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Original poster

Do people realise that if their child's bubble bursts.....

439 replies

IfYouCantSeeMyMirrors · 12/09/2020 18:12

.....and that child is therefore sent home from school for 14 days, the child is supposed to stay solely within their own house or garden for that entire period? They might be completely well for the full 14 days, but during that time, they can't take any walks. No bike rides. No drives in the car. If they haven't got a garden, they cannot go outside at all.

Many, many children are going to be in this position very soon - quite possibly multiple times - and it goes some way beyond the initial lockdown situation.

OP posts:
Thegreymethod · 12/09/2020 23:59

I'm more worried that if the children get sent home and have to isolate so will my husband and he won't get paid, and with 4 children I know it's a real possibility.

ineedaholidaynow · 13/09/2020 00:02

For those saying they couldn’t possibly stay indoors for 2 weeks, what would you do if you tested positive for COVID?

ohthegoats · 13/09/2020 00:17

Be ill probably. No worries staying in when you're ill. After 7 days if you feel OK, you can go out too.

ohthegoats · 13/09/2020 00:21

Not everyone can afford not to go to work because someone their DC may or may not have had contact with has tested positive. Some people are self-employed.

My partner got cross with me this morning when I suggested that lots of people won't be 'able' to self isolate. As in, they'll physically be able to, but financially might not be able to. And that will be a massive factor in whether it's all adhered to. Everyone I know who is trade self employed, worked throughout lockdown. Certainly the building site opposite my house was rammed with blokes the whole time.

MadameBlobby · 13/09/2020 00:27

@ohthegoats

Be ill probably. No worries staying in when you're ill. After 7 days if you feel OK, you can go out too.
10 days
MadameBlobby · 13/09/2020 00:28

@ineedaholidaynow

For those saying they couldn’t possibly stay indoors for 2 weeks, what would you do if you tested positive for COVID?
I think it would feel different knowing you had it and would pretty much definitely spread it. You’d need to be a right sociopathic cunt to go out in those circumstances!
ElizabethG81 · 13/09/2020 00:30

A big issue that will probably result from being over cautious about this is that a lot of grandparents will end up providing child care for the "isolating" children while the parents have to work. A lot of parents might be able to stay home for one 2 week stretch, but not many will be able to do it continuously and also keep their jobs.

ineedaholidaynow · 13/09/2020 00:31

But some people only get mild symptoms. What about anyone living with you, they have to isolate for 2 weeks

Underhisi · 13/09/2020 00:37

"For those saying they couldn’t possibly stay indoors for 2 weeks, what would you do if you tested positive for COVID?"

That is likely to only happen once. For us that is only one period of being unsafe not many periods of 14 days.

ArtieFufkinPolymerRecords · 13/09/2020 00:41

@AldiAisleofCrap

Because fuck keeping a kid with ASD indoors for two weeks. as I said on my post I kept my children with autism in for four months. Think about that for a minute , four children with autism at home for four months to keep their mum safe. And you refuse to keep child home for two weeks. Your refusal to keep your child at home for 2 weeks could lead to children like many spending months at home again if shielding restarts. *@PickACoolUserName* how can you be that selfish? If it was fine for people to go on quiet walks then the guidance would reflect that.
Well you didn't keep your children in for selfless reasons did you? I'm sorry but those that consider themselves at higher risk personally are obviously going to be more bothered about everyone isolating 'properly'.

Most people who catch Covid, and who actually have symptoms, will not be particularly unwell, and as time goes on people will become less willing to shut themselves away for weeks on end, as that has more of a negative impact on their lives than the actual virus.

PrimalLass · 13/09/2020 00:46

You know how sometimes you cough? It's like an involuntary thing. That is an "episode of coughing".

Yes multiple times a day. I don't have covid.

BlackeyedSusan · 13/09/2020 00:46

Bit shit if you live in a flat with only communal gardens. And stinky not being able to take the bin out for two weeks. And two sacks of recycling.nowvthat is going to be really healthy!

Coyoacan · 13/09/2020 03:35

Call me anti-social if you like, but I do not understand why isolated walks far from the madding crowds are against the rules.

