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.

My DC are self-isolating again for 14 days only a week away from the last 14 day self isolation. Their school has been hit hard by covid.

It’s not the end of the world, but it’s shit to see my active, sporty DD so confined, and my autistic, depressed DS even more isolated and withdrawn.

We kept them in religiously last time, but I’m contemplating an evening walk for DD (streets are dead round here after about 7pm) and maybe a drive somewhere with the two of them. Can’t see the harm in that.

Okay, feministicon, you still haven't said why they should be stuck in the house for 2 weeks when a walk outside isn't a risk.

I want to add that yes, I could have stuck my 2 year old in front of an iPad for 14 days but in the grand scheme of things that would have harmed his health. How on earth can we expect young kids of that age not to be affected negatively in the long term by such action?

I thought there was talk of reducing the isolation to a week?

@Wondergirl100 its spread more easily that way buy no guarantee its not spread outside otherwise half the world wouldn't have restrictions of going outside when positive or isolating if it were zero risk

@Wondergirl100

I have a wonderful sense of proportion thanks for asking. That's why I'm able to balance the need for people who may have covid to isolate with the normal needs of children for fresh air and exercise.

We all have different views on lockdown - mine is that all the rules should be set at a more proportionate level so that we can live our lives outdoors in a healthy way as much as possible - this would enable the lockdown to stay in place as long as needed. I don't think we should have rules for rules sake (which is exactly what it is when you tell a family they can't take a self isolating child for an outdoor walk - this is allowed in other countries so is clearly a perfectly normal rule)

You’ll do what you think is best but it really isn’t proportional to say if your child can’t go out for a couple of weeks they’ll have no joy in their lives 🤷‍♀️

Right at the beginning, I had to isolate for a week (the week before lockdown started) because I had a cough. By day 5 I was getting stir crazy. So I got in my car and drove around for ten minutes. It helped enormously to see my surroundings and life going on.

I would absolutely do that for my kids. Inside a car, there is no way they can pass anything on (that's assuming they were even brewing Covid).
Likewise, as I live 100 yards from woodland and open fields. I'd take them for a walk either very early in the morning or once it was dark.

Let's be rational here. The point of isolation is to ensure that IF one is brewing it, one's not in a position to pass it on. Both being in a car and in an open, isolated area fits that brief entirely.

@borntohula

Okay, feministicon, you still haven't said why they should be stuck in the house for 2 weeks when a walk outside isn't a risk.

Okay, Chris Witty how do YOU prove it’s not a risk.

@feelingsicknow if one of you had the virus you would have to do this though or would you still go out then

Yes nearly - my 17 year old DD stayed inside until day 13 - so one day less than required.

To be fair going for a walk with nobody about ok nothing wrong with that . it's when some will go well will call at the supermarket on the way home it's only for 5 minutes what's the harm or we'll say hello to dc friend on the way home it's only for a few minutes . I think that's why it's stay home because people have to bend the rules slightly. If you are isolating the chance of passing anything on if you stay home are low if you stay home .

@PatriciaPerch i think you can go in your garden yes

@Jroseforever shielding wasn't lifted for me, I was advised to carry on by my consultant and now am back doing as advised by the letter so no supermarkets/shops etc
I don't know - I can't see family as they are high risk for catching Covid due to their choices/lifestyle, one has already had suspected covid and refused to test or isolate
I guess I'm waiting for the vaccine 🤷🏽‍♀️
Of course I'm lonely, and angry that a year of dating, the chance of meeting someone, etc has been taken away. Work is relentless too so yes, grumpy

My daughter (along with her whole class, Y6) is on day 12. She hasn't left the house, we do have a garden though. So yes, we did as we were asked.

My 13-year-old stayed in when her form was sent home. I don't think it occurred to her to do otherwise - at a couple points I forgot and she reminded me. Most of it was over half-term, which was good for her - she was far more upset about missing school days than being stuck in.

