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Original poster

"mass testing" of secondary school pupils in london/essex/kent

28 replies

Frazzled2207 · 11/12/2020 17:54

Ok so putting aside the argument that Northern kids have clearly been completely ignored here, despite suffering repeated self-isolations for months.
I don't disagree with the principle but who in their right minds is going to agree to their kid being tested when there is a risk of being self isolated for christmas, not just for their own kid but the whole class.
Surely just closing the schools for the last week of term (except perhaps exam children) would be more effective if they really think it is spreading in schools.
If there are any parents in the affected schools/areas I'd really like to hear what you think and if you think it's reasomable.

OP posts:
Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 11/12/2020 18:03

Our secondary is now closed until after Christmas anyway. Son has been home for two weeks already.
The school has sent details for mobile test unit. However what is the point if the kids are already home isolating.
A school that is still running and people wanting a test before seeing granny is different. Although personally I wouldn't totally trust the result and want to isolate before anyway.
Testing as a way to keep schools open in the new year is at least chance for the kids to go back to school I hope.

Nellee · 11/12/2020 18:07

They’re not actually going to do this next week though are they?

Original poster
Frazzled2207 · 11/12/2020 18:39

@Nellee

They’re not actually going to do this next week though are they?
Well Matt Hancock said they would be. Is it going to be one of those announcements that just goes down a black hole?
OP posts:
Nellee · 11/12/2020 18:42

Of course. Not many of these grand promises actually end up happening do they.

Did he really say it would start next week? There’s no way that’s going to happen. They can’t organise anything that fast.

I’d be very surprised if it happens after Christmas or ever in fact.

Original poster
Frazzled2207 · 11/12/2020 18:44

apparently starting tomorrow
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55272319

OP posts:
Truelymadlydeeplysomeonesmum · 11/12/2020 18:58

Mobile unit set up in local car park for tomorrow and Sunday to do general public.

Then on Monday it is there priority use for our school and sister school.

Years 13, 12 and 11 having top priority.

Got school email this afternoon.

Before anyone asks we are not a private or posh school. Just standard London secondary.

anniegun · 11/12/2020 19:06

"but who in their right minds is going to agree to their kid being tested when there is a risk of being self isolated for christmas" . If your Kid has Covid dont you want to know? Or are you happy they infect everyone they come into contact with over Christmas?

Fluffyowl00 · 11/12/2020 19:45

I worry that there might be riots in Manchester soon! I honestly can’t believe that a region in tier 2 would be given mass testing. I. Honestly. Can’t. Believe. It.

DrunkenKoala · 11/12/2020 20:04

We were talking about this earlier. We are in Medway, Kent and our infection rate is the 2nd highest in England, but we’re not mentioned in the BBC article you posted. The army is already here doing mass testing of the frontline workers and families so I’m hoping it’ll be expanded to school children as the secondary schools are really struggling, they have been since going back after Oct half term.

We’ve decided to do Christmas as just our household this year and we’ve got most things now. My only concern is I’ve got a food to order to collect which I have to go in store for so if we are eligible for testing and one of us is positive then I’ll have to find someone to pick it up for me. Also our Royal Mail sorting office is really struggling at the moment so I’m hoping I don’t find myself having to go and pick something up.

Original poster
Frazzled2207 · 11/12/2020 20:15

@anniegun

"but who in their right minds is going to agree to their kid being tested when there is a risk of being self isolated for christmas" . If your Kid has Covid dont you want to know? Or are you happy they infect everyone they come into contact with over Christmas?
agree I would want to know but I absolutely would not want to be responsible for inflicting home isolation on dozens of other families.

To be able to find out that the child was negative at the very end of term however, would be very reassuring.

OP posts:
DrunkenKoala · 11/12/2020 20:25

I also think that they should have closed the secondary schools today and moved over onto online learning. I’ve got a feeling DS’s school won’t last the week though, two year groups out already due to staff shortages.

agree I would want to know but I absolutely would not want to be responsible for inflicting home isolation on dozens of other families.

If it is spreading in the school it will be more than one child who’ll test positive - you won’t be responsible for spoiling Christmas. Shit situation all round.

Original poster
Frazzled2207 · 11/12/2020 20:41

@DrunkenKoala
Indeed it is. Northern Media is raging - schools here have been on their knees the whole time and yet no help given to us at any point.

