@NemophilistRebel um a six week old having it has no relevance?! Firstly It proves for a start it can kill newborn babies. So yes it could kill a baby in the hospital because the virus doesn't discriminate on age. They've already found one case where a baby was born with it also.
Secondly who knows where the source was contracted from? It could have been the hospital? Mum gets it, dad gets it, baby gets it ...
Thirdly, not being rude but do you really trust people to stay at home for two whole weeks before the birth? No food shop, pharmacy etc? It's not just two weeks before birth as you have no idea when the birth is?! So you'd have to start from what 35 weeks to a potential 42. What if a mother gets it at her Mw app then passes to her partner who who has not developed symptoms yet when they go to hospital. In addition based on some of the comments some people have made it clear that come hell or highwater the partner needs to be there so forgive me for not buying that everyone will be responsible.
Fourthly so many midwifes are all already off, the more people coming in the higher the risk for them and then in turn women birthing. Now I love my DH but the medical staff are really more important especially in an emergency which I've been through.
It's really not difficult when you apply some thought to the consequences but appreciate that emotion governs a lot here. The point is this is so more complex than denying women and fathers their rights. It's about safety and it's not a black and white situation.
Until an actual trust bans partners at birth this petition is completely pointless ....