College Kids and Covid-Safe Return Home

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

I'm starting this thread on YM because of the Pandemic thread and because many who post here work in medicine, medical research, pharma, etc.

ODS, a college senior taking only remote classes, is living out of state with his DGF's family.  His classes and finals end before Thanksgiving.  They have been sheltering in place with DGF's grandmother since the beginning of March.  The 3 of them believe in Science, believe that the pandemic is real and is really deadly, venture out of their home only when necessary, are compliant mask-wearers/hand-sanitizer users/hand-washers, etc.  DH and I successfully and safely visited the 3 of them a couple of weeks ago -- outside, from a safe distance, wearing masks unless eating or drinking, sleeping elsewhere, etc.  All of us -- ODS, his DGF, his DGF's family, DH and I -- are closely following the numbers and are following all of the Science-based guidelines and state mandates -- so knowledgeable about the current state of the pandemic and state and Federal responses to it.

About an hour ago, ODS called to ask if he and DGF could come home to Massachusetts for Thanksgiving/a while.

With that background, I am here to ask what other folks are doing, or recommending, as protocol for college kids to safely return home at the end of their respective semesters?  

The CDC is advising us all to stay home for the holidays this year and to celebrate only with those already living in our homes.

Yesterday, Massachusetts resumed its prior travel restrictions again requiring those coming in to the state from 47 other states to quarantine for 14 days or arrive with a negative Covid test administered within 72 hours of arrival to the state.

ODS is in a grey area given that he does not need to vacate a college dorm for Winter Break.  But it does raise the question: what are those of you with college kids living on campus doing to bring your kids home in the next few weeks safely? 

Do you plan to have your kids test before they leave campus?  Will you have them tested when they arrive home?  But Covid can take up to 10 days to manifest, correct?  Is testing useful and/or effective in this case?

Do you plan to have your college kid quarantine in his or her room for several days (with or without testing)?  If so, for how long?

Do you plan for everyone in the home to wear masks at all times?  If so, for how many days?

Does anyone in the home work outside the home and have the potential to bring the virus home from work?  How do you address that risk when the household size increases when a college kid (or two) comes home for a couple of months?

Let's use this thread to brainstorm how to bring college kids (yours, MAYBE mine, maybe extended family's, maybe neighbor's, maybe co-workers', etc.) home SAFELY for everyone in the household.  

Thoughts?  Ideas?  Opinions?  Fears?  Hopes?  

[wvugurl26]

University of Maryland is going 100% virtual as of this coming Monday. They are recommending students go home. They do say students should get a covid test before leaving.

I would agree to their request as it seems they are very conscientious about this. Everyone's comfort levels will vary though.

[pulmonarymd]

I will answer as best I can. But I have no idea either. I have not seen my mother since early this year, my oldest son since march, my youngest since August, my middle since September. I work in as high a risk area as you can imagine.

For both my wife and me, if I do not get to see the 2 youngest, we will both have worsening in our mental health. We are both healthcare workers, and are being careful. My middle one is now working at home, and s generally being careful, and I think he is concerned enough about our health that he is being somewhat careful. My youngest is being tested weekly at school and will test before coming home. School is virtual, and it seems cases have been under control. If possible, I would test my middle one, knowing its limitations. Oldest is a surgical resident, not sure when we will see him again.

We will not be interacting with anyone else. Will not likely be doing any activities out of the house. Youngest will be home till January. Seeing my kids is a risk I am willing to take. They know that many activities are off limits once they are home, and I think they will try to decrease their risk before coming. More confident about youngest, but am hopeful.

Not sure that helps. Situation sucks all around

[oped]

Both kids Universities are completely virtual after thanksgiving. Sons is mostly all anyway and he’s home. Daughter is home at least 2 months. Then we see.

[Deleted]

Yabbut...what's gonna happen with DGF's grandmother while they're away? Is she going to be all alone? How does she feel about their leaving for "Thanksgiving/awhile"?

Do you live so far away that they will have to fly to get there or spend more than a day driving? Flying or an overnight stay in a hotel would put me off.

