Advice please - Mum has shingles, live together and I have a 7 week old and 3 year old about to go back to pre school

[Biosblbay]

So my Mum doesn’t live under the same roof, she is in a self contained Annexe at the back of our garden.

It is currently at the stage of weeping liquid which I have read that this is the most contagious but only if the liquid gets onto someone else.

I wanted to see if anyone could answer the following for me just so I can be 100% sure…

As my mum lives alone, would it still be safe for her to come over, on the basis her neck is covered up and she doesn’t touch the children?
We also need to do some shopping today, would it be safe going into public, again on the basis it is covered up on her neck and she sanitises her hands?

It is so difficult as she lives alone, would it be best she isolates herself? If so how long for? but if she covers it up will it be ok for her to get out, do shopping, be with the kids etc?

I had shingles when I had a breast fed baby. I was advised as long as I kept the rash covered up and didn't allow it to touch my baby, they wouldn't catch chicken pox off it. And they didn't. However idk whether my antibodies in the breast milk might also have helped.

I would ring the GP or 111 for advice.

I don’t think she should be going out in public - but I don’t know how contagious Shingles are/is. Regardless of that, she’s unwell so should be resting to get better.

I think if she can isolate, she should.