Do I really need to test children?

[Peculiartimes]

I have tested positive after having symptoms. So my household is isolating according to the government's advice and all my work contacts too. Some people think that my family needs to get a test because my children went to school and there is a chance that they carried a virus asymptomatically. The thing is my DH and children are entirely asymptomatic, with literally zero symptoms of any kind. How am I supposed to get a test for asymptomatic children? It's not what the system allows to do. What's your opinion on that? I feel like we are doing our best by following the advice and isolating and I can't really cover all the possible scenarios.

No symptoms equals no test.

Inform school (if they've been in) and sit tight.

Simple.

Let the school know.

Yes I'd get the children tested. There are plenty of tests - just say they have symptoms.

Most children are asymptomatic the responsible thing to do is to test them. The “system” costs lives. They are test centres for no symptoms however as they are self isolating they can’t go there so just book a test.

*There are.

Absolutely no reason to test the children, there is no symptoms.

To the person above who says lie, for what reason do the children need a test they should be isolating now anyway.

Your household needs to SI because of your positive test, but you only need to test your co-habitees if they become symptomatic

If the children test positive, their close contacts at school will also be told to isolate. So that's the reason to get them tested.

I personally would- if they are positive I think the teachers and other families deserve to know. I would just lie and say they have symptoms.

It's weird how people here want people to follow guidelines, but then suddenly want to not follow them and lie.

If you sent them to school then I would, as they could be putting other children, families and staff at risk.
If your dc don’t get a positive result then no one else will be warned or allowed to isolate.
Some of the people they’ve been in contact with may have vulnerable family members so they need to know if they have been exposed.

When I ordered a home testing kit, it said to order tests for family members even if they had no symptoms, so I don’t think it’s true that you can’t test them.

@Againstmachine

To the person above who says lie, for what reason do the children need a test they should be isolating now anyway.

Because if they kids gets positive and have been at school 2 days before they tested positive their whole bubbles would need to isolate... that is why.

Yeah, weird that people are actually able to critically think for themselves and that the gov doesn't have a perfect system in place that covers all the permutations of this diseases presentation

Lie and get the test for the kids anyway because we all know there is a very decent possibility they are asymptomatic and positive which has huge knock on effects for all their classmates and families.

Because if they kids gets positive and have been at school 2 days before they tested positive their whole bubbles would need to isolate... that is why.

You only test if you have symptoms that's why, you are now doing the same as someone who doesn't wear a mask when they should, you aren't following the guidelines.

@Againstmachine

Because if they kids gets positive and have been at school 2 days before they tested positive their whole bubbles would need to isolate... that is why.

You only test if you have symptoms that's why, you are now doing the same as someone who doesn't wear a mask when they should, you aren't following the guidelines.

So the class teacher that has a vulnerable child at home, or the classmate who lives with an elderly grandparent - just fuck them, not your problem

I'm in basically the exact same situation except my daughter was already isolating. She was isolating from Monday after a positive case in her nursery. I then tested positive on Thursday. She hasn't got any symptoms so I'm not putting her through getting tested (she's 2) as she was already isolating and so was her whole nursery bubble. I am just assuming she is positive as I've not been out and there were 12 cases at her nursery. I have told nursery there same thing. If she starts to develop symptoms I'll get her tested

@LucyLockdown

Yes I'd get the children tested. There are plenty of tests - just say they have symptoms.

So I have to lie? Literally, invent the date when their symptoms started etc?

So the class teacher that has a vulnerable child at home, or the classmate who lives with an elderly grandparent - just fuck them, not your problem confused

No you inform the school what has happened and let them use their procedures to deal with the issue.

Although technically you don't need to as they don't have symptoms, I think I probably would in your situation. Partly because I think it's important for their close contacts to know so that they can isolate. Especially given how many children apparently have it asymptotically.

Surely the more positive cases we know about, the more people isolating, and that all helps reduce the spread which is what we want?

@Againstmachine

So the class teacher that has a vulnerable child at home, or the classmate who lives with an elderly grandparent - just fuck them, not your problem confused

No you inform the school what has happened and let them use their procedures to deal with the issue.

What procedure do you think that might be?

Schools don’t inform anyone that a child’s parent has tested positive if the child hasn’t. They don’t close bubbles. Staff are only allowed to isolate if they personally have been identified as a close contact of a confirmed case.

@WishingHopingThinkingPraying

Yeah, weird that people are actually able to critically think for themselves and that the gov doesn't have a perfect system in place that covers all the permutations of this diseases presentation

Lie and get the test for the kids anyway because we all know there is a very decent possibility they are asymptomatic and positive which has huge knock on effects for all their classmates and families.

It's not my fault that the system is not perfect, I follow all the rules since this pandemic started. How is it ok for me to lie, break self-isolation to the test center and to test family basically against official advice? I do understand your point, I really do. If the system involved testing asymptomatic family members, I'd do it with no hesitation.

@Againstmachine

Absolutely no reason to test the children, there is no symptoms.

To the person above who says lie, for what reason do the children need a test they should be isolating now anyway.

No reason except that they could be carrying it and have given it to the rest of the class and staff.

@Peculiartimes yes, you just tick the box. No one checks up on you and you won’t get in any trouble. You can order a home test.

@Peculiartimes I guess you just have to decide if your worry about breaking a rule is more important than protecting the school community.

@Againstmachine

You only test if you have symptoms that's why, you are now doing the same as someone who doesn't wear a mask when they should, you aren't following the guidelines.

Seriously are you such a sheep you’ve lost the ability to engage your own brain and think outside the narrow box?

Lots of people have explained why the kids should be tested...!

And lots of cities allow testing and encourage testing without symptoms.