DS is coughing

[ladymary86]

Dry, not producing anything. He's 5 and had a cold last week.
I need to isolate and get him tested don't I?

If it's dry and persistent then yes.

@Waxonwaxoff0

If it's dry and persistent then yes.

If it's persistent.

well if its persistent you need to isolate but they are now changing the message on testing to "test if you must". A five year old doesn't really need a test if you can keep them at home.

There are a lot of coughs going around. Iv'e been coughing 7/8 times an hour for the past three weeks now but it isn't covid.

Hasa It isn’t just the five-year old that needs to stay at home though. The whole household should isolate if one person is showing symptoms.

@HasaDigaEebowai

'Test if you must'

Where is this guidance?

@HasaDigaEebowai

well if its persistent you need to isolate but they are now changing the message on testing to "test if you must". A five year old doesn't really need a test if you can keep them at home.

There are a lot of coughs going around. Iv'e been coughing 7/8 times an hour for the past three weeks now but it isn't covid.

but if he tests negative he can go straight back to school (if well enough in himself) If he doesnt get tested he has to stay off for 10 days and all other family have to isolate for 14 days - which obviously can have massive consequences for eg work, loss of earnings etc not to mention lost time at school for 5 year old.

@HasaDigaEebowai

well if its persistent you need to isolate but they are now changing the message on testing to "test if you must". A five year old doesn't really need a test if you can keep them at home.

There are a lot of coughs going around. Iv'e been coughing 7/8 times an hour for the past three weeks now but it isn't covid.

I don't think my or my partners employers would appreciate us taking that approach.... it's not just a case of keeping him home til he is better, we all need to get back to school and work ASAP!

Don't blame me it was on the news this morning. The message is to be changed to test if you must since we simply don't have the capacity to test the number of people seeking tests.

I suspect it won't be long before the only people who can access tests are NHS frontline staff, emergency services and teachers.

That's fair enough if that's what you've seen on the news but I've just been through the process to book a test on the gov.uk website and it's telling me to book a test for him so that's what I've done.

I have to drive over an hour to a testing site even though there's one literally at the bottom of my road but I'd rather have him tested and know I've done everything within the guidelines that are widely available

I think "test if you must" would include the situation where one or more members of the household would be unable to work or attend education if they didnt.