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Original poster

How is the mass testing in schools going?

40 replies

Hellomoonstar · 14/12/2020 20:02

Is it to early to find out how the school mass testing is going? I’m expecting dsis (her school was chosen) to either be positive or told to self isolate after being in contact with a positive case.

OP posts:
WillSantaBeComingToTown · 14/12/2020 20:05

There is no mass testing in schools.

Mobile units have been set up near schools. If parents want their children to have a test then they can. No compulsion. No mass testing..

cheninblanc · 14/12/2020 20:15

Nothing, no contact from anyone regarding it and no mobile units either.

psychomath · 14/12/2020 20:19

There is no mass testing in schools.

There was (non-compulsory) mass testing in Liverpool schools last month, but the data hasn't been published as far as I know. The overall positivity rate was about 1% a few weeks ago but I haven't seen anything about schools specifically.

Ginogineli · 14/12/2020 20:20

Liverpool school cases were low

Very few found positive

Original poster
Hellomoonstar · 14/12/2020 22:14

Sorry, dsis school called it voluntary mass testing, using mobile units. They were testing only student with no symptoms of covid and who were not self isolating. Over the weekend. They sent an email around saying they needed one more day of remote learning to help them keep the school safe. They didn’t explain it further.

OP posts:
GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 14/12/2020 22:17

I would refuse permission for this. Both my teens were chosen for random tests for the Oxford trial earlier in the year and neither would be keen to have another unnecessary test.

Barbie222 · 14/12/2020 22:19

@Ginogineli do you have a link? I would like to see the data

Original poster
Hellomoonstar · 14/12/2020 23:52

Dsis wanted to do the test and she convinced dm to give permission.

OP posts:
Lifeispassingby · 15/12/2020 02:26

In Swale Kent where I work (not in a school though) the units are arriving at several schools in the morning (tues) for testing staff, pupils and their families

Lifeispassingby · 15/12/2020 02:28

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat really? Why do you deem it unnecessary? Could you explain your reasons for refusal? Genuinely don’t know why someone wouldn’t test so am interested to hear your thoughts?

worriedandannoyed · 15/12/2020 03:28

@Lifeispassingby

In Swale Kent where I work (not in a school though) the units are arriving at several schools in the morning (tues) for testing staff, pupils and their families
What's the point?? Just send them all home now. 4 days before the end of term. What a waste
CKBJ · 15/12/2020 03:56

On this issue of testing in schools, back in the earlier part of the autumn term several schools namely primary schools were doing saliva testing on their pupils. Southampton if my memory serves me correctly, was one of the places. And as far as I’m aware no data has been published. This makes me wonder why! Surely if hundreds or thousands of students were screened and rates were low or non existent it strengthens the government’s argument but if the reverse is true then obviously it wouldn’t! 🤔

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 15/12/2020 05:44

[quote Lifeispassingby]@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat really? Why do you deem it unnecessary? Could you explain your reasons for refusal? Genuinely don’t know why someone wouldn’t test so am interested to hear your thoughts?[/quote]
Well as I say the reason is because they don’t want to have it done again. They are 17 & 15 anyway so I couldn’t force them even if I wanted to. The tests they had before for population testing were negative. It wouldn’t affect our plans over Christmas, we’re just staying at home, they have no symptoms so wouldn’t otherwise be tested. And lastly, I don’t want them to. We all have freedom of choice but this would have you question that, for fear of being deemed selfish. You are allowed to say no to things...

ChasingRainbows19 · 15/12/2020 05:52

I can imagine a good amount of people won’t want to test their asymptomatic kids 10 days before Christmas and risk isolation. Wether that’s right or not is a whole other thing with Christmas mixing ahead, but it’s what will happen.

Popcornriver · 15/12/2020 06:11

There isn't any in my daughters secondary. But they could certainly use it. I dread what January will bring for hospitals.

Original poster
Hellomoonstar · 15/12/2020 06:46

@worriedandannoyed I partly agree with you. However, it is important to check teenagers before they go and visit other family members, so they don’t blame themselves in case the people they visit get covid. The government is ready to blame teenagers for killing grannies and that thought has already been planted in their minds.
So I believe it is a good idea to test now. I hope they start testing more regularly after this. If the government refuse to publish data, or release it very late. Would there not be a temporary high new cases if there is high numbers of people testing positive?

I just remembered dsis said she had to register her test on her return home. How many students would forget to do this, or do it very late?

OP posts:
worriedandannoyed · 15/12/2020 07:00

[quote Hellomoonstar]@worriedandannoyed I partly agree with you. However, it is important to check teenagers before they go and visit other family members, so they don’t blame themselves in case the people they visit get covid. The government is ready to blame teenagers for killing grannies and that thought has already been planted in their minds.
So I believe it is a good idea to test now. I hope they start testing more regularly after this. If the government refuse to publish data, or release it very late. Would there not be a temporary high new cases if there is high numbers of people testing positive?

I just remembered dsis said she had to register her test on her return home. How many students would forget to do this, or do it very late?[/quote]
That's why I said send them. Isolation is ten days now? So they'd be clear by Christmas to see their older relatives.

Original poster
Hellomoonstar · 15/12/2020 19:45

The last two days will now be remote learning for dsis school, except for the normal exceptions.

I didn’t know about the reduction in isolation time. Thank you for telling me @worriedandannoyed

OP posts:
worriedandannoyed · 15/12/2020 20:02

@Hellomoonstar

The last two days will now be remote learning for dsis school, except for the normal exceptions.

I didn’t know about the reduction in isolation time. Thank you for telling me @worriedandannoyed

Great news for your family. I'm keeping my children off now, school has given us the option thankfully
Lifeispassingby · 15/12/2020 20:05

@worriedandannoyed they are testing to find out who has it and isolate them so that they don’t pass it on, it’s that simple

Lifeispassingby · 15/12/2020 20:06

Our local school found 15 cases today alone

Char2015 · 15/12/2020 20:06

@Ginogineli

Liverpool school cases were low

Very few found positive

That is incorrect.

You seem to be going from school thread to school thread trying to indicate there is no problem in schools and sharing incorrect information in favour of keeping schools open. Lying about things that can easily be checked is not going to change the covid in schools situation.

Ginogineli · 16/12/2020 07:19

Very few cases were found as a proportion of those tested and given testing site didn’t advise those who tested postive to retest with pcr I’m guessing many were false as I know 3 who tested positive on lft and negative on pcr

Ginogineli · 16/12/2020 07:21

www.bmj.com/content/371/bmj.m4744/rr

Ginogineli · 16/12/2020 07:25

Given half these postive were poss false because they weren’t asked to confirm with pcr- not that bad given our rate was 750/100000

How is the mass testing in schools going?