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Original poster

What if child has to isolate as a contact over Xmas and NY?

49 replies

Lemons1571 · 21/11/2020 15:52

My son is halfway through a 14 week isolation as a contact at school (another child tested positive). He has no symptoms. It’s not too big a deal as nothings planned anyway and we’re in lockdown.

But it has brought home to me that if this happens on 18th December, it would be grim. Imagine a call from school - you’re child has to isolate from 20th December until 1st January (or whatever). I just can’t see many people complying. You’d miss any relaxation of measures and just carry on straight into January’s lockdown. Am kind of hoping schools close early so this doesn’t happen.

Would you comply fully, ie not leaving the house nor seeing anyone outside the household over the entire Xmas and NY period?

OP posts:
MadameBlobby · 21/11/2020 15:54

Why would you risk not isolating and passing it on to family members just because it’s Christmas?

Augustbreeze · 21/11/2020 15:54

(14 day isolation, not week!)

Yes, I would be it would be quite easy for us.

You have a point, and it wouldn't just child contacts who might not end up isolating.

Adding to the already heavy burden hospitals are going to be faced with in January.

FelicityPike · 21/11/2020 15:54

Of course.
Isolation is isolation.

CarrieBlue · 21/11/2020 15:57

Why wouldn’t you?

islockdownoveryet · 21/11/2020 15:57

Would you comply fully, ie not leaving the house nor seeing anyone outside the household over the entire Xmas and NY period?*
I'd bloody love it , sitting on my sofa eating quality street and not have to see family bliss !!

BecomeStronger · 21/11/2020 15:57

Yes, I think it would be easier over Christmas than at other times TBH. Disappointing but easier to avoid things you usually "need" to do.

CatchingWind · 21/11/2020 15:58

If we had been advised to isolate we would isolate. It would be pretty shitty over xmas to be stuck inside but we're not seeing family anyway, even if rules are relaxed, so wouldn't be missing out in that regard. The contact I have as a teacher means I don't feel able to risk seeing my family. Relaxed rules won't mean covid is taking a break. Obviously others will make different decisions that they are happy and comfortable with and I'm not judging anyone, but I wouldn't feel comfortable being in close contact with anyone myself knowing I have not been able to distance at all from the kids in my class.

myhobbyisouting · 21/11/2020 15:59

Merry Christmas- have some covid Grin

Of course I'd isolate if we were a contact, why wouldn't you? If a family member was meant to be isolating I wouldn't be willing to mix with them either.

I'm doing schoolwork at home from 11th to avoid this

2anddone · 21/11/2020 16:01

I have thought of this as we are supposed to have my parents round for the first Christmas in 15 years as usually they spend winter abroad. I have asked my children to finish school on 11th December and work from hone the last week...as we don't have to prove why they are isolating. Dd is keen but ds is in gcse year and said no and pointed out in my line of work (childcare) I am as much at risk of having to isolate as them so unless I close my business early (which I can't afford to do as currently closed for 2 weeks as ds has covid) there is no point him missing yet more school work!!

PrivateD00r · 21/11/2020 16:02

Of course I would! I am amazed you even have to ask this!

Allmyfavouritepeople · 21/11/2020 16:02

As a TA I'm really worried about this. We had to cancel our visit in August to see family (been in various local lockdowns since July), had to isolate over half term and now I'm worried that we'll be isolating again over Christmas.

I am very lucky that these are the only coronavirus worries I am contending with but I wouldn't blame anyone if they withdrew their children earlier so they are as safe as possible to visit family. I do wish it was an option for me.

Also worried about a high community transmission rate the week schools go back in Jan but that's another issue.

Inmyownlittlecorner · 21/11/2020 16:03

I’m in the middle of a 14 day isolation too. (I work in a school & we have 3 bubbles off) & it’s frustrating having to wait for DH to sort out shopping etc & getting my DC to school etc but if I have to do this a couple of weeks before Christmas it would be so much more annoying. Over Christmas itself would be much easier imo!

