to bubble with one other household is already in place

www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19

Also ask your DDad what his attitude to the risk is. If he’s happy, don’t overrule him!!

Yes, have done exactly this. Do it!!

To be honest, I think your plan to isolate for 14 days before makes the risk of you having asymptomatic covid19 and giving it to your dad supremely low. It's a very safe plan! Also, as others have said I'd allow your dad to choose, and I imagine he will want to see you

We’re doing this with my dad - haven’t seen my parents since Christmas (live overseas). The DC and I flew home this weekend so are quarantining for 14 days per law anyway but then will go and see him. He’s so desperate to see the DGC

That sounds about as low risk as you can get. I'd ask your dad, but if he's happy with it, I would be. The chances of anyone having anything and being both asymptomatic and still infectious after two weeks seem absolutely tiny. Also, if you'd caught it off anyone you know, then you'd know about it, so could avoid going.

Ensuring you are as low risk as possible for a fortnight is a sensible precaution.
No one lives forever and you can not guarentee thar anyone will live on for another year, the more so if they are very vulnerable.

We have no plans to see MiL this year, but that's because it involves international travel so there is no guarentee that we can avoid exposure on the journey there. But it's a still a risk playing safe as she's not getting younger or stronger while we stay away. It would still be crap if she died anyway when we hadn't seen her for a year to try to keep her safer.

Personally I’d buy tests for all of you.
Then I’d test, isolate until results (very quick) and then leave as soon as results confirmed negative. Literally that day.

I would not want my children to ensure two weeks isolation (and certainly not summer time)

Endure

Yes buy tests. That's logical and common sense. Isolating for 14 days is a big undertaking imo.

Yes I would do it.

@iVampire that is based on the risk of icu not becoming overwhelmed not on how safe it is for the individual patient.

Your plan sounds very safe. My mother in law is shielding and I have no idea when she will be comfortable enough to see us - and, even if we wanted to, we are unable to isolate ourselves.

@
@AtadaddictedI would not want my children to ensure two weeks isolation (and certainly not summer time
Nobody does but many children have been isolating for almost four months. 14 days is really not that long!
Op I think it’s very safe to do as you suggest.

Thanks for all the replies. Really helpful. We’re leaning towards going. My DF will be delighted.

@AldiAisleofCrap

The op is talking about not going out at all for two weeks

I’d do my suggestion!

@Atadaddicted The op is talking about not going out at all for two weeks
Yes so why I , my dc haven’t left the house/garden since March 20th. 14 days would have been very easy.

*was I

I think your plan sounds very safe and workable, and I say that as somebody who is in the shielding group. Have a great time!

Hi op, your plan sounds good. I would do it.
I see others suggesting tests (which i was going to suggest too) but please don't take them and then go see him straight away, for example, if yoh break up from work on the Monday, don't take them on the Tuesday and then go of negative as you could still be in the incubation period. I think this is what people get confused about.
I would isolate for 14ish days then take a test around day 14 to be extra sure. The results came back for me in about 14 hours, i went to a drive through place.

@Atadaddicted please be very careful doing this if you plan on doing it to visit a vulnerable person. The whole point in not testing once being contacted by test and trace unless symtoms is because you could get a negative result but could be in the pre virus stage. Imagine the op took those tests and had a negative result and then came down with it a few days later? I think 2 weeks isolation with a garden is perfectly fine if it means getting to see loved ones.

@Atadaddicted clearly I was shielding! I don’t have anxiety and my children don’t need your sympathy!

@Atadaddicted there is nothing wrong with my children’s psyche you need to think before you post.

I think do it Pink, you have taken proper precautions, and I'm sure it will make your Dad and you feel much better.