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Original poster

What are your restrictions if your child is isolating?

72 replies

notevenat20 · 18/10/2020 22:57

DD’s class was just sent home because a teacher tested positive. We haven’t heard anything official from PHE yet but assuming she has to stay home for 14 days, what are my restrictions? I know I don’t have to isolate but can I just live my normal life, see friends etc? I assume I shouldn’t have anyone round to the house but is that actually the law?

I should say DD has no symptoms at all.

OP posts:
MyPersona · 18/10/2020 23:08

If someone in your house is confirmed to have been a contact of someone who has tested positive why on earth would you see friends until you’re sure they/you aren’t infected?

MaosChaos · 18/10/2020 23:13

The guidelines seem to be it is just your DD who has to isolate. You can do what you like!
We've just finished isolation and reality was I did the minimum. Not met friends but got stuff from the local shop.

And one night after a day of hell (he's got SEN), we had a midnight walk but we a rural and could pick a quiet route.

BeeFarseer · 18/10/2020 23:14

We have had this twice now, thanks to DS coming into contact with someone who tested positive.

On both occasions I had to collect him from school and he already had the letter from PHE to give me.

The official guidance is that only the child has to isolate and no-one else in the household, unless the child develops symptoms.

So yes, you can go out, see friends, etc. No, you can't have anyone over to your house.

It didn't change much for us as we are in a tier 3 area, but I wouldn't feel right meeting anyone while my DS was isolating, even if it is allowed.

Racoonworld · 18/10/2020 23:15

You SC will need to isolate for 14 days. You cannot have anyone else in your house (would anyone even want to come anyway?). You should isolate too if your dc is too young to isolate from family in the house.

KnightsofColumbusThatHurt · 18/10/2020 23:16

Only the child has to isolate, you can carry on as normal.

KnightsofColumbusThatHurt · 18/10/2020 23:18

You should isolate too if your dc is too young to isolate from family in the house.

That's not the guidance - the OP only needs to isolate if her child develops symptoms.

PickAChew · 18/10/2020 23:19

I wouldn't risk having people around but you should probably prioritise making sure you have plenty of food and paracetamol etc in, have dealt with any essential business that involves leaving the house and securing a couple of weekly online food orders in case you child does become symptomatic, at which point you would have to isolate.

Original poster
notevenat20 · 18/10/2020 23:21

It sounds like I should still go to work? It feels like I should warn them just out of politeness though.

Should I stop DS from having his friend round to watch a film? Should I cancel the cleaner? I am guessing yes to both but it feels a little like the question about whether you can have 6 people downstairs and your children asleep upstairs but even less clear.

OP posts:
XiCi · 18/10/2020 23:26

Should I stop DS from having his friend round to watch a film? thats not a serious question surely?
Your ds cannot leave the house or have any contact with anyone apart from his household for 14 days.

Original poster
notevenat20 · 18/10/2020 23:28

Your ds cannot leave the house or have any contact with anyone apart from his household for 14 days.

Sorry it is DD who has been sent home. The question is if DS can watch a film in the front room with a friend while DD is in her bedroom isolating.

OP posts:
PickAChew · 18/10/2020 23:28

Don't have anyone round your house because that puts them in contact wit your child, even if not in the same room at the same time.

Yes, unless you're in a childcare predicament, carry on going to work. Warning them is a good idea because if your child develops symptoms you should go straight home.

BeeFarseer · 18/10/2020 23:30

@notevenat20

It sounds like I should still go to work? It feels like I should warn them just out of politeness though.

Should I stop DS from having his friend round to watch a film? Should I cancel the cleaner? I am guessing yes to both but it feels a little like the question about whether you can have 6 people downstairs and your children asleep upstairs but even less clear.

There is nothing unclear about it. And the answer to that question... No. No you can't. Does your child cease to exist and therefore not count as a person while they are asleep? No.

You can't have anyone into your house who doesn't already live there if someone is isolating.

XiCi · 18/10/2020 23:31

Your dd could have contracted the virus and you are infectious 2 days before you show symptoms so no, I wouldnt be having any children round to the house. I'd be furious if my ds contracted covid from your house when you knew your dd had been in close contact with someone infected and was isolating.

mocktail · 18/10/2020 23:34

You're not allowed to have anyone to the house while someone is self isolating. And ideally your dd should isolate from the rest of the household, although I must admit I don't know anyone who's done that with a child.

Piwlyfbicsly · 18/10/2020 23:34

You can’t have anyone around your house where your child is isolating. You can in theory go to work and go outside, but in my case I couldn’t just leave a child alone so I took turns with my husband for childcare while I still had to go out to work, older child had to go out to school. These were the rules for a positive contact at school if we had no symptoms.

PinkPiranha11 · 18/10/2020 23:36

I love “Mumsnet guidance”. You just take the normal guidance, make it 300x stricter, add a dash of virtue signalling, a touch of one upmanship and ta da! Welcome to Miserable Town.

ShinyGreenElephant · 18/10/2020 23:38

My daughter has just finished isolating. I stocked up on food etc just in case she developed symptoms, didn't visit friends or family but did take DD2 to her swimming lesson. No visitors to the house even the rest of the class who were also isolating (she put forward a good case for that!) Her dad came to visit through the window and bring treats then had a massive tantrum that I wouldnt let him inside, said he was going to call fathers 4 justice on me 😂😂😂

mocktail · 18/10/2020 23:38

Which bit is 300x stricter?

AlwaysLatte · 18/10/2020 23:42

You can carry on as normal unless she develops symptoms (or anyone else in the house does). So you can visit other people but obviously they can't come to your house.

Original poster
notevenat20 · 19/10/2020 07:31

Thank you that answers the question about having anyone round.

But I am still confused about what my other children can do. DS was due to have an outdoor birthday party that I have paid for (no more than 6 in total). Can this still happen? It’s at an organised event so not close to the house.

OP posts:
Original poster
notevenat20 · 19/10/2020 07:33

@mocktail That NHS link is clear if I were isolating. But says nothing about if your child is.

Also, the “ When to self-isolate” section doesn’t mention a school writing to you or even PHE!

OP posts:
Original poster
notevenat20 · 19/10/2020 07:35

My daughter has just finished isolating. I stocked up on food etc just in case she developed symptoms, didn't visit friends or family but did take DD2 to her swimming lesson.

Did you warn the pool people that your daughter was isolating?

Should I write to DDs school and tell them DS is isolating?

OP posts:
Lockdownfatigue · 19/10/2020 07:35

He can still have his birthday party but dd can’t go. I would warn other parents and let them make the call about their child attending.

Lockdownfatigue · 19/10/2020 07:37

I let the other school know just for their info but you’re not required to.