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Original poster

And so it begins.....

31 replies

Crinklecrickletittlestar · 08/09/2020 16:52

School went back last week. Y3 DC and reception DC. DC1 day before yesterday started showing cold symptoms, but nothing on the list of Covid symptoms and so went to school. Last night, the coughing started. This morning, I realised the coughing was increasing, called the school to inform them, stayed at home.

School won't let them back without a negative test or until 14 days is up. There are no tests available anywhere. Both me and DH are constantly refreshing, and the nearest is 136 miles away. No postal tests either. What are we supposed to do? This is probably just a cold (younger DC has now started sniffing but not coughing yet) but who knows? And understandably rules have to be followed. My kids have numerous colds and coughs over winter, how are we supposed to deal with months of this? A post-cold cough usually lasts for weeks in my youngest. We have jobs, the kids need education! I feel so bad that my youngest hasn't even been in reception for a full week. This is the time they need to make friends and get used to school. They've had a shitty spring and summer being pushed from TV to games console to garden while we worked.

And to top it all off, I now can't go and see my mum. She's elderly, I've not seen her since December, she's been completely on her own.

I cannot cope if this continues. I think I've been on the edge of my own sanity since March, and another few disrupted months might just send me over the edge. I won't have a job if I constantly need to be at home supervising the kids, for what most of the time will be nothing more than a cold. I know there are reasons for it, and I know we're all suffering hardships in some way, but I'm struggling to see how I'll manage. I almost wish I'd never had my family. I feel so guilty that I brought them into this world.

Sorry for the rant, I just needed to offload. I'm not even looking for advice or solutions. Unless anybody knows exactly when tests in my area go live so we can try and get back to normal.

OP posts:
Ellsbells12 · 08/09/2020 16:57

The whole thing is getting fking ridiculous I could not see a doctor without a covid test and can't get a test
I have gone back to anxiety today as I am sick off it

AlwaysaLittleBitTired · 08/09/2020 16:59

Just a handhold from me...it's all so difficult and unpleasant. I hope your DC soon feel better, and that you can find some calm Flowers

FrolickingLemon · 08/09/2020 16:59

Currently in the same boat. Although just managed to get a home test through persistence. There's a couple of threads running already on the matter. Was always going to happen I guess.

Mummyto3gorgeousgirlies · 08/09/2020 17:02

Same position - sniffles over weekend, today would be day 4 for reception but coughing started overnight... call 119 sometimes they have slots before they're online. I managed at 10am after 3 hrs of refreshing for a load to become available near me... be persistent every half hour but def try the number too... we need those negatives so we can get back to life... back home with the 3 kids and hubby for one day and my patience is already wearing think 🤣 good luck hope u find a test.... not sure if an option but I also saw private tests although they're pretty pricey

Frazzled2207 · 08/09/2020 17:03

Mine aren't ill yet but I suspect within a week or so most school children will have some kind of cough or cold. I have heard that more testing appointments are put on the system around 5 and 8pm so worth trying again now. Also if there is a test site nearby just turn up and ask nicely. A lot of people have managed this recently.

Snowpatrolling · 08/09/2020 17:04

My daughter has a cold, spoke to the head teacher today and as her temp was fine, let her in. He said it’s to be expected and they just need to deal with it the best they can.
Can’t believe it so different between schools.
I financially cannot take any more time off work.
I feel for you guys. Hope little one gets better soon.

Tootletum · 08/09/2020 17:05

Found loads of availability around Northampton today if that helps!

BillywilliamV · 08/09/2020 17:06

DH went in with cold today, no cough, no temperature. It’s fine!

MiteBiteatNite · 08/09/2020 17:09

It's worth finding out if there are any mobile testing centres near you as we just turned up to one and they tested us. You just have to call 119 and register when you're home.
That's what we did today and it was fine. We were in the same boat. One child a bit snotty but fine, second child had a sore throat and a slight temp. DH work said he has to be tested as he's a key worker, but we couldn't get a test anywhere. Then someone told us to just turn up at the testing centre and when we did, it was fine.

ShellsandSand · 08/09/2020 17:11

Mine have sniffles and coughs too. Its a cold. They have caught it from me. I told both schools temperatures were normal and they let them go in. Don't know how some schools are gonna cope over winter if they keep every coughing child off for 2 weeks. Seems unreasonable.

Keepdistance · 08/09/2020 17:13

Thats unfortunate. But lots here have been trying to warn that the testing system wouldnt cope with all the 8m kids getting ill with no SD. Over 200 schools have cases already and back less than a week.
I agree though that the inability to test does top it all off. As that means bubbles continue and it spreads..

In primary bubbles should have been 30 max and with siblings as you say it's very likely other siblings catch whatever so you are doubling the germs!

Original poster
Crinklecrickletittlestar · 08/09/2020 17:24

I'm pretty sure this is just a cold. I feel ropey too (probably why I'm so woe is me today!) and to me it feels like a normal cold. I've temperature checked the kids, that's fine.

In theory, if the cough subsides tonight, I could send them back tomorrow. I reported that they have a cold, they reminded me of the guidelines and the action to take if there was a cough. I didn't mention the cough then as I really wasn't sure how persistent it was. It seems to have been on and off throughout the day, but when it's on, it's very regular. A bit phlegmy, I thought a Covid cough was dry?

