DH and covid

[Nahgiem]

DH has it and has locked himself away from the rest of us. He's now saying our 6 y.o. will need to be tested before we could allow them to school tomorrow (first day back after holidays). I disagree - I have followed every rule all the way through so I checked current guidance which is not to test kids even with symptoms, unless a doctor advises it. DC doesn't even have symptoms. I think it's a waste of time (and one of our last tests) since I'd send them anyway as they're healthy. He thinks a positive test (with no symptoms) still means we'd keep them off school all week.

I'm all for keeping people safe so I'm slightly conflicted, but tend to go with guidance which would be no test and send in regardless as a healthy child shouldn't be missing their education.

YABU - do the test and keep off school if positive
YANBU - no testing and school as usual

I must have missed that but like my other post says they question about if she is in England was because different nations of the UK have different rules.

Shocked anyone would actually consider sending a child into school knowing they are carrying an infectious disease irrespective of what it is.

Exactly. But we live in an inherently selfish society, as evidenced by this thread.

Testing should only be undertaken if directed to by a health professional. That's what the guidance says.

Therefore a child who presents as fit and healthy would not be directed to be tested for COVID.

Local authorities put out massive campaigns encouraging children to be sent to school with sniffles and coughs to keep up attendance.

Parents are damned if they do and damned if they don't.

@Discovereads but the child has no symptoms and is completely fine. Jeez the hysteria on this thread is laughable

I see no hysteria; just a calm exchange of views. Use of that word is often a (misogynistic) means by which to attempt to shut down people's opinions.

Can't you just call the school and ask them their own COVID guidelines?

Why can't you just phone the school, and you know...just... erm.... t-a-l-k ....to them?? What's the actual big deal here? Does nobody use a bit of initiative anymore?

@LuckyLil I'm not an idiot, believe it or not. I'm aware of how to use a phone. Schools were not open over the weekend and our office is currently (or always) understaffed and someone is at the desk sporadically from 9 onwards, so IF I got through on the phone this morning, she would already have been late. I need to try and speak to them this week about something else anyway, so will ask about the policies whenever I get a hold of them. But DH will still need to be convinced, if they say to send her in when positive!

But the section of the UKHSA guidance that applies to the OPs situation is the section about if you have a household member currently positive for and sick with Covid. That’s what logically you should follow. And sending a child into school per normal is the opposite of the direction to limit close contact with other people outside your household, especially in crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces is it not?

Sending them to school like normal is not limiting contact one bit. It’s not even an attempt to follow the guidance. It’s not limiting close contact with other people outside your household in the enclosed environment of a school during autumn/winter when it is fairly crowded at 30 people to a room and no windows are open…

You keep thinking the section of the guidance that applies is the one about whether a child has symptoms or not. This section is meant to be for a household where no one is currently ill & covid positive.

And it’s not “hysteria” to point out that you haven’t quite got the guidance right for the OPs situation.

But the schools expect the children in regardless with no testing? Pretty sure that's clear in the uk gov guidance to be fair I'll have to have a look cos that's been the actual rules for a while now

@Looneytune253
Not all of them do. My DDs school had no qualms about DD staying home the week I was sick with Covid. (Ambulance paramedics had tested me on a Sunday night as my DH had called 111 as I was quite poorly with it).

@Looneytune253
That was Oct 2nd, just a few weeks ago. So not 2020 😉

This is the current guidance

No it’s not. You need to read further until you get to

“What to do if you are a close contact of someone who has had a positive test result for COVID-19

People who live in the same household as someone with COVID-19 are at the highest risk of becoming infected because they are most likely to have prolonged close contact. People who stayed overnight in the household of someone with COVID-19 while they were infectious are also at high risk.

If you are a household or overnight contact of someone who has had a positive COVID -19 test result it can take up to 10 days for your infection to develop. It is possible to pass on COVID-19 to others, even if you have no symptoms.

You can reduce the risk to other people by taking the following steps:

avoid contact with anyone you know who is at higher risk of becoming severely unwell if they are infected with COVID-19, especially those whose immune system means they are at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19, despite vaccination

limit close contact with other people outside your household, especially in crowded, enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces*

wear a well-fitting face covering made with multiple layers or a surgical face mask if you do need to have close contact with other people, or you are in a crowded place

wash your hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitiser

If you develop symptoms of a respiratory infection try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people and follow the guidance for people with symptoms.”

www.gov.uk/guidance/people-with-symptoms-of-a-respiratory-infection-including-covid-19#what-to-do-if-you-have-symptoms-of-a-respiratory-infection-including-covid-19-and-have-not-taken-a-covid-19-test

@Looneytune253
I had already posted that on page2 of the thread to you. Here it is for a 3rd time as a screen shot

Why are you thinking that guidance which applies to children with symptoms applies to the OPs situation of a child with no symptoms and a DH who is currently sick with a + covid test?

The header for the guidance you posted literally says:

When children and young people with symptoms should stay at home and when they can return to education

Yes but it also specifically states children should go to school as normal if they live in a household with someone positive. It also says even with minor symptoms they should go to school.

Made it easy for you. That's quite clear cut. This has been the actual advice for a while. It's from the same document you're looking at and describes the situation perfectly

Well then the guidance is conflicting. Typical for the government.

Ha ha.

Try and be part of a leadership team navigating a school through the ever changing COVID guidance since 2020. Then you'll really know the meaning of conflicting!

Yep, I do empathise with you on this. Must be frustrating.

The governance throughout covid has been appalling. So many instances of legislation and guidance being contradictory or changed at the last minute. To that end I've always had some sympathy for people who just weren't sure.

So what the advice is not to test. Test to protect others. I am a teacher and despite advice I test. If I have it a d pass it on potentially coukd lead to tear groups sent home if staff shortages. Just because legislation does not say we have to test it doesnt mean that this is responsible advice.

Apologies for typos