We need to self isolate don’t we? 😭

[MindatWork]

Had a message this morning from a friend saying her DD has had a positive test this morning. We saw them outside in the park last Friday, mums socially distanced but kids prob had contact a handful of times. Mum has tested negative, we have no symptoms at all.

Looking at the guidelines any physical contact means we now have to self isolate (which we obv will despite it messing up a million different work arrangements) - but DH doesn’t, even though he is in our household, and neither does anyone else we’ve had contact with since last Friday? Is that right?

I’ve called my DS’ nursery and let them know he won’t be in next week and called everyone we’ve had contact with to let them know, but they don’t have to self isolate do they? It’s only if you’ve had contact with a confirmed case.

Obv the DD’s health is the most important thing and I hope she’s ok. It’s not the news I needed this morning

@OverTheRainbow88

Or you all get tested then once negative can carry on?

You can only get test if you have symptoms (you need to isolate as a cv test won't pick up in the early stages and incubation is 5 - 14 days). The rules are explicit you MUST isolate for 14 days.

@Alex50

This is so confusing, what happens in schools if one child catches it in a bubble of 260, does that mean every child in that bubble and their family need to isolate?

yes

why are you asking on here? call 111 for information, if you don't know what to do

@mosquitofeast

Our school is saying 3 positive results in a bubble 🙄

Thanks for that helpful comment @mosquitofeast - I pretty much knew what we had to do anyway as I’d ready the guidance but was interested to hear of anyone had been in the same situation. The range of responses has shown that a lot of people aren’t clear on how it’s supposed to work so if it helps make it clearer to anyone then that’s a good thing I guess?

Completely agree with IncrediblySadToo's post!

Love your DH’s approach to me that’s the only one that makes sense and that’s exactly what we’d do. I hope the child recovers quickly and everyone else stays well.

@OverTheRainbow88 our school is saying 2.

This is the school guidance regarding positive cases of Covid in school, or the case of suspected cases.

So a child has symptoms in school - they have to go home and isolate for 7 (although it'll now be 10 I assume?) and their household must self isolate for 14 days. The bubble children and staff do not have to isolate even if they've had close contact.

If a child has a confirmed positive - then track and trace applies and anyone with close face to face contact with that child will have to self isolate, so not necessarily the whole bubble.

If 2 or more - D of Health will be involved to determine if the whole class or year group bubble need to isolate, or even the whole school.

No one is seriously expecting schools to open in SEptember and stay open. They will be opening and closing, with different year groups in or out at different times,

It won't just depend on the children, it will depend on staffing levels too. For example, in my school, if the year 7 bubble has to go home, and the staff who have been involved with that bubble, then year 8 will most likely have to go home too, as there won't be enough staff left on site to keep them in school.

Just to say thank you for taking it seriously. If everyone did this numbers would stay down.

@mosquitofeast
The school would be expected to use supply teachers and anyone else they can get to cover the bubbles that weren't currently required to self isolate and schools know that it isn't good enough to claim a lack of staff without contacting all of the local supply agencies and considering other options (such as senior leadership covering lessons).

[quote MindatWork]@eeeyoresmiles weve pretty much decided to self isolate as a family until next fri which will be 2 weeks. DH can pop out for essentials if need be[/quote]
Good plan.

Except who will cover for staff off si after positive cases

Many schools have a very small if any supply budget, so they will struggle to cover teachers who are sick or who have to self isolate. Will be less of a problem in Primaries as chances are if the teacher is self isolating so will the class, but will cause huge problems in Secondary

[quote StatisticalSense]@mosquitofeast
The school would be expected to use supply teachers and anyone else they can get to cover the bubbles that weren't currently required to self isolate and schools know that it isn't good enough to claim a lack of staff without contacting all of the local supply agencies and considering other options (such as senior leadership covering lessons).[/quote]
StatisticalSense. Supply staff are banned from most schools now. Schools will close extra years if the number of adults on the site isn't a high enough ration to keep them open. This is standard practice, it was happening in March, and throughout lockdown.

Last autumn, before covid, we sent year 8 home from 2 days, because of staff shortages. And that was back in the day when we could collapse classes first, and stuff a whole year group into the gym, and half a year group into the canteen,

There were not enough teachers in the country a year ago. There was a shortfall of thousands. There are fewer now, and they will be subject to isolating and quarantine, same as everybody else. Hundreds of school staff have died and many more have just decided not to return because of the pandemic.

So a child has symptoms in school - they have to go home and isolate for 7 (although it'll now be 10 I assume?) and their household must self isolate for 14 days. The bubble children and staff do not have to isolate even if they've had close contact.

I just can’t see how this will work......most children have coughs and sneezes etc at some point throughout the winter months. Are the school seriously going to have to send home every pupil who coughs and lead the family into 14 days of lockdown?

This will be a total nightmare for a lot of parents in terms of their jobs.

What about children who have nurses/doctors as parents? I’m not sure the NHS could cope with God knows how many staff having to have two weeks off at a time. I wonder if they will be exempt in the same way they were when quarantine post holidays was bought in?

How can there be track and trace in a park ... surely you weren’t required to leave details like a pub or restaurant?

This is where a working app would be so useful @BigSandyBalls2015

Are the school seriously going to have to send home every pupil who coughs and lead the family into 14 days of lockdown?

But what's the alternative? Leave them at school and risk it being Covid and this increasing the chances of other children, teachers and other families becoming infected and potentially ill?

In the case of whole school Closures there may be some leeway with children if critical workers and vulnerable children.

I don't think so.

Pupil coughs or runs a fever. They're symptomatic so are sent home and gets tested. If test negative life continues as normal. If test is positive then anyone who has been in close contact with them (their family, school mates) go into quarantine for 14 days. Two positive tests in a year group bubble and the school liaises with authorities about widespread testing/sending year group home.

If test is positive then anyone who has been in close contact with them (their family, school mates) go into quarantine for 14 days.

It’s these parents I feel sorry for - the ones of children who seem perfectly well but may be incubating.

So an entire classroom of seemingly well children will be sent home for two weeks if one child has a positive result? And the parents of all those children will have to tell their employers they won’t be coming in for two weeks? Do you think people will actually do this? Not everyone has understanding employers. I imagine some parents would be very reluctant if it means that the household incomes is going to unmanageably affected if they are both having to take unpaid leave for a fortnight.

And what about if the parents have more than one child....what do they do about the other children that need to be taken to school if they themselves are quarantined? Or will parents be allowed to go out and take their other children to school and pick them up, they just can’t go anywhere else?

I do understand the reason behind it....I just think it’s going to be a total logistical nightmare!

@walksen

If it happens in school then nothing happens unless there is a case within 14 days in which case the local phe decides what to do. Not sure if track and trace would contact tracers the individuals.

On this basis isn't it premature to self isolate unless told to do so?

That's not what's happening in my school. If someone in the bubble tests positive then we all need to isolate