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.

I don’t even keep my hamster locked up for 14 days. Dc have had to isolate more than once, we kept them away from other people but encouraged them to come for walks.

Yup we did two sets of 14 days just days apart for all 4 school goers.
Ds 12 and DD 4 yrs old had been off for 13 days when my eldest tested positive so that's another 14.
DD who is 14 had been back in school on Monday when D's got his test so yes another 14 for her as well.
They did go out into front and back yards bit that's it

If it is so utterly ridiculous, why is it a guideline, that has not changed since it was first set?

My 8yr old was isolating so I was required to homeschool him. My 2yr old goes to nursery and I NEEDED to take him to nursery to allow me the time and peace to homeschool my elder child, so they both came in the car together, and my eldest stayed in the car whilst I dropped his younger brother off.

yes and my DS self isolated from the family

The reason why it's not going away is because people aren't sticking to the rules. The other kids in your area should not be out if told to stay in and that's exactly why we are here again people don't listen. X

This is a joke right? Why would it not keep them inside, would you rather spread it around!? My 5 year old went back to school today after doing his 14 days. Was it fun- no, did he drive us insane- yes but we did our bit just as I hope everyone else would!

@borntohula
Yeah but that’s a whole different set of scenarios. I’m certain if that was the case and there was no vaccine or treatment etc then we wouldn’t be expected to isolate forever. However, we know that is not the case and this is not forever.
I’m just looking at the bigger picture. There are vaccines coming, there are better treatments that are in phase 3 now and soon to be peer reviewed. As a nation the majority of us have stuck together and done our bit to buy us some time so the scientist can do their work. What’s the point of all those sacrifices made when we are almost done and dusted with this pandemic?

Why would anyone comply when

1. You aren’t going to contract a virus in the open air away from other people, the science tells us this.
2. A government advisor, knowing he had covid, drove half way across the country with his child to protect his family and that was perfectly fine according to our prime minister.

Take your children for a walk, scoot or cycle. People are contracting it at close contact events, not in the freezing cold park.

I'm sorry but people here genuinely do not understand how Covid is transmitted. It is not transmitted passing through communal doorways, or 'bumping ' into people in woods, or by touching things. really it isn't

You can google or look up all the latest science - we now know it is not transmitted outdoors or on surfaces outdoors as sunshine kills it immediately.

It is being transmitted because people are mixing indoors in work or home environments in groups - either in poor working conditions (ie warehouses/ food prep centres/ ) - or because people are breaking the rules and having family / friends round for lunch.

This is facts. It is NOT continuing to spread because a 5 year old with no symptoms went for a walk in the fresh air.

And to add to this, children are very very rarely symptomatic and when they are they are still less likely to pass it on! Even sage have confirmed this now.

[quote timeforanewstart]@feelingsicknow if one of you had the virus you would have to do this though or would you still go out then[/quote]
That wasn't the question though? If either my husband or I had the virus I'm sure our decision making would take that factor into account.

Similarly if our son had/developed symptoms during the relevant period. Which he did not.

Well I've not been there. And we've got a large house and garden. But actually if I had primary aged children and a small house and garden then I would absolutely take them out somewhere well away from anyone else for a fun around outside. Driving there if that was ab better way to find empty space. That is ZERO risk to anyone, whereas not getting out could be seriously damaging to mental and physical health. And people getting outraged about this are being ridiculous. I definitely wouldn't be taking them to the supermarket/playground though!!

This is a joke right?
This thread is certainly an eye opener!

@whattodo2019

yes and my DS self isolated from the family

Did he have symptoms?

People who say wait for the vaccine. This is insane. Our government is utterly and completely incompetent. I am not putting my life and my childrens life on hold - I will behave sensibly and follow sensible rules - but I will make my own decisions as well.

The vaccine is nowhere near being ready for the whole population.

Children need fresh air and exercise DAILY. They have had months of this shit now. My kids have lost so much - including right now all their sports.

Instead of keeping saying 'why can't you follow the rules' people should engage and point out WHY a child can't go for a walk.

There are many paediatricians and public health experts who say it is totally unnecessary for children to stay indoors for 14 days. Or indeed adults .

As I've said here before, in other countries if you are isolating as CONTACT (ie you are not sick) you can go for walks.

