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Covid

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Original poster

If your child tests positive who are you telling?

46 replies

MuchAdoAbout · 01/10/2021 18:01

Just that really.

My dd could only have gotten it from school. DH isn't going anywhere, I am negative. Schools don't inform parents anymore. There are no bubbles it all a free for all. Test and trace said give me the names of school friend close contacts so we can do it, or do it yourself. I feel uncomfortable handing over propels details to test and trace.

I would be happy to let people know myself but this news may cause people to test and as I suspect most of the year group is positive, result in some cancelled bday parties (one planned for Sunday). The other few kids we know from the year who are positive aren't telling anyone at school. In case there's a lot of finger pointing and blaming.

I am struggling. My gut instinct is to let DDs very close contact know. What would you do?

OP posts:

RebeccaCloud9 · 01/10/2021 19:02

When we had it (prior to these rule changes), I messaged on the year group whatsapp group that DH and I had tested +ve and we were waiting for DDs result and everyone should keep a close eye on any symptoms just in case. It didn't occur to me that people would be cross, why would they be? Surely it is better to know?! In fact, I would be much crosser knowing that people kept it to themselves eg what if I could have avoided contact with elderly relatives knowing infection was likely?

ichundich · 01/10/2021 19:09

IMO the government now wants Covid to spread among school children. They should just be honest rather than advising people to get tested if they've been "close contacts". What's the point? Last week we had 3 emails from school to book a PCR test for DC's because there were cases; they honestly expected us to PCR test them 3 times in 5 days even though the kids had no symptoms, whilst allowing siblings of positive children and anyone waiting for test results to attend still.

number87inthequeue · 01/10/2021 19:10

I'd urge you to let parents of anyone you know she has been in very close contact with to know, if you can. And if she's been to any sports/music etc clubs in the last few days to also tell them. I have extremely covid vulnerable relatives that I help care for- if I know that I (from volunteering at scouts) or my DC have been in very close contact with a covid case we will get tested and stay away from these relatives until we get results. Some people might not have this issue and choose not to test or change their behaviour. But at least if we know we can make an informed choice

clarepetal · 01/10/2021 19:17

Op I did exactly what you think you should do. My boy had it 2 weeks ago, I wouldn't give test and trace pwoplws numbers as I wasn't comfortable doing that.
I called the school and informed them, and texted the parents of friends I know he played with. The school send a generic email saying there was a positive case in the class and that parents could opt to get a PCR rrstbif they wished. Can't say fairer than that.

Jessicabrassica · 01/10/2021 19:20

We had a text on Monday from school to say a close contact had tested positive covid. Ok rang to ask how they defined close and they confirmed it was someone in the class. I assume if it was one of DS's actual friends his parents would have told us. And had it been one of them we'd have cancelled his out of school activity until the pcr came back. As it was, we did a pcr test and cracked on as normal because the risk of transmission from a rand ok m in the class who he didn't hang out with was pretty low.

Staffy1 · 01/10/2021 19:35

Tell them. Some might have elderly relatives or CEV relatives that they would prefer to avoid if there is a chance one of them is positive.

careerchangeperhaps · 01/10/2021 19:36

At our school, most people are just putting a post on the parents' Facebook group:

'Just a heads up to parents in year one / Sparrow class; Mary has tested positive today and it's most likely she caught it at school. Just making you all aware in case you want to get a PCR test for your DC'.

NigelSlatersXmasTaters · 01/10/2021 19:45

"Test and trace tell you if you are a close contact that you should have a test. And then they send you an email and a text every half hour until you complete a form. It really is an unpleasant and stressful process."

No they don't. That's after your positive test not after being told you're a contact. You get just one message as a contact.

salbodoodlecat · 01/10/2021 19:51

Both of mine tested positive this week. I sent a note to the year WhatsApp group for the first one. Wish I hadn't as got asked lots of questions and people assuming they needed to isolate. Also told the school. And told test and trace the names and numbers of people who are considered close contacts. Also told places like scout group. For the second I messaged the parents who we considered a close contact. Again messaged the school and again test and trace. Every parent has been lovely and appreciated me telling them. Everyone is on high alert anyway with testing as it's pretty rife.

