Quaranteen and communal garden

[KaterinaValentina]

How lovely it would be if I could find an answer to this questions...perhaps anyone has come across one?

After many months of not seeing her grandchildren my mother is finally flying over to spend time with my kids. She is coming from an amber list country and will need to quaranteen for 10 days.

We live in a very small block of flats that has a shared / communal garden. The garden is only ever used by my family and a gardener comes about once every 3 weeks. It's completely secluded but entrance is through building underground carpark and lift (so obviously residents use both as well ).

My question is this: is the garden off limits for the duration of quaranteen or is my mother allowed to play with my kids there?

On one hand it's technically part of residence on the other there's a shared lift.

I would really be greatful for any feedback!

Do you mean after her quarantine has ended?

I would think it is off limits. By going in a shared lift and hallway to a shared garden, you could come into contact with other people. I think you will struggle to find a specific answer though.

I think you will struggle to find a specific answer though.

Agreed.

At a quick glance at the guidance/rules(delete as you feel applicable ) that UK gov publish on quarantining it appears there is only reference to restrictions on the use of shared facilities/areas in the context of quarantining in a hotel or guest house.

Link here:

www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-quarantine-when-you-arrive-in-england#how-to-quarantine-safely

[quote loginfail]I think you will struggle to find a specific answer though.

Agreed.

At a quick glance at the guidance/rules(delete as you feel applicable ) that UK gov publish on quarantining it appears there is only reference to restrictions on the use of shared facilities/areas in the context of quarantining in a hotel or guest house.

Link here:

www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-quarantine-when-you-arrive-in-england#how-to-quarantine-safely[/quote]
That's because you aren't supposed to go outside if you're in quarantine

She cannot come over to you or have any contact with people, indoors or out, during quarantine.

So no she should not be coming to your garden, communal or not.

A family I know were taking their dog up and down to the toilet while they had Covid and were told off by public health for being in the stairwell/ shared garden. I think in quarantine you should behave as if you have Covid so it’s likely a no.

@KidneyBeans

That's because you aren't supposed to go outside if you're in quarantine

Umm..really?

C&P from the UK gov guidance:

."You must only exercise inside the place where you’re quarantining or garden^"

I think in quarantine you should behave as if you have Covid so it’s likely a no.

You may think that but FWIW the rules for self isolation if tested positive with Covid and the rules for quarantining post travel are different and each set of rules is laid out in detail on the UK Gov site..

www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-quarantine-when-you-arrive-in-england#how-to-quarantine-safely

www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

and.. FWIW the latter set of rules for those who have tested positive does specifically mention:

"Take exercise within your home, garden or private outdoor space."
(my emphasis).

As far as I can see the rules regarding post travel isolation do not mention "private".

Maybe the solution to this is that old nutshell " critical thinking"

[quote loginfail]I think you will struggle to find a specific answer though.

Agreed.

At a quick glance at the guidance/rules(delete as you feel applicable ) that UK gov publish on quarantining it appears there is only reference to restrictions on the use of shared facilities/areas in the context of quarantining in a hotel or guest house.

Link here:

www.gov.uk/guidance/how-to-quarantine-when-you-arrive-in-england#how-to-quarantine-safely[/quote]
And the answer would be no if out into context of shared residences.

You'd be unfairly and unduly putting others at risk. If you had a typical garden con ected to your home then a non issue. But it's a) not private and b) requires accessing shared areas.

I'd have thought the answer was obvious tbh rather than trying to find ways around it. The whole point of quarantine is to reduce spread. You're not doing that by hopping in and out do the shared lift would you be!

FWIW just to provide some comparison/context.. from the HMG Red List guidance..

Leaving your room:

You will only be allowed to leave your room in very limited circumstances including:

...to exercise but only with special permission from security. This is not guaranteed

No mention for them of avoiding lifts or shared areas such as stair wells/landing..and they certainly don't go to their very own personalised private area..

