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.

@FlowersAreBeautiful
I checked. No testing for asymptomatic children under 12.

No, you don't need to test the children without symptoms.

If the reason for testing is because they were possibly asymptomatic and originally infected the mother- then assuming there was a 5 day incubation period- it's too late to test now anyway, and the window that would be of benefit to 'test and trace' has long passed.

If they are going to be infected by mother then that is what the 10 day family isolation deals with.

@Peculiartimes I suggest you speak to the school and see if they can test for you. Normally I wouldn't suggest that tests be wasted, but it's worth it so other children and teachers aren't put at risk. I'm a teacher and we've had quite a few asymptomatic children at school with positive parents. Or you'll just have to all isolate if you can't get tested. Please don't send your children to school without a negative test, one of my colleagues was in intensive care with Covid

I did test my nursery and school aged DCs when DH tested positive as I needed to tell their schools so that their classes could isolate. I didn't test my toddler. I did it via home testing.

I think I would test them.

Just be sure that even if it comes back negative, if they go on to develop symptoms during the 2 week (or is it ten days now) isolation period they get tested again.

@FlowersAreBeatiful
I work at a school myself. So there is a big chance I got infected there.
My children are attending another school and of course, I informed them.
They didn't ask me to test my children and they didn't offer me a test for my children either. They are trying to save tests for parents who are severely disadvantaged and don't have the skills to order a test online even if they are symptomatic.
My children are of course isolated from the day I got the first symptom and ordered a test, that's the best I could do.