Original poster

MuchAdoAbout · 01/10/2021 21:35

@NigelSlatersXmasTaters I am a close contact and not positive. I have had 6 emails and 8 texts withing the space of 3-4 hours. These are all about being a close contact and filling in a form. Which I couldn't do as I was dealing with speaking to my child's school and other close contacts. I have also already done a pcr which if their systems were joined up they would have known.

OP posts:

Silkieschickens · 01/10/2021 21:45

We told school and siblings school though they just seemed to hold that information but at least had done what I could. Then DD told everyone she had been in contact with herself as she is 15. With a younger child I would tell who I knew though its so widespread in the schools now its a bit futile but its doing all you can to protect anyone vulnerable.

Original poster

MuchAdoAbout · 01/10/2021 21:51

Thanks, we've put it in the FB group.

Re telling test and trace. I have no idea how you'd identify who close contacts are in school for young children. That's a lot of phone numbers to provide. Surely it would be more efficient for school to send an email to the class.

OP posts:

ToooOldForThis · 01/10/2021 21:55

I told absolutely everyone I could think of that dd being positive could potentially impact...up to them then, but I felt it was the right thing to do!

NigelSlatersXmasTaters · 01/10/2021 22:20

There is no form to complete as a close contact. Those are for your kid who is positive.

It's annoying I know, I've done 4 this week alone but it's the positive case they are pestering. Just tell anyone you know that they've been in contact with if you have their number. Otherwise, settle in for the isolation period

NigelSlatersXmasTaters · 01/10/2021 22:22

"Which I couldn't do as I was dealing with speaking to my child's school and other close contacts"

Ok. So you spent 4 hours doing this so I'm sure you've let as many people as you can know. No point getting worked up, it's out of your control.

StellaCinnamon · 01/10/2021 22:24

I kind of agree with the genie out of the bottle comment. I have found myself wanting to avoid doing LFs if I feel under the weather because I simply can’t be doing with the upheaval. But then I do them anyway. Largely because I’m too nosey.

worriedatthemoment · 01/10/2021 22:47

Why would you give test and trace parents numbers of kids at school, surely you give the schools details and let them know as they will know who sits where

I would expect to give them details of dc friends who had been over etc but not the whole class

Needcoffeecoffeecoffee · 01/10/2021 22:54

[quote MuchAdoAbout]@NigelSlatersXmasTaters I am a close contact and not positive. I have had 6 emails and 8 texts withing the space of 3-4 hours. These are all about being a close contact and filling in a form. Which I couldn't do as I was dealing with speaking to my child's school and other close contacts. I have also already done a pcr which if their systems were joined up they would have known.[/quote]
There is no form as a close contact. They ring you and advise you that you are a close contact and recommend you get a pcr test

Presumably you used your mobile number and email for your now positive dc. That's what test and trace are chasing up

Needcoffeecoffeecoffee · 01/10/2021 22:58

@worriedatthemoment

Why would you give test and trace parents numbers of kids at school, surely you give the schools details and let them know as they will know who sits where I would expect to give them details of dc friends who had been over etc but not the whole class

The government removed the responsibility of schools to trace close contacts

So unless your child can name who they have sat next to /played with/eaten dinner with and have their phone number you wont hear directly from test and trace.
The government decided that from the age of 5 (and under presumably) a child has to identify contacts the same why an adult does (and we wonder why the cases are increasing in schools)
You may get a generic letter or email from school but not always. There has been cases in dds year includingher class and we have heard nothing.

Passthecake30 · 02/10/2021 18:06

T&T rang me today and appeared most displeased that I couldn’t provide phone numbers and email addresses for Ds close contacts. I couldn’t even provide last names for some of them! I was on the phone for an hour in the end, sheer agony.

CyclingIsNotOuting · 02/10/2021 18:14

Our infants school still uses class bubbles and informs not only the class parents of a positive case, but the entire school year, giving the class name (but not the child’s).

When my DC got a positive result I informed the school and then the class using a class chat. I wanted the ones who sit next to my child to know. Their reading partner etc who would have had more exposure.

Not one child from their class went on to test positive but I think we caught it super early because my child had the cough.

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