Burst bubbles and isolation of household members

[BerryPieandCustard]

I have been tossing and turning thinking about this all night . I work in a large secondary and sixth form, in the catering department. We had a year group bubble burst over the weekend so that year group are isolated. Today another student from the same year tested positive, all students traveling on the same transport as this student were sent home as a precaution (this is across 3 other year groups) the siblings and other household members of these students continue as normal unless they or the isolated member exhibits symptoms. This is the official guidelines as sent by they school. Makes me feel uneasy but that is the guidance.

Now I have a similar situation with my child, I received an email today from DDs gym notifying me that her coach has tested positive for COVID-19. My daughter last had contact with her on the 24th September for 2 hours. The coach was absent from the session on the 28th so have been told my daughter should isolate until the 8th October (14days since last contact). Me and my husband are to continue as normal.

My husband can be at home with our daughter so I have no issues in actually going to work. I spoke to my boss and told him what had happened, he said if that is the guidance then it is what it is, our line manager asked if I wanted to test then to let her know. I know that my manager feels this rule is concerning. It is hard to keep one meter plus distance (with masks and visors) in the kitchen. I have been awake most of the night thinking about it. I feel responsible for the health of the team, I feel so guilty that I have been there potentially carrying something harmful with me. Out of the team there are 2 in their early 60s (not elderly but older), someone with asthma, someone with a diabetic husband and someone with a child who has a heart condition.

I have emailed my line manager again and will call my boss again at a respectable time but I am so worried about passing something to everyone. Their health is the number one concern but also it could potentially take out the whole catering department, leaving 1100 students needing to bring packed lunch (no real hardship but an extra blow to our budget) and will also leave the 30 boarding students (half of which are isolated as they are year 12/13) with no cook for breakfast/evening meals/weekend.

I just feel like I’m tainted and don’t know what to do form the best

I'm a bit unclear (no coffee yet!) what your Boss thinks you should do - isolate or not? I'd WANT to isolate because I think it's the safest option (and we really need to get this under control) but that's not the current 'law'/guidelines on it.

I'd take unpaid leave if I could.

I think that unless your boss gives you a different option like paid leave, then all you can do is follow the official guidance and continue going to work, as long as your daughter doesn't develop any symptoms.

My boss said to come in as it’s the guidance. I know that personal the would be happier is I didn’t come in

I also feel like I should be at home. My biggest fear is making the others sick

Can you take unpaid leave to cover isolation?

When did symptoms start? If your daughter was in contact in the 48 hours beforehand the start of symptoms then yes she should isolate. If it was longer than 48 hours then she doesn't.
Is it the club or test and trace that have told her to isolate? You go by test and trace info

You need to go to work if that is what your employer wants. You now need to avoid the risk of catching the virus at home by keeping your daughter away from yourself to minimise the risk of passing the virus on further.

Your concerns might be fair if no one else in your team had children or a partner in a public facing key worker role or ever went to a pub..... is that the case?

Otherwise you need to stop feeling guilty, we all carry some degree of risk st the moment, and to be honest all in school catering are being constantly exposed as far as I can see (I work in a school).

Don't worry!

I have been in this situation with one DC having to isolate due to close contact. My employer preferred that I WFH for the period of the my DC isolating and DHs employers 'followed the guidance' as yours did and he continued going to work. You have been straight and told them that is all you can do. If everyone isolated due to a DC isolating there would be no one at work.

I have no idea when the onset of symptoms was for the coach in question. I have spoken to my boss and he feels that the guidance also doesn’t sit well with him and he feels uneasy about the whole situation (in general not just related to me) and has left it up to me to decide what to do. I am waiting for our line manager to start work and time soo so I can talk to her on the phone and see what the best course of action is.

I can take unpaid and will do so if I need to.

I know we all carry a risk but I didn’t expect to feel like a loaded gun, so to speak

This is the official advice from pubic health England. You don’t need to feel guilty. You’re doing exactly as instructed. Save your leave for when you might need it.

Oh bollocks.

Public health England.

Don't use your leave! You're doing all the right things and as pp have said people could be open to catching it in many other ways too.

If you're not managing to keep the 1m+ though, I think the conversation with the boss needs to be that the workplace is NOT Covid secure and what are they going to do to remove those risks?

Have you even been contacted by test and trace? Its them you go by as they will establish when symptoms started and who would count as a close contact. The club aren't the ones to decide who isolates or not

Agreed about PP saying not to take leave unless really necessary. This is going to be a long haul and unlikely to be only time this happens. Save your leave for when you might really need it. Also ask yourself in schools how many teachers have DCs that are isolating at home and are they still at work? I understand that you feel concerned, I have been there and it is not a nice thing to feel that you might have it but really unless someone has symptoms just be careful but carry on as normal.

The odds OP's DD will get it are very low so the odds that OP will get it before/without her daughter having symptoms & pass it on are extremely low. Don't think guilt needs to be part of the picture.