AIBU to be livid about this?

[MyGhastIsFlabbered]

On Wednesday someone in DS1's class had a positive lateral flow test. All year 6 were sent home and told to self-isolate until the PCR result came back. I've just been told that rather than immediately go to a walk-in/drive in testing centre, the parents of the child opted for a postal test, delaying the result for days. IF (and I admit it's a big IF the PCR was negative DS could go back to school)

AIBU to think this is completely selfish by the parents? Both drive so attending a centre wouldn't have been impossible. DS is year 6 so can't be left alone so I have to try and juggle work and hone schooling.

Maybe their little one struggles with the test? Don’t be so quick to think badly. Yes, it’s frustrating but despite your ‘good authority’, you genuinely don’t know the circumstances.

My 4 year is hysterical at the tests. I don’t know why. I really don’t. But she’s not keen on anything medical, she sits in tears when a doctor puts a stethoscope on her! 🤷🏼‍♀️

So we always do postal. She lays on the floor and we hold her hands & do it. It’s the only, non hysterical way we can do it. I’m not putting her through an experience she finds genuinely traumatising (I know it’s not but she thinks it is before anyone jumps on me & says ‘it’s not that bad’ .. I know but in her mind it is! Fears are often irrational). And to be honest, it’s not something we’ve discussed with anyone bar immediate family. So you’d probably be sat judging us if we were that family.

Why were they testing in the first place?

Ds would only test at home having been to a test centre once. Not everyone can get there.

But yes, it is frustrating if they delay unnecessarily.

Right so what is this good authority then?

@Longestfewdaysupcoming

You’ve no idea of their personal circumstances

They have no idea of the personal circumstances of the 60 children and families who have had to put their lives and work on hold for longer, possibly needlessly.

That’s the thing about this pandemic. That happens. People have to wait for results.

We had 4 people off work isolating this week because their family members (different households) supposedly had symptoms.

Went off Monday, ordered tests Tuesday (home), results still not back on Thursday afternoon!

Pretty much a whole week off work, conveniently timed before (if the rumours are correct) the rules are about to change on isolating for those who are fully vaccinated...

I've had about 6 of them now and will only do postal ones going forward.

Not only have the results always been quicker, why would I walk 2 miles or drive 4 miles through heavy traffic when I could have it here first thing tomorrow morning?

Also - the walk in site I went to was SO uncomfortable and stressful. Walk this way. No not that way. No don't give me that. Give me that. Here take this. Go in here. Put that there. No you keep that.

There's about twenty different people there ordering you around and someone watching you the entire time you do the test.

No fucking thank you.

I'll do it at home while the kettle's boiling.

AND GET MY RESULTS QUICKER ANYWAY!!!

YAB massively U.

I did a postal test the other week. It came the next day and I got it straight in post. My friend had a test she booked at walk in. The results came back for hers and mine within an hour of each other. Get over yourself, it makes no difference except they got to do the test in their home.

Are you in an area where you have to book tests for walk in test centres?? I booked a test this week and no slots available until 2 days time, home test is quicker than that

I actually have totally the opposite view, I think they've been unselfish here. The likelihood of the child being positive is high, so keeping everyone at home rather than carting them off to a walk-in centre is safer. Obviously a drive-through would have been better though, depending on distance/availability.

Last time my child had to do a PCR we booked it the same morning and the results came within 8 hours of doing the test (12 hours of making the booking). I can't see how a postal test could possibly be quicker?!

The walk in centre might not have earlier appointment available. A car tyre might have burst, or the car might have another fault they don’t need to tell you.

What exactly are you trying to juggle though? Your child is what 10, 11 years old? Surely they can just get on with their school work whilst you get on with your work? My then 11 year old was home alone for months at the start of the pandemic as I work out of the home in an essential role. He managed fine.

What a thing to get worked up about. They got the test. You have zero idea of their personal circumstances or the relative turnaround times for postal vs test centre.

All of DS's year have been sent home y to o isolate due to positive LFT then PCR. Apparently it was common knowledge the boys brother tested positive last week , so why the hell was he in school

Generally yes but you presumably can’t be aware of the actual circumstances. We have a test centre within walking distance but most people don’t. If everybody in the house is ill getting to a test centre will be tricky

Had a similar scenario this week and there was a pcr result within 24h Tbf. However the chances of a false positive on an LFT are very low.

Far worse scenario- my teacher friend knows a kid that came into school with a fever. At break time the kid admitted this to a teacher and said his parent had made him go in where he thought he should be at home. 120 kids sent home half an hour later.

Livid? Really?

Fuck me...

@Hallyup6

How the heck is it selfish? They've done what is necessary to ensure their child gets the test they require. You know nothing about their situation other than 'they both drive'. There are a whole number of possible reasons why they didn't immediately go to a testing centre. They could be working, they might be anxious, the child might be anxious, the car might be unavailable, they might have other things arranged, they might be ill too. You have no clue. It takes a couple of days for a postal test. It's hardly going to make a huge difference.

Well said. Incidentally I do postal tests and the results come back the next day usually. I love the accusations of selfishness by posters who seem to think that they don’t have a selfish bone in their body. Ultimately everyone does what is best for them or their family and there is nothing wrong in that. Some people are just more honest about it.