Can the school make child have a test?

[Kakey1294129]

Positive case in one of my children's class. Been sent a letter early today confirming it and and saying as close contacts the kids are advised to get a pcr...

If my child actually had symptoms of course I would get him tested but I feel if he remains asymptomatic then no. I get the purpose. But DS has sen (mainstream school). Getting him tested is hell. Last time we had to get him tested (last year) we spent 1.5-2 hours in the test centre trying to get it done. I can't face it. I can't imagine the test is very accurate with him just resisting it! Like I say if he got symptoms I would absolutely, with a struggle.

But to think for now whilst remaining symptom free then just to say no? Can they make you? I just don't want to put him through a test whilst asymptomatic imagining that maybe in a. Few days (god forbid) he may actually get ill and would need another!

I'm pretty sure PCR is only for those with symptoms

I assume he will be isolating for 10 days though.

@SonnetForSpring

I'm pretty sure PCR is only for those with symptoms

Yes! But the letter has advised a test as close contacts. But yes he'll be isolating until next week!

Some areas are trialing PCR’s for close contacts.

No they can’t force you, they can only suggest you do. As your isolating anyway I wouldn’t be rushing for a test for all the reasons you have said.

I suppose it’s worded as just advise so not saying it’s mandatory,

My daughter is in isolation along with most of her year,
Advised to get pcr due to being close contact, rapids coming back negative, a lot of the pcrs have come back positive.
I’m still waiting on her pcr done yesterday, has all of a sudden started vomiting today with tiredness and slight temp. She’s not been anywhere since Saturday! So not looking hopeful!!

@FawnFrenchieMum

Some areas are trialing PCR’s for close contacts.

No they can’t force you, they can only suggest you do. As your isolating anyway I wouldn’t be rushing for a test for all the reasons you have said.

I didn't realise that.

DS has minor symptoms. He has had one jab. I suggested he do a LFT at the same time as me- he was positive and I was negative. He reported it on gov.uk and was asked whether anyone else wanted a PCR as well as him. DH and I went and got PCRs at the same time as him even though we're both double-jabbed. Both negative and he was confirmed positive. We still need to isolate for 10 days, although this will be abolished mid-August. We all have been given two different dates for the end of isolation- one from the app and one by text. It's all a mess. I would do what's right for your family.

I don't think schools can, though presumably if you keep your child at home for ten days, does that meet their requirements?

We were asked to get PCRs as close contact (my DDs). Both of them have sensory issues so we aren't doing LFT on a regular basis. Did go and get PCRs. It was pretty traumatic and am not convinced we managed to get decent samples anyway. They came back negative. Not sure it was worth doing. Would definitely do if they were symptomatic. Isolating for 10 days SO MUCH easier for us.

Are they asking you to do a PCR then back into school, or PCR and still isolate?

I can’t see the point to be honest and no they can’t make you so I wouldn’t bother, just sit the isolation out.

The delta variant is so transmissible they want close contacts to get a PCR so that they can flush out asymptomatic cases and make sure the right people are isolating (e.g. if your DS is positive, you would need to isolate as well as him).

It's only advised though, a standard request not taking individual circumstances into account.

They are also asking for PCRs in areas where they want to track which variants are dominant.

It is important for understanding transmission patterns (and what measures will break then) o do contact sampling of this sort.

The odd contact missed from the sampling won't make much difference to the evidence base. But it's best for everyone to have high uptake

@WillowGrand

Are they asking you to do a PCR then back into school, or PCR and still isolate?

I can’t see the point to be honest and no they can’t make you so I wouldn’t bother, just sit the isolation out.

Pcr and still isolate until late next week!

Here in the north, our council advised all in the age group 12-30 to get a PCR test regardless of symptoms. The delta variant is definitely rife in the younger generation, many of my DDs (18+) friends have tested positive

Pcr and still isolate until late next week!
There is literally no fucking point then, is there? I wouldn't bother.

@AbsolutelySure

Here in the north, our council advised all in the age group 12-30 to get a PCR test regardless of symptoms. The delta variant is definitely rife in the younger generation, many of my DDs (18+) friends have tested positive

He's 10. Should have added that to op x

@WillowGrand

Are they asking you to do a PCR then back into school, or PCR and still isolate?

I can’t see the point to be honest and no they can’t make you so I wouldn’t bother, just sit the isolation out.

The point is that the OP's son could be asymptomatic and if that is the case then the OP and the rest of the household also need to isolate. Also they are trying to track which cases are the Delta variant which the LFT can't.

However they cannot make him do a test and having a ds with SEN I do understand the difficulty.

Schools here have written to confirm different symptoms for Delta, many have summer cold symptoms, headache, sore throat and temperature. They have said to get tested regardless if close contact.

I wouldn't bother. It's advice to get a PCR if you're in contact with a positive case, as standard, but you don't have to get one.

No of course they can't make you. As someone who also has a SEN child I definitely would only test him if he showed symptoms.

Our latest school coms as my sons bubble are off for 2nd time in a month..
They due to return Monday please can you pcr you have plenty time but I can't legally make you.

Tried book teenager pcr Friday
119 refused even though she's close contact as best freind was covid postive.
We been doing lft at home but clearly lots school have no faith in lft.

@Kakey1294129 ds had to isolate recently as his dad had covid. His special needs school asked (quite heavily) that ds had a test so they could see if ds was positive, he didn’t have any symptoms and even if he did have it wouldn’t have been possible.

His teacher had more chance of winning the lottery without a ticket than getting ds to have a test.

They didn’t say anything to me in the end but tough if they did as he won’t have a test.

Oh and he went back for 4 mornings and now he’s off again due to his teacher testing positive.

Give up with all the shit! He’s barely been at school.

My county (might be same as yours) tried to enforce pupils having a PCR before being allowed back in the classroom after a whole yeargroup isolation.
They had to amend this required to just guidance after being called out on it.
Most of the children 'isolating' were not even close contacts, so firstly they had no requirement to isolate by law and secondly they have no requirement to take a PCR. NHS T&T even refused to give PCRs to these pupils because they had no symptoms and so were not eligible for PCR.

PHE in this county is terrible for not following proper NHS T&T guidance and is sending home many more whole year groups than it actually should.

So no, your DC does not need a PCR. once the isolation is over, just send back to school unless symptomatic.

The isolation itself is to break the transmission chain and ensure no-one is in school when potentially infectious. That is why it is 10 days. After that scientific evidence is that you are unlikely to be infectious.