Should our whole household be isolated from each other?

[Chelseablue73]

DD14 had symptoms of Covid-19 on Wednesday was sent home from school, was tested Thursday and positive test came back yesterday.
DD14 shares a bedroom with her two sisters. Has stayed in bed since Wednesday only coming out to use the bathroom (which I clean throughly after every use)
DD10 and DD6 have started showing symptoms as of yesterday, they had a test done today and hopefully by Monday we should have their results. Now DH Has symptoms.
All three DD’s are now obviously self isolating and have stayed in their bedroom since. Obviously I am bringing them drinks food etc and they are keeping themselves entertained watching dvds.
DH is now in our bedroom asleep and feels really unwell.
We also have three DS who since their sisters have had symptoms and with one testing positive have been free to run around the house to use kitchen, living room, bedroom, garden etc.
DS’s and Myself have no symptoms but staying together away from those who are unwell.
Is this reasonable for me to keep the girls in their room to protect the other dc from catching anything or seeing as we all as a household have to self isolate, should they be allowed out of their room to mix with the rest of us till the isolation period is over?
Feel bad that all three DD are stuck in one room but if it’s the best thing for everyone all around then they will have to stay in there.
Am I doing the right thing?

In theory whilst infectious you should be isolated from anyone else to reduce the risk of passing it on, but in the reality of a busy family home this is impossible really. You are most infectious from 2 days before symptoms so chances are by the time symptoms show it will have been passed on, but as isolation is 10days long that suggests it can be passed at anytime during that period so it is safer for them to isolate to reduce the risk of those who are well catching it from them if they are positive. If the result is negative then you will have to make the decision fromthere I suppose. It’s not easy whatever you do xx

I wouldn’t be leaving my unwell children aged 14,10 and 6 in a room to fend for themselves other than me taking some food to them 3 times a day. If they’re ill and want to be in bed that’s one thing, but I wouldn’t insist.

Would it make more sense for you and your one DS who isn’t ill to stay in a room and the others have the rest of the house as sounds like way more have covid than not?

May not work but a suggestion.

I hope your whole family recovers ASAP.

I’m not insisting they stay in their room they generally are feeling unwell and want to stay in bed and they seem to be napping frequently.
If it just me and one ds I would stay in one room but it’s me and three of our sons that are well. Sorry if I didn’t make that clear previously
Basically half the household are unwell with one testing positive the other half are well.

Officially, I believe you should continue to isolate, but I couldn't leave an ill 10 year old in bed alone, let alone an ill 6 year old.
We didnt isolate within the house when DS11 was ill (pre testing being widely available), and we haven't isolated within the house when he has been sent home for close contact. But then there are only 4 of us, not 8!

I’m sure your 3 DD being in their one room isolating will be fine, you are bringing them drinks, food and medication if they need it.

I hope all your family gets better soon.

Do you share a bathroom? If you do its quite likely it's going to spread.

I wouldn't have the heart to attempt any isolation if children within the home personally, and I don't think we could manage it even if I wanted to try (smallish house, one bathroom). I've always just assumed we'll probably all get it if one of us does and given none of us has any risk factors I'm fine with that. Obvs I might feel differently if we had a granny living in!

Also a significant minority of Covid infections are totally asymptomatic, so the rest of you are highly likely to have it / have had it. I honestly wouldn't worry about it.

I imagine you’re all going to get it unfortunately but possibly not all get symptoms. Assuming you are all isolating as a family for 10 days, it would probably be better for those not ill to get it earlier on(unless one of you was vulnerable in which case either the vulnerable person or all the poorly people stay in their rooms as much as possible) . Imagine if one child gets ill the day after isolation ended - 10 days would then start again (for everyone I think?) whereas if they’ve got symptoms before the end of the initial 10 days they’re all clear once they feel better.

It sounds all quite tough hope everyone recovers soon.

Ps we have agreed this end that if/when we get it dh will isolate in the loft (not vulnerable but tends to get really badly affected by coughs) but the rest of us will not isolate from each other. My children are young but just feels wrong. A bit different for teenagers that like hiding in their rooms admittedly.

DD tested positive last week, she has stayed in her room only coming out to use the family toilet (which is regularly cleaned). It’s fine to keep them in their bedroom, from my experience they need the rest and prefer it. DD Had horrible headaches. You might as well minimise the risk to those who haven’t caught it yet.