Current rules on isolation are counter-productive

[Warhertisuff]

I can't be the only one who isn't doing lateral flow tests or overlooking mild symptoms because of the consequences to, not just my family, but the school community.

For instance, last week my 9 year old son had a headache and sore throat... nothing serious and a good night's sleep meant he was well enough to go to school the following day, and he was fine in the days ahead. I didn't do a LFT or get him tested as, had he been positive, he, and his entire year group, would have missed the last 10 days of school, with all the activities and end of year shows etc.

I took the view that the possible damage caused by him having Covid - if he indeed did have it which he probably didn't - and passing to other children (and other adults who largely would have had the chance to have been vaccinated) was less than having the end of the school year ruined for everyone.

If the rules were similar for other illnesses, which I'd argue they can be now that vaccines have made the impact of Covid more like the flu, then more people would take common sense precautions about keeping their kids off school if unwell.

@roguetomato

Op, you do realise people are still dying from covid, though in small numbers, and some do get seriously ill. Sounds like you are one of "let it rip" people. I just hope people around you and your dc are lucky enough not to get the worst consequence of your actions.

Yes, sadly people die of many, many things. We don't stop living though.

I don't have any choice over my son's school being shut due to so many positive cases. Literally no choice. I agree the stupid bubbles need to end but until they do maybe it's helpful not to send our children into school thinking they have Covid 🤷.

My friend tests her DC at least 2-3 times a week for the tiniest of symptoms - some not even covid related. Its obsessive and doing the children more harm than good and feeding her anxiety which in turn will rub off onto the children. There has to be a common sense approach and surely we wont be testing out children in 6 months time when they sneeze. My DM is sick to death of it all and is 85, she has been double vaxxed now and has no fear of getting the virus - just the fear of being isolated because someone at Tescos tested positive.

@rosie39forever

What about the vulnerable adults and children who can't be vaccinated that he could pass it on to, totally irresponsible you should be ashamed.

Oh shut up.

What if, what if, what if???

What if he doesn't have it doesn't pass it in to anyone. Get ready for a shock love, in 16 days time everyone will be maskless and mingling like this never happened.

@Warhertisuff
I said precisely the opposite! One of the reasons was NOT to spoil the end of term. If he had Covid and I had got a PCR, it would have ruined it for EVERYONE, not just my son
Are you really so stupid and ignorant????? If one of his classmates or teachers had been made ill from catching the virus from your son, it could have ruined a lot more than a bloody end of term play/assembly/class party.

I think this has to be the most ignorant and selfish post I’ve ever seen on MN

@Warhertisuff This is a wind up, right? You're not really that selfish and ignorant?

@chocolateorangeinhaler

What if that is delayed yet again ?

Like christmas there is literally no definate anything.

Irrisponsible people do their own thing is why things keep getting extended.

We are all fed up with this situation BUT that does not give some people an excuse to ignore the current requirements.

I think people have naturally lost all faith after seeing the football fans breathing all over each other in the masses.

@TheKeatingFive

In everyone’s haste to lay into the OP, they’re ignoring the important point she’s making.

It doesn’t matter if you think what she’s doing is ‘right’ or not. A large proportion of people are avoiding testing for all kinds of reasons. Some of them perfectly justified (threat of losing household income for example) some of them less so.

A more sensible and proportionate response would get more buy in and that would probably keep people safer.

Yep.

A lot of people are responding to quite a different point to the one OP made. She didn't ask whether people agreed with her actions, she asked whether she's right in thinking that there are other people doing the same as she is. Palatably or not, she's correct.

I'm speechless that someone could be so thoughtless, who cares if your child gives me covid right, just think of yourself!

Im sure if the OP thought her DC genuinely had covid then he wouldn't be going to school, she assessed the symptoms and used her common sense to make a decision.
The obsessive testing is the point she is making and I agree - doesn't make someone selfish

How do you know there is no CEV children in the year or school? You don't! My child is CEV and looks like any normal child, you wouldn't know to look at them and hardly anyone else in the class is aware of this. Recently I've had conversations with some other parents who just thought my child was new to school in April they didn't realise they weren't attending school due to shielding.

@Rainydayss

She has said she would have not sent and tested if there was a vunerable child in the class so she cant be confident its not covid

@jumpbounce

Same as us, shielded for CEV child but child doesnt look amd different and most people at school are totally unaware of health conditions.

