Focus.de – Aug 10, 2020 (Machine translation from German)

Domestic isolation for children with suspected corona? An order outraged parents. Especially since drastic sanctions are threatened. The office sees itself “deliberately misunderstood”. But the case is making waves.

Isolation, no visit and wearing a mask – several official letters on quarantine for children at home cause excitement among parents.

Health department advised separation of child and parents

In a day care center in Dreieich (Offenbach district), the operation was stopped at the end of July after a confirmed corona infection had occurred in a child, as reported by “op-online.de”. As a result, the child’s family had to go into isolation for 14 days. So far so normal.

However, a letter from the local health department to the parents of the children affected by quarantine caused great astonishment. According to the report, it states: “Your child must avoid contact with other household members in the household by providing temporal and spatial separation (no meals together. Your child should be alone in a room, separated from the other household members).”

Health authorities in several federal states want to isolate children from parents

The absurd order expressed in the letter to the parents astonishes. In the meantime, this regulation no longer seems to be an isolated case.

In Bruchsal (Karlsruhe district), a teacher at a primary school had tested positive for the corona virus. As a result, two classes were sent home in July – accompanied by a message from the city in which if the “isolation in so-called domestic quarantine” is not adhered to, the child is threatened with forcible placement in a closed facility. The “Families in Crisis” initiative has published the corresponding letter.

Cases reported in three federal states

As the “Neue Westfälische” reports, health authorities in three federal states have now asked parents to separate their children from the rest of the family in their private household. For the entire period of possible quarantine. Even very young children should be separated from the rest of the family in their own room.

The fact that children’s rights are trampled underfoot also calls for the child protection association, which has already received reports from affected parents. “In at least one case that we have, the family is threatened with the removal from the family of the 8-year-old child in the event of a violation,” said the Child Protection Association.

From the point of view of the parents’ initiative, even the arrangement of domestic isolation for children is “an emotional cruelty”. In addition, parents would be massively intimidated with the threat of forced placement.

Health authority: “A separation is not considered at all”

The authorities are surprised at the excitement. The city of Bruchsal, for example, confirmed the letter on Thursday, but emphasized: “We are only the executive regulatory office. The content of the text came from the responsible health authority in the district office.” Upon request, the Karlsruhe authority defended the specified requirements, but at the same time made it clear: “Separation of the child from the parents is not at all considered here!” If a child really had to be forcibly isolated “for the protection of others”, the parents would always be there. “This measure would be the last resort if the parents do not ensure through their behavior that outsiders cannot be infected by the child.”

Kinderschutzbund speaks of “psychological violence” against children

The German Child Protection Association asked the authorities to be particularly considerate of children when taking Corona measures. The quarantine situation is already very stressful for families, especially children. The Child Protection Association also explains: “Isolating children from their parents and siblings in this phase is a form of psychological violence. The Child Protection Association perceives these measures as disproportionate and unacceptable.”

The President of the Child Protection Association also shows little understanding for the order from the authorities. “I call on local authorities to give priority to child welfare and children’s rights in all measures to contain the corona pandemic,” says Child Protection Association President Heinz Hilgers.

District Office: “Deliberately misunderstood”

Continues (in German) …