DS (5) had a fever...

[Skyisbluetoday]

Obviously he's not going to school tomorrow, but do I need to keep him off for 10 days minimum and do we all need to isolate? Can we get him tested instead and if negative and feeling better return to normal life? Has anyone tested their young child? What was it like?

Sorry, should read 'has' a feaver.

yes you can try and get a test. If you don't then he isolates for 10 days and the rest of you isolate for 14 days. A negative test for him would mean no longer a need to isolate

fever!

I've read that for smaller children you just swab the nostrils

Thanks, will get right on it. I really don't think it is Covid.

How high is his temperature? Think its 37.8⁰C + for covid purposes

@Skyisbluetoday

Thanks, will get right on it. I really don't think it is Covid.

How on earth would you know?

I would def try for a test. It's not exactly a spa treatment but quick and painless.

Ds had a temp of 37.4 and sore throat, abdo pain, runny nose and I've been told by the GP to get him tested. But no tests available and I've been trying since Monday. The advice is confusing though as I think it's the gov site that says isolate for 10 days if symptomatic and everyone else for 14 days but when you get a negative result the nhs advice is to get back to work or school and no one else needs to isolate. I think. Confused It's probably too late for us to get a postal test now so isolation it is.

I've spoken to two people today who don't understand the guidance around isolation. My understanding is:

If somebody is symptomatic, the whole household needs to isolate. If the symptomatic person has test with a negative outcome, nobody in the household needs to carry on isolating.

If the test is positive, the symptomatic person should isolate for 10 days but their contacts should isolate for 14.

If you are contacting by track and trace, you can't just go and get a test and then not isolate. You should isolate for 14 days regardless and only get a test if you develop symptoms during this period.

@HipHopBanzai yes that all looks correct to me. The only time isolation can end is if the symptomatic person tests negative

@dementedpixie

I've read that for smaller children you just swab the nostrils

Not true. I swabbed my dc at 1. Was horrible.

Thanks all. True, I don't know if it is Covid or just a cold (he's got classic symptoms), hence I am following the government guidelines and we are all isolating. The bit I am now really annoyed about is that we can't get a test to check if he is positive. We don't have a car and there are no walk-in centred close to us and no postal tests available. Time for testing is running out. Such a shambles.