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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
thereplycamefromanchorage · 08/09/2020 08:41

@drspouse At the drive in centre we went to, the test was done by a worker - not ourselves.

Tomatoesneedtoripen · 08/09/2020 08:43

are schools demanding tests?
the children havent been at school for so long, they will pick up colds so easily.

Tomatoesneedtoripen · 08/09/2020 08:43

in fact those who havent been out and about will pick up colds easily, regardless of age

LunchBoxPolice · 08/09/2020 08:43

I’m in the same situation op. Ds has what I think is just a cold but I’ve kept him home from school today. Can’t order a postal test or a drive through test, and the 119 number just cuts me off.
Frustrating.

drspouse · 08/09/2020 08:44

[quote thereplycamefromanchorage]@drspouse At the drive in centre we went to, the test was done by a worker - not ourselves.[/quote]
My DH had one done for a medical appointment and that was the case but when I had a cough I had to do mine. So you can't always avoid doing your own by going to a centre.

CasperGutman · 08/09/2020 08:44

Go back to your school, all schools have had a supply of 10 tests sent to them for people in the same situation as you - they should give you one.

Worth a try. If I were a school though, I sure as hell wouldn't give out my last couple, or at least not while people are having so much trouble getting hold of test kits. I'd want to keep at least one or two in case a critical staff member had to isolate (the head? The caretaker?).

thereplycamefromanchorage · 08/09/2020 08:45

Schools rightly expect a test if children have coronavirus symptoms. Obviously this may mean children with colds get tested as many will get a cough/temp with this. We just got DC tested - pretty sure it was a cold, but they also have a bad cough.

drspouse · 08/09/2020 08:46

@wegetthejobdone

I was just able to book a home test kit although the system didn't seem to understand I was booking for a child.
I had to ring up to book DS test as it couldn't confirm his identity online.
Mydarlingsleepthief · 08/09/2020 08:46

Same position here, 3 kids and no tests available locally.

Bexicles83 · 08/09/2020 08:47

I have now bee in waiting 5 days for my result - I can’t go to work - my daughter can’t go to nursery - I’ve called countless times. Now the call centre just cuts you off. It’s a shambles no wonder we are an international joke.

flameprincess · 08/09/2020 08:51

I'm in the West Midlands and just went to look at the test site out of interest. Showing my nearest available as in Oldham (70 miles drive away). Yet a quick Google tells me there are 10 testing centres within 10 miles of my house.

The Google list also shows 'appointment required' by some test centres and not others - so does this mean some you can just turn up like PP have said? If that's the case shouldn't this be more widely advertised rather than the NHS site telling me to drive to Oldham?

fatgirlslimmer · 08/09/2020 08:51

@drspouse I must be a wimp, or the nurse that did mine was particularly vigorous Grin

LolaSmiles · 08/09/2020 08:52

Worth a try. If I were a school though, I sure as hell wouldn't give out my last couple, or at least not while people are having so much trouble getting hold of test kits. I'd want to keep at least one or two in case a critical staff member had to isolate (the head? The caretaker?).
That's my understanding of it too.

To my knowledge there's lots of students isolating and waiting for tests in lots of schools because the government testing programme is chaotic.

Schools will probably be using their tests to get enough staff back into school.

drspouse · 08/09/2020 08:53

@fatgirlslimmer there are a lot of vigorous nurses out there I suspect.

ErinBrockovich · 08/09/2020 08:54

Actually, I'm not sorry, I'm just completely fucked off

SAME! DC had a slightly restless night, check her temperature this morning, it’s raised.
She’s well in herself but I know this means I have to order a test.
Go online.
Nearest testing centre is 1hour 15mins away and they have no appointments available today. The next 2 ‘closest’ test centres have no appointments available today. By closest we are taking 126 miles.
So I’ve tried to order one through the post. That’s going to take 48 hours to arrive.
And I’m guessing 48 hours to get the result. So I now have everyone at home because my youngest DC isn’t allowed to go to nursery while we await a CV test result.

How the hell am I supposed to work?! I have 2 DC under 6 at home. DH is WFH in the office. I’m fucked. The world is fucked.

And the icing on the cake?! School are going to inform the parents of my child’s class that ‘a child is showing symptoms of coronavirus’. Because she has a temperature this morning. They’ll all know it’s her because she’ll be the only one not in class today.

Absolute Madness.

Hereinthesticks · 08/09/2020 08:54

I predicted this and wrote to my MP expressing concern that the number of people needing tests when schools went back would be massive and did the government have enough capacity. He wrote back personally saying yes, there were plans and preparation.
All total rubbish of course. This government is really tight with money when it comes to preparation and planning and buying things in advance. It would rather wait until they know there are shortages then scrabble around to buy whatever rubbish is still available for sale after other more-prepared countries have bought up stocks (e.g. PPE, tests at the start of the pandemic). This refusal to pay money on things that don't generate tax revenue or benefit their donors is the opposite of the money spent on helping people have half price meals out for August.
The testing app that decides someone in north Devon can easily pop across the sea to south Wales for a test is just another example of incompetence. And that's before we even start to wonder where our mobile phone tracing app is at in its development, which other countries have had for months.

Iwantacookie · 08/09/2020 08:54

I've tried to google a couple of times where my nearest test centre is. Just in case.
My nearest one seems to be an hour drive away. Which is ok if I'm well enough to drive but what if I'm not? It seems madness my "local" one is an hour away when they can set up a breast clinic in the local supermarket carpark.

Teateaandmoretea · 08/09/2020 08:56

It sounds like the OP has not tried to get a home test kit.

So all of the people on this thread who say they couldn’t get one are lying or do you think they are just too thick to fill the form in? 🙄.

YANBU at all OP. You should be able to get a test if you need one.

Hereinthesticks · 08/09/2020 08:57

And it is so sad for those children who waiting months to resume their education and are now stuck at home for 2 weeks, in all likelihood not having coronavirus, but having no way to demonstrate that either way.
We were promised that other sectors of the economy would close so that virus numbers would stay low so that schools would reopen safely. that also has not happened and therefore must be considered to have been a lie.

SleepingStandingUp · 08/09/2020 08:59

I can't get a test in the West Mids, I don't drive, totally feel your pain OP

Hereinthesticks · 08/09/2020 09:01

@fatgirlslimmer I think the nurses feel it is better to get a good sample rather than an inadequate sample that is inconclusive. Also worth knowing that this is not the only type of test available. The government just has not bought the quick, reliable, pain-free, non-invasive test that are available. And when it does, it will give them to the aviation industry so that people can jet off to the sun or skiing for a week or two, instead of giving them to the NHS or families so that hospitals are safer or pupils can get less disrupted education.

Fennelandlovage · 08/09/2020 09:04

Urgently trying to get on for me and my 12 yo. No home tests and being offered test site 25miles away. I feel wretched and can’t drive that far. Dc at home after just 3 days back at school. So frustrating! London area here.

DirtyNumbAngel · 08/09/2020 09:06

Hi OP
I don't know what area you are in but my local drive-through test centre is not on the national database. Check your local council website there may be one closer to you.
Hope your DC feel better soon.

FrolickingLemon · 08/09/2020 09:07

I'm in the same boat. DD (8) has woken up with a temp and a scratchy throat. I think it will likely develop into her usual tonsillitis. 4 fucking days back it took. And she was loving it too. After having a really anxious time last year. Can't get a home test. Can't get a test nearby (website originally told me there were 38 slots available in the next 5 days at my mobile site 2.8 miles away. Yay!! Nope... ) Looks like I'm going to be spending my days trying to book a test but obviously always had in the back of my mind that we would be looking at up to 14 days off every time this happened. Lost my job due to Covid anyway, so hey ho. At least I don't need to take time off!

Clockticktock · 08/09/2020 09:07

About a month ago I took DC for a test as he had a cough. Booked it, went along an hour later just down the road and had the results that evening. I was very impressed! Last week they both had a cold and cough again went to book a test and no test sites for 100 miles and no postal tests available. I think it is definitely demand has gone up since schools went back! So that's days off school/work how is that going to work when loads of people are in the same boat??