Those who can't tolerate the test

[GinJeanie]

Does anyone know the guidelines where students with SEN have Covid symptoms but can't tolerate the test? In our school this is a high proportion. Parents generally keep them at home for 14 days but close contacts in school carry on as normal unless they develop symptoms. We haven't had any confirmed cases as yet although surrounding schools have. Surely this makes our working environment higher risk as we may not know quickly enough if/when we have a positive case in a bubble? Completely understand why some pupils can't be tested btw just wondered if others had encountered this.

Ds's special school are telling all close contacts to self isolate until the person with symptoms has a negative test or 14 days if the person can't be tested/ void result. In his case that is all the class as they cannot social distance. They are only doing it for definite symptoms eg temp above 37.8 that has been rechecked an hour later.

@Underhisi thank you, that's useful to hear and not our experience at all. We seem to be using the "carrying on/hoping for the best" model in this situation 😬...

I'm worried about this. My youngest will need a test at some point but she has sen and there will be no way to do it without holding her down (which I won't do) she has hospital trauma from last year and it will just be impossible. Hoping the school will accept we have to isolate instead.

@Beebityboo - I'm sorry you're potentially in this situation and I do agree. Kids with severe autism, sensory issues including those who are non-verbal will not or cannot give consent. The test is invasive. It is a big worry... for you

I worry about this too. DS2 has sen and there is no way we would be able to administer the tests on him.

They really need to work on a saliva test.

@hopeishere - they really do

For a while there were two types of test around. Is that still the case? Anyone know what the postal test is?

The drive in one we went to was def high up the nose and also back of throat. I thought there was a lower, going up less far, nose one but I don’t know if it’s still around or if that would even be an option for those who won’t tolerate the other one. Tough situation.

There is a saliva test available privately. It's £175. I'm hoping the nhs will start using it for kids at least.

@eurochick - blimey, don't think any of our parents could run to that! 😱

We went to a drive through test and did them ourselves . My son is autistic so I only got the swab into the entrance of his nose. It was enough through . It didn’t need to be right up inside like it said on the leaflet