Are parents going to lie about symptoms to avoid having to test/isolate?

[Concerned7777]

Theres so many posts on here about the lack of testing available, and children not being allowed to return without a negative result, not to mention the added disruption to the rest of the family having to isolate.
Are parents going to be tempted to hang on to see if symptoms persist before informing schools? So many threads have said their dc symptoms are now non existent and its unlikely to have been covid but they still need to stay home for 14 days if they cant get a test in time.
If dc start showing symptoms at home like a mild cough or spike in temperature, would you be tempted to tell school that they are being kept off for other reasons like a sickness bug for instance to bide some time ? And possibly send them back in a few days later if they recover.
Of course its morally wrong to do it but I can totally see why some might given how hard it is to get tests at the moment.

We are isolating for what is most likely a cold (with a brief temperature last week). By a miracle we got tests, but no results yet. My year 11 child is missing out on gcse teaching. To be honest I feel very very stupid for not keeping quiet.

@Tootletum my son had an upset stomach a couple of weeks in (after the sore throat, stomach ache and cough).

The trouble is this virus presents in so many ways that the only way to control it, or at least monitor it, is to increase testing.

Other countries are doing just fine with their testing systems. As one of the richest countries in the world, there are absolutely no excuses for this shit show.

@ChronicCovid yeah it's all a bit of a joke. Interestingly though I've looked up German state's rules for schools and most of them ask parents to just keep kids with a cold off for 25 hours to see if it seems like a standard cold. Without then mandating a test before they can return. So they are trusting parents judgement. Part of the problem we have is if you say to the school you want to keep them off for a day just in case, they then can't come back for two weeks without a test. So people won't keep them off at all if they can't get a test.

Yes, parents did this pre covid

Me and my 2 have a sore throat, full of snot and generally feeling grim.

CLEARLY A COLD?! No one should be holding up testing sites by getting tested for this. Full of snot is not a covid symptom at all. It's high temperature, loss of smell and taste and a new continuous cough.

We're going to have major issues unless people actually get to grips with what the symptoms are!

Already happened in my DC school. Child had a test but was sent to school whilst waiting for the results. Came back positive.

@StarUtopia

Me and my 2 have a sore throat, full of snot and generally feeling grim.

CLEARLY A COLD?! No one should be holding up testing sites by getting tested for this. Full of snot is not a covid symptom at all. It's high temperature, loss of smell and taste and a new continuous cough.

We're going to have major issues unless people actually get to grips with what the symptoms are!

You’d have probably said my snotty child clearly had a cold, but she didn’t.

Yes. I’d like to say not me but hand on heart I would be loathe cause havoc at work and have both kids miss 2 weeks of school for what is 99% likely to be a cold.

And got people who say you can have a cold and Covid. Well yes but you can also have asymptomatic Covid and we’re not testing for that are we.

It’s an absolute mess and it could be so better if the testing was sorted.

@StarUtopia "
We're going to have major issues unless people actually get to grips with what the symptoms are!"

Right back atcha!! The government are miles behind the data at the moment! This is a complex virus with lots of symptoms and a large testing capacity needs to be there.

"The top five symptoms in school aged children who test positive for COVID are; fatigue (55%) headache (53%), fever (49%), sore throat (38%) and loss of appetite (35%).

This was different compared to the App’s data on adults; fatigue (87%), headache (72%), loss of smell (60%), persistent cough (54%) and sore throat (49%).

In addition to this, research from the app has also found that one in six (15%) children who test positive for COVID also present with an unusual skin rash."

[quote ChronicCovid]@Tootletum my son had an upset stomach a couple of weeks in (after the sore throat, stomach ache and cough).

The trouble is this virus presents in so many ways that the only way to control it, or at least monitor it, is to increase testing.

Other countries are doing just fine with their testing systems. As one of the richest countries in the world, there are absolutely no excuses for this shit show.[/quote]
There is something a bit more complex going on than it just being that we don't have enough tests, though - because it does seem to be true that the UK is carrying more out per capita than most European countries. So it must be something to do with our targeting of tests - which isn't at all the same as saying that people are just getting tests for fun and they should be blamed. But it does mean that looking at the guidance other countries give on when to seek a test might be helpful (if we didn't have a government who seem determined not to learn from anyone else) and also does mean that some degree of triaging might be appropriate.

