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Original poster

Bugger: Do we all need a PCR test?

34 replies

52andblue · 19/10/2021 10:22

Sorry to be dim (not much sleep last night)

Dd went to a friends ffor a sleepover on Sat & brother of that household came to ours for a sleepover with Ds. I just got a text from NHS test and protect to say that I've been identified as a close contact and need to self isolate & test.
At same time, I got a text from the other parent to say that (another, younger) sibling has tested positive for Covid.
Both my kids went to school today after we did our 2 x weekly routine lateral flow tests last night (both negative).
So I will do a lateral flow now but do I need to book all 3 of us for a PCR too? (both kids have a cough, from Dad, who has a stinking cold)

OP posts:
BigSquareRoom · 19/10/2021 10:35

When did you last do a PCR for the kids - because of their cough?

catfunk · 19/10/2021 10:36

I would get the kids done too

Original poster
52andblue · 19/10/2021 10:38

slight cough is identical to Dad's cold (we are separated, but he's PCR negative) so we carried on with lateral flows which have been negative.
the new factor is the sleepover sibling who has just tested positive

OP posts:
Original poster
52andblue · 19/10/2021 10:41

So I should maybe book all 3 of us for a PCR.
I am double jabbed, they are both single jabbed but I know we can still catch it even so & want to do the responsible thing (just the advice & reliability of the tests keeps changing plus they have ASD so it's hard).

OP posts:
trumpisagit · 19/10/2021 10:47

If your children have a cough they should isolate and PCR.

BigSquareRoom · 19/10/2021 10:54

Of course you need to all do PCRs. They shouldn’t be at school anyway if they have a cough and you haven’t done a PCR. I wonder if they’ve actually got covid and have passed it into their friends.

I have a cold and a very slight cough at the moment. It is actually covid though - as confirmed by PCR

Angel2702 · 19/10/2021 10:57

Yes they shouldn’t be at school with a cough if they haven’t tested. Just because Dad has a cold doesn’t mean they haven’t picked up covid from elsewhere. If you have symptoms you do a PCR. I’m surprised school haven’t sent them home.

Original poster
52andblue · 19/10/2021 11:28

They caught a head cold from Dad 10 days ago & it was on it's way out (happily over half term here in Scotland), consistently negative on LFT.
Unlikely to have infected anyone on Sat to test positive Sunday anyway.

I will arrange PCR's for all of us & isolate until we know for sure.

OP posts:
RunAwayNow · 19/10/2021 12:41

You can't make assumptions about where their cough came from. If you have any of the 3 main symptoms, you isolate and do a PCR. LFTs are not to be used for testing where you have symptoms.

Stormystar · 19/10/2021 12:46

I would book a pcr for all 3 of you and maybe keep them off till you get the results, which shouldn’t be too long, just to be on the safe side

Fenelladepompom · 19/10/2021 12:49

You don't need to isolate if you're double jabbed, unless you have symptoms. Don't understand why you were told to.

Rekorderlig88 · 19/10/2021 12:55

If its a sibling. Of someone who was at your home you do nothing.
Carry on as normal.

dreamingwondering · 19/10/2021 12:56

@Fenelladepompom

You don't need to isolate if you're double jabbed, unless you have symptoms. Don't understand why you were told to.
You do in Scotland until you have a negative PCR.
MaggieFS · 19/10/2021 13:08

I don't know the rules in Scotland, but for goodness sake, surely by know it's known that if you have a cough you isolate and get tested, even if you think you know where it's come from?

It's not that hard to do. I should know. I've done it 13 times with toddler DS!

Fallagain · 19/10/2021 13:15

The kids should have had a PCR tests as soon as they had a new cough. This is not new and has been around for well over a year. There is no excuse for you to have not done this.

The kids need to isolate immediately and get a PCR a test because of their cough. The adults need to get a PCR and if they are no doubled vaccinated isolate for 10 days.

CarrotSticks23 · 19/10/2021 13:43

You needed a PCR 10 days ago. They have a cough fgs! It maybe the same cough as their dad it may not you have no idea unless you test. They clearly don't have exactly the same symptoms as you describe a slight cough from them and a stinking cold from their dad!

You do twice weekly lateral flows, a PCR isn't taken any differently. Just get you and your DC PCRs

CarrotSticks23 · 19/10/2021 13:44

Presumably I'd they are friends they could have passed it on in school

rattlemehearties · 19/10/2021 13:46

Everyone knows by now surely that lateral flow tests are not to be used if you have symptoms? The kids have a cough so should be doing a PCR. You've been told by test and trace to take a PCR.

CarrotSticks23 · 19/10/2021 13:49

I'm sorry but it's stuch BS to say "it's the same cough" a cough is a cough. You can't listen to a cough and be like "oh that's the same must be the same illness" that's like saying "oh look that vomits the same much be the same virus'.

They are different sizes, different sexes. Their coughs won't sound the same as their dads, and different viruses don't all produce individually sounding coughs.

CarrotSticks23 · 19/10/2021 13:50

And as well you've been told by test and trace to do a PCr. So why are you asking here? Why the resistance to getting a bloody pcr? If you are confident the DC don't have covid then it should be a simple exercise of pcr and back to school

BigSquareRoom · 19/10/2021 14:13

This whole “it’s not a covid cough” I’m seeing everywhere is annoying me so much. You can not tell whether it’s covid by the type of cough. And you also can’t rule it out by doing 1 lateral flow. Yes we do need to live with it but at least I know that by isolating after I coughed twice, doing a PCR and multiple lateral flows that I have done what I can do limit the spread. Rather than assuming it was nothing and doing sleepovers.

Original poster
52andblue · 19/10/2021 14:28

@Rekorderlig88

If its a sibling. Of someone who was at your home you do nothing. Carry on as normal.
I just spoken to Test and Trace and I explained what I've said here. I was told that there was no need to isolate as neg LFT & any cough was more than 10 days ago. However as contact has now tested +tive to arrange 3x PCR so I've done so for 1st appointment avail this afternoon.
OP posts:
NoKnit · 19/10/2021 14:30

Jesus you've sent kids to school with a cough and a member of the family is covid positive? My life I wouldn't be surprised if the UK has to lock down for Christmas at this rate. I am speechless.

(sorry should say not in UK and live in a country with much stricter rules)

Nowmum43 · 19/10/2021 15:01

Have to say I have been doing lateral flows for over a week now, after a negative PCR as was a close contact. Became another close contact at the weekend so went for another PCR, still very negative lateral flows and the PCR came back positive.
Did another lateral today out of interest and it's still negative!
I have no symptoms and all my laterals were negative. If you're a close contact you need to do a PCR. Lateral flows just can't be fully trusted.

Lougle · 19/10/2021 15:14

DH did a lateral flow this morning - negative. Slight scratch at the back of the throat at work (3 of us at home with Covid, but he was instructed to do daily LFTs and attend work). He repeated the LFT at 14:15 - positive. Hopefully, his second PCR today will pick it up.

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