Should I send DS to school today? (Unwell)

[43leftfeet]

DP and I have a cold. I'm having a PCR later to rule out covid.

My gut insticnt says it's probably not covid as it doesn't feel too bad, DP got it first and seems to be getting over it pretty quickly and he's done a lateral flow that was negative.

HOWEVER - it's all around us at the moment. 2 DC at DD's childminder's have had positive covid tests. DD's best friend has it and her parents too. The mum had a negative lateral flow then positive PCR. And DS says loads of kids in his school have had it recently.

So I'm testing to be on the safe side.

DS feels slightly unwell - not enough to even consider keeping home in normal times. The school don't seem concerned about having ill kids in school (which I think is nuts) - last time he was ill they were hassling me to return him ASAP.

But if there's a chance he's at the beginning of covid he'll be really infectious, won't he?

WWYD? Keep DS off for a minor sniffle to be on the safe side or send him in as he's not actually ill?

Thanks.

I'd do a lateral flow and send him in if negative. If he won't do one then I'd do a very thorough one on myself and dp.

Covid is often a mild illness, so not feeling that ill doesn't rule it out.

Keep him off

You'd be better off all going for the PCR, then he can get straight back to school if it's negative.

DS has a nasty cold - temp, sore throat, streaming/blocked nose - all LFTs and a PCR have been negative but he can barely speak or breathe so he's at home. He can do all his lessons on line anyway so I'd rather he wasn't passing it on.

Hang on has DP had it very recently? If so I would get a pcr and keep at home in the meantime

My latest ones came back in under 24h

@Frazzled2207

Hang on has DP had it very recently? If so I would get a pcr and keep at home in the meantime

My latest ones came back in under 24h

No one in our family has had covid, but peopel around us have e.g. DD's best mate.

@IntemperateSpirits

DS has a nasty cold - temp, sore throat, streaming/blocked nose - all LFTs and a PCR have been negative but he can barely speak or breathe so he's at home. He can do all his lessons on line anyway so I'd rather he wasn't passing it on.

Yes, if DS was like this I'd keep him home. He's got the mildest of symptoms, if it wasn't covid times I wouldn't think twice about sending him in.

I'd take everyone for a PCR test, especially as you have family members who have been in close contact with positive cases.

@Whinge

I'd take everyone for a PCR test, especially as you have family members who have been in close contact with positive cases.

I can't get the DC to actually test. DD freaks out when the wand goes anywhere near her nose. Short of holding her down and forcing it up her nose (which I'm not prepared to do), she's not done a test yet that meets the instructions.

DS is the same but less extreme.

Both have SEN, and this is one of those pick-your-battles things.

I've tried and tried and given up now. I was amazed the school apparently managed to get a test out of DS. Until I asked further questions and found out they leave them to do it themselves which means it was just yet another invalid test.

I would leave him at home if you can and see how he’s and in the meantime I would test myself and DH.
How big is it that he would stay at home re his SEN ? If it’s a big disruption of routine and tricky to keep at home then I would send him to school.

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

Covid is often a mild illness, so not feeling that ill doesn't rule it out.

My son has it now. He has no symptoms at all. He did however feel a bit queasy for about half an hour one day a day before diagnosis.

DD had it last year. No symptoms at all.

Severity of symptoms is no indicator at all of if you have covid. Test, test, test. It's the only way to know if you have it.

Due to close contact with positive cases I would keep him off and book a pcr test