21 days without symptoms to be in the clear

OP, I live in NYC, too, funny we're both on a DC forum. I think our nanny caught covid-19, too. We didn't think so at the time, but an updated list of symptoms came out and her husband's symptoms were on it. Because we thought that nanny DIDN'T have it, we had her come two weeks after her symptoms (which were really mild, just a mild cough) resolved. Had we thought she had it, we would have made her wait at least a month if not longer.

I have also heard of people testing positive again after symptoms have cleared up and negative tests, but so far, none of these people have been shown to have reinfected anyone and their virus loads have generally been very low, which means the contagion risk is lower. Of course, the data pool is REALLY limited and studies ongoing so you have to take it FWIW.

I think you have to way the benefits and risks and do what's right for your family. We have a young baby so we need to be more careful than others, but... we live in NYC, which is the greatest risk of all. If we were in a different area, we probably wouldn't have nanny come back until who knows when, but living in NYC, we expose ourselves every time we go grocery shopping so it would feel silly to limit our exposure to one person who is fully recovered. In any case, good luck making your decision.

Most nannies are better off on PUA benefits plus regular unemployment.

That is very, very tough. Very nice of you to keep paying her. We ultimately know nothing about how long people that had it are contagious. She is probably worried that you might fire her and is wanting to show you that she wants to and can work. I honestly don't know what I would do in this situation! The only thing I can think of as a solution is that you wait some 3 weeks, that 72 days sounds like an utter quackery to me, this is not a flu! I recall when doctor told my niece that they changed the flu guidelines for 24 hours! She came to Christmas and hugged us. You probably know how we spent the New Year and well, we got sick really fast from her, even though she was fine.
I would recommend waiting for three weeks. People that can get tested are asked to have two negative tests with some time between them, right?
If only we had a country where a basic coronavirus test was available! Not even to all, to sick people!

Anonymous wrote:I would start paying her now .. or whenever it was the doctor said she could return to work, even if the date is debatable. Pay her, but don't have her come. Don't have her come for several weeks. For as long as you can manage.

Yes we have been paying her the whole time her full salary. Our question is when to have her come back from a health perspective. We don’t want there to be any risk in getting us sick.

I would start paying her now .. or whenever it was the doctor said she could return to work, even if the date is debatable. Pay her, but don't have her come. Don't have her come for several weeks. For as long as you can manage.

Anonymous wrote:OP here. First off, we are paying our nanny in fully despite her not coming, and will continue to do so - so that doesn’t change regardless.

We live in NYC and it’s virtually impossible to get tested here at this point.

She lives with her husband who is retired but he actually got sick first and gave it to her. They don’t get groceries delivered and while she tells me groceries are the only thing they go out for, who knows.

Aside but I though NY had the highest test per capita availability of any state.

Anonymous wrote:I initially wrote a reply, but then erased it. The only thing I will say is that I hope that you recognize that this young woman probably has much bigger financial and health issues than your family does and I hope that you are considerate and generous to her during these trying times.

Omg shut up

OP here. First off, we are paying our nanny in fully despite her not coming, and will continue to do so - so that doesn’t change regardless.

We live in NYC and it’s virtually impossible to get tested here at this point.

She lives with her husband who is retired but he actually got sick first and gave it to her. They don’t get groceries delivered and while she tells me groceries are the only thing they go out for, who knows.

Anonymous wrote:I initially wrote a reply, but then erased it. The only thing I will say is that I hope that you recognize that this young woman probably has much bigger financial and health issues than your family does and I hope that you are considerate and generous to her during these trying times.

Oh my God, shut up, you hideous pontificating virtue signaler. How, exactly, is your dose of completely unearned judgement helping OP "during these trying times"?

I'm not erasing that, because I "hope you recognize" you need to hear it. Knock. It. Off.

OP, based on what little data we have right now, FWIW I would feel comfortable after she'd been symptom-free for two weeks.

Where do you live, OP? In California they are giving drive-thru COvId tests for those with symptoms and those working with the vulnerable population (over 65 and under two).

The test will tell her if she currently has the virus but not if she had the virus (that’s a different test).

Our work is requiring 14 days symptom free.

Who does she live with? What do they do? Do they go out of their house? Would she be going places other than your house?

I would need the answers to all those questions to make a decision.

Our nanny comes to our house and goes home. Full stop. The nanny's groceries are delivered to our house and DH drives nanny home each evening and picks up in the morning. Nanny lives alone. It's a closed loop.

I initially wrote a reply, but then erased it. The only thing I will say is that I hope that you recognize that this young woman probably has much bigger financial and health issues than your family does and I hope that you are considerate and generous to her during these trying times.

Pretty sure my nanny had Covid even though she was not tested. She was very sick with classic symptoms for the past 3 weeks and is finally feeling better. She said she has not had a fever in 5 days now and was told by her doctor that when she is fever free for 72 hours she is no longer contagious. We have not had her come for the past 5 weeks and don’t have plans for her to come back right away regardless since DH and I are still working from home, but stay home order aside, when would others be comfortable having her come back? I have heard stories of people getting reinfected after they think they are better so I worry she could get us sick potentially.

How would others handle?