Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Work are making me test. Do we need to?

92 replies

Dandylioness1 · 17/05/2021 14:26

DS (15 months) has been absolutely full of cold for 5 days now. Really grumpy and just not himself.
He also has 2 teeth coming through.

He had a really unsettled night last night. Temp was fine.

This morning he seemed okay so I sent him to nursery as normal.

Just after lunch they called to say he had been down for a nap (doesn’t usually have a morning nap at nursery so he must’ve been shattered) and he’d woken up with a temp of 38.4

I went to collect him. The nursery have said they don’t need a negative Covid test for him to go back.

Glad of this to be honest. He doesn’t go anywhere apart from nursery, he’s in the baby room with 6 others, all staff test, me and DH test twice weekly and are vaccinated.

Work have just called me to say I won’t be allowed back until both me and my son have had a negative PCR test.

Can they make us test?

OP posts:
Mindymomo · 17/05/2021 14:43

They can’t make you test, but you can isolate for 10 days. I am surprised that the nursery will take him back without a negative test, considering he had a temperature. Are you and DH having PCR tests, or LFT.

Original poster
Dandylioness1 · 17/05/2021 14:47

@Mindymomo

They can’t make you test, but you can isolate for 10 days. I am surprised that the nursery will take him back without a negative test, considering he had a temperature. Are you and DH having PCR tests, or LFT.
@Mindymomo

To be honest I was surprised at this from the nursery too. I think they’re just going from the fact that he’s so full of cold so have assumed it’s linked.

DH & I do twice weekly LFT’s.

OP posts:
HarveySchlumpfenburger · 17/05/2021 14:48

They can’t make you test, but given your DS has one of the 3 symptoms that mean you should get tested, they can refuse to have you back until you’ve isolated for the required 10 days if you don’t.

Original poster
Dandylioness1 · 17/05/2021 14:53

@RafaIsTheKingOfClay

They can’t make you test, but given your DS has one of the 3 symptoms that mean you should get tested, they can refuse to have you back until you’ve isolated for the required 10 days if you don’t.
@RafaIsTheKingOfClay

My sister in law has taken her daughter (19 months) for 8 Covid tests now. 8!!!
She’s had so many temperatures since starting nursery, all of her tests have been negative.

OP posts:
delilahbucket · 17/05/2021 15:06

If you were one of my staff members living with someone who has one of the main symptoms of covid I wouldn't have you in without completing isolation or a negative test either.
Clearly you don't want to but your options are pretty limited as they are not doing anything wrong.

HelloDulling · 17/05/2021 15:08

They are following the rules. Sorry!

Original poster
Dandylioness1 · 17/05/2021 15:10

@delilahbucket

If you were one of my staff members living with someone who has one of the main symptoms of covid I wouldn't have you in without completing isolation or a negative test either. Clearly you don't want to but your options are pretty limited as they are not doing anything wrong.
@delilahbucket

It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s just that he’s a baby and I’m wondering where you draw the line at testing babies for Covid.

OP posts:
jupitermars1345 · 17/05/2021 15:17

TBH the nursery are wrong here. He needs a PCR test for a temp before returning.

I don't blame your work place for asking

Twickerhun · 17/05/2021 15:18

Testing babies is grim. Properly grim. But he has a temperature so you really should do aa pcr test not a lateral flow test. It’s the right thing to do for everyone else’s sake - even if shit for you. We test to protect others from further spread not just for our own benefit.

The good news is babies don’t remember (unlike my bastard preschooler who holds it against me).

delilahbucket · 17/05/2021 15:18

Your baby potentially has a serious illness, either for him or others and you would rather not get him tested, a quick procedure that he won't remember, and then risk spreading it around to other people. Sorry but I don't understand your logic.

ifonly4 · 17/05/2021 15:23

I'd say it's quite reasonable for work to expect you to either test or isolate (which could be unpaid given a negative test would get you back to work quicker).

In the ideal world, you'll get your little one tested to ensure it isn't covid and isn't being spread.

Original poster
Dandylioness1 · 17/05/2021 15:24

@delilahbucket

Your baby potentially has a serious illness, either for him or others and you would rather not get him tested, a quick procedure that he won't remember, and then risk spreading it around to other people. Sorry but I don't understand your logic.
@delilahbucket

He doesn’t see other people. He goes to nursery. That’s it. They were the ones who said they were happy for us not to test.

