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Original poster

Nursery want COVID test. Bugger....

28 replies

BlazeMonsterMachine · 07/12/2020 10:32

Not really looking for anything from this, other than a chat and maybe some sympathy Grin

3 year old had a really active weekend (outside lots, loads of running around) and then a disturbed night last night. So I'd expect him to be tired this morning....

He woke up normal time this morning and his usual self. Ate breakfast as normal and headed off to nursery. He has a mild dust allergy and we had some building work done on the house on Friday, so I thought nothing of it when he coughed a couple of times this morning....

For various reasons we stayed with my mum (support bubble) over the weekend no coughing or anything.

Nursery have just phoned and said that he's not eaten breakfast there (not that unusual as he eats breakfast with us) and "he's taken himself off for a nap". Can we come pick him up. They've not mentioned a cough, but they want him to get tested for COVID before they'll let him back.

None of this is unreasonable...

BUT.....

I could really do without it as it's my due date tomorrow.... 😂

Ah well... The universe likes it's laughs. I'm fairly sure it'll come back negative, but at least I'll know for sure that chances of me having COVID are low when I arrive to give birth.

I'll start panicking if it comes back positive 🤦‍♀️

Let's hope the turn around times are quick!! (he's with his Dad, being tested now).

For reference, we're in a low risk area and not been out much (due to pregnancy) and no one in our bubble has any symptoms.

Fun times!

OP posts:
Nikhedonia · 07/12/2020 10:49

Oh shit! That's terrible timing. Sod's law and all that.

Can you even get a Covid test without symptoms? A couple of coughs isn't "persistent"... are they expecting you to pay for a private test or lie to the NHS?

Original poster
BlazeMonsterMachine · 07/12/2020 11:16

Timing is spectacular 🤦‍♀️

DH filled out the form, so not sure what he put... I assumed since nursery required it, that would be enough. Now I wonder if I'm mis-using resources 😱

Though the idea of having a new born without being able to send the 3year old to nursery was a worrying thought!

They've just got back. 24 - 48 hours for results.

I'll just cross my legs 😂

He seems absolutely fine. DH says he's not coughed once since he picked him up. He's literally behaving as normal and about to decorate the tree with DH.

Ah well. I'll laugh about it in years to come....

OP posts:
Schummakker · 07/12/2020 11:19

Am I the only one to think nursery is being unreasonable?

I’d ask them why they think he has covid because he’s tired?!

No cough, no temp etc.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Childcare & nursery Covid-19 Families
Schummakker · 07/12/2020 11:20

If he’s coughing then not unreasonable but if he isn’t then I’d think it’s unreasonable.

Simplyunacceptable · 07/12/2020 11:21

Unreasonable of them unless he has a temperature or is constantly coughing.

GreyishDays · 07/12/2020 11:21

It often presents a bit differently in children, so it might be. Also nursery can make their own rules I guess.

Just hope it comes back quickly and negatively. Smile

Oly4 · 07/12/2020 11:23

I’d tell them he doesn’t have any of the symptoms so why are they saying he needs a test? It’s actually against the NHS rules

seaduck · 07/12/2020 11:25

Ah bless you, I had this exact situation myself in October, it took 60 hours for our test to come back on my due date and it felt long and stressful. I think tests are turning around much quicker now so you have a good chance of being okay, I bet the stress will keep baby in there. I needn't have worried as baby arrived 11 days late in the end but I completely sympathise with you and fingers crossed.

GreyishDays · 07/12/2020 11:26

@Simplyunacceptable

Unreasonable of them unless he has a temperature or is constantly coughing.
The definition of a constant cough isn’t ‘constantly coughing’ though, is it?

a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual).

