Not consenting to testing at school?

[Redredwine2020]

What will likely happen if we as parents refuse consent for our DC to be tested at school?

I must be missing something, for primary children why can't the test by done by the parent at drop off?

That could result in lots of parents milling about. Schools are usually quick arrival and leave. Doesn't work for those on transport.

@StealthPolarBear if its done at school even by the parent it will give many primary aged children a poor association

@Underhisi I fully agree. Its different when the whole bubble has to isolate.

It involves two nasal swabs, no throat one. Lateral flow tests can use any sort of bodily fluid. It doesn't mean saliva in this case.

Surely those issues will be easier to fix than the bigger problems of having it administered in a classroom by a teacher. Also means if the child tests positive the parent is there to take them back.

@StealthPolarBear

I must be missing something, for primary children why can't the test by done by the parent at drop off?

This would be incredibly hard for ds - getting into school anyway is hard enough, his chronic reflux and anxiety means he is often incredibly tense, angry or upset by the time we get to school, and often very close to vomiting as his reflux is so bad. It has taken us years to get 'going into school' an ok thing...then Covid happened and threw everything into the air.

I would also worry about the children who come in on school transport (6 in ds's class).

My eldest wouldn't mind. Primary aged child would make a massive fuss as he did for the nasal flu vaccine. I'd isolate him at home instead. If the school would be testing close contacts instead of having them isolate doesn't that mean they'd need multiple tests over days? And if they do test positive after a while won't their close contacts from all previous days then need to start getting tested. And on and on

I'm confused how this will help the spread. Or is it just to boost attendance?

@MoirasRoses

I’m pretty sure the tests being rolled out are lateral flow tests - not nasal swabs. We’ve just got mass testing in my council & it’s lateral flow. If you test positive on those, then you need it confirmed with a PCR test as well.

Lateral flow misses a large amount of positive cases. This is another ridiculous and pointless exercise whilst the government aim for herd immunity and kill far too many people (the most vulnerable of society) in the process.

BMJ article on how accurate lateral flow tests are!

Popcornriver. Its just to boost attendance. Its shocking. Mass testing might help the spread but this isnt it.

I wouldnt want to sit next to a close contact of someone with covid. This is absolutely barking and yes more children will catch and spread covid.

That does sound hard hazey :(

If there’s a reason a child needs a test but they can’t be tested, then they’ll just have to isolate. What other solution is there?

"Surely those issues will be easier to fix than the bigger problems of having it administered in a classroom by a teacher. Also means if the child tests positive the parent is there to take them back."

I agree that in theory it should be doable but I wonder how well it would work practically.

"If there’s a reason a child needs a test but they can’t be tested, then they’ll just have to isolate. What other solution is there?"

In this case testing at home if it is only testing at school that is the problem.

@MoirasRoses

I’m pretty sure the tests being rolled out are lateral flow tests - not nasal swabs. We’ve just got mass testing in my council & it’s lateral flow. If you test positive on those, then you need it confirmed with a PCR test as well.

I thought lateral flow was nasal swabs, up each nostril?