School bubble shuts then pcr comes back negative?

[Snoopbeef]

So can anyone explain the logic? My daughter's school bubble shut after a kids positive pcr. All the kids instructed to get pcr. My daughter's Pcr comes back negative then why does she need to carry on isolating till end of 10 day period?

So things are not the same as they were 15 months ago. This has been the case for only a couple of weeks I think

The requirement to isolate for the full period required, irrespective of any test results, has not changed.

You need to taken the potentially infected person out of general circulation for the specified duration to cover the incubation period

Who gets tested and when has been fairly changeable

Thank you all for your comments and advice. Disappointed in how this thread went from some posters. Turns out some of the most patronising on here haven't actually got the understanding they assumed they had about all things covid testing. Thanks to those who offered genuine help. It's really appreciated.

A pcr should be done IF they develop symptoms, pointless doing one without.

Not sure in England but in Scotland all close contacts are asked to test now as it picks up some asymptomatic cases which in turn prompts testing of their contacts and can get more asymptomatic cases. It's not that pointless.

To add this has been the case since before the Indian variant was a thing so not just specific to that.

Same in Wales (or at least in my health board) - all close contacts are asked to go for a test.

That way they can pick up asymptomatic people and trace all their contacts. It’s not to let people out of isolation but to contain the outbreak more effectively. They test here near the beginning and end of isolation so they’re less likely to release people who have no symptoms.

Unfortunately being negative on day three doesn’t mean you’ll still test negative on day ten so you have to continue to isolate.

I for one am very grateful to everyone who is doing their bit (and I know from experience how annoying it is to have to isolate!)

A pcr should be done IF they develop symptoms, pointless doing one without.

Why are people continuing to post incorrect information? It is not pointless if someone has been in close contact with a case but doesn't yet have symptoms. The advice on this has been on the gov website for ages.

@goddessofmischief

A pcr should be done IF they develop symptoms, pointless doing one without. If you're getting annoyed about what to remember "after 15 months" you've had that long to get to grips with the basics of testing. We all have.

Unless otherwise instructed by PHE. PCR tests are often used when their has been an outbreak in a school/work place/area to ensure the close contacts of unsympomatic cases isolate to try and break the chain of the spread of covid.

I'm not sure 100% on the 'official rules' around getting a pcr as a close contact, but it makes complete sense.

If any of them had it asymptomatically their household would still be free to carry on as normal potentially spreading it unknowingly.

The pcr will pick up any of these children and then their families will be isolating.

I'm not sure 100% on the 'official rules' around getting a pcr as a close contact, but it makes complete sense.

From gov website

After all this time living with Coronavirus you are asking dumb questions like this?

@tentosix that’s SO helpful. Bet you’re really pleased with yourself. Am sure you know everything about everything 🙄🙄

We've had the same - bubble burst, we were asked by school on PHE advice to have the contact (DC in bubble) plus the rest of the household tested via PCRs.

Ours have come back negative, so while we will continue to follow advice and isolate DC, we won't be sweating it too much.

OP - at present, the focus is still on the rate of infection, rather than the rate of serious illness. So even though the likelihood of serious illness in children (and non vulnerable adults who have had at least one vaccine) is low, children are still missing school.

Hopefully though, the focus is starting to shift to the rate of hospital admissions and serious illness. So we should get to the position that hundreds of children are not missing school, despite being either perfectly well or very slightly unwell.
There was a good article in the Guardian yesterday with some of the science behind it, will try to find it.

@Snoopbeef

So can anyone explain the logic? My daughter's school bubble shut after a kids positive pcr. All the kids instructed to get pcr. My daughter's Pcr comes back negative then why does she need to carry on isolating till end of 10 day period?

Dd was sent home last Tuesday due to someone in her class having a positive test. The contact was Monday. Everyone was sent for pcr tests.

On Saturday 5 days afterwards, another one of her classmates who had been isolating but originally had a negative pcr tested positive.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

The school should not have advised PCR for all in the burst bubble. Lateral flow tests would be suitable if you have them in.