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/symptoms/

HerFlowersToLove · 07/12/2020 11:29

Our test results came back in less than 10 hours Shock Everything crossed (including your legs!) that you're as lucky. All the best with the labour and the new baby Flowers

ChateauMargaux · 07/12/2020 11:30

Speak to nursery and ask them on what grounds they think he might have COVID because you see no signs of fever or continuous cough and wonder if there was something at the nursery that was making him cough, mention the dust allergy.

OverTheRainbow88 · 07/12/2020 11:51

I think it’s good they are being cautious.

He coughed at home, so he probably coughed there to, whilst going for an unusual nap.

They want to protect themselves and other kids. Not unreasonable

Shieldingending · 07/12/2020 11:57

My test came back in 8 hours on Saturday so hopefully you will have a (negative) result soon! Good luck

Original poster
BlazeMonsterMachine · 07/12/2020 12:45

Thank you all for your replies. Helping keep me sane Grin

He's been home for an hour and a half an no coughing. He's happily decorating the tree with DH.

So I'm focusing on the positive that it's unlikely he has it.

I think nursery are just being over-cautious, which is probably good. However it doesn't feel positive when you're on the wrong end of it. I think they're looking at the fact that children sometimes present differently and he was quiet this morning (not like him!). Maybe he did cough in front of them (as I said, we have dust problems), but there's been no sign of anything now.

Fingers crossed results come back as quickly as HerFlowers or Shielding....

And thank you all for the positive thoughts.

OP posts:
kirinm · 07/12/2020 12:48

I'm fed up of my DD being kicked out of nursery. She has a cold. That she caught at bloody nursery. It takes 48 hours at best to get a test result. All the while it's costing me hundreds of pounds a month to not send her to nursery. Cough and temp isn't even one of the main symptoms for kids.

I think the nursery are being unreasonable tbh. I would be shocked if my DD took herself off to sleep but I think I'd be arguing she should stay there.

Sweettea1 · 07/12/2020 12:51

Turn around here has been really quick lately results have been coming bk within 24hrs.

JabberGiraffe · 07/12/2020 12:55

How does the fact you need to isolate and giving birth work? Have you spoken to your midwife or consultant?

Oh my days! Timing is epic.

Take care and I hope it comes back very soon, and very negative!

Schummakker · 07/12/2020 16:39

@kirinm cough and temp is indeed a symptom for children.

kirinm · 07/12/2020 16:42

[quote Schummakker]@kirinm cough and temp is indeed a symptom for children.[/quote]
I know they're a symptom but the nursery actually said diarrhoea and rashes were a pretty common symptom.

What about snotty noses? She constantly has one of those.

Schummakker · 07/12/2020 16:49

@kirinm snotty noses may or may not be, also other symptoms adults may not get - I was just responding to you saying cough and temp aren’t main symptoms.

It’s a pain for now granted.

kirinm · 07/12/2020 16:50

Thanks sorry, I appreciate it. It's just an ongoing nightmare. If tests were a 24 hour turnaround by me it wouldn't be such an issue (last time she had a test it took 52 hours for the result).

Gohackyourself · 07/12/2020 17:28

I think they are unreasonable if there’s no temperature, or persistent coughing.It almost feels a misuse of tests if they are demanding it for every child.
Good luck

YouJustDoYou · 07/12/2020 17:40

We had a similar child at one of our nurseries, no coughing or temp but suddenly very sleepy, not himself. We asked the mum to get a test just in case, kid ended up positive, whole nursery had to shut for 2 weeks. We have many children and staff with vulnerable family members, if we even slightly suspect Covid we ask them to get tested.

Crunchymum · 07/12/2020 17:51

Is this set out in any guidelines?

(the fact the nursery can just "request" that a child takes a test? Surely they have a criteria?)

I assume heavily pregnant women, who are not having planned inductions or c-sections, cannot be asked to SI but just have to take care to minimise / manage any risks.

Original poster
BlazeMonsterMachine · 08/12/2020 07:43

Thought I'd let you all know that we got the results back this morning (a text at 0615!).

As suspected, negative.

Phew!

OP posts:
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