I just don't know. I do know that I'm a gramma, and when DD/DSIL were gone for a long weekend during the summer, and I was here alone and still having to SIP, it was beyond dreary. I got very depressed and was only alone for five days.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Nov 14, 2020 14:59:37 GMT -5 @missrigby said:

Yabbut...what's gonna happen with DGF's grandmother while they're away? Is she going to be all alone? How does she feel about their leaving for "Thanksgiving/awhile"?

Do you live so far away that they will have to fly to get there or spend more than a day driving? Flying or an overnight stay in a hotel would put me off.

I just don't know. I do know that I'm a gramma, and when DD/DSIL were gone for a long weekend during the summer, and I was here alone and still having to SIP, it was beyond dreary. I got very depressed and was only alone for five days.

DGF’s grandmother will not be totally alone as you were (I’m sorry that they left you so isolated.). She is 64, still drives, has a daughter and a son and 2 other grandkids and siblings and friends in the area. They “visit” with each other occasionally outside, from a distance (Based upon ODS’ comments and after having met the grandmother, I am completely convinced she does all of her “visiting” as safely as possible).

The trip home would be driving — 8 hours on a good day. We’ve all driven the route enough to know where to stop to pee and get gas. DH and I even chose to pee in the woods a couple of times. 😆. No hotel stay necessary.

[Deleted]

In that case, since grandmother won't be altogether alone and is young and independent, and since it's only a 8-hour drive, go for it. Just be careful while they're there, of course.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Nov 14, 2020 14:48:41 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

I will answer as best I can. But I have no idea either. I have not seen my mother since early this year, my oldest son since march, my youngest since August, my middle since September. I work in as high a risk area as you can imagine.

For both my wife and me, if I do not get to see the 2 youngest, we will both have worsening in our mental health. We are both healthcare workers, and are being careful. My middle one is now working at home, and s generally being careful, and I think he is concerned enough about our health that he is being somewhat careful. My youngest is being tested weekly at school and will test before coming home. School is virtual, and it seems cases have been under control. If possible, I would test my middle one, knowing its limitations. Oldest is a surgical resident, not sure when we will see him again.

We will not be interacting with anyone else. Will not likely be doing any activities out of the house. Youngest will be home till January. Seeing my kids is a risk I am willing to take. They know that many activities are off limits once they are home, and I think they will try to decrease their risk before coming. More confident about youngest, but am hopeful.

Not sure that helps. Situation sucks all around

I’ve read your posts long enough to know you weren’t fishing for this, but I MUST say, if I haven’t said it recently: thank you for ALL you have done, do, and will do. I can only imagine the emotional and physical toll all of this is taking on medical folks. Please know that we’ve only gotten this far in this unimaginable crisis because of your efforts and sacrifices and creativity and perseverance and courage. Please — when you, your DW, your oldest, and your colleagues are losing faith — let them know that there ARE people who see their bravery and commitment and ARE forever grateful.

And, I agree, you and your DW DO need to see your kids. When it gets down to it, you are fighting this uphill Armageddon for THEM. I am glad to hear you will have at least 2 of them home and will have some youthful, seemingly indomitable, energy around you during the coming weeks and months.

I know you’re here in the Northeast somewhere, and I hate to press you while the numbers here are skyrocketing again, but can I ask how you will integrate your kids into the house upon their return? Our kids sound similar in that they know they will be somewhat housebound once home, but what will the first few days look like in your house? Testing? Quarantines in their individual rooms? Masks on inside the house?

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Nov 14, 2020 14:48:57 GMT -5 oped said:

Both kids Universities are completely virtual after thanksgiving. Sons is mostly all anyway and he’s home. Daughter is home at least 2 months. Then we see.

How will you integrate DD into your house when she comes home? Testing? Masks? Quarantine?

[debthaven]

GRG what we do when we see a child we haven't seen in a while is all wear masks to say hello/hug. Then we take them off inside. We keep our physical distance and don't touch. We use the big table so we can distance during meals. We distance in the LR. We are generally very physically affectionate so this is new for us. 

