Work are making me test. Do we need to?

[Dandylioness1]

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?

To be honest the UK probably wouldn't need lockdowns or restrictions at all if idiots could just follow very simple rules on testing and isolating! Really 14 months into this there is no excuse for not knowing this stuff!
The only major change in the last year has been isolating for 10 days now rather than 14 days.

Honestly this is why Covid is still spreading. It's really not difficult to understand that you have to self isolate if someone you live with has symptoms, until you receive a negative PCR test.

It’s really shitty I agree but I do think we all need to unfortunately keep testing those who have coughs and temps for now. So your work is correct and nursery are worryingly not following guidance

OP you say you are not against testing him but don't want to isolate for no reason - you know how ridiculous this sounds??

You seem to think that because your baby only goes to nursery that he can’t possibly get covid. This is flawed thinking. In reality you have no idea who the other babies and nursery staff are seeing. They could be exposed to any number of people who could be asymptomatic.
You and your baby should be isolating and he should be tested. The only symptom I had was a scratchy throat and yet I had covid. I know you didn’t like what @Twickerhun said, but they are right. This has been going on for well over a year now. You know what you should do. Hope your baby is feeling better soon.

Christ this thread is a frustrating read. I’m not sure what’s worse the possibility people still don’t understand or the possibility people are so wedded to the idea they couldn’t possibly be wrong that they’ll argue they’re right despite mountains of information saying otherwise.

[quote Dandylioness1]@Fitforforty

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

Who says he has to stay off nursery for 48 hours?[/quote]
DFE guidance does.

Sadly your nursery cannot just make the rules up as they go along.

@mondaywine

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.

I think you and your colleagues might be misunderstanding the tests

Of course they don't stop you catching covid, where did you get that idea from?

Just take your kid for a bloody test. Sometimes parents have to do things that are uncomfortable or unpleasant for their children because it’s necessary. Be a parent.

I HAVE BOOKED A TEST FOR TOMORROW MORNING

I’d also just like to make you aware that I have spoken to 111 (my sons temp spiked) and not once did they suggest a Covid test.
Covid wasn’t even mentioned. So I guess I’m not the only “idiot”.

MrsHuntGeneNotJeremyObviously

Not really How2Help. The child briefly had a temperature which is a sign of Covid but also a pretty generic sign of many other illnesses. He is also teething. So it really is far more likely that the child has a tooth coming through than Covid. And has had negative LF tests.
It doesn't do any harm to test but given our current infection rates it probably is over cautious. At most I would expect work to ask the OP for a negative test, am not really sure they can exclude her from work if she doesn't want to test her baby.

Yes really: even a transient non-blanching rash is treated seriously, even though it is present with other conditions, and indeed more likely to be caused by something else.

The LFT argument is wrong - there is a reason they are not to be used to test people with symptoms, and PCR is required.

Covidsmart your username has been the highlight of my evening.!

@Cornettoninja

Christ this thread is a frustrating read. I’m not sure what’s worse the possibility people still don’t understand or the possibility people are so wedded to the idea they couldn’t possibly be wrong that they’ll argue they’re right despite mountains of information saying otherwise.

I completely agree. At least there are PCR tests. The first time we had to isolate was only for 7 days but this was the week before lockdown. We are currently isolating again due to our poorly toddler but hopefully we will get a negative result quickly and DD1 will only miss one day of school.

@Dandylioness1

I’d also just like to make you aware that I have spoken to 111 (my sons temp spiked) and not once did they suggest a Covid test. Covid wasn’t even mentioned. So I guess I’m not the only “idiot”.

Seems not.

@Fitforforty hope it comes back quick and negative.

Thanks @Cornettoninja. We’ve just got it back. The result is negative and only an10 hour turn around.

Fab news