to not want to be part of the school team carrying out Covid tests on students?

[FastAbsorbing]

I have NC for this just in case.
I work in a secondary school but I am not a teacher, I work in support. Back to work today, there are heavy hints about becoming part of the team that will be doing the lateral covid test on students.
Time-wise, I can do this as my job is dependant on students being there. However, I don't feel comfortable doing this as I feel it exposes my to the risk of infection which I could potentially bring home to my own children.
Am I being silly, in that there's no risk in performing these tests and I should just get on with it to help out?
Where do I stand with this?

I don't think you should be guilted into doing this at all. I am not against the testing....I am against schools being forced to do this. And having people pushed into roles they never signed up for and are uncomfortable doing.

(I am happy to test my own kids, or to take them elsewhere for testing but really don't think it should be the responsibility of the school to do this.)

I volunteered but wasn't needed as we had such a huge response from parents, many of whom are NHS or Military, lots of airline staff too (who have some medical training), I am just a mum, so way down the list. I filled out the consent form this week, and as long as school receives the lft's then they are all systems go for this week and additionally the weekend.

I wouldn’t do it on principle. The tests fail to detect the majority of positive cases, and they are intended to replace self-isolation of positive contacts.

The tests are so shite you may as well flip a coin! Total waste of everyone's time!

We (care home) have them and families are now expecting to be granted entry off the basis of a test which has failed to identify many positive cases but does identify coca cola as positive for the virus! We've had to say no as it's just too dangerous and the risk to our residents is too high. Just another example of the government being more than happy to kill older people.

Thank you everyone for your replies. I am 50/50. Does testing mean testing everyday?

I don't know about schools but they're trying to make us do these twice a week plus weekly staff testing with the normal tests. Like we can magic staff out our arses!

@FastAbsorbing

It's not that I don't want to help, I do, it's just that I don't know if I want to get involved in something that would add extra risk to my own family, but maybe it won't, I don't know. PPE and training will be provided. Would you do it?

No I wouldnt do it, no ifs or buts, just NO

I have issues with medical stuff, my anxiety would be visable to students and im not a trained medical professional who is used to that kind of thing

My mum is a sendco and deputy head and has been asked to (and her team ) to coordinate testing despite her pointing out they are paid to support those vulnerable, disabled and low income students etc. Also my dad, multiple sisters all fairly younger than me and me (even though I don't live there anymore) have severe asthma, lung conditions other underlying health and mental health issues etc and she really will be putting us at risk by doing so. Not only that I am now a vaccinator and have swabbed. The swabs can be so easily void through multiple errors including blood on the specimen , not going far enough etc, so to have the kids doing it is ludicrous. Also the government are blatantly trying to shift blame to the NHS by making comments like ' if the vaccination timeframe succeeds' the timeframe they have given is verging on impossible and setting not only the country up for unrealistic expectations, but the NHS up for failure.

YANBU to feel uncomfortable, but ultimately everyone has reasons they (understandably) feel anxious about the virus - I think it’s a bit hypocritical to say someone else can just do it - your anxiety doesn’t outweigh there’s! If I had school age children I’d volunteer in a heartbeat. Having had a test myself it’s not difficult, just mildly uncomfortable, and no medical expertise is required to supervise someone swabbing themselves. I’d imagine most of the role would be giving instruction and preparing equipment/collecting them afterwards? Have you asked?

I wouldn’t do it personally.

@WaterOffADucksCrack

I don't know about schools but they're trying to make us do these twice a week plus weekly staff testing with the normal tests. Like we can magic staff out our arses!

Snap. We are being tested 3 times a week as well as being busier than ever.

And I volunteered at my daughters school and then work told me we were not allowed.