Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

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

Original poster

Late to self isolate

79 replies

Gwdihwyou · 08/12/2020 21:18

My dh started with a cold on Saturday but no symptoms of Covid, I sent our dc to school yesterday (Monday) and today, I went to work and dh stayed at home.

Today he developed symptoms so booked a test and went this evening.

I told nursery and school this evening and they’re both now panicking. Nursery are shutting until test comes back negative, if it does! And school are seeking advice from PHE. The head has sent me a very stern email saying I’ve put the community at risk for not isolating my dc sooner!!!

Neither of them have symptoms.

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 08/12/2020 22:41

Don’t be arsehole.

It wasn’t courtesy. He had symptoms. He had to.

If anyone gets symptoms again you need to isolate and test again. The fact that this has been inconvenient for you this time should have no bearing on doing the right thing next time.

fuzzysnowflake · 08/12/2020 22:41

At our school children would have to be taken out immediately. They would not be happy for someone to stay at work an extra hour.

vanillandhoney · 08/12/2020 22:42

@fuzzysnowflake

At our school children would have to be taken out immediately. They would not be happy for someone to stay at work an extra hour.
Yeah, because everyone can just walk out of their jobs at the drop of a hat Hmm
Original poster
Gwdihwyou · 08/12/2020 22:42

@PurpleDaisies

By who?.... Dh was given a test centre location and time and couldn’t go pick kids up from school due to symptoms. I left as early as i could and collected them as early as i could

By you.

You needed to leave as soon as he developed symptoms.

I did!!! I left as soon as the office got hold of me, organised cover and I collected my stuff. As a teacher I’m unable to just abandon a bunch of 12yr olds without supervision. It is then a 45 min drive home, they were collected early. I have de javu as I’m sure ive explained this once
OP posts:
seven201 · 08/12/2020 22:43

Sounds like he developed the cough around lunch time today (at the same time as the throat) so should have gone straight to pick up the kids and rang you to leave work. That's what I did when I had a temp a few weeks ago. It does sound like the nursery and school are massively overreacting though!

PurpleDaisies · 08/12/2020 22:45

I did!!! I left as soon as the office got hold of me, organised cover and I collected my stuff. As a teacher I’m unable to just abandon a bunch of 12yr olds without supervision.

Apologies I missed that post.

It sounds like the nursery are just being ridiculous then.

Original poster
Gwdihwyou · 08/12/2020 22:45

@seven201

Sounds like he developed the cough around lunch time today (at the same time as the throat) so should have gone straight to pick up the kids and rang you to leave work. That's what I did when I had a temp a few weeks ago. It does sound like the nursery and school are massively overreacting though!
He didn’t want to go near the school with symptoms
OP posts:
seven201 · 08/12/2020 22:46

At my dd's school you wait in the car park and they deliver the child to you.

Original poster
Gwdihwyou · 08/12/2020 22:47

I have sent a snotty email.

OP posts:
Original poster
Gwdihwyou · 08/12/2020 22:47

@seven201

At my dd's school you wait in the car park and they deliver the child to you.
My dc aren’t in your dds school
OP posts:
seven201 · 08/12/2020 22:50

Maybe they would have done the same though. It's not a published policy. I rang to say I had developed symptoms and that DH would take an hour to get to them and they said they could meet me in the car park sooner.

mooncakes · 08/12/2020 22:52

If you suspect you have covid, why would you rush to get in to a car with your children?

Cheeseycheeseycheesecheese · 08/12/2020 23:02

From what you've said I think like a few others, you've done the best you can given the circumstances and school/nursery are over-reacting.

The other side of it is DS is currently isolating with a closed nursery as 9 members of the bubble/community? have tested positive, 3 of them asymptomatic children, and only tested as parents showed symptoms.

As a result I have been asked by my colleagues to work from home for the 2 weeks. I don't have to as dh and I don't need to isolate, only ds. This has drastically impacted what I can do workwise, but needs must.

Original poster
Gwdihwyou · 08/12/2020 23:07

I’m worried that my dh tests positive now as they’re all just going to hate us!

