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Original poster

Cough but no temperature- cant get a test!

74 replies

Whenwilligrowup · 14/09/2020 09:17

So my eldest ds has woken up this morning with what I'm pretty sure is a cold. Just a cough and sniffly nose but no temp. Pretty sure this still means we all have to isolate until we can get tested doesn't it? Sad I can't drive and there are literally no home testing kits available any time I try! Anyone in the same predicament? We managed one week of school I suppose!!

OP posts:
BarbaraWoodlouse · 14/09/2020 09:23

Yes, my Y9 has classic common cold presentation: developed a sore throat on Saturday, was snotty and miserable yesterday, no fever (high 37s at most) but just enough of a phlegmy cough for me to feel obliged to keep my Y6 off too.

No drive through, walk through or home tests available despite trying all of yesterday. The website now just says busy try later so even busier this morning.

My 10 year old is devastated to be home and healthy and I don't know how and when the schools will accept them back without that elusive test.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 14/09/2020 09:25

It's ridiculous.

I've been refreshing the page since 6am and am no further forward.

ComDummings · 14/09/2020 09:27

Honestly it’s absolutely scandalous that people are having such a hard time getting a test when the government knew schools would be back so there would be more coughs and cold viruses around. It’s a joke.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 14/09/2020 09:30

It would be better if they said under 12s must exhibit all of the three symptoms. Then schools would be more accommodating, fewer tests would be needed, and kids could stay in school.

Testing for one of the symptoms at Primary level is a joke.

imaflutteringkite · 14/09/2020 09:33

Yep, I'm here too refreshing like mad. Wouldn't even mind having to travel for a test as long as test was available. I almost managed to get a home test but then it didn't recognise my identify 🤷‍♀️ and kicked me out. Now no home tests are available either. Hopefully will get a test before Thursday or he's going to be off for two weeks!

Original poster
Whenwilligrowup · 14/09/2020 09:34

It really is a joke! And I'm 99 percent certain that it is just the cold as his friend who he catches a lift with had it last week (luckily he only had a sore throat so was allowed in!) He's just started yr 7 as well and was just starting to get settled in (very shy child!) Sad I've just read that tests become available at 8am and 8pm so I'm guessing there's no chance until tonight now!

OP posts:
Original poster
Whenwilligrowup · 14/09/2020 09:37

@imaflutteringkite yes we almost got one, I filled in all our details and then it said non available again! It's annoying that you have to fill in your details again each time with no option to save them! And that it lets you fill it all in before telling you there's nothing available!

OP posts:
imaflutteringkite · 14/09/2020 09:41

I think the tests are released more often than 8am and 8pm but who really knows.

Grrretel · 14/09/2020 09:45

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

It would be better if they said under 12s must exhibit all of the three symptoms. Then schools would be more accommodating, fewer tests would be needed, and kids could stay in school.

Testing for one of the symptoms at Primary level is a joke.

Surely under 12s are more likely to have none or one symptom than all three though?

If the aim is to stop the spread of coronavirus in schools, we need more testing not less Confused

Sandytoes86 · 14/09/2020 09:48

Yes my son (in reception) has cold symptoms with a raised temperature And I can’t get any kind of test. We are all isolating. An absolutely shambolic system.

Supertree · 14/09/2020 09:55

I had to book one on Friday and it showed tests at 11am so don’t only check at 8am. I had to go back through the details again but it still showed tests at the end. In case you are near Wolverhampton, the walk in test centre at whitmore reans medical centre car park showed as needing an appointment in their online information but when I got there they told me people can turn up without an appointment and to tell family and friends.

Getting the test is only the first hurdle. We were told we’d have results by now and we haven’t. If I don’t get the result within five days and it comes back as inconclusive (likely considering I was trying to test a non-compliant four year old by myself) then we have to isolate for the full two weeks as you can’t test after the first five days of symptoms.

I have a job interview this week. My husband and I have both been out of work since February due to redundancy. Things are desperate. I’m 99% certain he just had a cold as he had classic snotty nose, sneezing and cold symptoms two days before the cough started and my eldest now has a cold too. But the cough was too much to be accepted at school so now we’re just waiting.

My youngest caught a cold every few weeks at nursery and has come down with another one within three days of starting reception. I have no idea how we are supposed to get an interview or hold down a job if we have to keep isolating every time he gets another cold. I’ve never known a child get ill so often. Really worried about winter.