Waxonwaxoff0 · 21/11/2020 16:03

Yeah, I'd comply. I'm not seeing family anyway over Christmas. It would be easier for me to do it over the holidays as I'm off work then.

GreyishDays · 21/11/2020 16:05

I possibly wouldn’t keep them apart from the rest of my household (moot point as half of us currently have it anyway).

PuppyMonkey · 21/11/2020 16:06

There have been several threads with posters saying they are pulling their kids out of school in early December to isolate so that they will be ok to see family by Christmastime.

TW2013 · 21/11/2020 16:08

My ds would love that, he seriously could hibernate given half a chance. He would have the best excuse to avoid all the Christmas walks. We don't have plans to mix household though so wouldn't be an issue.

Smelliethenelephant · 21/11/2020 16:08

I think it's a fair point OP and I dread this happening. If it did, we wouldn't see any family but would still go for a walk. We've all already had it, so risk is very low.. I also think it's OK for parents to keep their kids at home the week before the end of term, if they choose to, for this very reason.

Smallwhiterat · 21/11/2020 16:09

We won’t be seeing family this Christmas or doing anything vital. If we can’t see Santa or go on our Christmas lights tour then so be it. If we were told to isolate we would -fully accepted this was a risk of sending our children back to school. If one of our children has to isolate then I’d rather it was over Christmas than them miss school to be honest. The only hiccup would be if we all had to isolate as shopping deliveries will be difficult, but we have an emergency stash put away so would just have to have a tin of something for Christmas dinner!

GooseberryTart · 21/11/2020 16:09

I think you have to do the right thing OP.
I would plan on doing what most sensible people are doing scale down Christmas significantly and plan on having a quiet immediate family support bubble one with food organised, films on TV, board games, video calls and phone calls to catch up with family and friends, nice walks. Then if you are unlucky and have to isolate your not worrying about letting anyone down last minute or tempted to break isolation rules, worse still spread covid to a relative or family member or catch it yourself or have someone in your family catch it etc.

AChickenCalledDaal · 21/11/2020 16:11

Yes, we would comply. And in my case, one of the children in question is 400 miles away at university. So this scenario is stressing me out very much.

Exams finish one week before Christmas and she wants to sit exams at uni. It will only take one of the eight members of her household to test positive and she will be having turkey take-away in her tiny student room Sad.

FleasAndKeef · 21/11/2020 16:12

I don't have a school aged child but if I did I might consider taking my child out of school for a week pre-Christmas to reduce the chance of them being a contact and having to isolate.

Original poster
Lemons1571 · 21/11/2020 16:22

Hmm we have a year 11 so I guess finishing school early isn’t a good idea. We also have a small family really, just one other adult in a support bubble. I’m just trying to get my head around all of us being in the house over Xmas and NY, all perfectly healthy but can’t even walk to the post box for some fresh air!

I can’t see everyone who has larger close knit families keeping to the isolation rules. A lot will of course. But I bet a lot won’t.

OP posts:
EndoplasmicReticulum · 21/11/2020 16:25

If your year 11 is isolating as a contact, but with no symptoms, the rest of you don't have to stay indoors, just them.

I'd not be happy if family visited and bought Christmas Corona with them as an extra gift.

Tootsietoot · 21/11/2020 16:29

A lot won't (because they are selfish twats) and we will end up in lockdown again for a third wave in January.

JacobReesMogadishu · 21/11/2020 16:29

Of course I’d isolate. You’d have to be a total,fuckwit not to do so. What friends or relatives would want you coming to visit knowing you could infect them with covid.

Hard bloody luck if it means you can’t visit anyone. Still perfectly possible to have Xmas day and a nice meal without socialising. Any ongoing lockdown in January will hopefully be short as the vaccines are coming. I’m going to try not to kill any relatives before then.