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Original poster

Scared to go anywhere now in case of need to isolate!

68 replies

Chestergirl39 · 28/09/2020 21:48

Have already had one dc having to isolate for 2 weeks after only a week in school because someone tested positive, plus having 2 other dc ‘s in different years.

Obviously risks of one of the dc’s having to isolate again is high.

Really not sure how that works with work.

Some friends with kids I know seem to be carrying on as normal, and out all the time! Not sure if I’m being over cautious by sticking to outdoor pursuits and essential shops.

I’m more worried about having to isolate frequently than the virus...

OP posts:
mrswhiplington · 29/09/2020 10:19

Same here. I work in a school and have had to self-isolate twice because of a pupil in the bubble being infected. I've been a dinner lady for 13 years but I am finishing next week, so tired of all the winter infections never mind Covid. The self-isolating over and over has put the tin lid on it for me. I am staying on as one of the cleaners, no pupil contact thankfully. Don't enjoy going out to eat or drink for fear of being tracked and traced. DD has just started Uni, I feel my world shrinking very fast.Sad

Jenasaurus · 29/09/2020 10:22

I must admit I was surprised my DD who works at a nursery going to Thorpe Park today. I know its outside but I suppose I just feel its adding another element to her risk and those at her nursery too. I think she is trying to live a normal life as much as permitted.

Deelish75 · 29/09/2020 10:23

I am also more concerned about isolating rather than being ill with the virus. I have two DC at different schools. DS’s secondary school hasn’t had any cases or closures. DD’s primary had two year groups sent home last week, but so far the rest the school seems to be okay.

At the moment our activities out of our home are school, meet friends in the park, a quick supermarket midweek dash for fresh fruit and veg, milk and bread etc (get a main delivery of a weekend) and I go for a weekly swim. DD’s had her swim lessons put on hold due to social distancing - there may be a space for her in January but at the moment I’m happy for her not to go.

I live in an area where infections are low but I come a borough where infections have rocketed over the last few weeks and it is now in lockdown with the threat of tighter restrictions coming. I’m well aware of how quickly things can change and I’m not taking anything for granted.

superking · 29/09/2020 10:31

This has crossed my mind, but at the moment we're still doing other activities and making the most of places being open. Cases here are low - approx 3 positives a day in our LA - so I feel the risk of having to isolate is still small and is outweighed by the benefits we get from going to restaurants/ swimming/ outdoor group sports etc. If/ when cases increase locally then that balance may shift.

HipHopBanzai · 29/09/2020 10:33

Another one who is more worried about isolating than the actual virus at the moment. DC are back at school and I'm worried about jeopardising that. They're also back at swimming and dance lessons but I've started to wonder if dance lessons are worth the risk of possibly being a contact of somebody and asked to isolate.

We had slowly started to go out for meals and coffees again over the summer but I've put that all on hold for the time being.

The thought of being made to isolate makes me feel so awful that I'm not sure it's worth taking any additional risks.

Sewsosew · 29/09/2020 10:40

We’ve not been anywhere all year but this had hit the nail in the coffin for me. I literally haven’t been to a coffee shop since February.
I think people will stop taking their phones places to be honest to avoid all this.

fluffedup · 29/09/2020 11:08

Same here - more worried about the financial implications than the actually virus.
We are fairly sure we actually had it in March. We have already had our finances bashed by isolating in March / DH on furlough / me with a wage cut of 25%.
I am v lucky in that I can WFH, but if DH has to isolate he can't go to work, and we think that would be the final nail in the coffin for the company he works for. The company owners have other companies and are on the verge of shutting down or merging this one.
So we are not going to any cafes etc, it's not worth the risk.
And a lot of people seem to feel the same - so think about what a blow this will be to the cafes, bars etc.

Purrloin · 29/09/2020 11:47

I feel the same. I have two kids at different schools, I work for the NHS, my exH works for a different trust in the NHS in ITU, and I am just waiting for the call asking us to self isolate. It's only a matter of time. We have already had 2 episodes of self isolation since schools went back as both kids had a cough, and I forgot just how terrible it is getting stuck inside with 2 boys who need exercise!

I have given up going to restaurants and coffee shops because it feels that the risk outweighs the benefit, and all joy is taken away when I'm just left worrying that the person on the table next to me is coughing or how safe it is not to wear my mask inside.

SoUtterlyGroundDown · 29/09/2020 11:53

Yes same here. I will do anything within my power to keep my children at school which means we are not going anywhere. It’s not worth the risk.

Paranoidmarvin · 29/09/2020 15:28

I did once the whole needing a test thing. My boss went mental at me as that would affect the whole office. I cannot afford to lose my job or that’s the house gone and food on the table.
So. I’m not going anywhere. Other than places I don’t need to give my name. As an example. I’m going to go for a walk along the beach at the weekend. Take a picnic.

Going out on the bike. Instead of using the gym which I will still have to pay for even though I’m not using it due to the track and trace. I have seen on the other threads of people being belittled about not wanting to download the app and not wanting to do their bit. I can only assume these people don’t have the boss I do or the money worries I do. Life isn’t always black and white.

