At work we accept children with HF&M still but all blisters must be covered. I think this is to prevent spread.
Really? We don't - they're sent home straight away until all the blisters have dried. We wash every possible item that may have come into contact with the infected child, and when I was working and pg I wasn't even allowed to touch any of it.

But, yeah, that's what it sounds like to me too. Some kids are really bothered by it, some couldn't care less. But it is very contagious.