What will happen in practice, I suspect, is that we'll continue to test huge numbers of worried well and kids with a sniffle but it's just that we'll go back to a two-tier 'keyworker vs everyone else' system and so if you're not a keyworker you'll be expected to just isolate for 14 days. Which people then won't do.

Also if you start adding fatigue to the list of symptoms to be tested for, as all the Zoe-fans seem to be advocating for, then all hell really will break loose. If at all possible we need to use more objective measures for judging symptoms, not less.

Our school have sent this out. Sensible advice.

People should only get tested if the symptoms are different to a cold. And hopefully we all know what a cold looks like! Definitely can use instinct for this one but we shouldn't all be rushing for a test on the first whiff of a sniffy nose.

I've seen parents hand their child who has just vomited a tissue and then shuffle them on to school. So yes there will be lying, people don't stick to the common illness quarantines 48 hours for V&D waiting till chickenpox scabs etc so there is no chance of doing 14 days when they can say it's just a cold.

I have had a sore throat since Thursday which has developed into a full blown cold, shortness of breath when walking up and down stairs, fatigue and constant headache.

Not the 3 main symptoms listed on the 111 website off fever, continuous cough or lost of taste/smell but from what I’ve read here sounds like I should be getting tested, what do others think? I mean, I’ve checked and I can’t get a test anyway

If I didn’t use MN then I would just follow what I read on 111 and not give it a second thought?

Yes.

It is easy to talk yourself OUT of doing something you dont want to do...
And when it comes down to it no-one enjoys sticking swabs up their child's nose!
And the messaging from the government and the shortage of tests will further discourage those who should test from doing so... especially those with mild and shortlived symptoms.

Having spent hours and hours trying to get a test.
Having spent 2 days waiting for it.
Having returned it and then spent 4 days waiting for the result.
Having received a negative result...
...and then having seen my DC’s best friend give them a cuddle when they returned to school and having a completely clear conscience = in the same scenario I would do the same again.

And I say that as someone who has had to isolate the whole household. Not been able to work for a week. Paid full nursery fees. Been given no school work for my DC who recovered after 2 days and having missed numerous paid for after school activities.

@Fiddlersgreen that's exactly how mine started!! I've gave it to my whole family as I didn't realise. They're ok but I'm still very ill 4 months later.

Good for you @ErinBrockovich

@ReadTheData that’s terrifying! Do you mind me asking what symptoms you’re still having 4 months on?

I want to preface my answer by saying that if testing does improve what I'm setting won't actually be an issue - I'd much rather test than not.

But.

If testing availability doesn't improve by the end of the month and either of the dc start with what are otherwise normal cold symptoms but which include a low grade temperature and/or a new but mild cough, I'll be lying and saying they have a bad cold but none of the main covid symptoms, keeping them home for a few days, seeing if they improve and if it follows the course of a normal cold, and making a decision then.

Ds1's mental and emotional health was so completely and utterly destroyed during lockdown home learning that yes, I will do anything, anything, including putting other people at risk, in order to maintain his access to on site schooling for as long as I possibly can.

We've followed every single other guideline/law, we still don't really go out other than shopping once a week and deserted countryside walks. We don't have people over. Both children have chosen to wear a mask all day at school anyway. I cannot see ds1 go through a breakdown again for two weeks every couple of weeks. I won't. Not for something I'm 99% sure is a cold.

If he had all the three main symptoms in severity plus the minor symptoms then I'd persist in trying to get a test.

Had an email from school today saying covid is presenting in some children as D&V and advising to get tested if children have diarrhoea, vomiting, temperature, cough, sore throat. My sons class was half empty today.

My DC is in year 11 and has a hacking cough & temperature of 38. I told the school, who said they can't come back without a negative test result. I've wasted hours & hours unsuccessfully trying to get a test, so they are looking at another 2 weeks off school. They have GCSEs next year & the school aren't sending any work home. My advice to anyone in this situation? Say they just have a cold, don't mention the temperature/cough!

I'd definitely play down any Covid symptoms, it doesn't pay to be honest.

For the same reason, I put down an old number for track and trace. I'm no spending two weeks in the house because I was in the same pub as someone who tested positive.

Local parents group. So many parents at a loss with how long results are taking that the kids are back tomorrow regardless.

^^"My advice to anyone in this situation? Say they just have a cold, don't mention the temperature/cough!"

@Themsmedaps great plan! Schools being completely shut down from a Covid outbreak and making vulnerable teachers (and children!) seriously ill...

Aside from the moral aspect, it's bit counterproductive don't you think??