OP posts:
Thatwentbadly · 11/12/2020 20:44

If your child tests positive tomorrow it’s the 12 they will be out of isolation by the 23rd.

I agree madness that tier 3 areas don’t have mass testing but tier 2 areas do.

DrunkenKoala · 11/12/2020 20:49

[quote Frazzled2207]@DrunkenKoala
Indeed it is. Northern Media is raging - schools here have been on their knees the whole time and yet no help given to us at any point.[/quote]
I’m a northerner, still lots of family and friends there. I can’t believe the way they’ve all been treated and I’m not surprised northern media is furious - hopefully they won’t let this go. So much for levelling up hey Boris!

Mindymomo · 12/12/2020 07:12

Here in the South, schools are the same, so it’s not just the north, really high numbers of positive cases in secondary schools, but told they must stay open. Many of these children have no symptoms and are passing them on to family members. I really for when they get together with extended family at Christmas.

Chewbecca · 12/12/2020 08:42

I live in one of the locations this is being implemented and the reality is nothing like I imagined from the headline.

My town has (I think) 12 secondary schools. It’s about 40mins drive from one side to the other.

We already had 2 testing centres, one drive in, one walk through which were bookable via the govt site.

What we now have, starting today, is one new mobile unit in a car park. Secondary school pupils, their families and school staff can / should attend with no symptoms.

There’s no testing in schools, no direct contact with families or any instruction to go. There is a post on the council website which says people are encouraged to go both now and again a few days before school restarts.

I reckon that’s about 50,000 people invited to attend one mobile unit.

Chewbecca · 12/12/2020 08:45

(We have 263 cases per 100,000 btw so highish but nothing like the levels seen previously elsewhere)

lavenderlou · 12/12/2020 08:48

DH's school has been allocated its own mobile testing unit. Staff HV been told it's for pupils only. It will be on-site from Monday apparently. Unfortunately, the school is closed to all pupils next week for remote learning only due to the high number of positive cases, so it looks like the unit won't be very busy!

middleager · 12/12/2020 08:49

[quote Frazzled2207]@DrunkenKoala
Indeed it is. Northern Media is raging - schools here have been on their knees the whole time and yet no help given to us at any point.[/quote]
We've been on our knees in the West Midlands too, tier 3.
5 self isolations for my son, plus Covid. 10 per cent of a class of 30 with it.
Several cases a day in all schools I work with, masses of teachers out.

Orangeblossom77777 · 12/12/2020 10:17

I have just been reading about this in the news, saying parents are 'spooked' by it and many are taking their kids off school early...

MrsWombat · 12/12/2020 12:01

I would like to know the criteria for choosing these areas because despite Bexley being in the top 6 London boroughs for 7 day case rate per 100,000, they haven't been chosen. [[https://www.bexley.gov.uk/sites/default/files/101220-public-facing-daily-dashboard.pdf]] Maybe the boroughs they have picked have more cases in schools?

It's a good idea in theory, and I think more areas should have at least the mobile centre in a car park set up at the very least.

starrynight19 · 12/12/2020 12:07

An absolute disgrace to all those schools in tier three who have been struggling for months.
My dd has had four isolations since September.
It’s been spreading through schools here since we returned in September and we have been told to carry on as it’s safe.
So safe in fact I caught it from my class one week into isolation after a child tested positive. I was one of six in my primary class to test positive that week.
I have emailed my mp numerous times and he is waiting for a response from the education secretary. No mass testing for us.

flumposie · 12/12/2020 12:33

But if your child is in school positive wouldn't you want to know to stop the possibility of spreading it to other pupils, staff and family. As a teacher it sickens me to think parents would rather carry on in ignorance. I'm not seeing family over Christmas because of attitudes of other people towards the virus.

justasyouare · 12/12/2020 12:45

We are in Essex and have been asked to test - letter received from the school this morning. We will be testing the whole family as asked.
However, I’m absolutely shocked to read that lateral flow testing for many tier 3 areas only starts on Monday! We aren’t getting lateral flow, just normal PCR but why hasn’t this been offered to areas that have been affected for months?
We’ve been lucky so far and have only isolated for 4 days whilst waiting for a result for DS. There are a lot isolating in their school now but this is recent. Areas in the north have had this for months without extra tests.
It’s just not fair. Can someone explain the reason for this divide? What did the government gain from testing my small town in Essex over somewhere like Manchester or another tier 3 area?