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AIBU?

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Original poster

Just back to school. Now home. Not tests available

334 replies

Whatdowehaveherethen · 08/09/2020 00:40

My boys went back to school last week. DS1 developed a persistent cough Friday evening. DS2 picked it up on Saturday.

There are no home tests available. I've looked every hour from 7am through to 2am since.

They can't go to school unless a negative result is given. I very much doubt I can get tests through the post. Many people on my area have the same issue.

I know I'm being unreasonable. I know!

Are people ordering tests 'just in case'?

I'm working from home and it's been horrendous. My boys were so happy to be back at school. Now I have to keep them off for a week. I'm pretty sure last Autumn term they developed the same cold/cough symptoms once they were back with their viral loaded friends. It was normal then.

I know keeping them off school is for the greater good but I have no idea how this is going to work in the long term. They constantly pick up viral infections. That's their job!

Actually, I'm not sorry, I'm just completely fucked off. Why haven't the gov made more tests available knowing our kids would be going back to school? What about the teachers?

The school have told me to 'continue to use' the online learning. This involves going out and finding leaves of difference colours etc. Fuck that.

I know the school are using a generalised online learning system but it's not practical at all.

I'm not going to complain by the way. I couldn't respect my boys teachers anymore. They're wonderful.

I'm just ranting.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
Lockheart · 08/09/2020 00:48

My housemate (teacher) had a cough last night and ordered a test this morning. We're in London. It arrives tomorrow and she should have the results by Friday.

No problems getting tests here. Maybe it's just certain areas of the country?

MomToTwoBabas · 08/09/2020 00:55

No probs getting test in the south east Midlands ordered one earlier.

Newgirl20 · 08/09/2020 00:59

Home tests are available and fine. I am a testing supervisor and it is the assisted testing that is of limited capacity currently.

mindutopia · 08/09/2020 05:35

Can you not book a walk or drive through test? Mine have been back since June between nursery, school and holiday club and have had a horrible respiratory infection this past week. I gave it to them so nothing to do with schools being back. We all had to test last week. It was very easy. Booked drive through tests and had appointments within 3 hours, results back the next day by 12 and everyone off back to school and nursery.

Brogues · 08/09/2020 06:06

Do a drive through one instead.

Can they go back with a negative result though? I though it didn’t matter they would have to isolate for showing symptoms anyway?

BiblioX · 08/09/2020 06:12

We have no home tests or mobile test centre slots available for over 150 miles!! My daughter had a runny nose and now a temperature but we’re going to have to isolate and her be off and me unable to work for a fortnight. Oh and the council won’t help (bring emergency nappies eg) unless you have actually tested positive but we CAN’T test.
YANBU.

BiblioX · 08/09/2020 06:14

The nearest available drive-through test site is 147 miles away.

StealthPolarBear · 08/09/2020 06:26

That is infuriating op.
Thank goodness for the world-beating test and trace system.

MrsMontgomerySmythe · 08/09/2020 06:34

Wow!!! We are aboard and here every child received an invite for a free drive through test before school starts and everyone returning from holiday can test too for free. Same day testing available for anyone with symptoms.

You can also get tested and pay if you don’t fit into those 2 categories. Walk in and results same day.

Am shocked tests are not readily available in the UK to all.

Danglingmod · 08/09/2020 06:34

People saying that there are tests and slots available - well , no there aren't in all areas. Some are fully booked up or run out OR the system has broken and is lying. Not much use, is it?

OP - you'll have to keep them at home for two week, not one, if you can't get a test.

TeddyIsaHe · 08/09/2020 06:35

I had the same issue, it’s so frustrating.

Apparently they release tests at 9am and 5pm, so I basically sat and refreshed the page until we got a drive in test.

LipstickTaserrr · 08/09/2020 06:41

I'm already worrying about this as I don't drive and the drive in test isn't letting people walk in. No home tests available in my area.

IgnoranceIsStrength · 08/09/2020 06:50

The government did put in guidance that there would be tests available for every school and college..but they lied as usual.

dentydown · 08/09/2020 06:52

I don’t drive and the nearest walk in one is 5 miles away. I am at the mercy of all postal tests if things go wrong! We managed to get one for my dad but it took over a week for the results to get back. By the time we got results he was out of quarantine but that was no good because he is bed bound! Rest of the house couldn’t go out or start school.

meditrina · 08/09/2020 06:53

This level of disruption when schools go back, and the need to be ready to isolate until test (and possibly full isolation period if positive) was widely foreshadowed.

Wanting schools to go back safely with full regard to risks and potential for disruption was close to heresy on MN - with accusations of not caring about DC's mental health, not wanting schools to open at all, of being stasi etc - but this situation is not just predictable, it was predicted.

Every family needs plans for a fortnight indoors on no notice.

I can see why you need to rant - it is totally frustrating to be 'back' but not back. It's a bit like the first people who were caught up when the idea (that quarantine could be imposed) turned into the reality (that it had been) - it came as a bit of a rude awakening, and definitely and infuriating jolt to those directly affected. The news was filled with stories about it - now it's only a mention of new destinations on or off the list.

We'll get used to this too, once the shock of the new subsides.

ExhaustedFlamingo · 08/09/2020 06:54

I thought long and hard and eventually decided not to send my two children back to school just yet. Our school is very tiny and cramped and although they have done absolutely all they can, as soon as one child gets it, it will spread like wildfire. I decided I just did not want to live with the constant anxiety of "is this latest sore throat/headache/temperature etc COVID".

I have quite a lot of friends who home school anyway and my two have actually flourished being away from school (even though our school is lovely). Both my two have SEN - if I tried to swab them I would have precisely zero chance of getting near them.

The return to school has been an absolute mess. No track and trace in place. Parents threatened with fines for keeping kids at home, despite evidence suggesting schools transmit the virus. Not enough tests to go around. I am really bloody lucky as I am self-employed so I have a choice. For parents that HAVE to send their kids back to school, this is just a huge pile of wank.

Potcallingkettle · 08/09/2020 06:54

Schools have just been sent a supply of 10 tests. Ours arrived late yesterday so worth going back to the school once you have tried the postal tests option again.

Morfin · 08/09/2020 06:54

Test and trace is touted as the most important thing to keep schools safe. Yet large areas can't get a test. Postal tests were available last week in my area but since the schools went back. You could not make it up.

ExhaustedFlamingo · 08/09/2020 06:55

*no "efficient" track and trace I meant to say.....

Morfin · 08/09/2020 06:56

@Potcallingkettle

Schools have just been sent a supply of 10 tests. Ours arrived late yesterday so worth going back to the school once you have tried the postal tests option again.
10! Wow the govt are really pushing the boat out.
Pobblebonk · 08/09/2020 06:57

Do a drive through one instead

Really not that easy. It's all over the news that people are being told that their nearest available drive-through slots are hours away.

Yet another failure of our "world-beating" systems.

timeforanew · 08/09/2020 07:03

No tests here either (surrey). Next test centre is in brighton, about 1.5 hours drive away...
Together with the 30-40 min for the test, that’s about 4 hours, so would need some toilet breaks etc....

Tomatoesneedtoripen · 08/09/2020 07:06

home test arrived for me quickly.

BalanceGreen · 08/09/2020 07:10

Surely the postal tests are available to everyone or no one? Might be slower, but better then sitting at home and not knowing.

Danglingmod · 08/09/2020 07:11

No, they're not. It's area dependent.