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Original poster

How many times has your child had to test?

58 replies

MangoM · 13/11/2020 14:16

DS (14 months) started nursery 3 months ago in mid August.

Nursery have sent him home again today for the fourth time to get tested. That's now four times within three months, I'm really starting to lose my patience. Not with nursery, but with the whole virus situation, nevermind the inconsistency with how long the result takes to come back.

Has anyone else had to take their DC for tests as often as we have? Whenever we mention to any real life friends/family they just say 'oooh, your nursery is strict' which makes me wonder whether anyone else is having this same level of disruption.

OP posts:
CarryOnWalking · 13/11/2020 16:21

Dc1 y10 once
Dc2 y8 zero

Bobtheshark · 13/11/2020 17:31

No tests for any of my kids or us. Dreading ever having to!

Sammilouwho · 13/11/2020 17:41

We've had 1 test because DD (2) had a fever, no other symptoms, nothing else wrong and test came back negative.
Nursery has closed once, it was a worker we'd never come into contact with or even met (DD is in 2 days a week and the worker was in 2 different days) but because it was her room we had to have DD off for 2 weeks but did not have to isolate - we did for 1 week just in case she had come into contact with anybody who had been in contact with the worker.
Our nursery have been quite good and so far we are the only room to have closed and only 1 positive test and we are in a very high risk area.

FiveFootTwoEyesOfBlue · 13/11/2020 17:43

2 children at secondary, tested zero times (live in low case area, there are currently zero cases at school)

Coasterfan · 13/11/2020 18:04

No tests here, DS is 11 in primary DD is 13 at secondary.

Original poster
MangoM · 13/11/2020 18:59

I guess it varies alot. When I think of the number of times we've had to test him, I dread to think how it must be for people with two or more kids.

@FundamentallyFucked
He was only really unwell once out of four tests. One was a fever following jabs, twice was a cough, and through all of those he was continuing as normal and you wouldn't even think he was unwell.

I totally understand the need to test everyone with symptoms. We need to do all we can to stop the spread. Even though you know it's all for the greater good, it's so incredibly frustrating having a child at home for most of the week when they aren't actually unwell. I'm starting to really fall behind on everything at work because of all the disruption.

I guess I'm not really looking for a solution, as this is just how it is at the moment. Just looking for a bit of reassurance that I'm not the only person having to take off every three/four weeks off work while we wait for test results.

I guess if these rapid tests become more widely available, it'll make things easier. Or is that even realistic?

OP posts:
Gillian1980 · 13/11/2020 22:47

5 year old has been tested once.
17 month old has been tested 5 times.

Both been in nursery and school throughout as we’re both keyworkers. Fortunately all tests have been negative.

DumplingsAndStew · 13/11/2020 23:14

DC 4th year - once
DC 1st year - once (different time)
Me - not at all

We also had a two week isolation back in March when you couldn't get tested unless hospitalised, including the week before lockdown.

Pootle40 · 13/11/2020 23:16

None. And if they had symptoms I'm not convinced I would test them, just keep them home 14 days

tappitytaptap · 14/11/2020 04:07

Two kids, 4 and 2. Tested 2 year old once with brief fever (teething). 4 year old not at all. He has had 3 colds since starting school but no cough with it (well coughed the odd time but not continuous). 4 year old had to isolate once because of positive test in his bubble. Friend who is a keyworker and therefore has had access to tests for longer has had to test her 1 year old 5 times as he’s gotten 5 new teeth since this started and a temp for each one!

tappitytaptap · 14/11/2020 04:08

Test was negative. Me and DH not at all. I’ve had a temp twice during lockdown #1 but was mastitis both times.

kowari · 14/11/2020 04:42

Zero. Has gone to school with a bad cold as instructed (no persistent cough), no issues. Hasn't met criteria.

borageforager · 14/11/2020 08:16

Y8 and Y4 haven’t been ill so haven’t been tested.
Reception child just developed a chest infection with cough so currently waiting his results. So once out of my 3 kids. Neither DH or I have needed a test either.

Loveable1 · 14/11/2020 13:59

We have been lucky so far and not had to test or even isolate.

But one family at our school has 4 children 2 from her partners 1st marriage, since September they have had 7 tests between them and only 1 WEEK yes 1, where one of the 6 members of the household was not isolating! The poor mum is tearing her hair out at how many times they have had to isolate!

peanutbutterandfluff · 14/11/2020 15:23

Just turned 2 year old, back at nursery since July
3 tests so far
Also one 14 day self isolation due to a case at Nursery

steppemum · 14/11/2020 15:27

3 kids, all teens

One of them was tested when she had a cough. negative.

None of the rest of the family have been tested, as none of us have had symptoms.

thismeansnothing · 14/11/2020 15:35

DD is in year 4 and were in a Tier3 are pre lockdown. She has never (touch wood) needed a test. There hasn't been a positive case at her school since going back in September either.

callmeearly · 14/11/2020 15:41

Just back from Dd's third test. Once for a fever, once because she was hospitalised and they do it as routine and today because of a cough. Ds has also had one because of a fever.

I am so very tired and exhausted from the mental strain of it. Also really struggling from the reduced support from Dm and Dmil because they are both elderly. (They don't babysit but sometimes there presence even gives me strength!) and yes I know that makes me blessed

username194841 · 14/11/2020 23:18

I completely understand your frustration. We all actually had COVID the beginning of August. DD started nursery beginning of September on her second day she developed abit of a cough in the afternoon they sent her home so she missed the rest of her first week. Two weeks later she had a slight temperature due to jabs. I just decide not to send her but didn't tell them why. I know that was wrong but I know why she had the fever.
The end of October loads of staff tested positive so they shut down the entire nursery. She had to isolate because she had been in close contact with many of them. She got no symptoms and neither did we as it's likely we still have antibodies I imagine. She has been back a week and now has a cold (no COVID symptoms just snotty) I don't know whether she can go in or not or if I ask them I'm concerned they will ask her to get tested before returning. The cold she must have got from the nursery as it's the only place she has been in weeks.

NatalieH2220 · 14/11/2020 23:25

None (yet). 3yo been back at nursery full time since July.

38weekswithno2 · 14/11/2020 23:56

My 4yo hasn't needed a test. I do remember the first winter in nursery when he was around 18mo he caught quite a few cold / flu type things though. It's just unfortunate that your wee ones immune system is at the stage it is just now Sad

Vargas · 15/11/2020 00:32

3 kids, all teens, no symptoms so no tests. London

Vacummingagain · 15/11/2020 08:08

Two DC 6 and 3, one test so far. We all had colds but DS (the eldest) had a persistent little dry cough with his. It was back in September when the tests were hard to get done and we had a 5-hour round trip for one, thankfully a negative result was back later the same day.

3littlewords · 15/11/2020 08:31

3dc no tests so far

NoSquirrels · 15/11/2020 09:02

OP, is your DH doing his fair share of the staying home/isolating childcare when your DS has to test? It’s really important when you both work that you both share the disruption, especially if you feel you’re falling behind.