We haven't seen our youngest since late August (because he's in the UK). We have seen the three older ones, DD weekly, DS1 and DS2 very rarely. (We are in lockdown again but DS1 and DS2 are allowed to travel for work.)

Given that they've been SIP for months, I would definitely let them come. As Pulmonary said, it becomes a mental health issue after a while.

[oped]

Nov 14, 2020 15:26:18 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Nov 14, 2020 14:48:57 GMT -5 oped said:

Both kids Universities are completely virtual after thanksgiving. Sons is mostly all anyway and he’s home. Daughter is home at least 2 months. Then we see.

How will you integrate DD into your house when she comes home? Testing? Masks? Quarantine?

Yes she’ll be integrated. Right now she and her roommates are basically a pod. They don’t go out except the few classes still held on campus. They do pick up and delivery. She might keep her distance for the first week? We haven’t discussed it. She’s had several tests so far, random, after she came home to vote, etc.

[pulmonarymd]

Nov 14, 2020 15:22:19 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Nov 14, 2020 14:48:41 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

I will answer as best I can. But I have no idea either. I have not seen my mother since early this year, my oldest son since march, my youngest since August, my middle since September. I work in as high a risk area as you can imagine.

For both my wife and me, if I do not get to see the 2 youngest, we will both have worsening in our mental health. We are both healthcare workers, and are being careful. My middle one is now working at home, and s generally being careful, and I think he is concerned enough about our health that he is being somewhat careful. My youngest is being tested weekly at school and will test before coming home. School is virtual, and it seems cases have been under control. If possible, I would test my middle one, knowing its limitations. Oldest is a surgical resident, not sure when we will see him again.

We will not be interacting with anyone else. Will not likely be doing any activities out of the house. Youngest will be home till January. Seeing my kids is a risk I am willing to take. They know that many activities are off limits once they are home, and I think they will try to decrease their risk before coming. More confident about youngest, but am hopeful.

Not sure that helps. Situation sucks all around

I’ve read your posts long enough to know you weren’t fishing for this, but I MUST say, if I haven’t said it recently: thank you for ALL you have done, do, and will do. I can only imagine the emotional and physical toll all of this is taking on medical folks. Please know that we’ve only gotten this far in this unimaginable crisis because of your efforts and sacrifices and creativity and perseverance and courage. Please — when you, your DW, your oldest, and your colleagues are losing faith — let them know that there ARE people who see their bravery and commitment and ARE forever grateful.

And, I agree, you and your DW DO need to see your kids. When it gets down to it, you are fighting this uphill Armageddon for THEM. I am glad to hear you will have at least 2 of them home and will have some youthful, seemingly indomitable, energy around you during the coming weeks and months.

I know you’re here in the Northeast somewhere, and I hate to press you while the numbers here are skyrocketing again, but can I ask how you will integrate your kids into the house upon their return? Our kids sound similar in that they know they will be somewhat housebound once home, but what will the first few days look like in your house? Testing? Quarantines in their individual rooms? Masks on inside the house?

Thank you for your kind thoughts. I vacillate between being ok to being down. We now have 2 patients on vents and about 1/3 of the patients on med/surg/icu have covid. Our curve was Daly at 0-2 for months, and has increased dramatically in the last 2-3 weeks. Have been as discouraged now as I have been through this all. We are not sticklers about masks when we have been inside when it is just them. Only place I can relax is at home, and again, I am willing to take some risk with them. In addition, we will all be eating at the table without masks, and will be at risk then. In addition, given what I do, I am risking their getting it from me. As I said, that is about the limit of my risk tolerance. I interact with very few people outside of work

[pulmonarymd]

Nov 14, 2020 15:22:19 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Nov 14, 2020 14:48:41 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

I will answer as best I can. But I have no idea either. I have not seen my mother since early this year, my oldest son since march, my youngest since August, my middle since September. I work in as high a risk area as you can imagine.

