How to get my child tested for COVID if no classic symptoms?

[diamondwhiteisclassy]

My 15 yr old son had an awful headache on Saturday. He was then fine after a sleep.
No cough, no temp.
Today woke up for school but said he's so tired so I kept him off. He has gcse mocks so thought maybe wanted day to study.
He's just so lethargic though. Even after resting all day. No other symptoms.
Looked at booking him test but says he doesn't qualify?

Kids seem to have different symptoms to adults. We need to test test test according to WHO

You won't be questioned at the testing site. As much as possible the staff there will keep their distance. Also the tests aren't pleasant so not many people are going to go for the sake of it.

@goldielockdown2

No wonder I couldn't get a test for my symptomatic DS within a 60 mile radius then when every fucker is lying. Because he didn't get a test, he was told to go back to school. If he hadn't been so ill that I kept him off, he could've infected dozens of other kids!

Sorry you couldn't get a test but your school were utterly negligent in telling your child to return.

Any of the main symptoms + inability to get a test = full isolation period (for everyone in the household)

Totally agree. None of the dc that I know who had the virus had the 'classic' symptoms! It is definitely time to widen the criteria for children.

OP I got my son tested today because of fatigue, headache, sore throat.
He did have a cough but it clears an hour after waking up so doesn't really tick the boxes.

So you just lie.

His school has cases of covid, as does his brothers.
So it isn't that far fetched.

Crunchy ikr! They weren't happy I kept him off (secondary school), when I called his younger siblings' primary school to let them know the situation, I was told to send them in also.

My 17 year old son recently had Covid. I nearly didn’t get him tested because he didn’t have any of the main 3 symptoms - he just had a sore throat and blocked nose. It was only when I heard that his father (who he saw the weekend before) had tested positive that we got him tested. We had to lie and say that he had a continuous cough to get the test. A couple of days later we got his positive result.

I got my dd1 tested for vague symptoms, which included a taste of blood in her mouth. Was negative, but we'd been contacts of a positive. I got myself tested too as same symptoms as the friend who was positive. We were both negative, but glad I did it. There were loads of tests available online and no questions asked.

My two are both complaining about a sore throat and I know lots of parents who have said there DC started off with sore throats then tested positive but it's not a classic symptom so can't get a test either.
I just don't want to be that parent who sent them to school and then they later develop symptoms but also pass it on to others.
It's just so difficult, I don't want to lie but also don't want to risk infecting others if they do have it.

Our school have said that the county's approach now is to get any child with headache/fatigue/aches and pains/sore throat/tummy ache (this last one is caveated with "sometimes" 😳) tested. They said there's an option when booking a test online to tick "No symptoms" and then to tick that you've been told by your council to get a test.

Our primary say that if you'd have sent them in with these symptoms last year then send them in. If they develop a fever or cough they'll contact us to bring them home.
It's just so different everywhere which makes it easier for rule breakers and more confusing for the rest

Yes @Sh05 - I'm surprised that our county can make the decision to impose a different approach to testing (although personally I think it's a good thing). Can only presume that they have more testing capacity/more staff available to work the centres. We're a relatively low risk county although rates are currently shooting up and our local big hospital has huge numbers of staff off, either sick or isolating.

Why do you think it’s Covid?

Other illnesses still exist.

Lie. That's what everyone else is doing
Yep. Why not? We’re being lied to. Schools are safe, dontcha know?(sarcasm alert). So don’t think twice, lie, get the test. And for all the nay-sayers: when those of us who have to lie to get our children tested, and then keep them off school so they don’t help to exponentially increase the numbers of positive cases all over the shop, so that, subsequently, total lockdown doesn’t then have to be extended for you and yours - no need to thank us.

Our school has said exactly the same, apparently in consultation with PHE. Apparently most cases there have presented with d&v/headache

@MadameBlobby

Why do you think it’s Covid?

Other illnesses still exist.

Well yes they do but not many others have the ability to shut whole school years. Minor inconvenience to one pupil and their family for a couple of days is preferable to the slim chance they do have it and unknowingly pass it round.