Do you really keep DC indoors for 14 days?

[notevenat20]

DS's school year has been sent home for 14 days because someone in his year has covid. I know we are supposed to keep him indoors the whole time. But what have people really done in practice? It's a very long time not to walk further than the bathroom.

Also we will all be elderly hopefully at one time and many people fall in vunerable catergory do none of them have mh issues either

Yes kept indoors. Not even a garden here.

@walksen agree and also think people are confusing things being difficult or feeling upset or fed with having mental health problems. It's normal to have emotions.

I say this as someone with experience of poor mental health so I'm not talking about people who have genuine issues

Trying not to sound cold, but why isn't it OK to ask the vulnerable to isolate for a year? It's shit for them yes, but that way they are safe. How is it fair to my year old to be denied an education, socialising with friends and the freedom we all had as children, to avoid catching an illness that barely affects children.My DD is having nightmares, wants to constantly wash her hands, keeps askng when I'll die, if she wll die. She's terrified of something that she has already had!

I am so sorry for your DD and that she is so scared. I am also sorry you feel your son would be denied an education and his freedom. It's not fair on them, of course not. I hope things improve for you all.

My family and I have been shielding for 8 months now because of my CEV husband, and will do a year at home if necessary. Our children and foster children are all at home being educated. We are lucky that the children are all really supportive and positive, and have never once moaned about their freedom ending and hopefully their education is not suffering. So we are doing as you suggest and it does not matter if it is shit or not, we do what we need to do. Hopefully life will return more to normal for you and your family soon. And we'll be indoors as you suggest (LOL).

@LondonJax

So *@AltJ* my DS's friend should isolate for a year because she is vulnerable? But your kids can't for 14 days because it's detrimental to their mental health and causes them distress. Obviously having an illness means your mental health is somehow immune from being harmed in any way by isolating. Or, of course, kids could be taught that this is just the way the world is at the moment and we'll get out of it quicker if people pulled together.

My point is, if they are SO vulnerable that catching Covid is a death sentence, then they shouldn't be at school because loads of children will have it and not have any symptoms! Locking children up won't stop that risk. YEs their mental health would be affected and that is awful, and t's horrible that they suffer because of an existing illness that isn't their fault. But you can hardly say: well this child can't be at school or go for walks so NO child can.

I bet all you of those people who are bending the rules haven't lost anyone to COVID, if they had no way would they break the rules. People are selfish and it's surprised me how many people are breaking the rules.

@OverTheRainbow88

I think I would take mine out for an early morning cycle where I know there won’t be anyone about.

Staying home for 14 days is more detrimental to their health than covid. Especially if this keeps happening.

What a ridiculously selfish attitude. It might not be bad for them but it is for the people dying. They are sent home because they may be infectious. Your early morning bike ride can't be guaranteed to see no-one. Your children will be breathing more heavily because if the exercise. Imagine if they had accident and you're infecting the emergency services. Just stay in doors. It's two weeks not two years.

@timeforanewstart

Also your remote walk you cannot guarantee no one will be there , you may come across someone who has same thoughts as you Yes mh is important but some aren't even trying a couple days The longer this goes on the more it will affect kids , maybe of people followed the guidelines we could get some more freedoms back sooner

But in a big field we can stay 20 metres apart

I actually think people have taken leave of their senses.
If you've ever worked in any kind of PR/public health environment, clear messaging is key. Being stricter than you need to be is best because people will always push boundaries. The Government will also have modelled for a much lower level of compliance this time around cos, you know we're tired and we're human.
As in all parenting situations I use my common sense. I slept with all three children in bed with me at times, when they were babies...I'm not a smoker, hadn't drunk alcohol, no duvet, not in between me and my husband...the official advice and dire warnings from health visitors was never, no way, don't do it.
I weaned one of them at 5 months because they seemed ready. I occasionally (not often these days) drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week. The government issue guidelines/advice/rules - people routinely push the boundaries but instant death doesn't follow, just use your common sense!
Even prisoners are allowed out to exercise once a day...I'm damned if my perfectly healthy pre-teen son whose undergoing a second isolation in six weeks, with zero symptoms, can't go for a late afternoon stroll round the nature reserve next to my house. He's lost football training, school, youth club, cricket, P.E, time with friends for months...he's been amazing but I will do what it takes to make sure he comes out of this mess ok and as healthy as he can be. Six hours of online learning followed by an evening of gaming and tv is good for no one. And no, shockingly he's not into crafts (although we are working on a jigsaw!) A walk a day is vital...I don't let him lick pensioners en route. The woman who kept her teenager locked in his room...words fail me.

@timeforanewstart

Also we will all be elderly hopefully at one time and many people fall in vunerable catergory do none of them have mh issues either

Well yes we will all be elderly one day.

And the people who are elderly now had a childhood that didn't have COvid. They didn't have school closures, they didn't have lockdown. So I think they owe it to the younger generation who aren't at risk to take the responsibility for their own health.

Yes, 16 year old in second week of self isolation following a case in his year at school. Not actually even in his year as he is year 12 and it is a year 13 but they count the sixth form as one bubble. Not been out of our house apart from the garden. It just has to be done. Cases are increasing quite rapidly in our town due to close proximity to a recent hotspot so we're currently taking bets on how long he will be back at school before it happens again.

Yes we followed the rules and stayed in

My son is at private school. Was sent home two weeks ago to isolate after contact in class. We were advised - and we followed this advice- that he stay inside, socially distant from the rest of the family, and if possible have a separate bathroom. He ate in his room, as there is not room at our kitchen table for us to keep 2m apart and eat together. There was online school each day, and in the evenings he did online gaming with his friends. It was dull for him, but he survived. Back at school now, no further cases.

