Child's class bubble has burst

[Timetheworldsaysicantafford]

Sorry for possibly quite a basic question but I dont seem to be able to think straight! My daughter (no symptoms) has to self isolate due to a positive case in her class, but other household members can continue to go about their business as usual apparently. Can I take her sibling to gymnastics after school... I would have to bring self isolating child in the car to do this, but we always wait in the car park anyway ie we don't go inside to drop off or watch. I don't want to do the wrong thing!

No the child must stay at home.

It depends where you are. I'm in Scotland and in a hotspot and 2 of my kids are isolating at the moment. The guidance here is other household members can go out and about as long as the isolating person is able to stay away from other family members. So in your case, no sibling would not be able to share a car. We are being told to have one adult isolate to support the isolating child or the whole house isolate. However, no idea what guidance is elsewhere so I might have been no help, sorry.

The isolating person must stay at home and self-isolate. The rest of the household can continue to go out and about, unless the isolating person develops symptoms. If the isolating person develops symptoms then the whole household isolates.

If you child stays in car then yes of course she can go with you to drop sibling off to gymnastics

@Remmy123

If you child stays in car then yes of course she can go with you to drop sibling off to gymnastics

That's how I would interpret it too.

It's also the way I would interpret it.

(yes you may have an accident or need to call out the AA but how likely is that on a short journey)

It’s so stupid isn’t it? To only isolate one person unless there’s symptoms. May as well not bother if other family members can go out and about. Makes no sense.

@SwanShaped

It’s so stupid isn’t it? To only isolate one person unless there’s symptoms. May as well not bother if other family members can go out and about. Makes no sense.

Totally agree. I don't know what the guideline really is, but common sense would dictate me that to reduce the spread, minimise the contact between possible contact child to other house hold members, if you want to stop the further spread.

I'd also interpret it as the isolating child could go as long as they stay in the car. They are the only one who needs to isolate, after all. Obviously ideally they'd stay at home, but if there is no-one else in the household who can look after them and they are too young to be left alone then you have no choice really.

Without a nano second hesitation I would take in car.

No way would sibling miss out on this laughably low risk.

We would stay in the car as normal obviously

They should stay at home, but there's an element of common sense needed when children are involved. If another child needs to go somewhere, and the isolating child cannot be left safely, then they're fine to stay in the car with you.

The idea that the isolating child should stay away from others is ridiculous. Most of us don't have a spare bathroom, bedroom etc for this to happen.

• from others in their household

A child can't stay at home alone.

When each of mine were isolating (not at the same time), I've had to do the school drop offs and collections with the isolating child with me. There is no other way of doing it. We just used masks and did not enter school gates.

Same here - again.

It's frankly ridiculous to keep sending kids home when no one in local hospital, no deaths and yet keep on disrupting education for what someone who did a LFT and got a positive.

They really have to revise the instructions and NOT send close contacts home now. Pointless

I mean, if you’re sharing a home then a car is no different. Unless you ask your child not to breathe while they’re at home, then everyone will get it anyway, whether you’re in the house or car.

This has just happened to my step daughter. She is currently at her Mums and I cant find any clear guidance on whether she is still able to come to us as she normally would later in the week. I assume her brothers are still able to come even if she isnt but it would seem odd that they can live with her and move about freely.

I would (and have). I currently have DD2 in tow when I have to do the school run, and left her in the car (with older sibling to keen an eye on her) while I went to Homebase over the weekend. There is zero difference in my eyes between that and our sharing our home with her.

Yes, you can, if they remain in the car. I would have the windows open for maximum ventilation and have the two children sit apart if possible. Depending in ages I would use masks too whilst sat closer together in the car.

I would take siblings in car no question

@June2021

Same here - again.

It's frankly ridiculous to keep sending kids home when no one in local hospital, no deaths and yet keep on disrupting education for what someone who did a LFT and got a positive.

They really have to revise the instructions and NOT send close contacts home now. Pointless

That's fine to do,when the rules for the general public change too. When self isolation for contacts is no longer a think in general then it will stop for schools.

Why do you believe schools should be treated differently to any other group of people?

Yes, you can.

Which means there is no point in the isolating person staying at home either, really. But clearly life couldn't continue if contacts of contacts had to isolate so I suppose they've had to find a middle ground.