For both my wife and me, if I do not get to see the 2 youngest, we will both have worsening in our mental health. We are both healthcare workers, and are being careful. My middle one is now working at home, and s generally being careful, and I think he is concerned enough about our health that he is being somewhat careful. My youngest is being tested weekly at school and will test before coming home. School is virtual, and it seems cases have been under control. If possible, I would test my middle one, knowing its limitations. Oldest is a surgical resident, not sure when we will see him again.

We will not be interacting with anyone else. Will not likely be doing any activities out of the house. Youngest will be home till January. Seeing my kids is a risk I am willing to take. They know that many activities are off limits once they are home, and I think they will try to decrease their risk before coming. More confident about youngest, but am hopeful.

Not sure that helps. Situation sucks all around

I’ve read your posts long enough to know you weren’t fishing for this, but I MUST say, if I haven’t said it recently: thank you for ALL you have done, do, and will do. I can only imagine the emotional and physical toll all of this is taking on medical folks. Please know that we’ve only gotten this far in this unimaginable crisis because of your efforts and sacrifices and creativity and perseverance and courage. Please — when you, your DW, your oldest, and your colleagues are losing faith — let them know that there ARE people who see their bravery and commitment and ARE forever grateful.

And, I agree, you and your DW DO need to see your kids. When it gets down to it, you are fighting this uphill Armageddon for THEM. I am glad to hear you will have at least 2 of them home and will have some youthful, seemingly indomitable, energy around you during the coming weeks and months.

I know you’re here in the Northeast somewhere, and I hate to press you while the numbers here are skyrocketing again, but can I ask how you will integrate your kids into the house upon their return? Our kids sound similar in that they know they will be somewhat housebound once home, but what will the first few days look like in your house? Testing? Quarantines in their individual rooms? Masks on inside the house?

Thank you for your kind thoughts. I vacillate between being ok to being down. We now have 2 patients on vents and about 1/3 of the patients on med/surg/icu have covid. Our curve was Daly at 0-2 for months, and has increased dramatically in the last 2-3 weeks. Have been as discouraged now as I have been through this all. We are not sticklers about masks when we have been inside when it is just them. Only place I can relax is at home, and again, I am willing to take some risk with them. In addition, we will all be eating at the table without masks, and will be at risk then. In addition, given what I do, I am risking their getting it from me. As I said, that is about the limit of my risk tolerance. I interact with very few people outside of work

[alabamagal]

First I will say that all of us should be cautios about what we do. Consider the risks of what your plans are. Since I am a rule-challenger, I will add my opinion into what you are planning.

I think the risk of catching the virus is about how many contacts you have, and what you do to help reduce the risk, like mask wearing in public. It is not based on state lines- that is why I dislike “quarantine when traveling from out of state”. The virus does not know geography. Where I live, I can drive 5 hours one way and be in state, but if I go 50 another way I have to quarantine??? Also the guidelines for “college kids returning home” - well technically your son is a college student, but if he has on line glasses and minimal contact with others, sounds like he is a very low risk. If he travels by car with minimal contact (bringing own food or takeout), even staying in a hotel doesn’t seem high risk to me. Maybe even try for one with entries from outdoor halls (aka the cheap ones).

So it sounds like you will have 2 low risk individuals coming to visit, not really planning any other large family gatherings while there, and likely not planning to go out to lots of large gatherings or parties while there. Getting tested before visit is good. Sounds reasonable to me.

[tractor]

My son will be coming home. He lives in an off-campus apartment and gets out very little. We will take precautions, but nothing out of the ordinary. We are not a close, huggy type family. He usually stays in his room and sleeps or plays video games, kind of a generational self-isolation (he’s been doing that for years).

I am not concerned about getting the virus, I wear a mask and don’t do crazy things when I am out, but I just don’t let it take complete control of my life. If I get it I’ll adjust accordingly (I may have had it back in March? , not sure, but wife is a teacher and we were both pretty sick for a few days back then).

[plugginaway22]

It isn't only college kids, our DD and SIL and grand-baby are coming from 2 hours away for one night over T-Giving weekend. I work in a medical office and the baby goes to part-time daycare, we are not willing to give up this family contact. We are all careful and have decided to take the risk. I also feel that the numbers will be worse by Christmas so this might be it for the winter. When DS came from Seattle in June, he tested immediately and I did not hug him for 4 days when results negative. Everything is crazy this year.

