Covid case in DC’s year group - what now?

[WilsonMilson]

So there’s been a positive case at dc’s school in his year group. 2/3 of the year (around 150 in the year, so approx 100) sent home this morning, they were those children who have classes with the poor kid who’s positive.
My dc hasn’t been sent home as in none of the same classes, but sits next to a couple of people who have been sent home and is friends / socialises at break and lunch with those who have had close contact.

Shouldn’t the entire year bubble be sent home in that case? They are not allowed to socialise at break with other years, so to keep in their year bubble, but seems a bit risky to not just send home everyone - but then if they did that there would be no one at school.
I can see both sides, but feeling nervous. All a bit close to home now.

DS's school only send close contacts home for a few cases so at the moment there's approx 30 pupils off and 2 confirmed cases in his year (Y11). I'm expecting my DS to be confirmed as the 3rd case tomorrow so then his close contacts will have to self isolate.

One of the the other years got up to 10+ cases, then they shut down the extire year bubble for two weeks.

I think there's only two year groups (out of 7) that haven't got cases!

How long do they need to stay home for? Isn't this why people are trying to get tests ASAP ? So they can tell school that their child is negative and therefore can return to school ASAP?

If they are sent home to isolate because of contact it's 14 days. Tests only help if symptoms develop. If +ve isolate for 10 days. If negative I presume they continue until 14 days is up.

They shouldn't be testing unless they have symptoms themselves. Since symptoms can develop up to 14 days after exposure I don't think a negative test would be of any use because they still need to stay home for the isolation period.

Our school (and several PPs) are adamant that PH bods make the decisions as to who to send home schools, not HTs
Which is why I don't understand why some schools (eg @Dustballs) seem to have a policy of sending whole year groups home for one positive test - why is this?

Frazzled - I’m guessing the experts have more information about the likelihood of more cases ie maybe in a lockdown area they would send more home.

MrsFrisbyMouse - just because there were no symptoms officially declared doesn’t mean there were no cases either asymptomatic or deliberately kept quiet to prevent parents missing work.

@Frazzled2207 maybe some schools are letting children within their bubbles mix more so close contacts aren't so easy to identify. Some schools are keeping their KS3 within a form/tutor group and staying in their classroom with the teachers moving between rooms instead. Those children may be sitting in their seating plans pretty much all day, so easy to identify their contacts.

Have now an email to say a risk assessment was carried out and that those children who have to isolate (anecdotally from my DS it’s around 58 kids), he is not among them, but has been sitting next to someone who has been closely socialising with the covid case, and at lunchtimes, corridors, who knows.
I’m an anxious and cautious mother generally and I’d rather he was at home, he’s lucky to be well set up here for home working. But I also see the other side that it’s not the same education he would receive in school and I don’t want to underestimate the social benefits of school either.

It’s so difficult, we are all between rocks and hard places right now.

OP I would be grateful that your son can continue attending Tbh. Risk to him at least is small.
As pps have said it’s never going to be practical to send home contacts of contacts.