Is it worth social distancing at home?

[Moresandwiches]

With schools going back without any social distancing or masks, are people planning to do anything to reduce the risk of transmission from children to parents?
I'm "vulnerable" and don't expect to have an easy time of it if I catch the virus. I'm wondering about trying to socially distance from my secondary school age child as much as possible. I've moved the furniture around in the living room, so our 2 sofas are (at a push) 2 metres apart. Is this a complete waste of time though? Should I ask DC to change their clothes and shower on getting home from school? Anything else? We have to share a bathroom, unfortunately. And a kitchen, obviously.

There is an update on schools on the 11th and it might be that they recommend mask wearing for secondary schools.
My dd’s school say to put clothes straight in the wash when they get home and to leave shoes outside or somewhere quarantined in the house. Also for them to shower when they get home.
I think that’s all we can do.

Distancing properly in the home is damned hard, as families with a shielded person found out.

I wouldn't attempt it, unless you have an exceptionally vulnerable person.

But absolutely yes, go for precautions whenever someone returns home. Handwashing as a very minimum, changing clothes also good. If they shower as well, they need to wipe down surfaces and open the window afterwards.

Keeping 'outdoors' items (school bags etc) near the door might help, and wash hands again after handling them.

Generally keeping the windows open, and cleaning high-touch items frequently is also good

I'm of the opinion that things like washing clothes and leaving shoes outside have only one measurable benefit, which is making people feel safer. So find your own comfortable balance of precautions.

I think they may be forced to recommend masks at secondary to settle people down. I suspect they were only convinced to go for masks on transport and shops to encourage more people back to work and out shopping.

We gave up trying to shield my husband from the rest of us at home. It just isn't possible in a small house with no spare rooms. It helped that the kids weren't going anywhere and I avoided going to higher transmission risk places as much as possible. We kept windows and doors open as much as possible. Good hygiene obviously and changing clothes when arriving home. Also limiting the time you are all sat together in an enclosed room. It's much easier in Spring/Summer when windows can be open all day. I'm hoping for a mild Autumn!

I'm not going to do anything. If DS gets it, I'll get it. I'm not going to make my 7 year old child socially distance from me.

I'm not vulnerable though and I'm working in an office with no PPE so I could catch it myself anyway.

It's so depressing, thinking that we need to spend less time together, maybe no hugs, etc. I suppose I'll need to encourage DC to spend lots of time in their bedroom. And just to reduce the risk a little bit. I'm very into ventilating the house, but winter in Scotland isn't the best time to keep the windows open a lot! I think the conservatory (garden door) will have to become a back from school room, for changing clothes, using gel, etc.

The changing clothes thing baffles me, albeit I accept my grasp of science is shaky! If you are a medic using proper respirators etc on a Covid ward I can see that you might remain uninfected in a room of “floating virus” but your clothes might have it on, and I can see how that could theoretically then bring virus home. Changing clothes makes sense.

In a situation in a school, if there’s virus ”floating around” in the air and it’s on your clothes, surely it’s also up your nose and in your eyes and thus you become infected. Or if it’s rubbed onto your clothes from a surface, again it’s probably on your hands, which are then on your possessions, touching your face etc. (I don’t believe children will be scrupulous about hand hygiene!) You can change your clothes when you get home, but as you’re infected, after a few days you will be shedding virus from your nose, mouth, poo etc. So what’s the point?

And no, I’m not socially distancing from my children. None of us are high risk and they are far too young for that not to be emotionally damaging. If they catch it I fully expect to get it too, it’s part of the “deal” I accept by sending them to school.

@Triangularbubble I think you have it exactly right. Changing clothes is just one of a number of measures implemented by schools that probably have zero effect on virus transmission, but do serve to help some people feel better.

Honestly I think trying to social distance from your children is just totally unrealistic.
What happens if one has a bad day and wants a cuddle? Do you tell them no? Do you push them away?
What about tea time? Do you all eat in different rooms?

I suppose you have to do what makes you comfortable but I have 2 working children at home both of whom come into contact with multiple people everyday for over 4 months and in the house we haven't done anything more than hand washing.

I'm not planning on doing anything different when my school age child goes back in September otherwise I think we'd become obsessed where the risk is small.

I don't know what will be happening in the school yet but I'm assuming they have measures planned. Is there any case anywhere with transmission from clothing? I'd be interested to see some scientific research on that.

I would never put distance between me and my kids. Granted they are young but still, for me getting sick if they are is part of the deal. I've run around mopping up their sick, hosing them down, sleeping next to them to keep a closer eye. I never once kept my distance just incase I might catch something. Seems really mean, especially when they are not ill. I wouldn't be best pleased if my family started treating me like a disease vector.

DC is 15 and is starting school next week. There are no plans to socially distance or wear masks at school. She also takes public transport to school. The classrooms are tiny, and the year group is completely full. They pack them in like sardines.
In Aberdeen, didn't 1 person in a pub result in a mass infection and local shut-down?
Of course I've cleared up sick and all the rest of it her whole life. But this is different - I'm in the vulnerable group and it's a really vicious illness. She is far less vulnerable, though obviously there's still a risk to her. If I die or my health is seriously affected it will have a big impact on her too.

In your specific situation (1 adult sized teenager and vulnerable adult) I think I would, tbh. Not long term but just for a few weeks to see how things play out. Scottish secondary schools are a real guinea pig and I don't blame you for wanting to distance yourself from it.

I think she could cope with a few weeks of being 2m away from you. Especially as she won't be distancing from her friends at school.

I think your best bet is for your DC to live in a garden shed if you have one? Wickes have great deals so you could put one up relatively easy if not?

Probably do what you can without going too overboard. I keep the back door and windows open (easy in this weather - don’t know about winter) and tend to be sit in separate rooms where possible. Have a study so ok to wfh. Appreciate it’s more difficult in a small home.
In the evenings though we do sit around watching TV so it doesn’t feel too much like we’re not in contact.

No. I’m on maternity leave (recently gave birth, not pregnant anymore) and of course I’m worried about my husband giving it to me when he does return to the office but it’s not practical to social distance in your own home.

Wait what?

I get that you’re vulnerable OP but “encourage them to spend as much time in their bedrooms as possible” is so wrong.
The pandemic is affecting them as well as you- Social distancing is one thing please don’t encourage your children to isolate themselves further within the home.

Frankly - forgive me- but if you DID contract Covid and the worst happened, would you like to spend your last moments thinking you’d spent weeks or months pushing your children away, encouraging them to “stay in their bedrooms”?

@onedayinthefuture are you normally this ignorant in real life or do you just save it for an anonymous board?

OP I understand your concerns and I think if you can both come up with some ground rules it will make it easier for you.

@doodleygirl not ignorant at all. The OP may as well have her DC live in a shed if she's that anxious. Either that or get a reality check.

DC won't be isolated - will be at school all week, for a start. And doing stuff outside I'm fine with - eating in the garden or going for a walk. I'm doubtful that social isolating at home will be effective, but it can't hurt, while we see how things develop.