Pcr tests are for those with symptoms.

Actually at dd's school/college it was Public Health England who told them all to get pcr tests. It's because pcr tests can tell who has ne Delta variant or not.

People in travel quarantine are different because they have not been in known contact with a positive case. Majority of cases develop 5 days after exposure, so it is a calculated risk to let them test at 5 days - as risk of them being positive after that time is very low.

The risk after 5 days for people who have been in actual contact with a postive case is higher - hence the 10 day isolation (there are good arguments for reducing this, but it is what it it is right now.)

PCR tests are available for anyone who was had contact with a case (not just people who have symptoms), this is to try and stop spread of Delta variant and catch any asymptomatic cases. (And also available for anyone who wants a test in certain surge testing/hotspot areas)

A bit late to the party, but in our area close contacts in educational settings will now be asked to take PCR on day 5, so it's definitely a thing, but obviously different areas are dealing with it in different ways. We've been sent a flow chart with the update.

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

It isnt the policy. Either school have advised incorrectly or you have misinterpreted their request.

That is not necessarily the case. Many areas that have higher than average cases are being advised to test with PCR if they have been a contact.

If you are going to be condescending towards the OP at least make sure that you have the correct information.

@goddessofmischief

A pcr should be done IF they develop symptoms, pointless doing one without. If you're getting annoyed about what to remember "after 15 months" you've had that long to get to grips with the basics of testing. We all have.

You are giving outdated information. It is not pointless. Many areas are being advised that all contacts are tested with PCR at intervals to better track the transmission of the new varient. It also helps contain an outbreak more effectively as cases are picked up without symptoms so that those people's contacts can be notified.

It really is not helpful to come on to a thread and give out of date information.

@YetAnotherWalk

A bit late to the party, but in our area close contacts in educational settings will now be asked to take PCR on day 5, so it's definitely a thing, but obviously different areas are dealing with it in different ways. We've been sent a flow chart with the update.

Daft question alert. DS has been sent home today, kids being kids have identified the child in question and they were in class together on Friday. Is Friday day 1 or Saturday?

We have been advised to do a PCR test but I am in two minds, he has autism so I would prefer to only test if absolutely necessary. (i.e has symptoms)

Uhm, I'm not sure as I'm not one of the clever ones here @AfternoonToffee but in your shoes I'd be tempted not to test and just wait it out for 10 days or if symptoms appear. There is no law to compel you to test...

@goddessofmischief

A pcr should be done IF they develop symptoms, pointless doing one without. If you're getting annoyed about what to remember "after 15 months" you've had that long to get to grips with the basics of testing. We all have.

Not correct now.

They are advising PCR if in close contact for some outbreaks now and since many are asymptomatic anyway then waiting for symptoms before PCR is stupid since many children have it without symptoms - hence it spreads more and more!

Not sure if you have got to grips with it either

HTH?

@worriedmother1

I'm not sure 100% on the 'official rules' around getting a pcr as a close contact, but it makes complete sense.

If any of them had it asymptomatically their household would still be free to carry on as normal potentially spreading it unknowingly.

The pcr will pick up any of these children and then their families will be isolating.

Exactly.

Some really rude posters on here having a go at OP and others yet they are giving out incorrect information about current PCR usage. I don't think they realise that not all people that have covid have symptoms

I may or may not be a teacher who is getting sick of parents ignoring Covid basics and sending their children into school when they should be isolating!!

yep. I am a parent. kids school closed. it was mentioned in the email that some parents had sent their kids into school while waiting for the results of a pcr test.

tofee, the pcr test is not going to release you from isolation so for autistic kid, wouldn't bother if it wsa going to be an issue. Also do you know about the slightly tweaked rules for self isolating wiht autism?

There are asymptomatic PCR tests being done as surge testing in the area my school is in. Any staff and parents who live there can go and get one.