Covid self isolation 11 year old

[ForAFriend123]

Am confused and can't seem to get a definitive answer.

11 yo DD has tested positive (rest of us negative via LFT). Everyone else double jabbed.

Question is does DD need to self isolate in her room for 10 days or is she ok to mingle with us, although obviously at home??

It's up to you what you do in your own home. Only restriction on her is she can't go out. With her having an illness and maybe feeling poorly id try to avoid self isolating her alone in her room. Might be quite upsetting for her.

Thank you.
The main issue we have is that DH runs his own business and if he catches it, it spells disaster especially as one of his employees is extremely vulnerable.

Not easy for him to keep separate from everyone else at home and no spare bedrooms

OP, no one can give a definitive answer to your question, as no one can know for sure whether DD staying separate from the rest of you will make the difference between anyone else in the family catching Covid or not catching it. Assuming no one else in your household is particularly vulnerable, I think forcing complete self-isolation on an 11-year-old would be quite extreme. But I think it would still make sense to keep a bit more distance than you usually would and have windows open a bit more than usual.

My son is 10 and if he had covid I don't think he would manage isolating in his room (he does have asd which doesn't help!). If you think that you can handle it, then possibly buy it is quite young still. 10 days is a long long time.

I would imagine it's easier with teenagers. The only other option is just hand washing and regular cleaning if high touch areas!

I think my kids had it last year (before testing) me and dp had very close contact with them and did not catch it...

I know someone else who got covid without realising st first and wasn't isolated to one room. Her kids did not catch but caught it a few weeks later at school.

To me, it's an odd virus - how it spreads!

No way would i make my ds self isolate from the family.

Maybe masks ventilated areas but isolation is a form of torture . I don't understand why i read a thread people won't comply with mask wearing yet people will isolate their children.

I’d do what you can to keep DH separate from her.
Rules have changed in Wales today in case you live here. It’s not been hugely well advertised or received!

I think expecting a 10 year old to isolate in their bedroom for 10 whole days is beyond cruel.

I can’t believe this virus has got people thinking it’s a good idea to treat children in this way!

If your DH is worried then he can isolate, or he can book a hotel. You can’t exclude your DD from your family because our DH doesn’t want to pass it on to a co-worker.

Thank you for your replies

I agree 10 days is a long long time, especially as the rest of us are all vaccinated.
We all had a PCR test earlier and assuming the rest of us still come back negative, am inclined to let her mingle.

DH Will just have to steer clear/wear a mask

Our 11 year old had just had covid. We didn’t catch it ( so far, day 9) just opened the windows a lot and tried not to get too close. No way would he have been okay isolating.

DH needs to be the one who isolates or wears a mask, not your 11 year old. That would be cruel.

I sort of agree that keeping 11 year old isolated is tough and I probably wouldn't in your position if I didn't have any CEV family members. Having said that I had to quarantine when I had measles at 7 or 8 and was pleased to do it so as not to pass it on to my sister.

DD1 (9) tested positive. I isolated with her. We slept in the lounge, DH delivered all meals and drinks to us. DD1 and I used upstairs bathroom. He and DD2 stayed out of the lounge and only used downstairs shower. No-one else caught it.

I wouldn't have asked my 9 year old to isolate alone. 10 days is a looong time.

I wouldn't count on your PCR's coming back as negative. We all did LF tests and only mine came back positive. 4/6 PCR's came back positive.

My DH and one of the DC are negative. We're not isolating from each other but are being more careful about hand washing, cleaning surfaces, not sleeping in the same room, sitting apart, opening windows. Tbh I think the other 2 will still end up catching it from us.

One of my teen dc was recently positive. We did not isolated them at all from the household. They were poorly and upset, I can’t imagine how damaging it would have been to have left them to it in their bedroom for 10 days.

We have a similar situation, DD (12) positive since last Sunday, myself, DH and DS (5yrs) all negative on PCR. Also LFTs every other day, we are still negative. We have not isolated her at all or been overly cautious, I slept in her room when she had high temp. I will do another PCR Sunday. I've had 3 vaccines, DH 2 & DS obviously none/. I am amazed by how this virus operates. Colleagues have tested positive after 3 vaccines & no one having it at home, yet others seems to be more teflon.

My DH can be anxious- he was given the option to isolate at a hotel 😂. I think if you keep windows open, wipe surfaces & dispose promptly of tissues etc. & sanitise you will be fine.

I honestly cannot conceive of a situation where I would shut my poorly child in a room on their own for several days.

DD is 11 and has it. She's had it for almost 2 weeks now and we've not kept her apart from us, we've just gone on as normal with her. We felt it would be cruel to make her isolate in her bedroom. DH and I are both fully vaccinated. We've been testing every day and haven't had a positive result.

There is plenty of anecdata about it not spreading within households despite no self isolation. But our experience was that we did each get it in turn over the course of a (really shitty) month - that's DH and I (both double vaxxed) and three DC.

Ventilation is key to avoid spread - windows open front of house to back for constant airflow especially when together in a room. Avoid touching things in communal areas so prepare all food and drinks for her, etc. Worked for us in same situation.

@Mykittensaremyfriends

Ventilation is key to avoid spread - windows open front of house to back for constant airflow especially when together in a room. Avoid touching things in communal areas so prepare all food and drinks for her, etc. Worked for us in same situation.

I agree with this. I tested positive 3 weeks ago, didn’t isolate at all from my 4 and 2 year olds but opened the french doors at both ends of our living space and keep windows open in all room. No-one caught it from me.