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...

Your dh could take annual leave or unpaid parental leave.

Contacts of contacts don't need to isolate. Ds is currently off school as a close contact has tested positive. He is 5. It's impossible for him to isolate without one of us, we only have one bathroom and frankly, as he doesn't have a single symptom, I'm not treating him like a leper in his own home on the off chance. He already has to stay in for 14 days. That's enough for him to contend with.

Work out a way for you to do the work you need to do at a different time of day, if possible, and isolate from DH. If not possible to change the work schedule, see how it goes with DS.

I’ve done three 14 day periods of isolation from my DH and my DC so far, isolating with a single symptomatic DC and in one case prior to a scheduled surgery. Working from home throughout, it’s been shit. I’m used to working at home as I’ve done it for years and always had my DC at home with me but in isolation, and adding extras like home schooling, it’s awful so I sympathise but it has to be done.

@Mylittlesandwich

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.

The risk of you as a contact of the contact of the person who was positive, passing it on without you or your contact displaying symptoms, is small enough that you don't need to worry about it.

If you or your DS develop symptoms, then you isolate.

isolating with a single symptomatic DC

But in the OPs instance, nobody is symptomatic.

Hope you can juggle it all OP.
Dreading the call from the kids school. I can't work from home so will have to unpaid and I just can't afford it.
Makes me laugh people saying 'just take un paid leave' yea - who can afford that?!

If he was a bit older and able to occupy himself more I wouldn't be worried. I'd just set up toys in my "office" and crack on but that just wouldn't work for him just now. He's a bit clingy just now. I can't even leave him in his cot to go to the loo or he screams the house down. I don't expect to hear back about work until tomorrow but I hope I can work something out. I think DS and DH being in contact is inevitable so I'll just have to accept that I think. In some ways it would be easier if one of us did have it but I'm very fat and I don't want to die.

Fingers crossed they will let you change your pattern a bit given it's for a short period OP.

@Thisyearcandoone, I could use savings to cover unpaid time off as a one off for a fortnight but my work would never agree to it! It's all very well people saying 'you're entitled to parental leave' but employees either can't afford it or there isn't enough resource in the business to cover it.

OP we had a letter from my 3 year olds nursery today to say that he had been in contact with someone who had tested positive. My DS has to isolate for 14 days but the rest of us don't have to- unless he displays any symptoms (which he hasn't yet). I'll be off with him anyway (the helpful nhs letter reminds me not to leave him home alone) but according to NHS inform you and your husband can work as normal.

@Mylittlesandwich - I don't think you'd need to work when he's up. You have a day off, plus 2 weekend days to work. That leaves 2 days or ~16 hours so 3 hours 12 min to be covered during nap times / early morning / evening. Next week might be more tricky when you don't have a day off, but it's still

In OP shoes I think trying to juggle some sort of isolation is going to cause a bigger problem than it solves. I'd crack on with the three of you mingling and work out some timings for who works when.

Why are people being so arsey? Under the current rules neither OP or her DH have to isolate .
I'm currently isolating with no symptoms, my ds is still going to school, as is allowed.

@StellaGib

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.

This!!

I just can’t believe some of the replies on here!

@JumperTime

Why are people being so arsey? Under the current rules neither OP or her DH have to isolate . I'm currently isolating with no symptoms, my ds is still going to school, as is allowed.

Because sine people love spreading bad news

Fucking Covid dementors

OP and her DH can't carry on as normal because they don't have childcare, their DS is not allowed to go to nursery and has to stay home. Therefore they have to juggle their work because somebody must be home to look after DS. It's not that difficult a concept surely!?

tbh, I would follow the rules I'm told to follow rather than make my life extra hard with made-up extra maybe rules.

I hope your DS & your family continue to be well, OP.