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COVID CLUSTER IN NURSERY

75 replies

WeeSunhine2018 · 08/10/2020 21:56

Hi all

Just looking for your thoughts on this??

I have a 2 year old son that attends nursery.

He attends a Monday Tuesday morning.

On Tuesday 6th Oct I recieve a call at 8pm stating someone at nursery tested positive at nursery and results came back that day. Said my was in direct contact with them and for him to isolate for 14 days not rest of my family. (that's fair enough as that's gov guidance as silly as that seems but anywho.)

Long story short - I discovered the nursery new about this confirmed covid cade on Monday 11am and continued to have my son in that room without closing it down for deep clean and even worse let him attend on the Tuesday and didn't notify me until Tuesday 8pm. Come on surely there's a duty of care to make us aware so I can make the safest decision for my son.

I am raging about this esocially when u have a primary 2 child and a new born baby that has now developed a cough.

The nursery are not taking me seriously and fobbing me off. Any suggestions x

OP posts:
WeeSunhine2018 · 08/10/2020 21:58

Oh and just for update it turns out 3 more children in his toddler class and a staff member have not tested positive since Wednesday.

I made the manager aware that I thought it wasn't right that the staff weren't wearing masks and not adhering to the social distancing of 2 meters and again fobbed off saying oh they have been taking it seriously and they will talk to staff.

Now there's a cluster of covid.

OP posts:
WeeSunhine2018 · 08/10/2020 21:59

Sorry they have NOW tested positive the 3 kids and a staff member. I wrote not above

OP posts:
Keepdistance · 08/10/2020 22:28

They dont generally wear masks or SD in schools or nursery unfortunately.
I agree op i think parentd should be called immediately if there's a confirmed case that has been in contact and shuts the bubble.
Have to say though in march i took my kids out 2w early but just before schools closed there was a parent case and the school had held onto the info for over a day before telling anyone.

Char2015 · 08/10/2020 22:29

They may have been awaiting for advice for DFE/PHE. It's taking a while after a positive case is confirmed for contact to be made and appropriate advice/guidance to be given. In regards to a deep clean, this should be happening daily in a nursery environment anyways so I wouldn't worry.

Staff don't need to be wearing masks in a nursery environment nor is it possible for them to remain 2 metres away from the children.

LtJudyHopps · 08/10/2020 22:31

Your first post doesn’t make sense. They knew about it Monday but the results came back Tuesday? If they told you about every possible case your DC would never be in nursery.
Nurseries have had to do risk assessments. They’ll have bubbles based on the different rooms and enhanced cleaning etc. A nursery I know of has had to put sinks in all the rooms for hand cleaning.
It isn’t possible to distance from a group of 2 year olds unfortunately. They also don’t have to wear masks.

GrumpyHoonMain · 08/10/2020 22:35

Wearing masks and full PPE around babies at nursery would emotionally and psychologically scar them for life - because not everyone has the luxury of just sending their kids for a few mornings a week!

Jenasaurus · 08/10/2020 22:36

My DD works in a nursery and to be honest this was always going to happen. The brother of one of the nursery children has tested positive and a coworker is off with symptoms awaiting a test, but the nursery remains open, its a small nursery with 15-20 children and 4 staff, no PPE and constant contact, children on lap being read to, etc., just a matter of time. I have no idea if the other parents have been informed as the child is the brother of one of the children and the member of staff is awaiting her results so probably not.

I would want to know if my DC where at the nursery so I could make an informed choice whether to take them or not. In your situation I wouldnt be happy to not be told until the Tuesday either.

Freddiefox · 08/10/2020 22:55

How did you find out that they knew on Monday? And have you asked why they didn’t tell you before?.

My nursery staff have a choice if they wear a mask or not.. all chose to wear one.

Heyahun · 08/10/2020 23:11

You don’t wear masks or socially distanced at a nursery! It’s impossible - babies have to be held and you can’t make the children socially distance either.

Sounds like they did everything right - we’ve had heaps of people at our nursery have symptoms then test negative - we don’t tell the parents about every time - only if we get a confirmed case!

WeeSunhine2018 · 09/10/2020 01:56

I understand that they don't need to wear masks but as far as I was aware if adults can't keep 2m distance then they must wear masks. This place is massive there's more than enough space in the rooms to social distance they just chose not to. They are acting as if they are immune to the virus but they are still the average Joe outside their working environment visiting God knows who and flouting rules or some sticking to them.

First case reported was a staff member.

I found out that the staff were made aware on Monday morning by asking the manager and she said they didn't informe as they were trying to contact public health.