DH thinks I'm overreacting, we don't need to arrange tests. This illness started with him probably, he never developed a cough. I feel rough but don't have a cough. I would just feel so, so guilty if I under-reacted and other kids at school ended up getting something awful. But I'd also feel guilty wasting scarce tests on a cold. Aaarrrggghh, need to go to bed, can't think rationally!

And why is the online form to get a test so long?! Why can't we just put in postcode, see what's available and then put in details, rather than spend ages registering four people only to come up with nothing?

OP posts:
Original poster
Crinklecrickletittlestar · 08/09/2020 17:28

And why postal tests? Is there no way to arrange people collecting tests? I know if you're isolating you can't go anywhere, but I'd be happy to collect tests for others and drop on doorstep, and I'm sure I know people who would do it for me.

OP posts:
PrimalLass · 08/09/2020 17:59

The whole system is ridiculous and totally open to abuse.

Original poster
Crinklecrickletittlestar · 08/09/2020 18:32

I've just told my youngest she won't be going in tomorrow. She's very upset, she thinks her new friend will find another friend while she's off.

I know I don't have it as hard as many. Jobs are secure. For now, at least. I dont know how patient they'll be after several of these episodes. Nobody is medically vulnerable. But my mum is elderly, and although healthy, I really wouldn't want to expose her to anything. So she goes longer without seeing her family.

I know there's no solution. I just needed a rant today.

OP posts:
Keepdistance · 08/09/2020 18:36

Even without this i wouldnt be seeing grandparents inside if kids are at school.
There were 1/2000 infected a week
Which worked out at 4250 children and teachers per week

CKBJ · 08/09/2020 18:40

I think the situation is just going to get worse for both parents trying to work and kids in and out of school. What needs to happen is to consider the evidence behind symptoms in children. It has been reported (guardian and bbc I believe) that children are more likely to have stomach ache/Diarrhea and sickness than a cough. I think another was fatigue,sore throat and temp. If the symptoms could be more “accurate” it may help everyone

carcarbinks · 08/09/2020 18:44

A child local to me was unwell, had a test and then went into school for 2 days. Yesterday the test came back positive. He's in a bubble with 180 children and travelled on school transport with children from 2 other schools. Now many of those children and their teachers are having to self isolate because of the complete selfishness of one family. I know its annoying having them off but please think of others.

eeeyoresmiles · 08/09/2020 18:56

@ShellsandSand

Mine have sniffles and coughs too. Its a cold. They have caught it from me. I told both schools temperatures were normal and they let them go in. Don't know how some schools are gonna cope over winter if they keep every coughing child off for 2 weeks. Seems unreasonable.
How do you know it's a cold without testing?

People not trying to test even if they have one of the core symptoms are risking the health and education of everyone their child interacts with while ill. I would say that is rather unreasonable.

There are vulnerable kids and families going into schools, forbidden from staying home without fines or deregistering. This sort of thing, deciding to ignore coughs and not test, is really dangerous for all those people, and even for all the people who don't already know they're vulnerable.

Please be responsible and try to get your kids tested when they have coughs.

Noidea2114 · 08/09/2020 19:06

My DGd started with a cough today has been sent home with her older sister and younger brother.
She has a normal temperature.
No appointments for a test and no home kits available. Most of the testing sites won't do under 18's.
They are not allowed back in school until either she has a negative test or 14 days.
Surely it would be helpful if the school were given testing kits to give out if a child showed any symptoms.

Original poster
Crinklecrickletittlestar · 08/09/2020 19:10

I think people are trying to get their kids tested,but there's nothing available. I've tried every hour, plus DH trying. There's either nothing or a single appointment 130miles away. That system cannot work. I'm absolutely dreading this winter. In my family, this could happen numerous times, and chances are, it won't be Covid. At least, not every time. Multiply that by every family and it's a problem.

I'm actually really worried. Children will be missing out on education again. Some people will become complacent, assume everything's a cold and just carry on as normal. If a system doesn't work, people just won't use it. I'm desperately trying, but it's impossible. It'll be two weeks off school and work every month. That's not sustainable. That's what scares me more than catching this illness. Who buys the food when my employer runs out of patience?

OP posts:
Noidea2114 · 08/09/2020 19:29

We live in mid Cheshire and the only appointment my Dd could find for our granddaughter in the next 5 days was Aberdeen.

ilikeitwhenshegoesbabababababa · 08/09/2020 20:21

Schools have been given testing kits. They're meant to hand them out to parents who are unable to get a test any other way. I opened the box with our supplies in last week. They get ten initially and can replenish as many times as they want so don't let them fob you off by saying they don't have many and they are needed for something else

dementedma · 08/09/2020 20:28

If you test your kids every time they cough, you will crash the system. Coughing is normal in humans. I am asthmatic and cough quite a lot. People nearby react as if I have just spat in their face and back off in terror! FFS. People just need to calm down and apply some common sense.

Frazzled2207 · 08/09/2020 20:36

@ilikeitwhenshegoesbabababababa
As far as I’m aware they have no guarantee of getting more tests. Personally I think they should be prioritised for when the teacher has a cough or fever. Best that one kid has to stay at home while trying to get a test sorted than the teacher surely.