How many tests /isolations do you think you will need by half term?

[Keepdistance]

In April dd2 had a temp by the saturday after half term

By Apr we would have had about 5 tests as a family

In 2019 sept to dec
We would again have had at least 5.

Also people tend not to get symtoms on the same day so for eg in dec dd2 got a temp mon then by thurs i had a fever then dd2 a cough. So even if dd2 tested neg so could have gone back by thurs then i would have to get tested and us all be back isolating. And potentially 4 trips to testing centres
The gov will run out of tests and bubbles will continue.

Well youngest is starting reception after being off preschool since March, oldest starting secondary. So I expect to test a lot or have them all home a lot.

We will have to isolate a lot as no way dd will tolerate a test. We can't always get her to have a flu vaccination or even calpol when she's ill - she's autistic.

Schools will have a few tests, but only about 10.

Each school were given -10 which i think are not replaced

@Keepdistance

Will supply really go in if teacher SI?

The issue is KW wont be able to work if we run out of tests.
So teachers etc will be off the 14d if their kid has a cough/temp

Well it is what it is. People will have to test/isolate as many times as is necessary.

@lockdownalli

Let's be honest, it's going to be constant disruptions and the number of cases will climb again.

There will be children who think it's a great idea to !have a cough and feel awful," knowing they can get plenty of time off school once the novelty wears off!

I hope schools have sufficient budget for the amount of supply teachers they will need with teachers having to isolate too.

Fraid not in most cases.

And they aren't getting extra funding for things such as sanitiser etc.

Everyone will do their best to help and I suspect TAs will step up massively to teach classes where needed.

We’ve already done one set and not started yet.

For those worried about getting tested quickly and not driving, they are building a walk in test centre near me. Hopefully there will be more of them.

P1 in Scotland, probably 1 a week between my 2 DC.

Have already had 2 tests in 2 and a half weeks, there's a few colds doing the rounds already!

I normally get a few coughs during the autumn and winter so I’m expecting to test a couple of times. I’m assuming children have to stay off whilst I’d be waiting for test results.

Does anyone know how supply teaching will work. Surely they could be carrying the virus between bubbles in different schools?

My son suffers with anaemia, and along with this suffers with high temperatures frequently (prone to catching viruses). There have been times before where he had been sent home from nursery every week over several weeks (highest being 6 weeks). No other symptoms other than high temp. Once he had returned well, he would be there for a couple of days then high temp returned. So if this is the pattern we are going along, he will only be at school for a few days per half term which then means my daughter will miss school too. I'm prepared for this but it just means them potentially missing a lot of schooling in school. My son is entering reception so it is an important year for him, I'm just worried that this will have an impact on his settling into school and making new friends.

My school age DC weren't ill like OP described. Not ill with those kind of symptoms as often I mean.

I suppose nursery or young preschool age, yes, could be ill in that kind of pattern. But not at age 4+.

Youngest school age DC now in high school so I doubt we'll have any isolations or tests in rest of 2020.

My adult teen DD is our weak link, and she is tested weekly bc of her work, so she's our canary, really.

Prob none

Every couple months I get a bad cold from say sept to March

I have cold now, mild temp and horrendous runny nose but it’s a cold and I will not be covid testing every time I get a cold

Temp on its own or in conjunction with other covid symptoms yes but not if it’s very obviously a cold or other infection

I expect most wont but those who are paranoid about virus will test for everyone else and every few weeks

Dc get bad colds in December and if they present as a cold - temp and runny nose they won’t be tested either as per achool policy

But if they present with covid symptoms then I will

@Vinoonasunnyday totally agree, so many will test with the wrong symptoms. I hope schools operate with some common sense and don’t start insisting that every child with a runny nose is tested. I certainly won’t be testing my children in those circumstances!

some people will I bet

There’s already people all over Mumsnet who go against guidance and test for Cold symptoms ‘because some kids do present as a cold’

But that’s not the guidance thankfully so schools shouldn’t be making their own rules up - hopefully!

Whilst I woildn't necessarily get a test for a common cold, a temp is a symptom.

If your child has a temp you need to get them tested and / or isolate your household for 14 days (if no negative test).

I can't imagine any school would say to not test and attend for a temp even if accompanied by a runny nose.

No thats not right

A temp alone would suggest covid (or with cough etc)

A temp and runny nose suggests a cold!
Same was if you had a temp with cystitis or ear infection you wouldn’t be expected to covid test

This over reaction is why it’ll be hard for people to get tests this winter

Scotland have already had to remind people of what symptoms do and don’t require testing as their test facilities became overwhelmed when schools returned there.

Schools need to be given clear guidance to pass on to parents. I imagine some schools will be overzealous in encouraging testing.

@Vinoonasunnyday

No thats not right

A temp alone would suggest covid (or with cough etc)

A temp and runny nose suggests a cold!
Same was if you had a temp with cystitis or ear infection you wouldn’t be expected to covid test

This over reaction is why it’ll be hard for people to get tests this winter

Please read the guidelines.

Its not about overreacting. A runny nose is one thing, a runny nose and a fever needs testing.

I would hope they’re sensible

Kids get colds all the time

Hardly anyone has covid so it shouldn’t be the default diagnosis it’s crazy

So teachers etc will be off the 14d if their kid has a cough/temp

I'm already fretting about this. DH and I are both teachers. DD1 gets everything going. I cough for most of every winter, ever since I suffered a bad bout of bronchitis when I was younger. I just foresee several days off for testing and waiting for results. SLT can never manage to hide their annoyance if you take time off and there's no money for supply so my poor TA has to cover, which means I have to spend hours planning in minute detail things that are manageable for her to teach.

No it doesn’t 🙈 No doctor on earth would advise that

Covid doesn’t present with cold symptoms

It was even on the nhs adverts listed everyday that cold and hay fever present totally differently

I'm assuming none (may be wrong of course). My DC are generally v healthy and rarely get a temp or cough.

Our school have said if COVID symptoms to test.
They've said not to send children in with colds (sniffles too) but haven't mentioned a test for those, I'm assuming not! Obviously I'll keep them home if they have a cold, I'm not sure how long that rule/policy will stay in place though as they also want a 97% or above attendance figure.

My Covid presented with cold symptoms. Cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, runny/congested nose. Also GI symptoms. No temperature. Confirmed Covid.

The cold going around DC's school starts as a cough and temperature, then turns into a bit of snot with a lingering cough... hence Covid swabs galore!

Colds that start with snotty nose less concerning.

DC2's test was because of a 39.5 temp with no other symptoms, probably ear infection in hindsight but as the temp was non responsive to Calpol and triggered weird balance stuff ended up with A&E twice, once thanks to OOH GP and once thanks to in hours GP!