The school have asked for help with..

[Baileysforchristmas]

Lateral flow tests, I feel it’s my duty to help but the chances of me catching the virus doing this are quite high, i’m pretty healthy so should be fine but I work so will have to book holiday then If I test positive will have to have another 2 weeks off work and so would DH. What would you do?

If PPE is provided, you are not likely to catch covid.

I don't know how the help is being given but surely teenagers can be given verbal prompts for 2m away - you don't need to actually do the swabbing to them do you?

Volunteers aren't actually swabbing and there will be ppe, but don't feel obliged to do something you aren't comfortable with.

I do this in a school. Most of the children do it themselves but there is the odd one who needs a bit of help.

You will be wearing a mask, gloves, a visor and an apron and it is done behind a screen.

I've processed two positive tests this month and we have had no in school transmission so you are very unlikely to catch Covid.

The schools don't have enough staff to do it. Either parents volunteer or have to wait two / three weeks. They have PPE for testing now.

Thank you, yes if nobody helps children won’t go back to school so I think I will, you’ve put my mind at rest with PPE, it will be 2000 children over a week so yes risk will potentially go up but if behind a screen it will be less risk.

I’m not altruistic enough to use my annual leave for this, but if you are then go for it!

My local school has loads of volunteers and is testing ahead of the 8th, so the teachers are able to be in classrooms teaching. Pupils all back by 9th.

But lots of parent volunteers, so a lot of schools will be later if it is reliant on staff to do testing.

Hopefully they will manage to keep virus out if high enough numbers wear masks and do the tests.

If parents and students opt out it will be back to bubbles bursting again.