Covid in the house - some questions....

[greystripedpajamas]

Our first experience of having covid in the house. Ds11 is on day 3. Totally asymptomatic and picked up on routine LFT. Both parents currently negative of PCR / daily LFTs and no symptoms.

Are there any things that can be done in the house to help prevent spread or anything that worked for you? Or is it super likely we will all get it? (Ds is largely hiding out in his room, has his own bathroom and wears a mask round the house)

Is there a window where you are more likely to catch it or are the full 10 days fair game? (I don't think he'll tolerate being room based for the full 10 days but the novelty hasn't worn off yet!)

Also - are people going about their business (like you can) - shopping / work etc or did you tend to stay at home?

Thanks!

DS 14 caught it, two days later I caught it. No isolation and DH and I continued to share a bed, there's no way they weren't exposed at the same time as me, as DS had a terrible cough and tested negative on LFT the day before he then tested positive. DH and DD 17 did not catch it! I personally think it's pot luck as to whether you'll catch it. I know another family where only DS caught it first time around and then 4 weeks later the other DS and DH caught it from another source!

DH had it. We continued as normal, sharing a bed, he used the whole house as normal. I didn’t get it. Nor did teen DDs. This was before the vaccinations.

Dc has it. Monday positive. We shall see how it goes. So far everyone else is negative. No isolation from the rest of us as she’s only 5 and full of beans wanting to play.

We didn't isolate our DC in their rooms because a child's mental and emotional wellbeing is more important than the healthy and fit other members of the household avoiding infection. We didn't go about our other business same as usual though. We avoided all contact except essential shopping (which was click&collect as much as possible). We all did daily LFTs and did PCRs every 3-4 days. DH caught it but was fine. I was uninfected.

We made sure that there was always one or two boxes of tissues within arm's reach of DC at all times. Kept windows open as much as possible on warmer days. On colder days opened the windows for 5 minutes every hour or so. Fresh and moving air is the best defense.

Does anyone actually know the stats on picking it from cleaning a room where someone has been isolating?

@Workinghardeveryday. Don’t think there are any stats, but they do know it’s more likely to be passed on being airborne. What I would do, if you can is open all windows as wide as possible for at least a couple of hours and then go in and clean with gloves and mask on.

DS13 staying in his room and we just took food and drink to his door.

He sanitised his hands before coming out to use the bathroom and had his own separate towel in the bathroom.

When I was collecting his used pots I filled the sink with hot water ready and literally carried everything on a tray straight from his bedroom into the kitchen sink.

Neither DH or I caught it from him.

I should also point out that DS didn't have any "germy" symptoms, he just had the body aches which I did think may have helped with it not spreading.

However I've since caught it from elsewhere and have ALL the "germy" symptoms. We adopted the same approach though and DH hasn't caught it from me either!

Dc9 is currently on day 3 with symptoms. We are not isolating them from the family, in fact she always wants more cuddles (understandably) when she feels rubbish. I'm also sleeping next to her so that I can keep an eye on her. Dh and I double vaccinated, both doing lft every day and did a pcr when dc did there's- both have come back negative. Dh been carrying on as normal with work, but he's taking day off tomorrow as I need to go into office. So pretty normal for us but not for dc.
We're just doing normal stuff, good hand washing, extra cleaning, not sharing cups etc.

Following with interest! DS1 positive on LFT Tuesday. Confirmed with PCR. DH and I negative on PCRs. I'm still negative on LFT today. Told to get PCR next Wednesday (day 8). He's keeping to his room. I'm wearing a mask and opening the windows first thing in the morning.