She also can't be certain that another 21 children in the class haven't got it - all without symptoms. She wont be alone - other parents will be doing the same -rightly or wrongly.
I also know people who have ignored test and traces warnings

For CEV DC surely the school put extra precautions in place and inform parents that there is a high risk child in the class - therefore even more caution for everyone?

@Rainydayss

For CEV DC surely the school put extra precautions in place and inform parents that there is a high risk child in the class - therefore even more caution for everyone?

So you think school are going to breach confidentiality and tell all and sundry about another child's medical conditions?

Nope.

Also it's not just children - plenty of parents are CEV. My DH is, should school be sending a bulletin to all children and parents about him too?

@Covidworries

Oh my god. I do hope your child isbt in my CEV childs class. My child missed the whole yr at school due to shielding and medical advise. Went back at Easter due to LFT and masks and quick result of PRC tests meaning that the risk was lower and both the specialists and ourselfs felt that gains currently outeeigh risks. Of course non of us expected selfish parents to send their child to school not knowing if its covid or not just so thier child didnt miss anything

If you tested your child would likely have missed a day waiting for results. If negative they would have then returned to school. If positive they would have then isolated stopping the spread. Their teacher wouldnt have visited their friend on chemo at the weekend. Their CEV friend would be able to be monitered carefully and had prompt treatment. The TA would have not spent 5 minutes helping your child with a task and catching covid which killed her CEV husband.

You have no idea what sending a positive child to school could do.... yoy also admit your child could be positive, if your community is now badly hit you wont ever know if that started with your child.... it may not have as child could be negative BUT you will never know for sure.
I hope the guilt follows you forever.

I pray the parents in my childs class are not as selfish.

Yes the risk will remain after restrictions are liftwd BUT for now the rules offer a buffer so should be followed

Any child can be asymptomatic at any time. Taking a one off pcr or weekly lateral flow only records the result on that day. The next day they could be positive.

There has to be some balance. We can’t keep isolating forever. We have complied with testing, but my ds has bad hay fever, so if sneezing was added to the list he would have been off for the last 6 weeks! Meaning I couldn’t work in a hospital. Meaning disruption to the medical treatment of vulnerable people.

It’s not just covid we need to consider.

Knowingly sending a child in with a high temp is wrong, but I can understand why people send them in with coughs and colds otherwise they would literally be off all the time! It’s unsustainable. Plus people don’t get paid when they have time off with their kids. No one can tolerate that long term.

“What if, what if, what if???

What if he doesn't have it doesn't pass it in to anyone. Get ready for a shock love, in 16 days time everyone will be maskless and mingling like this never happened.”

Yes I agree, some people are going to have a shock in 16 days.

@Watermelon221

“What if, what if, what if???

What if he doesn't have it doesn't pass it in to anyone. Get ready for a shock love, in 16 days time everyone will be maskless and mingling like this never happened.”

Yes I agree, some people are going to have a shock in 16 days.

People that trot out trite shit like this are the lucky ones with no CEV people in their household or that matter to them.

Get some perspective.

Chequerboard - no need to be so facetious. Of course confidential conditions do not need disclosing - I'm a teacher for what its worth and have no need to know about you DH thanks. However the school can put other measures in place - albeit it with discrete methods if needs be.

My point is that some children are high risk for other reasons - my DC has severe nut allergy and yes the school are aware but I can't assume all parents will keep nuts away from my child - we live with that risk and take our own precautions to minimise it.

Watermelon - yes exactly!

[quote Nootkah]@Warhertisuff This is a wind up, right? You're not really that selfish and ignorant?[/quote]
@Nootkah

It's not a wind up. Whether or not you think I'm wrong, the fact you think it's inconceivable that not everyone is testing for every symptom (and every typical cold symptom could be a sign of Delta) shows that you're completely detached from how many, if not most, people's attitude to Covid now.

@WeWantAMackerelNotASprat

I'm speechless that someone could be so thoughtless, who cares if your child gives me covid right, just think of yourself!

We're opening up as a society... Unless you take special precautions or go into hiding until this happens thing goes away (which may be never) you'll very likely be encountering Covid... If you're vaccinated it may well "glance" off you a s you don't even get infected, but if not, you'll get ill. You won't be able to avoid encountering Covid for eternity.

And the ol' 'You're so selfish/irresponsible/stupid . . . ' calling people names tripe is having no effect, if it ever did.

They preach and rant and inflict their anxieties onto the children - instead of a balanced and realistic approach