Would you tell people that your going for a pcr test with symptoms

[Paddingtonsmarmlade]

As above dc started coughing last night so taking him for a test later. Yesterday we spent 15/20 minutes with a relative. They are double vaccinated but go to a day centre (learning disability) and have home care, both would probably not happen today if I inform the centre but I can't go and provide care as I'll have to stay home with dc. Under the old rules relative would have to self isolate but under the new rules not the case.

What would you do?

Sorry to hear you've got symptoms and got everything crossed that you're absolutely fine! I would inform the care agency. They can still give care in that situation, they will just be cautious with personal protective equipment. I know it's a worry and a pain though.
Unfortunately care and hospital staff are relying on honesty to keep their staff safe. Although there is a very good chance that it's all totally fine and even if you did have it, that your relative doesn't, but if by chance it DOES happen then it could put not only the care stuff but their vulnerable family at risk.
I know that I'm basing my safety at work on people being totally up front. I am clinically vulnerable anyway but also very pregnant so I was put into non covid pathways (front line hospital work). Those pathways include someone having to isolate three days before a planned operation following a PCR. It's all a game of trust that they've done that to keep me safe but ultimately if they chose to deviate, I'd be none the wiser but potentially at risk.
It's such a massive pain and hopefully this time tomorrow the results are back, you're negative and this was all just a pain in the butt. But for that small chance? I'd call them and just let them know.
Hope you feel better soon!! X

Doh! Just seen that it's your child that has symptoms... hope they feel better soon!!

If she got symptoms/confirmed covid she would not receive care. That I know. I'm just banging my head with the new rules because my dc if he has it it's because the pupil/s in his class with positive siblings at home that were made to come to school under the new rules.

But if they centre decide they can't have her as she is a close contact then I'll have no choice but to bring her into a home with confiirmed covid because she was with us for 15 minutes. Putting her at risk.

Dc is fine thanks just a bit tired and coughing. Could be a cold could be covid in a small child symptoms.

I completely understand that and don't disagree that if she had symptoms or confirmed covid there wouldn't be any care provided. Which is horrendous really!

It's so difficult at the moment, especially with children as it is rampant and spreading like mad across that age group.

I really do understand what a difficult position this has put you in, especially as you won't want to bring her into a covid positive household if it does come back as positive. However, as you mentioned, under new rules she isn't considered a close contact nor should she have to isolate at present and therefore there should be no change to her care provided.

It's a terrible situation and I don't envy you! I think from a staff point of view, I'd want to know so that I could assess and protect myself and my family too.
The new school rules and all the relaxation has definitely caused this sort of incident more than once and it is worrying to say the least!

Glad your DC isn't too poorly and hope it is just a cold. Could you do a lateral flow to get some indicator (though not fool proof of course!).

I could but I'm going to have to do pcr as that's what the school/gov rules require and dc is very young and probably on the autism spectrum so doing one will require me to sit on him to physically restrain him whilst he screams. If it was just us I'd isolate for 10 days but I provide a lot of support to relative and isolating for 10 days every time dc gets a cold is impossible. Especially if the care provider pulls out for 10 days too. So I have to subject dc to the test.

Yes I would tell them as a courtesy. I know that the double vaccinated no longer have to self isolate, but A, the learning disabled were particularly hard hit by COVID for some reason, and B, even though they don’t have to self isolate, they’re entitled to know they’ve potentially been in touch with COVID.

I am vulnerable and while I am not staying at home any more, I would like to know if anyone I had been in contact with had symptoms or tested positive. Not least so that I could look out for symptoms in myself, iyswim. But that’s no different to if any of my family or partner has a cold and they tell me they have a cold and keep away from me.

But then I have a life-limiting heart condition from having had the flu 5 years ago so I am always particularly vigilant.

I understand the predicament because I would want to stay away as much as possible from relative to reduce risk to them. As you say learning disabilities it's self makes them cv and other medical conditions they have mean the fall in this category 3 times. The sad thing is if I tell the day centre/care team I believe they would pull out of the care. Then I'd have no choice but to expose relative further by bringing them to my house to provide that care (as dc is too young to leave alone) which seems so cruel because of 15 minutes exposure which dc was mainly in another room. Which is ironic because I expect that if one of the staff was a close contact they would carry on working

I'm going to ring the centre tomorrow and give them the info and hope the test results come back negative ASAP.