Tested positive school runs and nursery

[Onlyrainbows]

I tested positive (I only have a sore throat and some weird feeling in my head). However I have a 2yo and an 11yo who have tested negative. Can I do the school run?

Yes. Wear a mask and hand them over at the door. I think you are even legally allowed to do take children to school/nursery if there is no other way of getting them there.

It is illegal to go out whilst you are isolating, I personally wouldn’t, but if school won’t send out work for 11 yo. That’s quite a distance you have to do, so it’s not like it’s just round the block.

Yes. Wear a mask and hand them over at the door.

This. There's basically zero risk of transmission outside.

If you're positive it's likely that your children will catch it from you anyway.

Soon we won't need to isolate at all when positive.

Another yes. At this stage we are past te point of 'selfish' and 'killing granny'. Life is going on. Mask, stay outdoors etc.

I also need to work, I've just finished my second week at my new job, and working around a 2yo all day is almost near impossible... (Probably 4 hours are completely doable though)

We wouldn't be impressed if you were dropping off your 2yo while positive. If a staff member catches it the need for ratios mean the whole building could close. You aren't meant to be be leaving the house when positive and it is safer for everyone if your 2yo stays at home too. The 11yo may be able to get a lift to school and has more knowledge about staying away from you while you are unwell, you can't stay away from a toddler.

I'm a bit biased right now after a long week with staff off and children still coming in poorly.

I would say if you're positive don't take your 2yo to nursery. I work in a baby room and we wouldn't accept a child dropped off by someone who should legally be isolating regardless of the child's result. If you're positive you should stay home. It's spreading so quickly in childcare settings so please if you can reduce the risk then do.

we wouldn't accept a child dropped off by someone who should legally be isolating regardless of the child's result.

I wonder whether this might encourage some working parents to not report that they're positive?

@Bluebells that's likely to be the case. Our nursery doesn't ask us to notify if anybody is positive in the household. I do have to work, and I've just finished my second week at my new job. I think they'd be flexible, but I wouldn't want to rock the boat on day 11 of my new job.

Technically the law/isolation rules say you can't. It doesn't matter if the school day they're ok with it - the 12vmilrs in between isn't their jurisdiction. What if you need petrol, or something unexpected happens, like you have a car accident?

Practically though, it should be fine, and at this stage of the pandemic it seems daft not to do it. The way things are now, it's like locking people up for every other common cold.

Also, it's quite likely that your kids will catch it from you shortly - if indeed they didn't actually have it first and give it to you. If you don't know where you've caught it, then they'd be my first guess. As long as they're testing every morning before going to school, there's not much more you can do on that front.

This is a really difficult situation for a lot of parents. When me and dp had it in December, the kids were initially negative but we kept them off anyway as impossible to distance from them and they did end up catching it anyway. So just because they are negative now, doesn't mean they will stay that way.

Dd has caught it again this week and this time Ds has gone school. We are fortunate tje school is right behind us though. Dp could take him before work and a ta walked him back! He's 10 but has sen so can't walk the 0.20 miles on his own.

I appreciate being 12 miles away is hard.

I would speak to the school.

I would say you could absolutely drive the 11 year old assuming they are able to be dropped off? Or a teacher meet them outside or perhaps a friend they could walk in with? Are they primary or secondary?

With the younger it's harder, but maybe speak tot the nursery. They may meet you in the car park!

There are two possible "patients zero" -my DH who shared a car who someone who tested positive (but DH tested negative) or the 2yo... There's another toddler at nursery with a cough who apparently tested negative (my 2yo has no symptoms and has tested negative).

Isolating means not leaving your property.
Yes the rules will change soon - and that's fine but until then, no, you should not be going anywhere.

I'm a teacher and I would refuse completely to walk out to collect a child from someone who should be isolating, and clearly gives no fucks about giving it to me and the rest of my class.

But what difference does it make (for.my 11yo) to be at home with me and being in a car with me? The drop off is completely contactless.

@Onlyrainbows

I also need to work, I've just finished my second week at my new job, and working around a 2yo all day is almost near impossible... (Probably 4 hours are completely doable though)

Just do it if you feel well enough and your not coughing your guts up

I'm actually fairly asymptomatic! I have muscle pain, and feel tired, but I'm severely anemic so I'm used to that! My throat hurts a bit and I have a headache that comes and goes, but again nothing that would stop my day to day activities.

School have told me mine need to be in if they are testing negative and I will have to bring them! I will have to break isolation twice a day if I test positive (my youngest currently is positive and I have symptoms)

Yes I would do it so long as it's all outside

Yes trevthecat that's more or less the same position our school has taken, which is fair enough but does mean at times some people will have to break the rules.

I had to walk ds part of the way to school on day 8 and 9 when I was still testing positive but it's a five minute walk and he is in breakfast club so very few other people about and I didn't go onto school grounds just crossed the main road with ds. I wore a mask and scarf and didn't speak to anyone (didn't actually see hardly any other pedestrians) I did feel really guilty
I wouldn't do the school run when it's normal drop off or pick up as too many people about and I do have school gate friends that may once ina blue moon hug me or I'd be worried there might be someone wanting to chat etc

You could park outside school and let your 11 year old take themselves in.

But can't see how you would drop your 2 year old off? They can't walk in by themselves and nursery staff don't want you coming to the building or near them while positive.

11yo drop outside school and he walk in and arrange where you will park and pickup and he walk out to you.

2yo I would keep off unless you can get staff to collect from the car and bring back out to you.

School have told me mine need to be in if they are testing negative and I will have to bring them!

Good that pupils are encouraged to come to school!

But yes, it means a parent cannot fully isolate under those circumstances.

Hopefully the need to isolate is scrapped soon, then you'd have no problem, op.

I wouldn't hesitate, I'd just take them.