Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Bubble closed, child wasn't in school

42 replies

Treaclepie19 · 13/11/2020 19:08

Our DS developed symptoms on Saturday, we booked him a test and isolated. His results came through Monday but too late to send him to school. His dad and I developed symptoms on the monday evening and tested Tuesday morning which came back negative overnight.
He went back to school Wednesday.
Just had a letter to say his bubble is closed until 24th November, meaning contact with someone on Monday or Tuesday if I've worked it out right (14 days) when he wasn't in.
Obviously he can't go to school but does this mean he has hopefully missed contact with whoever tested positive?
I've emailed them but I'm expecting a standard "he is part of the bubble so needs to isolate".
We have a 7 week old so just really wanting to reassure myself rather than anything else. He wouldn't be going out either way.

OP posts:

PotteringAlong · 13/11/2020 19:10

If he hasn’t been in contact with the positive person he can go to school. They cannot just close the bubble to all people who don’t need it closed for them.

Original poster

Treaclepie19 · 13/11/2020 19:13

This is what I'm wondering... I've emailed them back to check but I can't see that he has had contact considering 14 days before the day they're allowed back, he wasn’t in.

OP posts:

Jenasaurus · 13/11/2020 19:17

Is he being told to stay off because if he goes in his bubble wont be there so he wont have access to his teacher/peers to learn with. I am not sure how this works but that may be why. Alternatively though could your DS join another bubble while they are away but then I am guessing he couldnt go back to the other bubble when they return

Daisy829 · 13/11/2020 19:18

If the child who has tested positive was in school towards the end of the week prior it might impact your child. It’s anyone in close contact within 48 hours of symptoms starting who need to isolate so you need confirmation of this to figure out your timings.

Original poster

Treaclepie19 · 13/11/2020 19:18

@Jenasaurus that's what I'm thinking. If that's the case then I'm happy for him to not go in but it would be nice to be able to take him for a walk if he doesn't need to isolate.
I also have our daughters 8 week injections next week so if they don't have to be cancelled I'd like to know.

OP posts:

Original poster

Treaclepie19 · 13/11/2020 19:19

@Daisy829 that's true. Would the 14 days not have started earlier then though? I'm not 100% sure how it's worked out.

OP posts:

Jenasaurus · 13/11/2020 19:22

[quote Treaclepie19]@Jenasaurus that's what I'm thinking. If that's the case then I'm happy for him to not go in but it would be nice to be able to take him for a walk if he doesn't need to isolate.
I also have our daughters 8 week injections next week so if they don't have to be cancelled I'd like to know.[/quote]
I suppose the positve cases could have infected other classmates when they were in school, and these ones could have caught it without being aware and then passed it on to your DC, although unlikely.

I can see why you would want to know in light of your Daughters injections next week and whether they will need to be cancelled.

FredtheFerret · 13/11/2020 19:22

So he wasn't in school for 2 days? Have I got that right?

The incubation period means that he could have picked up this infection before that if he was in class with someone who had it. Presumably they tested positive on the Mon/Tue - but could still have been infectious before that. The incubation period is (average) 5/6 days they think, but people are catching it outside that. I don't think you can assume that he is ok.

Christmasfairy2020 · 13/11/2020 19:23

Well his teacher and support staff are of he cannot join another bubble itis what it is. My daughters primary is the same

MarjorytheTrashHeap · 13/11/2020 19:26

@PotteringAlong

If he hasn’t been in contact with the positive person he can go to school. They cannot just close the bubble to all people who don’t need it closed for them.

Well he isn't allowed to join another bubble so what is he supposed to do, sit in a classroom on his own?

However, it does mean he shouldn't have to isolate so won't need to stay at home the whole time.

RedskyAtnight · 13/11/2020 19:29

You're correct - he only needs to self isolate if he's been in contact with the affected person during the 48 hours before he shows symptoms. Which he hasn't. However, others have made good points about whether the school will be able to accommodate him, with the rest of his bubble missing.
Does mean you can go ahead with the jabs though :)

Nellodee · 13/11/2020 19:29

We have had students who have isolated for 2 weeks, and then, just as they were about to come back, their class has been sent home and they've been told to stay home as well (though not isolating). Some students really aren't getting much face to face teaching at all at the moment. It's a mess.