Surely common sense comes into it and you must think right I have to prevent any further spread and the children I know that the staff member was looking aftee instead of waiting all the way to Tues 8pm

OP posts:
ginberry4 · 09/10/2020 02:13

OP - I completely understand your concern about them not telling you quickly enough, but with the greatest respect, surely common sense would also dictate that you can’t expect staff to maintain 2m social distancing in a nursery?! What if a child fell & hurt themselves? Or was distressed when dropped off & needs a cuddle? Needs a nappy change? To maintain distancing would be seen as neglectful to the emotional needs of the children. It’s just not possible. Plus mask wearing is likely to scare them.

WeeSunhine2018 · 09/10/2020 02:13

I understand that you don't tell parents about everyone who has symptoms and test negative that's not my point.

My point Is this person tested positive and they still didn't tell me??

OP posts:
PracticingPerson · 09/10/2020 05:50

IMO you are not wrong, it should be required to notify of a positive case. One of the reasons cases are rising is positive cases are not reacted too quickly enough.

WeeSunhine2018 · 09/10/2020 06:38

They are telling me the reason why they didnt notify me of this is because they were waiting on advice from health board. Surely it doesn't take from mom 11am to tue 8pm to pick up a phone and get advice I don't buy it one bit.

OP posts:
THATbasicWITCH · 09/10/2020 06:50

When our school had cases they told us straight away and closed BUT it took over 24 hours for then to obtain and pass on info from PHE as to who should isolate

These things unfortunately take time but i do think they should have closed the room as soon as a case was confirmed

PracticingPerson · 09/10/2020 06:53

Public health advice is slow, sadly - because all the money went to serco and deloittes etc instead of the public health teams Angry

SpaceRaiders · 09/10/2020 06:54

They should alert the parents as soon as a case is confirmed, public health would be completely inundated with calls/emails hence the delay in informing parents. This is part of the issue why this thing is spreading, people are not using basic common sense and are waiting for instructions from an overwhelmed government body.

OpheliasCrayon · 09/10/2020 07:07

Isnt that right? I got called to collect DD2 on Tues PM as she had a temp. Nursery stayed open but I had to get her a test. Test results came back Thurs am and negative. But had they been positive they would have then shut the room on Thurs am. Not Tues. They only shut when there's a positive case confirmed not when the child in question got symptoms. If they had to shut when a kid was ill and no test results they'd never be open!
And no SD and no distancing is normal and fine.

OpheliasCrayon · 09/10/2020 07:08

Sorry I feel I may have misunderstood the situation ... I'm shattered from my own poorly kid. Sorry if I've got what happened wrong and my comment is pointless....but I'm not sure!

TheKeatingFive · 09/10/2020 07:17

Do you seriously expect nursery staff to wear masks and socially distance from babies and toddlers?

Quartz2208 · 09/10/2020 07:18

The rules are very confusing - I thought it was just those who had contact within 48 hours which is why I suspect at the beginning they maybe didnt shut down if the staff member tested positive on Monday then in theory she may well not have been around people with symptoms 48 hours before so asking for PHE advice would make sense.

From the test on Monday 3 kids and a staff member clearly then had symptoms (to test positive on Weds) this further information would presumably have changed the advice (and your sons exposure) and so he would be a contact and needs to self isolate.

Janevaljane · 09/10/2020 07:20

Are you serious? Just isolate your dc and chill out.

WeeSunhine2018 · 09/10/2020 07:32

I am isolating my son and don't need YOU to tell me to chill out. I've got a newborn that I'm trying to protect from this and it's ridiculous that the nursery are dragging their heels telling parents about a positive case when I could have taken him out earlier.

OP posts:
Char2015 · 09/10/2020 07:41

@WeeSunhine2018

They are telling me the reason why they didnt notify me of this is because they were waiting on advice from health board. Surely it doesn't take from mom 11am to tue 8pm to pick up a phone and get advice I don't buy it one bit.
Yes it does. It has taken schools here days to get the necessary advice. Stop blaming the nursery. They have done everything right in accordance with the Government's guidance. Would you have preferred it if they gave you incorrect advice?
FoolsAssassin · 09/10/2020 07:43

Although I understand how worrying it is, I think they are just following what they are supposed to be doing ie. wait on Public Health to tell them who needs to be off. As others have said this is taking time at the moment assumably they are overwhelmed with colds.

There won’t be social distancing in nurseries as there isn’t in most schools. I do understand you are trying to protect your new baby. The only way to do this is to withdraw from nursery unfortunately. Anyone with a child in a nursery or school has to accept there is risk at the moment. DH has type 1 diabetes and with DS in school we accept that he may bring it home , despite best efforts of school.