I’ve done lateral flows on him (2 to be safe) both negative. He hated them. It was awful trying to do that.

I feel sorry for young children who are prone to lots of bugs, who will then have to have Covid tests 😔

OP posts:
Overthebow · 17/05/2021 15:24

Your DS has one of the 3 main covid symptoms and therefore you need to get him tested and your whole house isolate until the results come back. Doesn't matter what nursery has said, this is what you need to do. Your work are correct, and they can ask that you do this.

Twickerhun · 17/05/2021 15:28

I can’t believe I’m typing this 15 months into this pandemic. But here is the idiots guide to virus’s spreading. He goes to nursery - who have staff who interact closely with him. They go home to families. Some of those family members may be vulnerable. Nursery staff also then go out to meet other people, who meet other people, and that my friend is how it spreads. Better to do one pcr test and not the two LFT you’ve already done. Strap him in the car seat and do the test at a drive in centre

Dandylioness1 · 17/05/2021 15:30

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

palacegirl77 · 17/05/2021 15:31

My daughters teacher had to take her 2 year old for a test last week to get him back into nursery (had a cough) Because there is so much availability now she booked it for the time he would have his sleep and drove him there - he didnt know he'd had it!

ALevelhelp · 17/05/2021 15:33

It's irrelevant that your DS only goes to nursery who are happy, if he's got it you could all get it and then you'll take it into work. It's grim, I feel very sad for my little ones at work who have to have them - I'm a nursery worker, I'm surprised your nursery is happy to take him back without a test.

Do the right thing and have his tested, if not could you take holiday and self isolate at home with him?

delilahbucket · 17/05/2021 15:35

So rather than do one PCR test, you've put yourself through the agony of TWO lateral flows? Why didn't you just take him for a PCR? You can't say he doesn't see anyone and he only goes to nursery in the same sentence, they are contradictory statements. Plus you want to go into work and also see people.

Original poster
Dandylioness1 · 17/05/2021 15:39

@palacegirl77

My daughters teacher had to take her 2 year old for a test last week to get him back into nursery (had a cough) Because there is so much availability now she booked it for the time he would have his sleep and drove him there - he didnt know he'd had it!
@palacegirl77

I’ve tried to book. Unless I drive 30 miles I can’t get a test until tomorrow.

OP posts:
sparemonitor · 17/05/2021 15:43

Shocking behaviour from nursery. He needs a test and you both self isolate til it's back. If you do it tomorrow it should be back the next day. You don't need a test, assuming his is negative. I'd consider formal complaint to nursery and maybe even Ofsted about their lack of understanding of covid.

Twickerhun · 17/05/2021 15:43

@Twickerhun

Fuck off.

Grin anytime.

Original poster
Dandylioness1 · 17/05/2021 15:47

@sparemonitor

Shocking behaviour from nursery. He needs a test and you both self isolate til it's back. If you do it tomorrow it should be back the next day. You don't need a test, assuming his is negative. I'd consider formal complaint to nursery and maybe even Ofsted about their lack of understanding of covid.
@sparemonitor

Formal complaint for what?

My sister in laws nursery had made my 19 month
old niece test 9 times! 😣
All negative!!

Children get illnesses. My son is absolutely full cold.

I’m all for following the rules but surely some
common sense has to play a part here too.

OP posts:
sparemonitor · 17/05/2021 15:49

Formal complaint that they are taking back a child who had a fever without a covid test, against all public health advice. This thing isn't over yet.

mondaywine · 17/05/2021 15:51

Common sense does need to play a part here, so get him tested. I do lateral flow tests as do all my colleagues. Hasn’t stopped 4 of them catching covid in the last two weeks. He goes to nursery so could potentially be exposed. I cannot see what your objection or fuss is tbh.

Fitforforty · 17/05/2021 15:55

Nursery are failing to follow PHE guidance. I wouldn’t be happy with a nursery who is doing this - what other guidelines have the decided are not important? As your nursery has decided not to follow guidance I would imagine there is an increased risk he will
Pick up Covid and other illnesses because they can’t follow simple guidance which has been in place in some form or another for over a year.

Your son needs a negative PCR test AND has to wait 48 hours after his last high temperature before he can return to nursery.

As for your work. If they want you to have a PCR test too then they should be paying to one as you are not entitled to it free on the NHS because you don’t have symptoms.

Swipe left for the next trending thread