@Wondergirl100
Why then is it still in the guidelines, despite frequent updates?

I kept my 4 year old in the house / garden the whole time aside from two walks around the block in the dark to stretch her legs a bit.

Does the virus not like the dark??? Give the girl some sunlight!

This whole crap about 'oh this thread is an eye opener' - yes people are thinking for themselves.

Can you imagine a year ago that we would follow the most draconian, unscientific rules to the nth degree - not even walking down a street because of the 'covid rules' .

The whole country has been in lockdown on and off now for most of this year - many many people are going to make their own sensible decisions.

Have people forgotten here - children are not passing it on or getting sick! They are not a key part of the transmission. You can look up Sage documents to confirm this. The idea that a perfectly healthy 8 year old should sit in a living room day in day out rather than go for a bike ride for no rational reason at all ....

My uncle is a public health specialist and told me he thinks it is sad and unnecessary and also morally wrong that children are asked to stay indoors for 14 days for no scientific reason.

I a, a public health specialist and as long as the parents stop making it into such a drama the children will cope just fine. And resilience is always a good thing to learn because at some point in their lives they will need it. For some children this year that will be when a parent or grandparent dies of Covid.

It's still in the guidelines because this country is run by idiots.

Children don't actually NEED exercise and fresh air daily, btw. Obviously long-term removal of these things would be bad, but 2 weeks isn't actually that long. It's fine for any healthy child.

Also I believe you are allowed to open your windows while self-isolating

@EllenRipley

Whaaat? That's bloody ridiculous. I'm amazed at how overly compliant people have become. If your child has no symptoms, go to the park, go for a walk, a cycle, a scooter. Stay outdoors, stay away from others, keep mucky paws from touching gates etc. I'm happy to follow the rules and be vigilant about taking sensible precautions (and have done since March). But absolutely no way I'd keep a child locked indoors for 14 days.

W.T.A.F.

Selfish is as selfish does

In response to the person who said it wasn't a choice between going out and gluing a child to an ipad - the 14 day period spanned that whole spectrum! He had plenty of iPad and telly. But at times I decided that enough was enough and he needed fresh air and a change of scenery. It's not possible to explain a global pandemic to a 2 year old, nor is he of an age where he will sit and watch films (and I think that's a good thing, is it not?!). We did stickers, dancing, gymnastics, toys, snacks, naps, dens. Computer games and such do not work with a 2 year old and I wouldn't want them to.

Tucked up in the pram for a nice socially distanced walk once a day was necessary for his health.

As an active, curious 26 month old he's already spent approximately 1/10 of his entire life in lockdown. Let's not try and compare 2 year olds to older children who are able to understand (although obviously not be happy about) the necessity to stay at home.

Children can and do get it. Latest research showing many infections start through schools. Pupils catch virus often without synptons or mild symptoms then go on to infect their household.
Children have died and there are children suffering from long covid complications.

Only time will show if there are other unknown consequences to children from covid.

UK rules have been mild compared to many countries.

@onedayinthefuture

I honestly believe some mumsnetter's houses would be on fire and they still wouldn't fucking leave the house.

Yep you can bet your bottom dollar that they would. Honestly it's ridiculous, a walk in a forest, field, rural area or even anywhere where it's quiet or you know that if you do come across someone there's at least 2m/6 & a half feet between you is fine. There's more chance of a aeroplane falling out of the sky or being run over than catching Covid. If it was proved beyond doubt in real life conditions (rather than the theoretical minuscule percentage in lab conditions) that we'd definitely get the virus from touching any surface then we would not be allowed into supermarkets or allow children to go to school. So be yes when the whole year bubble burst (a child my DD didn't have contact with) I let her out for a walk most days. We live in a village.

The reason why the Government have given a blanket 'Stay at home' reason is because they know & expect people to use their common sense & evaluate that going out for a quiet walk or spending some time outside at a distance will be ok.
However as unfortunately many folk are a bit thick, the Government hasn't given a big list of what would be ok to do as they know if they said it was ok to go out for a walk in a quiet area whilst isolating they know people push it even more & would take this as being ok to go out in a busy high street, pop to the shops, meet a friend etc whilst isolating.