Testing children in school bubbles

[MotherOfGremlins]

AIBU to think that in September, no one is going to be able to insist that my children are tested if they come down with covid symptoms?

Just that really. Due to sensory issues, one of them can't have the flu nasal spray and has to have a vaccination by injection - they just can't cope with anything being inserted into their throat or nose. Not sure how the other would cope - possibly okay - and if so, they could have a test if necessary.

They’re developing a saliva test. They will test them that way.

If it needs done it needs done would be my thoughts.
Plenty of medical.procedures aren't pleasant

I'm a teacher, no we can't insist your child has a test. Nor are we allowed to ask for evidence of a negative result

You’ll just have to isolate for 7/14 days every time then I guess.

They’ll need to isolate for 7 days and you for 14 each time they have symptoms if they don’t have a negative result. In theory.

Yes you need to test otherwise don’t send them back to school. It’s not fair on everyone else who needs to know if there is a positive case.

They can isolate instead.

Of course they can't insist they are tested. They can (and will) however refuse them entry for 14 days.

I won't be able to test my DD. Expecting just to isolate for 14 days at a time

I'm a teacher in special needs school. We sent pupils with symptoms home, then up to parents to either test or isolate. Honestly I think most of ours will isolate as I can't imagine trying to put them through such a test with the additional needs they have. But it is up to parents not the teachers/school.

I'd have no problem isolating our family if we need to - or with using a saliva test if it becomes available.

It's going to be a total nightmare because I think we'll probably end up isolating multiple times, but I can't keep them off school indefinitely. Just have to hope that work is understanding

@Piixxiiee

I'm a teacher in special needs school. We sent pupils with symptoms home, then up to parents to either test or isolate. Honestly I think most of ours will isolate as I can't imagine trying to put them through such a test with the additional needs they have. But it is up to parents not the teachers/school.

Yep, I'm sure you have a good idea of how it might go down should I insist - traumatic isn't the word

I have a son who is very sensitive to thing like this, and usually I would say its OK not to do it
But I think in this instance I would want him to have the test, because its not just your own family who could be at risk, but the families of everyone in the class.
I would want to know if a child or member of a child's family in the class had covid because we could then isolate and not see elderly relatives etc

During our lives we have to have many invasive, uncomfortable and sometimes painful tests for medical reasons and we just have to grin and bare it. Even more so if it is protecting others

@fergi
HIV is not an airborne virus, so it’s not really comparable is it?

As long as you self isolate with symptoms instead, I don’t see a problem.

fergi the viruses you mention are not comparable due to mode of transfer. School do however already notify families where infectious diseases constitute a public health issue so that families can act accordingly.

@Fedup21

As long as you self isolate with symptoms instead, I don’t see a problem.

You don’t think the staff and other families deserve to know if there’s a positive case .... really?

Gosh, all of those poor souls who died and all they needed was a dose of zinc.

what do you think should happen, OP? because whilst I sympathise that it's a rotten test for children (as it stands = saliva test will hopefully make it all easier) schools need to know and families need to know. Some school staff are vulnerable. Some children in school are vulnerable. We need to know if we have been exposed to the virus. It is not up for discussion.

Yes, everyone getting tests when there are symptoms, would be the ideal.

However, schools are unable to demand children take a test and are not even allowed to ask to see a negative test before the child returns, so in all likelihood, we are going to have people with symptoms, even with actual Covid that don’t bother to get a test and just return to school saying they’ve had a negative one. We won’t be able to challenge or refuse them. We are going to have parents saying their kids are fine and don’t have any symptoms any more, giving them Calpol and sending them in. There will be people having tests done and getting false negatives because actually the tests don’t seem to be that accurate yet. We know all this, because it’s already happening.

If the OP is not going to get their child tested, the next best thing is self isolating for the full length of time.

How does that work in terms of isolating whole bubbles?

As it stands, two positive tests within a bubble can lead to the bubble and staff having to isolate for 14 days. If a child has symptoms but doesn't have a test and opts instead to isolate then will that be counted towards the two needed to consider it an outbreak?

No if they refuse to test it doesn’t count. School places should be withdrawn for those that refuse to test and put the safety of others above a short quick test.

We ask for evidence of a negative test before a child returns after showing symptoms, either that or 7 days isolation. No parent has yet refused to provide the evidence, why would you?

@Hearhoovesthinkzebras - indeed!