[pooks]

DD comes home once a week for dinner already.  She is as careful as she can be at college, and the school's Covid testing and infection rates have been pretty decent.  She is online after this week and will move back home.  We don't plan to do anything special.  In my opinion she isn't any worse than having someone who works outside the home in the house.  We aren't at high risk, but she is our only outside contact.  

[justme]

Getting a test before they come home or when they get home isn't really helpful. It would need to be quarantine at home for a while and then test. I saw one study that said something like 60% were still testing negative on day 4 of exposure even though they would go on to test positive. 

That said I'm not going to say not. Months ago my family decided to rent a cabin about 8 hours away for after Thanksgiving. My parents probably have less contact with people than I do - but at least they're not living alone. (I've noticed now that when I do meet up with friends I always get a sore throat half way through because I'm not used to talking that much anymore.) My brother is having Thanksgiving with his wife's family - we're skipping though it's a lil silly since bro & co are coming to the cabin. But bro's company pays for a covid test each week so that is somewhat helpful I suppose. 

[giramomma]

GRG, I would allow it.

My family has "broken" many rules. Miss M still goes to my inlaws one day a week. They are 75 and do have underlying health conditions. We've had celebrations with them.

We absolutely have been having our kids do extra curricular stuff. Even Miss M does parent/child gymnastics. Everyone is masked up and 6 feet apart.

The kids need it.

What, IMVHO, it comes down to is trust. I trust that the kids' gyms are taking all the precautions that they can. The peanut's martial arts has face to face classes in three different locations, from May. 0 cases of covid in the kids. DD1's gym has been a bit more hinky in terms of covid..but again, I think one child on another team got it. Since May.

I have not kept the peanut in school, because I do not trust the parents of their classmates. I think the parents are willing to lie about their kids health so that the kids can go to school two days a week. I also do not trust the parent's judgement. The kids are going on sleepovers, etc.

As long as you trust your son and his GF,  I guess I don't see what the issue is.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Huh.  Apparently, NPR is wondering the same thing...

www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2020/11/14/933968091/a-college-students-coming-home-should-the-whole-family-wear-masks

[cronewitch]

I am staying with ISO and turned down Thanksgiving invite but Tuesday his cousin's widow is coming to visit. Cousin died a month or two ago and we didn't go visit when he was on hospice because he wasn't eating or talking and not up to company. ISO is still doing chemo but getting worse again, on oxygen and can't even go to the bathroom of it. Lung cancer probably makes Covid worse so we are avoiding it. I saw some of my family in April and once since but need to stay with ISO because I don't trust him to take care of himself. He went to the garage without oxygen and I took a tank out in case he was on the floor. 

[Rukh O'Rorke]

I would think get a test and be cautious for a week anyway?

I know things are really difficult for many people, but I don't understand so much willingness to "take the risks" just to go through the motions of normalcy during not normal times.

I feel like people are divorcing themselves completely from what that risk is. The risk is that someone sitting at your table is trading in this thanksgiving dinner (or whatever event) for the next 25/35/60? thanksgivings of their lives. Because that is what is at risk. Losing a family member forever.


Certainly, college students do need to come home, and you should social distance as much as you can for a week - 2 if no testing done. But otherwise/non children, are you really aware of what you are risking when you say it's worth it? 

[stillmovingforward]

I agree with Rukh. My DD2 is in college and coming home for the holiday season even though she has an apartment there. She's isolating in her room (shared house) for the most part for 2 weeks and will take a covid test 4 days before coming home. With a negative test, she'll come home, be careful, and we'll assume the best. Spread out in the house and limited physical contact . She won't leave again until the new year. All the kids have been told that there is no leaving the house except to hike with  household members. If you do,  don't come back. So  she knows she could end up back in apartment for the holidays. I'm hoping no one challenges me. 

We have to be very careful as I'm on immunosuppresants.

