SOCIAL GRACES
Should college kids returning home quarantine?
Q: Should parents let their children who are away at college come home for a visit during the pandemic?
A: For all students returning from school, we suggest they quarantine for 14 days when they arrive home.
And if there are any symptoms, like a fever or a cough, seek medical management, or call your family practice doctor to get a test for COVID-19.
We even recommend that those individuals who test negative at college still quarantine when they return home because there is going to be some time lapse following the test results.
We’ve had parents call and say: My child had a negative COVID test this morning; are they free to come home and then drive to someone’s home for a wedding or a gathering?
And the answer is no, because it’s just a matter of being cautious because of the simple fact that young adults are more likely to visit family members who have preexisting medical conditions.
— Dr. Christopher Colbert, assistant emergency medicine residency director and professor of clinical emergency medicine at UIC
A: If the child wants to come home, but the parent doesn’t feel comfortable with that, that’s not necessarily a statement about whether the child feels loved. It’s more about respecting boundaries and respecting what people need to feel safe.
Be proactive with these conversations, and have a plan in place. This will reduce anxiety because everyone will be on the same page and expectations are made clear without the added level of stress. If 2020 has taught us anything, it’s be to resilient.
— Maryjane Reilly, licensed professional counselor at Clarity Clinic