I wouldn’t keep the dog indoors for a fortnight, nor the kids. We went for walks across fields at first light, never went within 5 metres of anyone.

So to summarise some posters thoughts- those who are vulnerable (which can also include children btw) should shield indefinitely, but for others, 2 weeks isolation so the same thing effectively is cruel and detrimental to their welfare. Can someone make it make sense please, why are people who are also dealing with physical illness which makes them susceptible someone magically not affected by isolation, but other precious darlings are? And no, I don't buy the well it's their risk to take as a fair one, it's not like you choose to have any of the illnesses that make you vulnerable

Backbee thank you!!! Myself and our children have all been isolating continually since March to protect my CEV husband who has had to shield (even when it was paused). The children, even the teenager foster children have been so supportive and positive. They have never once, not even for a second complained. I am blessed. But I do feel a bit forgotten about so the thought that you actually understand makes me feel....well, not ignored shall we say? Thank you so much, sincerely!!!

If schools end up closing as a result of rising cases how will you entertain your kids then?

Also if we all have the same mentality that the rules don’t apply to us because of xyz then it’s no wonder we are in this situation. You may believe that the rules don’t apply to you as you think you have assessed risks appropriately, but if we all start thinking like that and break the rules for ourselves then where will we draw the line and what extreme will people go to when bending the rules? For instance some people may think that if they have a mild or asymptomatic case of covid then the isolation rules don’t apply to them as their risks of spreading it are lower or if they take extra precautions they can continue on as normal without isolating.

@Hovverry so you were out with others just 5 m away and you think that was ok , you didn't even go when no one was around you think just keeping away 5 m means zero risk

No, I wouldn't keep mine in. Teenagers have already done their bit by missing their public exams, end of school rites of passage, friends, summer jobs, etc, etc. Not that there would be anywhere for them to go, or anyone for them to see at the moment - but I would certainly let mine walk to the shops etc. It's monstrous to expect young people to live in isolation just on the off-chance that they have been in contact with an illness that is likely to have no particular effect on them.

Rather than trotting out the "save the NHS" clichés (which is presumably why people are still wheeling out the "stay the fuck at home" mantra), we ought to be having sensible discussions about why our heath service can't cope, and why so many millions of people have been screwed as a result of this failure.

@walfordwatcher

So to summarise some posters thoughts- those who are vulnerable (which can also include children btw) should shield indefinitely, but for others, 2 weeks isolation so the same thing effectively is cruel and detrimental to their welfare. Can someone make it make sense please, why are people who are also dealing with physical illness which makes them susceptible someone magically not affected by isolation, but other precious darlings are? And no, I don't buy the well it's their risk to take as a fair one, it's not like you choose to have any of the illnesses that make you vulnerable

Backbee thank you!!! Myself and our children have all been isolating continually since March to protect my CEV husband who has had to shield (even when it was paused). The children, even the teenager foster children have been so supportive and positive. They have never once, not even for a second complained. I am blessed. But I do feel a bit forgotten about so the thought that you actually understand makes me feel....well, not ignored shall we say? Thank you so much, sincerely!!!

Thank you from me too

BTW, I have an "underlying condition", so am "vulnerable". However, that is no reason for my teenagers to be imprisoned at home.

Jroseforever
You can’t find it can you?

The guidelines that say, if you can, you should try and distance from those in the home...it's not a rule, but it does say it's a good idea if you can here from Public Health England....

Your early morning bike ride can't be guaranteed to see no-one. Your children will be breathing more heavily because if the exercise. Imagine if they had accident and you're infecting the emergency services.

See someone maybe yes but you can still stay well clear. And young children are probably just as likely to have an accident etc while isolating at home.

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned but I haven't RTWT but I wanted to make a point for those saying they are going out early, going for a bike ride with kids, live in remote areas.

One of the reasons we are asked to stay indoors isn't necessarily to stop direct transmission between people whilst doing these remote activities.

Going out increases the risk of something happening to you. For example, you have a car accident, you fall over and break your leg. In these instances you will require treatment from medical staff.

If the hospital is full of Covid patients there's a risk that there are no staff to look after you, or alternatively, the Covid patient cannot have care because you have taken up the time of the medical staff.

There's also the point that even if you are simply a 'contact' of a confirmed case, even in the presence of you getting a negative test, there's still a risk that you are incubating Covid and go on to get it. In this instance you take it in to hospital and could pass it on to medical staff or other patients.

The phrase 'protect the NHS' hasn't been invented because we are precious and need wrapping in cotton wool, it's because we are not a finite resource and there's not enough to go round.

So if you want to tootle off for a bike ride, don't cry and complain when your precious child can't receive medical treatment or you get admitted to hospital and subsequently catch Covid because it's rife in there.

So to summarise some posters thoughts- those who are vulnerable (which can also include children btw) should shield indefinitely, but for others, 2 weeks isolation so the same thing effectively is cruel and detrimental to their welfare. Can someone make it make sense please, why are people who are also dealing with physical illness which makes them susceptible someone magically not affected by isolation, but other precious darlings are? And no, I don't buy the well it's their risk to take as a fair one, it's not like you choose to have any of the illnesses that make you vulnerable

My point is: isolating is hard and horrible.
But my 4 year old child who has already had Covid should not have to suffer for the sake of it.
Saying that she can't leave the house in case COVID is ridiculous. It's crap if you are vulnerable, my Dad is as he has cancer and is self isolating, but that makes a lot more sense than all the children n the UK to be constantly disrupted to avoid catching an illness that won't affect them

Some people seem to be saying: well MY child has to isolate so EVERY child should as well.

....and gov.uk