It is what it is. I'd like to be here next year for them.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Nov 15, 2020 13:21:51 GMT -5 stillmovingforward said:

I agree with Rukh. My DD2 is in college and coming home for the holiday season even though she has an apartment there. She's isolating in her room (shared house) for the most part for 2 weeks and will take a covid test 4 days before coming home. With a negative test, she'll come home, be careful, and we'll assume the best. Spread out in the house and limited physical contact . She won't leave again until the new year. All the kids have been told that there is no leaving the house except to hike with  household members. If you do,  don't come back. So  she knows she could end up back in apartment for the holidays. I'm hoping no one challenges me. 

We have to be very careful as I'm on immunosuppresants.

It is what it is. I'd like to be here next year for them.

Thank you.  Your post detailing your own plans was really helpful.  (Is DD2 the med student?)  I have no concerns that ODS and his DGF will be out and about while here.  They haven't been while SIP.  ODS caught Epstein-Barr Mono several years ago and that virus devastated him.  He spent 5 days in the hospital with severe dehydration and jaundice as the virus attacked his liver.  It was a year and a half before he felt and looked like his usual self.  He is rightfully respectful of the Covid virus as a result.  And he cannot get a flu shot due to concerns about Guillain Barre.  So, he'll hang out at home and/or hike the many trails near our house when he's not sleeping, eating, or working out.    It's really just the integration into the bubble that DH and I have formed that I am concerned about.  I know there are no certainties in life, nor with respect to Covid, but I am curious what steps others will take to merge college kids back into their own bubbles.  

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Nov 15, 2020 10:32:44 GMT -5 Rukh O'Rorke said:

I would think get a test and be cautious for a week anyway?

I know things are really difficult for many people, but I don't understand so much willingness to "take the risks" just to go through the motions of normalcy during not normal times.

I feel like people are divorcing themselves completely from what that risk is. The risk is that someone sitting at your table is trading in this thanksgiving dinner (or whatever event) for the next 25/35/60? thanksgivings of their lives. Because that is what is at risk. Losing a family member forever.


Certainly, college students do need to come home, and you should social distance as much as you can for a week - 2 if no testing done. But otherwise/non children, are you really aware of what you are risking when you say it's worth it? 

I agree with you.  We will not be celebrating as usual with extended family.  It will be just the 4 of us.  I will also be "down a kid" because he is wisely choosing not to travel 1,800 miles home for Thanksgiving.  But I don't think the public health folks have given any clear guidance as to how to merge the millions of college kids about to spread across the country in the next couple of weeks (because many, many, colleges are closing campus completely from Thanksgiving until February as a way to mitigate infection during the holidays/winter).  College dorms are Petri dishes.  There will be a frightening number of infectious kids traveling and moving back into their family homes.  I haven't seen this migration addressed specifically by the public health folks, so was seeking some guidance from the wise folks here.  

[pulmonarymd]

Reality needs to factor into this. My son lives off campus. If he stayed there, he runs the risk of being exposed to any roommate who went home, then returns to their apartment. Bringing all these kids back to the area of the school after they have been exposed to all these other people is potentially a disaster. So, now what is less risk. Have him come home and SIP with us, or have him now be exposed after Thanksgiving. In addition, does he then stay there for Christmas and through the New Year? That would not be good mentally for him, so it is a risk/benefit calculation. If he comes to his hometown, do you make him stay at a hotel for 2 weeks? Where is he eating? He stays in the hotel room without leaving? Or, he can be home helping us do what we need to do, and potentially doing some things to keep our risk down. Since the virus is basically widespread, it is difficult to manage. There is a difference between having 4 people and 20.  Some kind of common sense needs to apply here.