Sleepyblueocean · 29/09/2020 15:41

We are avoiding going anywhere around other people for the same reason. Ds going to school is our only contact with others. We have the added bonus that it may be difficult to test ds so everytime he gets a cough/ temperature we may have to attempt 14 days isolation and the hell that will bring.

Jaxhog · 29/09/2020 15:44

Just do what everyone else does and give wrong details

Seriously? I just despair when I read this. Do you really not care that people will die, schools will close and we'll be back in Lockdown?

NotAKaren · 29/09/2020 16:08

I’m more worried about having to isolate frequently than the virus...

Completely agree OP. The disruption, stress and worry caused by being told to isolate is just not worth it. 14 days straight away at home unable to leave the house is a tough ask and I don't think everyone really thinks through the repercussions. People are skipping around with the app as if it gives some kind of magic shield against the virus. DC1 has already had to isolate due to a case in one of her lessons and I really do not want to go through that again although I suspect it will be a regular occurrence throughout winter.

Pertella · 29/09/2020 16:24

@Lazypuppy

I'm WFH so if i need to isolate it wouldn't make a difference really. If i was struggling to work and do childcare, i would just be put on full pay special paid leave for the 2 weeks
Good for you 🤷‍♀️
NaturalLight · 29/09/2020 16:32

@Lazypuppy

I'm WFH so if i need to isolate it wouldn't make a difference really. If i was struggling to work and do childcare, i would just be put on full pay special paid leave for the 2 weeks
But what about the impact on the people who will then have to cover your work? That’s a really selfish attitude
Paranoidmarvin · 29/09/2020 16:35

I’m pretty sure @Lazypuppy was just answering the question asked.

Lazypuppy · 29/09/2020 17:46

@NaturalLight

But what about the impact on the people who will then have to cover your work? That’s a really selfish attitude

No-one needs to cover my work...i'm confused by your statement.
I said I have to WFH now because of COVID, so i would carry on as i am if i had to self isolate.

@Paranoidmarvin

I’m pretty sure@Lazypuppywas just answering the question asked.

Yep!

OverTheRainbow88 · 29/09/2020 17:59

I agree, I’ve made the decision that a delicious 2 Hour lunch is not worth having to stay home for 2
Weeks because somewhere there at the same
Time is now positive. So we’re now sticking to outdoor places and a weekly food shop.

Original poster
Chestergirl39 · 29/09/2020 18:21

@FlowFlow7722

“It feels very different to earlier lockdown when we were all in this together.”

I completely agree, dc found the first week of the 2 week isolation really hard, especially knowing friends were still at school, meeting up, exercising etc. It was very tough, much worse than lockdown. We felt we couldn’t do anything either (apart from work) as didn’t feel fair on dc, so was the longest 2 weeks ever.

OP posts:
Original poster
Chestergirl39 · 29/09/2020 18:29

@Ginogineli

“Just do what everyone else does and give wrong details”

Seriously, do people do this?

“Places are meant to be 2m and covid secure so in theory there’s no reason you should have to isolate”

I don’t even know what covid secure means now. Does it mean that they have enough measures in place so you don’t need to isolate?

To be honest the last couple of times I went out I felt that measures had relaxed a lot, more tables, no table service, closer together etc, definitely tables closer than 2m.

OP posts:
Original poster
Chestergirl39 · 29/09/2020 18:33

@Paranoidmarvin

“My boss went mental at me as that would affect the whole office. I cannot afford to lose my job or that’s the house gone and food on the table.
So. I’m not going anywhere. Other than places I don’t need to give my name. As an example. I’m going to go for a walk along the beach at the weekend. Take a picnic. ”

That’s awful, but this is my fear with work. Luckily I think (hope) my manager would be a bit more understanding, I think his patience could start to wear thin, and could make life uncomfortable.

And would it count against people in the workplace if they were having to isolate more often than others, through no fault of their own?

Outdoor walks and picnics are our weekend pursuits too now.

OP posts:
Original poster
Chestergirl39 · 29/09/2020 18:34

Thanks for all the comments, it’s nice to know I’m not on my own by being a bit more cautious!

OP posts:
TheGreatWave · 29/09/2020 18:44

We're generally not going anywhere, between two schools (3 bubbles) and me at work, contact is already high. So along with the fact that the joy has been sucked out of everything, the risk of needing two weeks isolation as a result of this joyless task means I go nowhere.

TheGreatWave · 29/09/2020 18:49

That's a bit of a lie as we do, but the bar is quite high, so we went out as a family for dh's birthday, but I am not sure I will go out just me and him because if we have to then SI that would be a nightmare with the DC.

Lilybet1980 · 29/09/2020 18:52

@Sewsosew

We’ve not been anywhere all year but this had hit the nail in the coffin for me. I literally haven’t been to a coffee shop since February. I think people will stop taking their phones places to be honest to avoid all this.
Leaving phones at home won’t help. Establishments are legally bound to take contact details unless you get takeaway only. Unless people are just going to lie.

It’s no wonder the government can’t be arsed to fix track and trace. They know no one will use it properly.