Child asked to remain at home for unconfirmed covid

[Chillychangchoo]

Is this normal?

My child has been asked to self isolate by the school for an unconfirmed case of coronavirus. (Year 3)

I presume a child is waiting for test results in the class but in the meantime the whole class has to isolate?

Is this standard procedure?

It’s not, but maybe they have a strong reason for thinking that it is covid? Like the rest of the pupil’s family have had positive results, and it’s just this child’s that are taking longer to come back or something.
They can’t ask a whole class to isolate for every unconfirmed case, because that’s basically every time any of them have a temperature.

Well that sounds sensible, no point risking everyone further.

I don’t think it’s sensible when it’s the whole class that has been asked to isolate as a precautionary measure for an unconfirmed case?

If for example the whole family is ill an the child is now showing symptoms it does seem the best cause of action sadly

Probably someone else in the family has it and waiting for a likely positive test result. Better to be safe than sorry....

Okay well I guess time will tell.

I’m betting mine will be off as a precautionary measure for every single snotty nose that enters the classroom. It’s over the top.

They should only isolate for confirmed cases in my opinion.

If they wait for confirmed cases, it could easily spread to another 5 families and take longer to stamp out again.

Its a balance of likelihood unfortunately.

Is it possible the family already have a positive from another member, and the child has done a positive lateral flow but is waiting for a positive PCR to confirm? This happened for my child’s class a couple of weeks ago, and at least the quick result on the lateral flow stopped the rest of the class being in school for an extra day potentially spreading it to each until the PCR was done.

I can’t imagine they would send the class to isolate unless it seemed highly likely the child was going to get a positive on the PCR

A positive lateral flow test is a confirmed case though?

This has been highlighted as a precautionary measure for an unconfirmed case. Whole class.

That sounds very sensible. They must have reason to think it's Covid, so to have the class in school and most likely spread it would be mad. Tests are coming back really quickly now, so you won't have to wait long.

If a lf is done at home then it needs to be backed up with a pcr to confirm it.

It’s possible they mean a positive LFT test, now waiting for confirmation from PCR test? That’s the only explanation I would find acceptable tbh.

What is an unconfirmed case? Someone with a symptom or something else?

I guess whether they are unreasonable depends on the specifics of the situation

The specifics are a child has symptoms of covid in the class so now the whole class is isolating whilst said child gets a PCR. A positive on a lateral would be classed as a confirmed case, would it not? If a child has tested positive on a lateral then that is a positive case, but we were emailed to say this is a precautionary measure that the school is taking, as currently covid is unconfirmed.

Think of it this way. If it does turn out to be positive the children have started isolating sooner so hopefully ypu won't have to spend all of the Easter holidays isolating.

@stressbucket1

Think of it this way. If it does turn out to be positive the children have started isolating sooner so hopefully ypu won't have to spend all of the Easter holidays isolating.

But there's not much else to do in the Easter holidays! I'd rather my child was in school as much as possible.

Wow. That seems an unsustainable approach. Are rates high where you live?

A home administered LFT isn’t considered reliable & a positive is supposed to be confirmed by a PCR, btw.

Not particularly high. Can you get false positives on a lateral? I thought that wasn’t possible? (I could be wrong). I really do not think a lateral has been done tbh. I guess the family may have tested positive, and now the child is also displaying symptoms, in which case it would be sensible.

If it’s just for a snotty nose however, then no it’s not sustainable. They cannot be off school as a precautionary every time a child sneezes. Confirmed cases, yes, fair enough. I’m hoping my children won’t be off school too many times as a “precautionary”.

No, a false positive is more likely on an LFT than a PCR. The guidance is explicit that LFT positives should be confirmed by a PCR.

Not normal unless they know that the child has been in contact with a positive case and has developed symptoms themselves.

Sounds like the child possibly should have been self isolating but wasn't.

OP, you've mentioned being off for a snotty nose a couple of times.
School won't be closing bubbles each time a child has runny nose.

I hope you’re right @LolaSmiles

Obviously with unconfirmed cases, one does have to wonder. I have no problem isolating my children for confirmed cases of covid.

The children have missed too much school for them to be closing bubbles for no reason.

My guess would be the same as others, that it's probably a home LFT that needs confirming.

Think of it this way. If it does turn out to be positive the children have started isolating sooner so hopefully ypu won't have to spend all of the Easter holidays isolating

It wouldn't change the date of end of isolation at all.

The school does not have the power to isolate children on the fear of a positive case, this is completely wrong.

I imagine the professional people running the school have made a professional and educated decision to send the class home until they know more. Assume they know a shit load more about the situation than you and presume they are acting in the best interests of the school and the children. They don’t owe you a full explanation of their reasoning. They are professionals doing their job.