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Covid

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Original poster

AIBU not to want ds to take a test

75 replies

makingmiracles · 16/10/2020 11:28

We’ve received a letter about random testing and ds has been selected to take part but I’m not keen at all. I understand why they are doing it but the consequence is obviously having to isolate the whole family is he tests positive. Now during lockdown when dp was furloughed i would of been happy for him to test but now we are both back at work I’m not keen at all, we scrape by as it is due to outgoings we cant reduce and having to isolate for 2 weeks will really impact our ability to pay our bills.

Obviously I know we may have to do 14days at some point if one of us had symptoms and tested positive, but already since schools went back they’ve already had several days off in sept whilst waiting for results and 2 days this week awaiting test to arrive and then possibly more days next week if we don’t get results by Monday.

I just feel like why should we open ourselves up to the possibility of 14 days isolation when we can barely afford it.

They have sent the request letter twice now, thought they would move onto someone else if I didn’t reply but will they keep sending the letter?
Annoyingly we don’t get any of the benefits you have to be on to claim the £500 isolation payment, which is unfair as we are certainly not well off, dps salary is £19kpa and mine is low as i only work relief on weekends.

OP posts:

giletrouge · 16/10/2020 11:31

So in other words if he has the virus but is asymptomatic, you'd rather not know and be happy with him spreading it far and wide?

JuliaJohnston · 16/10/2020 11:31

OneForMeToo · 16/10/2020 11:32

One my my children have been randomly invited too. I asked my child how they felt about as they are old enough to have a say since you know it’s their body you would be sticking swabs into. They didn’t want to do so they are not.

If they had symptoms they would but not just randomly.

Sunnydaysstillhere · 16/10/2020 11:33

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Sirzy · 16/10/2020 11:33

So they are trying to find our more about asymptomatic spread of the virus to try and help protect those who will potentially be hit much harder?

Sorry but yes YABU. Anything that can help figure the wider spread has the potential to be useful. I think we need much more random testing

WhereverIGoddamnLike · 16/10/2020 11:35

@giletrouge
I would be more concerned about a false positive forcing them to isolate. Even if someone is positive and asymptomatic, the rest of the family would likely catch it and one would have symptoms so the family and up isolating anyway.

Unless we're going to test everyone in the population every week then its unfair to randomly select people with the risk of false positives.

superstar84 · 16/10/2020 11:37

We've had a letter for our 5 year old last week, she's doing it as it's important to track the spread in the community

Test arrived yesterday, booked the courier for tomorrow

If she's got it we'd rather know anyway to protect others

PinkDaffodil2 · 16/10/2020 11:37

Surely if he does have the virus (which he very probably doesn’t) it’s better to know so he doesn’t pass it on to friends and family? Also if he has it he’ll probably pass it to the two of you so you’ll have to isolate if you get symptoms anyway, better not to risk infecting people at work etc first given the opportunity?
Also if he does have it and causes an outbreak at school you’ll be stuck anyway.

WankPuffins · 16/10/2020 11:40

@Sunnydaysstillhere

You won't have to worry about bills when you have all died...

Oh for Christ’s sake.

Mumsnet is just the worst sometimes. What a ridiculous comment.

JuliaJohnston · 16/10/2020 11:46

They didn’t want to do so they are not.
Ah well, as long as they're happy, eh? Sit back and let someone else take the strain.

I'd imagine you're the type to sharp elbow your kids to the front of the queue should a vaccine become available, though.

MissBaskinIfYoureNasty · 16/10/2020 11:55

Your first mistake was asking for opinions here. You were never going to get rational, non-hysterical discussion.

CovidPostingName · 16/10/2020 11:59

My 14yo had been invited too. At his age he's Gillick competent so given that he doesn't want to do it after two or three long and interesting conversations on the subject of health policy, social responsibility, and personal agency, it would be unethical to make him.

TheFlyingAspidistra · 16/10/2020 12:03

@MissBaskinIfYoureNasty

Your first mistake was asking for opinions here. You were never going to get rational, non-hysterical discussion.

Indeed.

Zem74 · 16/10/2020 12:07

Wow some of the comments on here are horrendous. OP it’s your child, your family, you do what’s right for you x

yawnsvillex · 16/10/2020 12:08

@Sunnydaysstillhere

You won't have to worry about bills when you have all died...

does everyone die if you get it then? Shit I didn't know that.

Riv12345 · 16/10/2020 12:09

I got the random one through the post

I done it came back negative gives me a peace of mind
Personally I think we all should do it
That's only my opinion tho

OverTheRainbow88 · 16/10/2020 12:11

YANBU to not want him to have a test if he doesn’t want to do it as it’s his body and his choice.

YABU to not want a test incase you then have to self isolate

WhichOneNowTheRedOrTheGreen · 16/10/2020 12:12

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

OneForMeToo · 16/10/2020 12:14

@JuliaJohnston

They didn’t want to do so they are not. Ah well, as long as they're happy, eh? Sit back and let someone else take the strain. I'd imagine you're the type to sharp elbow your kids to the front of the queue should a vaccine become available, though.

Actually no so sorry to burst your bubble when the Swine flu vaccine was rolled out I didn’t let my child have it at all as they where so low risk of catching it and I was worried about how fast it was rolled out.

I just respect my child’s right to their own body when it comes to something they don’t need to have done. I also don’t pierce my children’s ears unless they ask and are old enough to understand😱.

sausagepastapot · 16/10/2020 12:15

It is entirely your choice. Don't feel pushed into anything. If you don't want to do it, don't do it. No pressure at all. Ignore all the psycho comments on here.

OneForMeToo · 16/10/2020 12:16

They are fully vaccinated to the normal childhood schedule so I’m not an anti vax either. Mind blown hey.

Sirzy · 16/10/2020 12:20

@CovidPostingName

Oh yes if old enough to consent then it’s vital they are making the decision either way. Ds has been invited to be part of a research study (not Covid related) and we discussed things fully together before agreeing.

But I would hope the reasons would go beyond “we may have to stay home”

frozendaisy · 16/10/2020 12:29

Ethically yes for the good of society we should all encourage as much testing as possible.

Financially and practically it's just not that simple.

It's much harder to do what's right if you can't afford it.

Cornettoninja · 16/10/2020 12:35

There’s no compulsion for your DS to take part in this. Yes you wouldn’t know if he was asymptomatic but that’s exactly the same position you’d be in if he hadn’t been invited to participate.

I’m part of a study where I get tested every two weeks and I’m okay with finding out I’m an asymptomatic case and the repercussions. I can pull out at any point and no one would bat an eyelid.

To chant a good old MN phrase ‘it’s an invite not a summons’.

MiddleClassMother · 16/10/2020 12:36

So you're happy for DS to spread the virus everywhere? YABU

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