DS (10 months) asked to isolate

[Mylittlesandwich]

There are cases at DS's nursery. He's been identified as a close contact. We have our isolation letter but only DS has to isolate. We're being asked to keep our distance from the person who had contact. Obviously that can't happen. It just feels a bit risky to me. Why have we not all to isolate? I will anyway but DH can't take time off work without officially being told to isolate. So he'll continue to work in food production...

If you can isolate it clearly makes sense for you and DS to isolate from DH for the isolation period.

We can't do that as DH will have to look after DS while I work on Monday and Tuesday both weeks. I'm working from home.

Yes you and DS need to isolate within your house as much as you can from DH. Perhaps it’s easier for DH to isolate from you , try and stay in the bedroom when he’s home from work, can you set yourself up in DS room or have a spare room?

Tons of sympathy this sounds like a complete PITA

I think it is because he is not symptomatic? If your little one becomes symptomatic, he'll need a test and the whole household will require isolation.

Contacts of contacts don't have to isolate unless the contact develops symptoms. So you and DH are fine to go to work unless your DS develops covid symptoms. Sending you a handhold, it must be scary to be told your 10 month old is a contact - really hoping you are all ok

Well, obviously you put DS in the Granny Annex on his own for 14 days. Or a hotel if you don't have a handy GA.

Daft letter from a nursery - hiw the actual fuck do you keep your distance from a 10 month old?

@Mylittlesandwich
So essentially you are pissed off that you don't all have to be in isolation because it will be your work that is affected by doing the right thing rather than DHs?
I am sure you can find ways around DH having close contact with DS on those days even if it means having to juggle a few things at work around or having to take a small amount of annual leave.

The thing is that your work will be unaffected while DH won't be able to work if one of you develops minor symptoms or the household otherwise needs to isolate so in the mid-long term it is entirely reasonable that your workplace takes the impact of periods of isolation that only affect DS.

I'm not pissed off? I can't work with a 10 month old. I don't think many people could. I don't have any annual leave to take and I can't afford not to get paid. As in can't pay the mortgage afford. The most sensible thing (which DH agrees) is for him to not work but his work won't allow that.

Can your OH stay elsewhere for the 2 weeks?

I'm the higher earner so me being able to continue to work is kind of important.

@Mylittlesandwich
You can't expect your husbands employer to continually fund or be impacted by multiple periods of self isolation that he doesn't even need while your employer sees no impact. If your job is so important to the families finances while his is so unimportant to them maybe you need to look at working more than 2 days a week.

Well, then your DH will need to take him for those 2 days. Unless he develops symptoms, there's no need to make this harder on yourselves, he might never catch covid. Not everybody does.

If your DS doesn't have symptoms, then only he needs to stay at home and you and your DH can continue as normal. I wouldn't give it any more thought than that.

@StellaGib but someone has to be home to look after a 10 month old, you can't leave them on their own!

So can your DH take the 2 days as unpaid leave @Mylittlesandwich?

I don't really think that needs saying @ineedaholidaynow

Invent that your son has a temperature and therefore you all officially have to isolate if there is no other option for you. Wouldn’t normally suggest lying but it’s the only way to stop potential infection isn’t it?!

Is there any flexibility in the time you work OP? My DD is in isolation at the moment so I've been started mega early to get some work in before she wakes and then when I can through the day and finishing in the evening. I started at 4.10am on Friday which I must admit was tough going.

I sympathise because it's absolutely rotten.

I work full time... I've already messaged my manager about the rest of the week as DH will be at work but I can hardly take 5 days off. God you lot can be mean.

But @StellaGib you said that only the DS needs to stay at home and the OP and DH carry on as normal, as they both work and usually use childcare how can they carry on as normal?

@RaggieDolls that's a great idea, I'll suggest that tomorrow.

@Mylittlesandwich - your DH's employer are obliged to give some parental leave, you can split the load.

@ineedaholidaynow

But *@StellaGib* you said that only the DS needs to stay at home and the OP and DH carry on as normal, as they both work and usually use childcare how can they carry on as normal?

The OP was concerned about it being risky that they would still go to work and not isolate - she was pretty clear in her posts that she could work from home and her DH could look after the baby when he was working!

I really don't think any adult/parent needs it spelling out that "carrying on as normal" includes not leaving a baby home alone

But the issue is @StellaGib the DH can't take time off unless he has to isolate, so they do have a problem

I'm off on Wednesday anyway so that's not an issue. Thursday and Friday will be an issue but I'm sure me and my employer will be able to work something out. DH can and probably will look after DS tomorrow and Tuesday. I guess my concern is that we will all be in close contact with each other and may then transmit the virus. I've decided to basically isolate just because I don't want to risk passing it on to anyone.