BarbaraWoodlouse · 14/09/2020 09:55

I'd have no issue with testing for one symptom if testing was available.

I have a major issue with another disruption to my children's education due to a policy that cannot in fact be supported by the resources available.

conkersarebonkers · 14/09/2020 10:01

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

It would be better if they said under 12s must exhibit all of the three symptoms. Then schools would be more accommodating, fewer tests would be needed, and kids could stay in school.

Testing for one of the symptoms at Primary level is a joke.

This is not how the symptoms list works.

People with COVID can present with a range of symptoms - including headache, GI issues, sore throat, skin rashes etc. - however most also present with one (or more) of fever, cough, change to sense of taste, change to sense of smell.

That is why any of those symptoms is enough to warrant a test, regardless of any accompanying symptoms.

But you certainly do not need to have all four.

Feminist10101 · 14/09/2020 10:02

The relevant symptom is CONTINUOUS cough, not just cough.

Cough but no temperature- cant get a test!
Feminist10101 · 14/09/2020 10:04

That is why any of those symptoms is enough to warrant a test, regardless of any accompanying symptoms.

Not in the UK it isn’t. Only the classic 3 symptoms are considered in testing protocol. .

Snailsetssail · 14/09/2020 10:04

Tests are released during the day, I got one at 9:30am yesterday after it saying no tests over and over from 2am.

Can you ask the school if you can have one of their tests? They should have 10 to give to parents who can’t access other testing.

alwayswantchocolate · 14/09/2020 10:09

My year 5 came down with a cold on Saturday. By Saturday evening he was coughing (on the snot he was swallowing) but as rules are rules, I dutifully started trying to book a test. Took hours of constantly filling in the online form on Sunday but finally got a slot on Sunday afternoon. Got there and it was deserted apart from the staff standing around with nothing to do!)

Now my year 5 (who is fine in himself and in normal circumstances would have gone to school with his mild cold/cough) and also my absolutely fine year 7 are at home while we wait for the results. Both missing the recovery curriculum the school are now doing, and my year 7 is pretty cross with his brother!

PeskyRooks · 14/09/2020 10:09

Yep. I'm in the same boat with 2 dds age 5 & 4. Been trying to get a test since Thursday 'no test sites found'. Tried the phone line 119 thought it worth a try just got "we're extremely busy call back later..." ridiculous so sad for them dd just started reception and was loving it. Also after having them home all that time feel all crafted out!

conkersarebonkers · 14/09/2020 10:11

@Feminist10101

That is why any of those symptoms is enough to warrant a test, regardless of any accompanying symptoms.

Not in the UK it isn’t. Only the classic 3 symptoms are considered in testing protocol. .

Apologies if I was unclear - when I said "any of those symptoms", I was referring to the four I had just described. Fever, cough, change to sense of taste, change to sense of smell.
Feminist10101 · 14/09/2020 10:12

It’s published as a list of 3 symptoms though. Even referring to 4 is confusing!

Original poster
Whenwilligrowup · 14/09/2020 10:13

But what is classed as a continuous cough? My ds has had a few coughing episodes this morning but I wouldn't say he's coughing every few minutes. I would never under normal circumstances have kept him off for a cough like this so clearly not a very bad one!

OP posts:
Happyhippos2020 · 14/09/2020 10:13

Yes here too - not sure we need a test as cough not continous but have checked and none available anyway Sad

What on earth are people meant to do? Whole families isolating for 2 weeks with every cold? We can't go back to a version of normal without testing. I'm so angry with the government for this and with the media for not reporting it enough.

PeskyRooks · 14/09/2020 10:17

Also phoned school this morning said they're fine in themselves (they're on the trampoline ffs! ) got a snotty more so cough is just snot going down their throat etc but school were rigid. Not their fault I know. 5 days is up for mine so that's it.

PeskyRooks · 14/09/2020 10:18

Nose not more

conkersarebonkers · 14/09/2020 10:19

@Whenwilligrowup

But what is classed as a continuous cough? My ds has had a few coughing episodes this morning but I wouldn't say he's coughing every few minutes. I would never under normal circumstances have kept him off for a cough like this so clearly not a very bad one!
The NHS Scotland advice is a bit more specific:

A new continuous cough is where you:

  • have a new cough that’s lasted for an hour
  • have had 3 or more episodes of coughing in 24 hours
  • are coughing more than usual