Beyond her school work, it was filled with a lot of talking, reading, dancing around the house and discuss what she would do and what she would buy with her accumulating pocket money once she was allowed out which was nice. Less nice was some of the friend drama over texts one "friend" used this as just another stick to beat DD with when she expresses feelings in a way this "friend" doesn't like (apparently worrying someone is ill is "accusing them" and is a reason to swear repeatedly at someone) so some of the talks were about spending more energy on those who make you feel nice and less on the ones who make you feel shit.

We live in a city and there is little chance of even getting out the front door without running into people (my front wall has become a popular random sitting and chatting spot this year). We might choose differently if we lived elsewhere or it was like this summer of weeks on end - they were all out at the park regularly then.

I worry more about my 8-year-old (full-time home educated) whose social activities are all pretty much still gone and 16-year-old who is pretty much the same barring his one day a week at college. Yes, they get out to move about, but they're still far more isolated than their sisters.

@islockdownoveryet this is what i said why they are unlikely to change rules they prob realise people may not last the whole 14 days and may go out why noone is around but if allowed people would be well if i can do that them i can do this etc

[quote QueenPaws]@Jroseforever shielding wasn't lifted for me, I was advised to carry on by my consultant and now am back doing as advised by the letter so no supermarkets/shops etc
I don't know - I can't see family as they are high risk for catching Covid due to their choices/lifestyle, one has already had suspected covid and refused to test or isolate
I guess I'm waiting for the vaccine 🤷🏽‍♀️
Of course I'm lonely, and angry that a year of dating, the chance of meeting someone, etc has been taken away. Work is relentless too so yes, grumpy[/quote]
Don’t blame you, that’s just utterly shit for you.

We did 28 days. The children (when well) did yoga, home workouts, pull ups etc for exercise and we had windows open. Some time in the garden when the weather was okay. We read, baked, played games, talked, did arts and crafts, school work, watched films, made animations, did housework, cleared out the loft and cupboard under the stairs etc. It was fricking tough for many reasons but we did it.

[quote borntohula]@Feministicon but you didn't explain WHY he can't go for a walk? What's actually wrong with doing that if, as I say, he won't be in any contact with anyone? What's the point in 'teaching resilience' purely for the sake of it? Because you're a martyr, perhaps?[/quote]
I'm all for reasonable judgement calls in general. But when you know you are at high risk of having covid and are therefore self isolating, it's really selfish to leave the house. If he goes scooting for example, crashes and a passerby goes to check on him. Or he runs into another child he knows and you all chat for a minute (because presumably you wouldn't admit you're meant to be self isolating, as most people would judge you pretty harshly). Sure, the odds are really low, but the chances of being a carrier are much higher when you've been told to self isolate.

We had an outbreak in my dds year group, all the families that went down with it had 2 parents staying home and kids supposedly following tier 3 guidance so should have had tiny risks, but in reality they were all doing 'accidental' park playdates together and not isolating while they waited for tests. Pointless cause of risk for themselves and those they spread it to, and meant mass isolation for multiple classes.

It is hard to imagine how going for a cycle ride could infect anyone, especially if it don't actually stop until you are back.

When shielding was lifted, you made a judgment call to carry on isolating

I cannot speak for others of course, but in my husband's case although the government said shielding was lifted on 1 August, his consultant told him he needed to continue to shield . So yes it was a judgement call. But the judgement was doing as the government say, OR doing as the consultant who knew him and his medical history, and could see the state of his lungs in x rays. So the sensible thing was to take the advice of the consultant - although others may have made a different judgement of course.

Can i just ask all those that go for walks etc when isolating due to contact school etc would you all do same if someone in your family has covid

I haven’t read the whole thread but my friend was told today that her son needs to self isolate as someone in his bubble at school has tested positive. However they’ve said her daughter still has to attend school and she’s a single mum who doesn’t drive. They get the bus to school, how is she meant to get her daughter there without taking her son out the house? Both too young to be alone