What would you do?

[MadamMalkin]

The school contacted me on Thursday to say there was a positive case in ds's (age 10) class, then again that night to say another child had tested positive. Ds had a pcr test on Friday, negative result on Saturday morning, and due another pcr test on on "day 8".

He was out playing with friends after his negative result, he found out this morning one of the friends (same school, but different class) he was playing with, only did a lateral flow test on Friday, that was negative, but he started to have symptoms last night, so she did another today, and that was positive. Then I got a message from the school that another child in his class has tested positive today (so 3 altogether).

Ds has had a slight cough last night, and today, but no other covid symptoms (just some mild sneezing). I did a lateral flow test and that was negative.

Should I book ds in for another pcr test today, tomorrow or should he self isolate until the day he was due to take another test again anyway?

*so his mum, not she

He’s got symptoms, book a test.

I would book a PCR as those are my exact symptoms. Cough every so often, a bit of sneezing and a runny nose.
I’m waiting in a PCR after two positive LFTs. I’m now exhausted and gave a headache, but those came later.
Pretty certain I caught it from my primary school class.

Sorry I should have added his friend is same school, same year group but different class, and at break/lunch/outside school there's lots of mixing between the two classes.

I personally would keep ds home and do lateral flows daily until day 8 (unless he worsens/gets other symptoms in which case I'd get a pcr sooner).
I'd not be sending him into school until I got a negative result from the day 8 pcr.

Would the pcr come back positive a day after possible infection though? I suppose I'm afraid of getting a false negative so to speak?

It’s not a day after infection though, he was around positive kids last week and now he has symptoms.

I would isolate and retest in that situation.

Ds has had a slight cough last night, and today
Get him another test.

If I get him another pcr test today, and that comes back negative, then what? Anyone know how long is it between possible infection and a positive result?

*it is

It’s usually 4/5 days after contact that they test positive.

I would assume he has it now he’s showing symptoms and LFT aren’t that accurate anyway. Why they are advising PCR tests as soon as contact is made ill never know!

Looks like PCR testing will be a thing of the past shortly, I should imagine hospital admissions only - so this is just a short cross over stage!

Get him another test

Also there seems to be a cold or similar doing the rounds atm, I know of at least 5 adults who were sent for multiple pcr tests, all negative, but have a cough. If he was positive my boss wouldn't want me to come in, but I don't think they'll be too happy if I need to be off, if ds has had two negative pcr tests?

"Why they are advising PCR tests as soon as contact is made ill never know!"

Me either, as surely that just leads to false negatives.

I’m it off your child was ill with chicken pox then you would be off work caring for him?

If he’s well enough for school with negative PCR then he’s can go in and you can go to work.

DD also has all the covid symptoms with negative PCR and negative lateral flow tests and it’s a chest infection

She’s been off school two days so far and I’m wondering if I send her in, and others catch it, they’ll be off waiting for negative PCR tests and parents missing work.

It’s difficult!

If the child has symptoms you need to do a PCR test again. Lateral Flow tests aren't recommend when someone has symptoms (cough is a symptom) as they are no accurate enough. Too many false negatives in LTFs.

We both got PCR tests today, results should be here before school starts tomorrow. My sister thinks if the result is negative, ds should do a lateral flow test everyday until his next PCR, and if negative he should go to school as usual. My first instinct was to keep him off until the day 8 PCR, just to be on the safe side, but work wouldn't be too happy with me taking so many days off, just in case.

If the LFT are negative then he isn’t spreading the virus and should be safe to go into school.

He won’t be the only child in school with possible covid - some parents aren’t testing at all.