Oblomov20 · 13/09/2020 03:52

I didn't actually 'get' this embarrassingly. BlushAt the beginning of lockdown ds's both went for a walk once a day. Isolation is worse than that. How can this be ok?

MrsSchadenfreude · 13/09/2020 04:26

DD2 travelled back from overseas and had to self isolate for two weeks. We’re in a flat, and she hasn’t been outside for two weeks. It’s been incredibly tough, particularly as she has been on her own for quite a bit of the time.

theviewfromhalfwaydown · 13/09/2020 06:05

I'm really worried about this as I'm a single mum of 3. My place of work are not going to be happy with me taking 2 weeks off every time one of their bubbles burst. Plus I don't get paid so I won't be able to afford to pay my rent and other bills.

I'm also concerned as one of my children had a complete breakdown during lockdown tries to kill themselves and was diagnosed with anorexia which caused them to be in hospital for two weeks in May with a slow heart rate. Since school going back their mood is so much better the food thing is still a struggle but I'm starting to see my old child back again. She is an age I could technically leave her at home while I work if she was mentally well but I can't do that anymore. Before all this she was the type of child that nothing phased her so far from a snowflake as some would call it.

BubbleBoy12 · 13/09/2020 06:10

It means they have to self isolate???????????

NeurotrashWarrior · 13/09/2020 07:20

@theviewfromhalfwaydown I would strongly suggest you discuss your situation with the school as I would say you and your child who struggled are in a vulnerable situation. It may not change a great deal but I would hope there could be some sort of help or awareness of your situation.

meditrina · 13/09/2020 07:25

"I didn't actually 'get' this embarrassingly. blushAt the beginning of lockdown ds's both went for a walk once a day. Isolation is worse than that. How can this be ok?"

Well the 90,000 DC who were required to shield managed it for 3-4 months. First time daily outdoors exercise was permitted for the shielded was June.

They are of course no longer shielded and required to be in school, so perhaps won't have to go back inside any more than anyone else does.

There have been quite a few voices on MN warning about the risks of schools returning, and the need for every family to have a plan for two weeks indoors for isolation. They tended to get drowned out as fearmongers and doomsayers, possibly because people did not want to think ahead to what the - entirely predictable and predicted - consequences of outbreaks in schools would be.

But it was always the case that 2 week isolation (meaning isolation, not lockdown rules) would not be uncommon, that families needed to be ready for it, and that it could happen more than once.

Talking about blended learning also got a bit drowned out by the calls of fearmongering too. Do people know how ready their school is for off site learning ?

bumblingbovine49 · 13/09/2020 07:32

@FinnyStory

It's true Premier, that schools have been over zealous with their application but I was in a (virtual) meeting with Dept of Health and Environment officials this week where they made it very clear this shouldn't be happening. I imagine schools will be getting some strong guidance to that effect very soon.
Well since schools were given very unclear guidance on what to do if there was a case, can you blame them? Better guidance. Is definitely needed and urgently. Though I imagine it will mostly be carry on regardless.
noonelikesuswedontcare · 13/09/2020 07:41

Go for a walk, you'll be fine, if you see anyone you know then say we are isolating due to school, so keep 2m back. Don't walk around Tesco's.

FinnyStory · 13/09/2020 07:43

The guidance isn't unclear, schools refer to the Local Health Protection and jointly RA the contacts. The guidance is actually extremely clear that you don't close a bubble at the first case.

A lot of the guidance for schools has been unclear, that is certainly true, but it's not unclear on this aspect.

MarshaBradyo · 13/09/2020 07:45

@FinnyStory

The guidance isn't unclear, schools refer to the Local Health Protection and jointly RA the contacts. The guidance is actually extremely clear that you don't close a bubble at the first case.

A lot of the guidance for schools has been unclear, that is certainly true, but it's not unclear on this aspect.

Agree with this. It appears some schools haven’t been following it.
NeverForgetYourDreams · 13/09/2020 07:45

We stayed home at the beginning of all this when Lockdown started. It's only the same as that

MarshaBradyo · 13/09/2020 07:46

It is more than we’ve done so far. We haven’t had to self isolate yet.