DDs school want me to COVID test her, AIBU to say no?

[mybossisaprick]

Dd, who is in primary school, has got the cold that’s been going round. She’s not too unwell in herself, and is happily playing, but she has a husky voice and a cough. She’s maybe a bit more tired than normal, but nothing that would mean she would need to stay off school. If she was unwell enough to miss school, I’d keep her off.

Her teacher pulled me aside at pickup time and asked me if she’d taken a COVID test. I said no, she hadn’t. Teacher asked me why not, and I explained that she wasn’t unwell enough to miss school, and so there was no point testing her for COVID. Teacher said that I should test her anyway, and if positive she should stay home. I explained that myself and my partner both have to work, we don’t get enough leave as it is, and whilst if DD was actually unwell in herself and couldn’t go to school, one of us could stay off with her, but since she’s not, we really don't have the resources to be taking time off. Also, I don’t have easy access to tests and I’d rather not buy a test when I don’t need to.

AIBU to tell this teacher that I wouldn’t be testing DD?

I’ve got severe long covid. Can’t get out of bed.

Thanks for the compassion.

It was brought up at the Covid enquiry today. The amount of unfilled vacancies due to long covid.

Ah yeah, you’re probably right. Because everyone knows that teachers live at school and don’t go out shopping or to other public areas where they could catch Covid from any number of members of the public…

You’re aware that the teacher could catch Covid from literally anywhere? And that any number of people around them, at any one time, could have Covid and be asymptomatic? What’s the point of asking op if she’s tested her child, when they’ve been in school all day? Does the school also have a Time Machine?

I think the scariest thing about Covid, is that it’s made lots of people lose any ability to use common sense.

Any sign of Joe Wicks yet?

Presumably those who suggest that kids be kept at hime to protect teachers are assuming that the teachers are not going anywhere in public?

Given that DDs teachers were ( quite rightfully) cheek to nose at their Christmas do in a massive hotel ballroom on Saturday night, I’d be perplexed if there was any notion of a child being tested. Luckily our school has always adopted a fairly sensible approach to Covid.

Sadly. People have forgotten that children and teenagers can and do suffer from long covid.

https://www.itv.com/news/2023-01-20/i-really-miss-school-71000-children-in-uk-suffering-from-long-covid

The risk from walking around a shopping centre or a child coughing or sneezing in your face is really not the same.

I would be asking the school’s policy on testing and what difference a positive test makes. Whether it’s just for their info gathering purposes or whether they expect your child to be excluded if they do test positive.

excluding based on a positive test result is outrageous as we now know the implications of children missing school due to covid…. Be it adhoc or lengthy lockdowns.

If the test is negative then they still clearly have some sort of virus that they’re sharing that could have a massive impact on someone who’s immuno compromised. But if they’re well enough to go into school then absolutely they should go in.

our school insist on attendance regardless we’re testing for ONS only and I sent my symptomless unvaccinated just turned 5 year old in in their request.

My experience is different. I got sent a batch of fresh tests last month from ONS. My unvaccinated symptomless son tested positive. I had sore throat, cough, migraine, fevers. And tested negative

FFS! This is ridiculous- I would flat out refuse and ignore the school!

Pretty sure my son has covid right now. High temp, cough, stomach ache, off his food.. I kept him home and when I called school up I was just asked "oh has the got the cough and high temperature?" They just day to stay off if not well enough to come in. I thought that was across the board now?

I have however ordered some tests as I would like to keep away from certain family members if it is covid

@Paperwhiteflowers that's the policy. We have no choice. And we'd still go in if we had a cold pre COVID. At least now we wear a mask if we have a bug.

I would assume someone own the class is considered particularly vulnerable.

You are aware that absolving yourself from feeling any guilt or taking any responsibility for your actions by using this excuse does not actually mean other people will agree with it?
You have a moral responsibility to try not to pass on Covid. It is dangerous. It kills people. It causes long covid which is a recognised disability. It destroys lives.
If you knowingly do so, you are totally in the wrong. I don’t think there’s any defence for it. Covid can literally kill people!
I think the pandemic has revealed some people’s true colours. Not a care for others, just themselves.
The problem there though, is that long covid hits after any infection and we are all vulnerable. You might feel differently about this ‘dilemma’ if you or a loved one do not recover from your next infection, or the one after that, or the one after that…you get the idea.
Read the data just released from Canada. 38% of people left with long covid after infection #3. This will not end well.

I think some posters are glossing over the fact flu kills people. Noro virus kills vulnerable people.
Keep hand hygiene going but otherwise we all need to get on with living. Otherwise there will be unintended consequences

My DH is just starting chemo in preparation for a bone marrow transplant, we don’t expect other people to keep their kids off school. Ours are full of bugs and germs right now. It’s impossible to shield from everything so we try not to stress about it.

Because I am immunosuppressed and a) the vaccine doesn’t work as well and b) I can’t fight off infection in the same way as someone who isn’t.

There are so many colds and viruses around, Covid is not special. We just have to get on with it. The world stopped for nearly two years! If the panickers had their way we would be locked down to this day.

My comment was about the nurses going to work with covid.

I’m sure it is and I’m not blaming you personally. Good to hear you are wearing masks if you are unwell but it makes me nervous when I have to go to hospital as patients are still catching it when there. I would like the more vulnerable patients to be somewhat more protected.

But, that’s false. Just because you choose not to try and understand Covid why must other people have to suffer because of your wilful ignorance?

What's false? That there are other colds apart from Covid? The point is that the world has moved on, and this school doesn't seem to have got the message. People on this thread can bleat all they want. We are now four years in and nobody is worrying about Covid any more.

All your posts show is that have no understanding of Covid. Comparing it to a cold demonstrates your lack of knowledge. No amount of insults towards others who do understand the risks will hide your ignorance.

Well l am.

Long covid is kind of shit really. And l don’t want to get covid on top of long covid really. You know, because I’m so incredibly unwell now…..

So yeah, I’m fucking worried all the time.

That can't be good for your mental health at all. Being in a constant state of anxiety and high alert is probably worse for the body than Covid, particularly as mild as it has got now. I had Covid twice and it was a slight inconvenience, I can't fathom getting so het up about it.

But I’m not in a state of high anxiety. So it’s not that. Nor am l on high alert.

Im too tired to be either of those things. I just don’t have a life. Because Covid’s just a cold or nobody cares anymore.