The Government finally got around to codifying procedures, they are published on the net, so IMHO the OP will have to read the rules and make their own call, based on what HMG say, not based on what randoms here (self included) think the rules mean. We certainly shouldn't be adding our own caveats to published rules just because we think you can't be too careful.

This is not only about the shared garden OP. While your mum is in quarantine she absolutely cannot come and play with your children, sorry.

@loginfail

FWIW just to provide some comparison/context.. from the HMG Red List guidance..

Leaving your room:

You will only be allowed to leave your room in very limited circumstances including:

...to exercise but only with special permission from security. This is not guaranteed

No mention for them of avoiding lifts or shared areas such as stair wells/landing..and they certainly don't go to their very own personalised private area..

The Government finally got around to codifying procedures, they are published on the net, so IMHO the OP will have to read the rules and make their own call, based on what HMG say, not based on what randoms here (self included) think the rules mean. We certainly shouldn't be adding our own caveats to published rules just because we think you can't be too careful.

No, but the staff are fully protected. And the hotels are ONLY USED FOR QUARANTINING. Not the same as a residence at all.

And the going into the garden to play with the children is irrelevant, given the rules You should stay in a well ventilated room with an outside window that can be opened, separate from other people in your home.

@BusyLizzie61

Point taken about red-list hotels...

However..

" You should stay in a well ventilated room with an outside window that can be opened, separate from other people in your home."

I can't see that in the specific rules that apply to those required to quarantine after arriving in the Uk from somewhere on the Amber list, I guess I've missed it...it may well be there but I'm not seeing in that protocol.

What I can see in those specific rules is that an individual can quarantine with friends and family, and once they get to the place of quarantine:

"you cannot visit family or friends who do not live in the premises where you quarantine. You must only exercise inside the place where you’re quarantining or garden"

That's my emphasis on the "not".

[quote loginfail]@BusyLizzie61

Point taken about red-list hotels...

However..

" You should stay in a well ventilated room with an outside window that can be opened, separate from other people in your home."

I can't see that in the specific rules that apply to those required to quarantine after arriving in the Uk from somewhere on the Amber list, I guess I've missed it...it may well be there but I'm not seeing in that protocol.

What I can see in those specific rules is that an individual can quarantine with friends and family, and once they get to the place of quarantine:

"you cannot visit family or friends who do not live in the premises where you quarantine. You must only exercise inside the place where you’re quarantining or garden"

That's my emphasis on the "not".[/quote]
It's in the Guidance
Quarantine and testing if you've been in an amber list country.

Ah, finally found it...thank you.

Thank you so much! I really appreciate you looking this up and thanks for the link, believe it or not my iterations of Google search didn't turn up this link but this is exactly what I was looking for!

She will be coming to visit me literally means she will be staying and quarantining at my place, what I was unclear about is the garden situation :)

She's actually staying with me so the question I had was about whether or not she can use the garden while quarantining at my residence.

@KaterinaValentina

She will be coming to visit me literally means she will be staying and quarantining at my place, what I was unclear about is the garden situation :)

So will you all also be quarantining with her at the same time with no deliveries or trips outside of your flat?

Thank you for the sarcasm. I think you are assuming I'm trying to find ways around rules. It's very sad a genuine question gets so much undeserved backlash.

@KaterinaValentina

She's actually staying with me so the question I had was about whether or not she can use the garden while quarantining at my residence.

No she won't.

She shouid also remain in one room, as separate from the rest of the family as possible. A

Thus might be hard on your DC, who might not find her proximity, but inability to interact safely with her, rather frustrating until her isolation is up.

If there is anywhere else she can go, that might be an easier and safer option

No she cannot use the garden. It is a shared garden not a private garden.

If anyone leaves the home and she's not isolating away from you, which I fully understand, then you're putting others at risk. That means no partner going to work, no going to the shops, no taking the children out...
No sarcasm, but are you really all going to isolate like you should if it ending to mix freely with her?

It ending = intending