OP posts:
Frazzled2207 · 08/12/2020 23:10

It will more than likely be negative. We were sent a letter by the top Public health guy in our county saying if it’s a normal cough at the end of a cold it’s highly unlikely to be covid.

cansomebodyputthetreeupplease · 08/12/2020 23:23

@Littleposh

Did he have just a cold or a cough as well?? A cough is not currently just a standard cold symptom. It is one of the 3 reasons to instantly isolate
The NHS advice still specifies what kind of cough, not any cough at all.
Late to self isolate
cansomebodyputthetreeupplease · 08/12/2020 23:25

Wrong picture! Try again...

cansomebodyputthetreeupplease · 08/12/2020 23:26

Argh it won't post! Anyway it states "new continuous cough..." and gives more specific details.

macaroniinapot · 08/12/2020 23:31

*Don’t be arsehole.

It wasn’t courtesy. He had symptoms. He had to.*

A tickly cough is not a symptom. There would be no tests left if we all went down for that in the Winter months. It’s a continuous cough ...

SkedaddIe · 08/12/2020 23:56

The closing sounds sensible but the strong letter from the head sounds a bit OTT unless you're not telling the whole story.

Did they specifically asked parents to let them know about more ambiguous illnesses early?

We're tier 3 and dd's school have asked us to isolate for illness if possible instead of 'soldiering on' because they're wary that 'covid' symptoms may manifest later. And if we can't isolate for a 'normal cold' then our dd will probably be in a bubble of 1 for 48 hours. It's probably a bit over cautious but they've managed to stay open throughout with this approach.

Personally, I'm grateful the schools stayed open, there were many arguing they should've been closed, so I don't think that head teachers are OTT for being extra cautious, above and beyond the government guidelines.

Someonesayroadtrip · 09/12/2020 00:17

You didn't do anything wrong, school and nursery as massively overreacting. My husband got a temp during the night, went away the next morning, was feeling fine. Decided to test just incase and it was his day off. Contacted boss and school and both were a bit 🙄. Even if your husband tests positive they don't isolate, just you, unless one of the children tested positive.

Test came back late the next day, positive, he's been fine and we have been isolating but none of us can even get a text without one of those symptoms. I said I wasn't feeling great myself and they were adamant I can't test without any of those symptoms.

Husband goes back to work this week and we isolate until Monday - Wednesday depending on which track and trace person you speak to.

I spoke with school and asked if they wanted me to get the Children tested (two of which has additional needs so think they would let us given their lack of ability to explain what they are feeling) and school was adamant we shouldn't. They do currently have three classes off.

It's huge here though, so many cases, raising exponentially daily. I'm frustrated "we" got it as we have been so so careful due to the children and my ecv mum.

Looneytune253 · 09/12/2020 07:12

They're being very overdramatise. They wouldn't have to close if your DH tested pos anyway only if the child that attends their session does. I'm not quite sure why they expected your children to isolate when their dad had a cold for goodness sake. You've done the right thing.

mooncakes · 09/12/2020 10:08

@macaroniinapot

*Don’t be arsehole.

It wasn’t courtesy. He had symptoms. He had to.*

A tickly cough is not a symptom. There would be no tests left if we all went down for that in the Winter months. It’s a continuous cough ...

A continuous cough is three coughing episodes in 24 hours, it doesn't need to be constant or bad. I know a few people know who have tested positive with very slight/mild coughs.
QueenPaws · 09/12/2020 10:13

I don't think you've done anything wrong
I started with an incredibly sore throat, temperature, headache and then got a cough. Doctor wouldn't see me until I had a test (even though I'm shielding)
Had a test, negative. Doctor said just a cold but wouldn't see me in the surgery or do a phone appointment . Got worse, 111 advised another test. I'm immunocompromised and said look, I'm pretty sure this is a chest infection now and delaying treatment isn't helping. Second test negative
Finally got antibiotics but my chest infection is so bad because it wasn't treated that I'm on a second lot of antibiotics and had to take a week off work. I get they have to be careful but if someone is rattling when they cough and has a history of chest infections...

Original poster
Gwdihwyou · 09/12/2020 17:30

Test has come back negatively thankfully.

I’ll be thinking twice before doing another test when next ill, too much stress this time!

OP posts: