To think that if testing in secondary is optional there's no point?

[FitbitCat]

We've just had a message from our head letting us know the school testing is optional and we will need to register our children if we want them tested. Surely this means the irresponsible families will just not register nor take part and there becomes little point to the whole exercise?

Who is administering these tests?

Surely this means the irresponsible families will just not register nor take part and there becomes little point to the whole exercise?

For clarification, I am a teacher. I will not be consenting to testing until it is clear to me that it is being carried out by qualified and insured medical professionals with a DBS to boot. I will not conspire with the government to ensure my colleagues in another school are forced into close contact with potentially covid positive people on a daily basis. I am happy for my children to self isolate if required instead.

@1Morewineplease

The trouble is... so many parents feel that testing is 'traumatising' that so many children will go untested. Kind of defeats the object which is to trace and contain. For this reason alone, the pandemic will continue for far longer than it needs to.

Actually keeping children in school who have been in close contact with a case and then testing them daily will case more spread. The chain of transmission will also never be broken.

@ProfessorInkling

Who is administering these tests?

Any Tom, Dick or Harry who volunteers, school staff simply don't have the capacity.

There's no telling how my ASD teen will react. She's pretty stoic if she's calm and knows what to expect. Less so if it's noisy, busy and she feels anxious.

As far as I know, they don’t have to consent to being tested. However if there is a positive case in their bubble and they can’t or won’t do the testing then they will have to isolate for the ten days.

@Isthatitnow

Also a teacher and completely agree with you!

@Swishswish26

As far as I know, they don’t have to consent to being tested. However if there is a positive case in their bubble and they can’t or won’t do the testing then they will have to isolate for the ten days.

Fine by me, I would rather that then the endless testing cycle that could occur with these tests.

@Tyranttoddler

Most families will take part in the testing I would imagine.

I actually don’t think they will.

The lateral flow tests have been widely criticised in the press. They are less than 50% accurate, are invasive to do, will either be implemented by the child themselves or a non-DBS checked volunteer and replace self-isolation for close contacts and family members of a positive test.

I am a teacher and will not be giving consent for my DC to be tested with these inaccurate tests. If they come into contact with a positive case, they will self-isolate like they would now.

The rapid tests only pick up 50% of positive cases (at best). It’s dangerous because it will give everyone a false sense of security.

The lateral flow test is a spit test, I think. The accuracy is a big problem as the whole idea was to be able to not have to isolate close contacts. The reliability looks fairly shocking...

www.newscientist.com/article/2263746-test-caught-just-3-per-cent-of-students-with-covid-19-at-uk-university/

I can't see how this isn't just going to add to the chaos.

@FitbitCat

The lateral flow test is a spit test, I think. The accuracy is a big problem as the whole idea was to be able to not have to isolate close contacts. The reliability looks fairly shocking...

www.newscientist.com/article/2263746-test-caught-just-3-per-cent-of-students-with-covid-19-at-uk-university/

I can't see how this isn't just going to add to the chaos.

It’s a nose and throat swab.

I’m really unsure. I had Covid earlier this month, followed by dd2 and dh. Dd1 didn’t display the main symptoms so she didn’t get tested, but I would say it’s unlikely that she didn’t get it as well. The three of us who tested positive can’t be tested now for 3 months because we are likely to test positive despite not being infectious. They are introducing routine testing for me at work so I can’t therefore take part; and I can’t consent for dd2 to be tested at school. My dilemma is what to do about dd1 - if she tests positive then we’ll all have to isolate for 10 days, but it’s more than likely to be from the old infection. Morally she should take part but it’s not easy to know what to do.

People quoting the reliability of the lateral flow test have their facts incorrect. Please do check this as they are more effective than is being widely spread here.

Of course it’s optional. You cannot force someone to have a medical procedure or test.

@Chaotic45

People quoting the reliability of the lateral flow test have their facts incorrect. Please do check this as they are more effective than is being widely spread here.

Ash yes the "I'll tell everyone they are wrong, but won't post the evidence that says so."

50% 99% 1% whatever I still won't consent to this as it allows for children who have caught covid from a peer to mingle freely until they have a positive test.

@Chaotic45

People quoting the reliability of the lateral flow test have their facts incorrect. Please do check this as they are more effective than is being widely spread here.

These tests?

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9078417/amp/Rapid-Covid-tests-used-Operation-Moonshot-CAUSE-outbreaks-schools.html

And if you are not happy with the DM try The Guardian. www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/22/plans-for-30-minute-covid-lateral-flow-tests-in-england-halted-over-accuracy-fears

@supersonicginandtonic

My 11 year old would not cope with the tests. I'd rather have him isolating than put him through the trauma of testing.

It's not traumatic, is it?

@stanlet It's not traumatic, is it?

Obviously never had one yourself, or tried to administer a test on an 11 year old eh?

@Isthatitnow teacher here too and I won't be consenting either. We live a very quiet life outside of school and so my children will definitely not be returning to school with Covid. The tests are lacking in reliability anyway and there is no way a quickly trained teacher will be conducting the test on them.

Lots of disinformation here. The children will administer their own tests under supervision. Anyone who has been in contact and doesn't want to have the test will need to isolate for 10 days.

Teacher. These tests will make schools LESS safe because close contacts will be tested with these inaccurate tests instead of self isolating. Ridiculous!

I will not be consenting to testing until it is clear to me that it is being carried out by qualified and insured medical professionals with a DBS to boot.

Yes, I feel the same way.

Stanlet - for some children, very much so. I sat in a drive thru test centre for 40 mins with my distraught child trying to get the test done.