When to seek a test - nursery outbreak

[greytminds]

Our child’s nursery has had a Covid outbreak. Three staff have now tested positive all from the same room, and all three had direct close contact with our child over several days. Two didn’t have any symptoms before testing positive. It seems so unlikely that all the children have avoided the virus, if it’s spread amongst staff. I’d really like to get our family tested - but presumably this means we have to seek private testing as we are asymptomatic? Has anyone else been in this situation? Thanks.

Why would you need to test if not showing symptoms?
As it is, child at nursery isolates and rest of household doesn't unless child comes down with symptoms.

My child is self isolating due to nursery case. I dont really see a point in testing with no symptoms but if you want to pay for private then ask them what day they think is best to test on. At a guess it would be day 5 . Or you could lie and say you have symptoms but i dont think that’s morally the right thing to do is it ?

As tempting as it is, I wouldn't get a test. Your child needs to isolate for 14 days and as a precaution, I would personally be avoiding contact with people where possible just in case.

We've just come out the other end of this situation. Our baby had to self-isolate and DH and I only went out for essentials. We WFH and were asymptomatic. No need for a test.

Unless you are going to test every day for 14 days there is no point in testing without symptoms.

@AvoidingRealHumans

Why would you need to test if not showing symptoms? As it is, child at nursery isolates and rest of household doesn't unless child comes down with symptoms.

We would want to test so that we could potentially resume working using grandparent childcare and for us to understand whether or not we have had it, and whether or not we pose a risk to others. The reports of asymptomatic outbreaks have been very worrying.

Only child is isolating at the moment, that’s right.

But if they test negative now it doesn't mean that they won't later test positive. It can take up to 14 days after exposure to test negative so a negative test today doesn't mean that they won't then test positive next week.

Testing does not release you from contact isolation, as the person could still be incubating it (it can take 14 days)

No point in getting tested unless symptoms appear

Thanks for all the responses, really helpful. All valid points.
Another nursery had given different advice to another family member and advised testing - so much inconsistency.

People can incubate their virus for up to 14 days hence needing 14 day isolation- so testing now doesn't mean your child won't get covid within the 14 days they were exposed to it.

Oops cross posted!

Another nursery had given different advice to another family member and advised testing - so much inconsistency.

There's no reason why they should be advising a child to test, unless the child has symptoms. There shouldn't be any confusion over this.

No symptoms = No need to test.

You’d have to test a few times over the 14 days to be safe enough to break isolation, so you’d have to wait two weeks anyway - you wouldn’t gain anything.

So just out of interest, why do they test large groups e.g Northumberland University where the majority are asymptomatic?

Also, it seems that asymptomatic testing is only not carried out due to testing capacity....it’s not down to it being best practice. It’s also hindering ability to track and trace to not be able to test more widely.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/22/birmingham-people-told-to-get-coronavirus-test-even-if-asymptomatic

Presumably they used private testing at the university so had capacity to test everyone. Private schools are doing the same. The state don’t have the lab capacity.

A negative test doesn’t release you from isolation though.

It only tells you if you have covid on the day of the test. But you could be positive the day after or the day after right up to 14 days. I dont think you should be breaking the isolation period.
I am guessing they tested asymtomatic people in universities to encourage them to actually isolate as i get the impression there were still parties going on but realising how many didnt have symptoms would have helped illustrate theres a 14 day idolation for a reason.

There’s a difference between having COVID and being a symptomatic and being in the incubation period and developing symptoms later. The incubation period is up to 14 days, which is why if you test before 14 days when you have no symptoms it can’t be used to day you don’t have it. The nursery are wrong. Your DC needs to isolate for 14 days unless he gets symptoms in which case you get a test. You cannot use grandparents for childcare before the 14 days are up.

The reason they test everyone in a university is to understand exactly how far it has spread. How many asymptomatic carriers there are. What action over and above the usual advice they need to take. E.g. imagine halls of residence...mone Hall has 2 cases so they isolate.everyone in the hall. Another hall has not reported any cases.....no testing..no need.to isolate. However, if there are one or two asymptomatic people then they know to quarentine all the halls of residence as a precaution. There have been much less transmissions from adults to children so this isn't a priority in schools or nurserys at the moment.