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 😱.

@MrsWhites exactly my view, absolutely ridiculous to continue isolating after a negative test

Why bother getting a test then if you need to isolate anyway? I thought the point of the test was that if it was negative you go back to normal.

I am having a nightmare booking a test at the moment. Last Friday, my son had runny nose and temperature went up to 37.9. I decided to keep him home (i working from home since lockdown), let the school know and tried to book covid test over the weekend. No luck at all. My my son's temperature was cooling down and today Monday morning it's normal (as at his age). School didn't allow him in and asked to get him tested. I've tried and tried, phone and online. There was a mobile unit not far away from us, when i get to the point to book an appointment, it said ther're x slots available but nothing shown for me to book. I think i just decided to give up getting him tested. If everytime he's got a cold, it's like this, it will be a complete nightmare for parents. It's so frustrating.