[Deleted]

Nov 15, 2020 13:48:35 GMT -5 GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl said:

Nov 15, 2020 13:21:51 GMT -5 stillmovingforward said:

Thank you.  Your post detailing your own plans was really helpful.  (Is DD2 the med student?)  I have no concerns that ODS and his DGF will be out and about while here.  They haven't been while SIP.  ODS caught Epstein-Barr Mono several years ago and that virus devastated him.  He spent 5 days in the hospital with severe dehydration and jaundice as the virus attacked his liver.  It was a year and a half before he felt and looked like his usual self.  He is rightfully respectful of the Covid virus as a result.  And he cannot get a flu shot due to concerns about Guillain Barre.  So, he'll hang out at home and/or hike the many trails near our house when he's not sleeping, eating, or working out.    It's really just the integration into the bubble that DH and I have formed that I am concerned about.  I know there are no certainties in life, nor with respect to Covid, but I am curious what steps others will take to merge college kids back into their own bubbles.  

OMG! Is this why when I had a flu shot I got seriously ill? 

I had a severe case of mono when I was 19. I had it so bad my throat nearly completely closed and they had to give me some unusual drugs to help me be able to swallow and breathe. I was in bed for nearly a month.

I'll go read about this. Thanks for posting it.

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Nov 15, 2020 14:03:47 GMT -5 pulmonarymd said:

Reality needs to factor into this. My son lives off campus. If he stayed there, he runs the risk of being exposed to any roommate who went home, then returns to their apartment. Bringing all these kids back to the area of the school after they have been exposed to all these other people is potentially a disaster. So, now what is less risk. Have him come home and SIP with us, or have him now be exposed after Thanksgiving. In addition, does he then stay there for Christmas and through the New Year? That would not be good mentally for him, so it is a risk/benefit calculation. If he comes to his hometown, do you make him stay at a hotel for 2 weeks? Where is he eating? He stays in the hotel room without leaving? Or, he can be home helping us do what we need to do, and potentially doing some things to keep our risk down. Since the virus is basically widespread, it is difficult to manage. There is a difference between having 4 people and 20.  Some kind of common sense needs to apply here.

Which is, in part, why the colleges are wisely closing up before Thanksgiving. But that still means millions of kids are about to fan out across the country in the next 10 days.

I agree that there is a risk/benefit calculation.  I just feel like all of the "official" guidance is that "your brother-in-law's sister will infect everyone on Thanksgiving so don't celebrate with folks outside your household" with no consideration being given how to merge your own kid back into your bubble.  Trust me, I do understand the mental and emotional health aspect of it all.  I hadn't seem ODS since February when I managed to successfully and safely visit him outdoors at the end of October.  And it wasn't so much the lost 8 months, but I was driven to make the trip to see him because I didn't know when I would see him again as we move into "dark winter" (or, if ever).  He was definitely feeling the isolation and asked us to please come visit.  When a young, relatively independent, adult asks to see his parents, you go.  

I understand that nothing is foolproof.  But for the safest possible outcome, do we just open the door?  Does everyone get tested even though the test is only determinative in that moment?  Do we wear masks?  Do we isolate inside the house for 2 weeks.  Some combination?  Hope for the best?  I'm thinking some length of quarantine inside the house (they can have the living room, den, and their own bathroom and relatively direct access to the outdoors), masks inside for the first few days, opening doors and windows (in New England!) from time to time to freshen the air, washing hands, washing hands, washing hands, eating at a distance will give us the best possible chance.  Am I missing anything?

[Lizard Queen]

I had mono when I was in 4th grade. I haven't had any problems with the flu shot, but haven't gotten it that often either. Should I stop getting it in the future, I wonder?

[GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl]

Nov 15, 2020 14:23:35 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

I had mono when I was in 4th grade. I haven't had any problems with the flu shot, but haven't gotten it that often either. Should I stop getting it in the future, I wonder?

Research is ongoing, but it appears, at this time, that the connection between Guillain-Barre and Epstein-Barr Mono is based upon the severity of the case of Mono AND whether it was Epstein-Barr Mono (many viruses can cause Mono).  Folks who had serious bouts of Epstein-Barr Mono are thought to have hyper-sensitive Epstein-Barr T cells which, when exposed to the flu vaccine, can lead to Guillain-Barre.

Epstein-Barr is also thought to be a cause of some autoimmune diseases such as MS.  It is a nasty, nasty, virus.  

But, again, you can have Mono causes by many other viruses other than Epstein Barr.