Testing the whole bubble

[locked2020]

So...kids go back. If someone in their bubble shows symptoms or tests positive, whole class self-isolates. However, I'd feel so much more comfortable if whole class just got tested. As it stands, families of class members don't isolate, so if someone is asymptomatic in the class, their families could be spreading it to work, other schools etc etc. Same for if someone in a work bubble tests positive - surely it would be better for infection rate to just check, better for economy ( no need for time off work to isolate if not infected), better for understanding true spread in population etc? Is it a testing capacity thing? Or is it a sleep deprived thing?!

The problem is that you won't, necessarily, get a positive test straight away and there is an issue of false negatives. Additionally many parents simply don't want their children tested.

I agree that the system is not thought through or sensible at all but I'm not sure how it can be improved at this stage.

Sorry should have said isolate whilst awaiting results/if don't want testing. It would reduce some spread and people could get back to work sooner.

The test only shows positive with a certain level of virus in the body. If you picked up the virus yesterday and tested today, it would probably show negative. So people would stop self isolating. But then in a weeks time you have symptoms and a test shows positive. You've been out and about spreading the virus.

@underthebus didn't realise that.