School bubbles going. More testing - how will that work for primary school children?

[Tiddlywinkly]

Just that really. Plans will be announced today for a more 'proportionate' response to cases and close contact isolation. Testing will probably be cited as the way to achieve this.

I've had to get my 5 year old tested twice due to him displaying symptoms and it was truly horrendous. We both ended up crying. I'm just wondering if the government will have thought of young children in their plans. I guess if we can't perform the tests they'll have to isolate? Any thoughts?

Just watched Gav's update. No bubbles, no staggered starts, no masks or social distancing from September. Zero covid mitigations whatsoever. Didn't mention testing either.

@MySharonavirus

I appreciate it's stressful testing them (I've done three hot and sticky and stressful in-car PCR tests with my kids) but most kids do get used to stuff. Case in point: I found my two (aged 2 and 4) actually sticking straws up their noses the other day, pretending they were doing a Covid test... (I did explain that this was not a good idea and removed the straws!)

My eldest (4) has recently started to have eye drops due to a medical condition. He'll have to have them every day for the rest of his life probably, but we only found out about it just over a week ago. We had several days of absolute nightmarish attempts to get the drops in - him crying, me trying to be kind but eventually getting exasperated, etc. etc., and then suddenly he got it. He now pulls his own eyelid down and lets me put the drop in and then is all proud of himself about how easily he can do it now.

I appreciate some kids have special sensory needs and it will be more difficult, but I think most kids can adjust.

I absolutely agree with this. Sometimes we have to do things that are not very nice but it still has to be done. There are children all over the world who have to have daily proper invasive tests, for many different conditions. These are tests that actually do hurt and are very invasive. and they just get on with it because they have to.

When doing young children you don't even need to do the throat, you can do both nostrils instead. The swab only needs to be short way in not practically scraping the brain as some on here would have you believe.
Everyone I know in real life just gets on with it, if the kid needs tested then they do it, yes there may be some crying and screaming but most young children will do that over anything they don't fancy doing.

Would you not give your child medicine, make them brush their teeth, wash their hair in case they get upset?

Following op. My son is 10 (just finishing year 5) but he is autistic. Testing is hideous. Avoid unless we have to. Not sure he'd allow us to do regular tests! I'd take the 10 days over daily testing for sure!

@rainbowunicorn completely agree! Probably the same parents who say they can't possibly get their child to take medication for an infection then get upset when their child needs a cannula and a hospital stay..

I just listened to it too @Beebityboo. I need to listen/read through again but my initial gut feeling is there’s not a fat lot of anything that will be done in schools.

It’s such a massive gamble. Of course there’s a possibility that it will all be okay but there’s an equally realistic chance it won’t.

I’m not convinced we’ll never move backwards.

Looks like there won't be any testing or isolating.

Said he urges teachers to get second jab for maximum protection.

Ironic that he's counting on teachers to be double jabbed but said schools were safe enough for teachers not to be prioritised for vaccines.

Traumatised from doing a covid test ffs! Parents who can’t hold their shit together to support their children through a strange situation calmly, firmly and supportively do their children a massive disservice.

So currently, with twice weekly testing, bubbles, self isolation and masks in some areas there are 641,000 pupil's off school in England alone?

And we end all these measures and what, just hope for the best?

Just listening to the news.

Thank Christ for that!!!!

Time to get on with it now.

@KrakowDawn

So currently, with twice weekly testing, bubbles, self isolation and masks in some areas there are 641,000 pupil's off school in England alone?

And we end all these measures and what, just hope for the best?

Yep. Hope our kids don't get poorly, and if they do, hope they don't have lasting consequences from contracting it. Hope they don't spread it to disabled and CEV family members. Hope too that it doesn't breed new variants as it will now have an endless reservoir to circulate and mutate within.

I don't have the answers but completely giving up on mitigations and going for herd immunity in children cannot be it.

Would appear to be 150,000 children with COVID at the moment. Not sure taking all mitigating measures away apart from hand sanitiser (for an airborne disease) is going to go well

Government waffle on about ventilation but many schools can’t provide adequate ventilation and they refuse to provide any funding to improve this

Im not sure they require tests on young children unless they have symptoms, Javid said something about test and trace getting in touch and advising if they need a test dependant on age.

He mentioned about testing, that children identified as close contacts would be able to test and return to school if negative but what happens to children if there is covid in their households? Will they still be expected to go to school if they receive a neg test?

@palacegirl77 yes, he said that responsibility will pass to PHE (test and trace) to manage school outbreaks. I don’t think he defined what counts as an outbreak though.

I hope the boosters for the CEV are available quickly in that case. This is madness. Cases where I live are 323/100,000 and we are seeing an exponential rise in cases as we watch the third wave climb towards a peak. Or is it the fourth? Whatever.

Vaccine roll out done=job done as far as the government is concerned from what I can gather. They don't give a shit about children or teachers or anyone CEV that is going to be running the gauntlet at school pick up and drop off.

Any bets on when the next lockdown will happen 😩

Is this decision science based? I bet it isn't.

Would you not give your child medicine, make them brush their teeth, wash their hair in case they get upset?

The crucial distinction is that these are things clearly done for the benefit of that specific child. So of course the motivation level of the parents is going to be different.

Vaccine roll out done=job done as far as the government is concerned from what I can gather

Looks like it. It was pointed out on the radio (LBC) this morning that BJ caveated his statement yesterday with a warning not to get carried away with celebrating anything. ‘Bullish celebrations’ is the way he phrased it I think.

He’s covered his arse now. It’s not so much personal responsibility with this lot as personal liability. If you get in the way of the virus it’s your own fault.

@FlatteredFool

Is this decision science based? I bet it isn't.

Monetary science...

What on earth will happen in 6th forms?! Under 18s exempt from isolation, over 18s who aren't double jabbed yet need to isolate, over 18s who are double jabbed don't need to isolate. Sounds like chaos to keep track of!

@NuttyinNotts

He said something about 18yrs and 4mths to give them time to get double jabbed.

@Chillychangchoo

Just listening to the news.

Thank Christ for that!!!!

Time to get on with it now.

I missed it but I’m glad it’s finally changing