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

[IfYouCantSeeMyMirrors]

.....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.

@FinnyStory

There really shouldn't be any reason for an entire bubble to "burst". Only those who have been 1-2m for 15 min plus etc etc need to isolate. That isn't going to be a whole year group.

Our school are clear that they do not expect the 5/6 year olds to SD so whilst DS always site by X in class, he doesn't play with her, he sits by Y at lunch unless he can get to Z and at play time he plays with D, E and F. If it's PE they might be put into a group with T and S. So yeah, once down, all out

Not everyone knows this.

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.

@MadameBlobby

I’m in Scotland and as far as I know the whole class doesn’t get sent home. Only the close contacts. So kids who sit within 2 m of the positive case and presumably people they play with etc

This is what my child’s school implies will happen too. So only the children who sit next to the child in class. Which is stupid as they’re all sitting in one tiny airless room and we know it spreads in enclosed rooms further than 1m.

If they get 2 cases in a week? Fortnight? Public/environmental health get called and decide what happens. It’s not very clear.

Thankfully so far they haven’t had any cases.

@SaltyandFresh: I know this. My point is that I think an awful lot of other people don't. And yes, many schools have already sent home whole year groups (I think the situation is different - and seems saner - in Scotland).

@FinnyStory

There really shouldn't be any reason for an entire bubble to "burst". Only those who have been 1-2m for 15 min plus etc etc need to isolate. That isn't going to be a whole year group.

It would be in a primary school.

Even in a primary school, every child isn't in "close contact" with every other child.

Why wouldn't everyone realise this. Whether they can realistically keep a 5 year old in the house for two weeks with no exercise is a different question.

Even if everyone does know what it fully means keeping to it would be impossible for many to do, my family included.

Yes, I knew that. Did you?

Weren't all the children in Spain locked up in a lot of cases tiny apartments for 6 weeks or so?

Makes me almost glad mine is school refusing

It is definitely the whole class that would be sent home in our primary school - whilst they know who they sit near, they can’t possibly keep track of who has been within 1-2m of everyone at break time, lunch time etc and they are not expected to socially distance

@FinnyStory

Even in a primary school, every child isn't in "close contact" with every other child.

There is an awful lot of close contact in my primary classroom. Even when trying to avoid it.

A child in my friends secondary school has tested positive for Covid and only them and 3 others they sat with at lunch have been sent home to isolate. The rest of the class is still attending.

It’s not used as a diagnositic tool. It’s used as a possible symptom therefore if you have a new, persistent cough you should isolate and arrange a test.
That's it, our principal repeated the words 'new cough' over and over again, I think he was waiting for the 'but what ifs!' (that came anyway!)

@FinnyStory

Even in a primary school, every child isn't in "close contact" with every other child.

I teach 5 year olds. They really are.

Impossible to do, very difficult to do, unrealistic to do - will any of that cut any ice if it becomes law?

I think a lot of people imagined it would be back to March lockdown conditions, so still possible to take a daily walk with their children, for instance.

If you have several children and one is self isolating, are the others still able to go to school? If they can (which is how I understand the guidance/rules) then how will they get to school if there is only one adult. Are we risking some parents leaving children home alone?

I completely agree, two weeks with no time outdoors is horrible for adults let alone children, although I am quite surprised to hear how some schools are handling this.

In DD's school pupils only have to isolate if they have sat directly next to someone in lessons, or had close contact with them at break/lunch. I can't imagine very many schools would have a whole year group isolate over one case?

Even in a primary school, every child isn't in "close contact" with every other child.

In their classroom they are. If they go out to play together (even if apart from other bubbles), then they definitely are all over each other. They are also all over me.

I'm just recording video lessons now for 'when' my bubble goes off. If it's me, I don't want to be trying to teach them from my sickbed. If it's not me, and I'm just at home being a bit fed up, then I can be getting on with next term's isolation planning.

@FinnyStory

Even in a primary school, every child isn't in "close contact" with every other child.

Unless they put GpS trackers in every pupil to monitor who goes near who when the class is on the playground or whatever what’s your alternative?

@ohthegoats

What do people who have dogs do? Who walks the dogs?

I'd be out in the middle of the night I think.

It’s only the child who has been in contact with a positive case at school who has to self-isolate. (I think 🤞...)

Agree OP. It does need spelling out given how many don’t appear to know what 2m is or how to count to six.

Worryingly, many parents still seem to think there is SD in schools so no risk.

I realised that. I imagine a lot of people will probably still go for a walk and as long as they haven't got symptoms or haven't tested positive, I can't get worked up over it.