Primary school pressuring positive wife to return to work.

[MyAltAccount]

Could use some advice here to tell us if we're incorrect in our thinking and attitude here, please.

My wife is a teaching assistant in a primary school. She tested positive on Sat 19th. As of today, Sat 26th she is still testing positive (as is our son). By chance, we also had a positive PCR taken on the 22nd as we are part of the ONS study.

The school is pressuring her to come back to work. They are saying there is no legal requirement to self-isolate and you should come back if you feel well enough.

The government advice seems to be to stay at home until you test -ve.

We put ourselves in the position of a parent whose child caught covid from a teacher who was knowingly positive and came into work anyway.

What would you do here?

Who is right here? What would you do?

@HalfShrunkMoreToGo

I have come to the conclusion that way too many people in England are unable to read or comprehend instructions.

The LEGAL requirement to isolate has ended so people will no longer get fined if they fail to isolate.

The OFFICIAL guidance is still to stay at home if you test positive.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-people-with-covid-19-and-their-contacts/covid-19-people-with-covid-19-and-their-contacts

If you have COVID-19, stay at home and avoid contact with other people
If you have COVID-19 you can infect other people from 2 days before your symptoms start, and for up to 10 days after. You can pass on the infection to others, even if you have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. If you have COVID-19 you should stay at home and avoid contact with other people.
You should:
• not attend work. If you are unable to work from home, you should talk to your employer about options available to you. You may be eligible for Statutory Sick Payy_
• ask friends, family, neighbours or volunteers to get food and other essentials for you
• not invite social visitors into your home, including friends and family
• postpone all non-essential services and repairs that require a home visit
• cancel routine medical and dental appointments. If you are concerned about your health or you have been asked to attend an appointment in person during this time, discuss this with your medical contact and let them know about your symptoms or your test result
• if you can, let people who you have been in close contact with know about your positive test result so that they can follow this guidance
Many people will no longer be infectious to others after 5 days. You may choose to take an LFD test from 5 days after your symptoms started (or the day your test was taken if you did not have symptoms) followed by another LFD test the next day. If both these test results are negative, and you do not have a high temperature, the risk that you are still infectious is much lower and you can safely return to your normal routine.

Yes, inability to read or comprehend instructions are the only reasons why people might not follow entirely optional guidance to isolate when it can come with considerable costs.

@VikingOnTheFridge but in this particular scenario we don't have someone who is unable to afford the SSP and therefore can't isolate. We have an employer who is responsible for hundreds of children and many staff members, who wants a Covid positive person to be in close contact with many children in an indoor environment against the official guidance.

But I would put quite a lot of money on your wife having taken the piss with leave before (probably because you're sooooooooo wealthy), and they're fed up with her
This.

@TheKeatingFive

Many congratulations to the OP's wife for bagging herself a prince among men here, btw.

I was assuming it was a same-sex couple, so I was thinking the OP's wife had bagged herself a princess among women.

That aside: if someone feels well enough to go to work, go to work. If they don't, don't.

@MyAltAccount

Could use some advice here to tell us if we're incorrect in our thinking and attitude here, please.

My wife is a teaching assistant in a primary school. She tested positive on Sat 19th. As of today, Sat 26th she is still testing positive (as is our son). By chance, we also had a positive PCR taken on the 22nd as we are part of the ONS study.

The school is pressuring her to come back to work. They are saying there is no legal requirement to self-isolate and you should come back if you feel well enough.

The government advice seems to be to stay at home until you test -ve.

We put ourselves in the position of a parent whose child caught covid from a teacher who was knowingly positive and came into work anyway.

What would you do here?

Who is right here? What would you do?

The latest shed be back would be weds... but if she feels ok given the new rules she should be back monday.

It’s a man, @TheRideOfYourLife - lots of posts on the sex board stating this.

I never understand threads like this. You can use your own brain you know (or the wife can). If she feels uncomfortable going back to work on Monday or still feels ill then just phone in sick. I'm a TA and we still get paid when on sick leave so I don't see the problem.

Agree if the school are putting pressure on it will likely be that the wife has a history of taking lots of sick leave. School staff would normally be sympathetic to a colleague still feeling unwell a week after testing positive for covid.

[quote HalfShrunkMoreToGo]@VikingOnTheFridge but in this particular scenario we don't have someone who is unable to afford the SSP and therefore can't isolate. We have an employer who is responsible for hundreds of children and many staff members, who wants a Covid positive person to be in close contact with many children in an indoor environment against the official guidance.[/quote]
But you're evidently not talking just about the dozen or so posters on this thread discussing this specific situation, not all of whom are necessarily in England. Because otherwise 'way too many people' would be a completely absurd description.

@Butwhereareyou

It’s a man, *@TheRideOfYourLife* - lots of posts on the sex board stating this.

Ah. Didn't think to do an advanced search. Thanks.

If she is well she should be at work.

Says who? Some woman off the internet? Right, best ignore official DfE advice then 🙄🙄

My DD tested positive a day later than your wife. She is still isolating as per PHE guidelines as her LFTs are still positive. She won't be going back to school before Thursday unless she has two negative daily LFTs.