Surge Testing

[BingBangBong1]

We are in a town where 4 postcodes are now being asked to take part in surge testing. Our postcode isn't one of them. In fact numbers here are non-existent and have been since late February. (Yes we are lucky).

DD is 14 and goes to school however in an area of another town where the wider postcode is having surge testing. Since March, school has had 3 confirmed PCR positives.

We have been doing the lateral flow testing for months, twice a week. She hates it, gags, and finds it really uncomfortable. She's always been like that though with anything going anywhere near her throat, dentist included. So it's not her being awkward and she still does the lateral flow testing.

School has been told by the local authority that despite it having low numbers and most pupils coming from way outside the postcode area, they must all have PCR tests this week.

We have been asked to give consent.

I don't want to. DD doesn't want me to at all. She is concerned she will look silly heaving and gagging. She said she really has had enough of it all. She has had to isolate due to being near a positive 4 times since September. She's really down actually.

Am I being unfair to not give consent?

I've been double vaccinated. Bar school, she has been at home. She wears a mask all day at school despite them no longer having to. I wear a mask regardless of being double vaccinated and barely go anywhere except the supermarket and I'm careful to keep my distance.

I have followed rules throughout, I didn't go to my dGrandmothers funeral last year despite some family ignoring the tiers in place to go and spend time at my families home.

But I think I'm all ruled out now.

Am I out of order for saying no?

In my view, you're not unreasonable to refuse consent for a PCR test, especially if it isn't self administered. She doesn't have symptoms after all.

It sounds like you've been very responsible and you can still be responsible by being on the lookout for your DD getting any symptoms and being cautious about unnecessary contacts.

I do think its unreasonable as she would be doing a lateral flow anyway and everyone has to play their part.

At 14 she needs to consent too, she clearly does not. You're not unreasonable at all, and neither is she.

Not unreasonable at all. It's your choice and you most likely won't be the only one.

@SonnetForSpring

I do think its unreasonable as she would be doing a lateral flow anyway and everyone has to play their part.

It's a full PCR test for surge testing, as well as the normal lateral flow testing twice a week

If I thought she had any symptoms no way would I send her in, that would be bloody irresponsible. We test Sunday and Thursday and she hates it bless her but she does it as she knows why.

But this, she came home and knew about it and I think she finally admitted how much of enough she's had of it all as she was so down about it.

Thanks for responses! I don't want to be seen as out of order or a Covid denier!

It will be nice when eventually we can throw the tests away, I think with the lateral flow testing probably being here far longer than June though, this for her was just a huge no.