Bloody isolation rules

[Soubriquet]

So last week, a parent at my child’s school had a confirmed test.

Luckily my children were not affected but it made me ask my manager what would have happened if my children had to take two weeks mandatory isolation leave

I was told, unless I have symptoms, come in as normal.

I can’t see how this works? I mean, if I was contacted by track and trace, I have to stay home but according to my manager, no. Only if I have symptoms

This isn’t right is it?

She pointed out that if everyone had to isolate due to being in contact, the store (I work in a store) would have to close and it was a viable option which is why they will only allow those with symptoms to be off

My understanding is that if you are a contact of a confirmed case, you have to isolate but your whole household does not. Your household isolates if you then get symptoms.
So if your child was in contact with someone at school who tested positive, they’d have to isolate and you wouldn’t, unless your child developed symptoms. Then you’d isolate for 14 days or until they got a test and it was negative.
I think.

What Frazzled13 said is correct

Ah thank you. That makes a lot more sense

So I only have to isolate if I come into direct contact with someone who has symptoms?

Still not what work have said but the rest makes sense

I think that's how it works. Only the child needs to isolate in your case. Otherwise if the whole bubble go down to isolate in secondary, 100s of parents needs to isolate and that's not really viable.

However if your child needs to isolate I assume they cannot go to their usual place of care whilst you are off at work. So for those with younger children it's kind of a moot point as you would potentially have to be off work to look after them anyway. No?

Yes, only if you’re in contact with a positive case.

It obviously gets complicated if your children need to self isolate and are too young to stay home alone though!

My working hours are 3am-7.30am so it doesn’t matter if they go in or not as someone is always home

But thank you for clearing it up for me