OverTheRainbow88 · 13/11/2020 19:33

Your daughters injections won’t have to be cancelled unless your son displayed symptoms.

Your son should stay home but the rest of you can go about your normal day to day unless your son then gets symptoms

Original poster

Treaclepie19 · 13/11/2020 20:31

The issue with the injections is more that he isn't allowed to leave the house but is only 5 so I can't leave him alone and his dad is working (at home but unable to take that time off as he has meetings that can't be changed. Any other day would be fine so I'd likely reschedule them).

I'm only curious really because it's fine for him to isolate at home. The only difference it would make is for the injections and going for walks.

Thanks all, I suspect it is just a blanket rule.
I don't think that it could have been that he was in Friday because that would have been too long from the close contact getting ill. Whether or not they'd have been contagious days before, that isn't the current advice. It's 48 hours.

OP posts:

DottyWott · 13/11/2020 20:36

If he’s had contact with a contagious person he needs to isolate. If he hasn’t, he may not be able to go to school due to logistics , but doesn’t have to isolate.

CallmeAngelina · 13/11/2020 21:03

@PotteringAlong

If he hasn’t been in contact with the positive person he can go to school. They cannot just close the bubble to all people who don’t need it closed for them.

No, he can't go to school, and yes, they can close the bubble.

Please don't state as facts things you just happen to want to believe.

Comefromaway · 13/11/2020 21:06

When dd was told to isolate a girl who was not in school the day the contact with the positive person happened did not have to isolate.

CallmeAngelina · 13/11/2020 21:20

Depends on the school set-up. Some (secondary) schools are only advising the students sitting immediately next to the case should isolate. Others are sending the whole bubble home.

TheStripes · 13/11/2020 21:24

I think you will need to chat to the school and hope they can give you enough information. It will also depend upon the child who has tested positive. They might have had symptoms for a couple of days and then it taken a couple of days to get a test followed by another couple of days to get the result, meaning it’s possible your son was at school with them during the incubation period and does need to isolate.

AnnoyedByAlfieBear · 13/11/2020 21:30

My sons bubble has just closed with the return date of Tuesday 24th. The person (adult) first got symptoms (and tested) this Tuesday so they only had to track school contacts for the Monday as the Friday would be more than 48 hours before. Hope that helps as it's the same as your dates.

Mindymomo · 14/11/2020 08:06

Cal 119 to get clarification. You won’t be able to take him whilst you get jabs as you have to inform them if anyone is isolating and he is at the moment. I suppose when he was in on the Wednesday there is a chance that someone else in the bubble had caught it. I would cancel the jabs for another time.

Submariner · 14/11/2020 08:22

If Dad is in a meeting from home, can't you pop your 5 year old in front of the telly for the morning? It's not parent of the year material but I have done it many times when there is no other option.

PotteringAlong · 14/11/2020 08:42

@CallmeAngelina well as a teacher in that scenario I would have to send my child in. Me and DH have already had 4 weeks of teaching part time to cover DC isolating and my head has been really understanding, but they would not be understanding if they didn’t have to isolate but school just decided they couldn’t attend.

CallmeAngelina · 14/11/2020 08:44

You can't "send your child in" if the school won't accept them.
Where are you expecting them to go once there?

PotteringAlong · 14/11/2020 08:51

I would assume they would get supply staff in to cover absent staff. I’m a secondary teacher so a different scenario I know but, for example, my eldest was contacted in the middle of half term and told to self isolate due to a case at wrap around care. He was isolating for half term and the first week back after the holiday. But, if they had sent his class home that week I would have expected him (and the 3 other from wrap around who were isolating) to return when their time was up because they had had no contact.

It’s an interesting scenario though. We had lots more staff off in school last week because they were at home with primary aged children who were isolating than were isolating themselves.

Flip

1 2