COVID test every time your child has a cough

[Jenbot78]

Hi, has anyone else been in this position? DD (3) has been back at the childminders for 5 weeks now. She has already had a snotty nose and cough for which we got a COVID test which was negative. We had to get another one last night as she again had a cough.

I understand why we need to do this (to stop spread) but it is SO disruptive! It affects both mine and DHs work as we can’t go back until we get the test results!

Turnaround was less than 24 hours last time but that still meant juggling work around.

Yesterday’s test was a nightmare as DD got wise to what we needed to do (last time PP on the ipad distracted enough...)

I’m just interested in other people’s experiences when their children have developed coughs and snotty nose?

I feel winter term will be a nightmare if every time there is a new cough we have to self isolate until we get test results! My son will be starting childcare so I don’t know what we’ll do as I remember DD being perpetually ill in that first year 😱.

My DC seem to have coughs and colds all winter. DH and I are both teachers so one of us is going to have to be covered every time our children cough so we can go and get them tested. Staff cover is already a nightmare for September.

I think the point of testing is so that everyone can go back as soon as the test is negative. There is no point in having the testing system if people have to continue to isolate. However, I hope they get somewhere with the idea of a saliva test. I already had to take one of my DC to a drive-through testing centre and it is near-impossible to carry out the swab test effectively on a child if you are not a trained professional.

For school to work, a negative test has to mean being able to return to school. For older children sitting exams in 2021 or studying for exams in 2022, they cannot be missing 1-2 weeks of school sitting at home when an accurate and quick testing system could reduce this to 1 day.
School is not just childcare, it is enabling older children to gain the qualifications they need to succeed in life. The alternative is lack of qualifications and a struggle in life.
I will be asking my MP about the need to increase testing availability and invest in more accurate testing.
By way of comparison, I know someone who flew out of the Philippines recently - every single passenger got tested at the airport and got a result back within 3 hours before boarding. It is possible to manage this virus better than the UK.

Lots of teachers will be off too either for testing or to look after children that are getting tested (or multiple times a few days apart from each child when one catches a cold from another). Unless we get an immediate result test I can’t see things being easy this winter unfortunately.

Children as in their own, not where they work!

Hopefully testing will be much quicker by September...

Why would a school require students/staff to isolate even with a negative test result when that's not even expected of people who work in close contact with vulnerable people like care workers and doctors? Our DD is a toddler with asthma so winter will be fun...! She's already had one covid test in hospital when she got a fever whilst there which was clearly the result of another specific infection. As soon as the negative was back, HCP DH was back at work.

The Government guidance says this:

if someone tests negative, if they feel well and no longer have symptoms similar to coronavirus (COVID-19), they can stop self-isolating. They could still have another virus, such as a cold or flu – in which case it is still best to avoid contact with other people until they are better. Other members of their household can stop self-isolating.

Well with about 30% false negatives.
But also logically if we all keep them off 7 days to recover from even a cold
1 might stop rest of class getting it
2 teacher getting it
3 cost of tests stop testing getting overwhelmed
4 you get more seriously ill if you have covid and another bug

Our old school used to have a 24hr free from fever, and free from pain relief rule about returning from illness. I would totally support that. The bit I have an issue with is an none symptomatic sibling being required to stay at home for 14 days despite a negative test from their brother/sister. That, personally, is a step too far.

Surely if the classrooms are safe for coronavirus, they shouldn't be catching colds and flu?

@Newjez

Surely if the classrooms are safe for coronavirus, they shouldn't be catching colds and flu?

I believe (but don’t hold me to it) that folds and flu can be airborne but coronavirus, although has research suggesting it is too, isn’t officially classed as being airborne yet it’s about the droplets. But I’m not a scientist and someone may be able to add more about this.

Surely if the classrooms are safe for coronavirus, they shouldn't be catching colds and flu?

If hygiene measures are applied by most of the population most of the time then the amount of other communicable disease will also go down, yes.

What I don’t understand is how schools expect the child who had to isolate for 7 days to get to school in the second week whilst the rest of the household still have to isolate according to their guidance (from our school and others judging by this thread). I just don’t think they have thought it through.

Imagine the conversation with your employer - DS has tested negative but school still want me to isolate for 14 days so I won’t be in work! I don’t think too many employers would be impressed with that!

I was wondering this... I work in a school and generally cough from nov-jan 😣

I know our workplace have said anyone with a cough will be sent home.

😬

We had this with nursery- my son had a slight temp for less than an hour so I didn't want to test him. They said 7 days for him without test and 14 for us. They did say they would take him in if someone else took him though??!!! Hardly likely someone will go to a covid infected household to collect someone 7 days away from a positive test is it?! I did test in the end as am a keyworker- negative.

Also worried about time off work for testing my 2 little ones as I'm a teacher too. Other staff with kids are using grandparents etc and I reckon they will just ignore mild symptoms. Anyone know if time off to get test results for family etc is paid or unpaid for school staff?

It is airborne otherwise the recent study which apparently found people with visors on caught it but mask wearers didnt wouldnt have worked like that.
Also countries with masks are doing better.

All our handwashing didnt stop the peak did it?

I think we get paid 6 child dependency days an academic year!

Most front line workers... those on covid wards , are wearing masks and visors

I don’t think you can say it is airborne... that’s your view.

The thing to remember is that this isn't a school or childcare setting policy. It comes from the government guidance - don't blame the school for implementing what the government has told them to do:

"if someone tests negative, if they feel well and no longer have symptoms similar to coronavirus (COVID-19), they can stop self-isolating. They could still have another virus, such as a cold or flu – in which case it is still best to avoid contact with other people until they are better. Other members of their household can stop self-isolating."

(This is slightly confusing in the guidance, because there is an earlier section of the guidance that reads slightly differently. However, if a child has a temperature, is tested, is negative, and temperature returns to normal, they can return to school. If they have a cough, test is negative and the cough disappears, they can return to school. however, the child needs to isolate if the test is negative but they still have the symptoms.)

If teenagers learn they can have 2 weeks off school if they have coughing fit, schools are going to be empty. They’ll have to let them back after a negative test!

Also the guidance says a “new” cough - so I’ll start coughing with the first winter cold and then keep going till spring, but I only have to isolate with the original illness.

I am a childminder and certainly intend to be strict on sending home every cough and temperature - don't care if parents say it's teething or just cold.

It is going to be difficult, for everyone, but it's the way it has to be.

Honestly I’m dreading it and don’t know how I’ll cope/afford even the basics if my salary is dropped to statutory sick pay.

Weve been told that even a negative covid test will result in exclusion from school for a week for a child with symptoms (so temperature, cough....) PLUS 2 weeks for any siblings

on what basis? That's not what other people are doing - negative test means you can go back to work.