Should I send DS to school, sister positive, he has a cold.

[maudmadrigal]

Really not sure what to do.

DS is Y8. Has had 8 days off school this term with tonsillitis. Recent school report was disappointing (the two things possibly aren't unrelated). He has a cold - snotty and sneezy but not really ill.

DD2 got a positive LFT result last night. No symptoms. Booked in for PCR today.

Do I send DS in? My understanding of letter of law is that I do, and I don't really want him missing more school, or an unauthorised absence. DH (who works in NHS and does.our local omicron modelling, so isn't unaware of situation) says he should go. DS is worried about it and doesn't think he should.

@LowlyTheWorm only in Scotland

Thanks guys. This is very unanimous, and very much fits in with my thinking.

DS has had a PCR with his sister and am awaiting a call from the attendance office at school, but he is here with us. DD also seems a bit sniffly this morning.

DS has had a PCR with his sister and am awaiting a call from the attendance office at school, but he is here with us.

Why are you waiting for a call? Have you let school know he's absent as he's gone for a PCR?

@Whinge

DS has had a PCR with his sister and am awaiting a call from the attendance office at school, but he is here with us.

Why are you waiting for a call? Have you let school know he's absent as he's gone for a PCR?

If he's had nine days off already then expect the OP is trying to pre-empt the "poor attendance" letter / phone call?

Exactly that @dumdedumpop.

School have phoned now and confirmed that he should stay at home until we get the PCR result (and that it's going down as a Covid absence, which shouldn't matter, but kind of does!).

Prior to covid we would not have kept a child off school if brother or sister had measles, a cold or flu or any other contagious disease. Many children were not vaccinated against measles or mumps so the same applies. Covid has meant we have become obsessed. I think children should go to school in this case

I'm in Scotland and apparently all children have to self isolate whilst we wait for the results of the PCR. The rules changed on Friday for us.

Snotty and sneezy? No.

@MrsSkylerWhite

Snotty and sneezy? No.

Snotty abs sneezy with a positive sibling in the same house is what is the key information here.

He has a cold - snotty and sneezy but not really ill.

How do you know it's a cold and not covid, especially if his sister has covid??!

If a child is off school due to suspected Covid or awaiting test results, the absence code on SIMs is an X. If Covid is confirmed, that code changes to a capital I (for illness).

@MrsSkylerWhite

Snotty and sneezy? No.

Those are well-documented symptoms of Omicron and there is a Covid-positive sibling in the house.

Your response is irresponsible in the current climate.

CallmeHendricksGingleBells

MrsSkylerWhite
Snotty and sneezy? No.
Those are well-documented symptoms of Omicron and there is a Covid-positive sibling in the house.

Your response is irresponsible in the current climate“

I know. That’s why I said no, as in no, I wouldn’t send him in 🤷‍♀️

PurpleDaisies

MrsSkylerWhite
Snotty and sneezy? No.
Snotty abs sneezy with a positive sibling in the same house is what is the key information here.“

Personally, I wouldn’t send a snotty and sneezy child in with or without Covid in the house. That’s what I meant by no.

CallmeHendricksGingleBells

MrsSkylerWhite
Snotty and sneezy? No.
Those are well-documented symptoms of Omicron and there is a Covid-positive sibling in the house.

Your response is irresponsible in the current climate“

Just re-read original question from OP. My answer, no, is perfectly clear and direct.
Don’t understand why you’re saying I’m irresponsible. I’m not!

Sorry @MrsSkylerWhite I’ve got confused with which question you were answering. I must have also read a “do I keep him off” thread.

I blame covid brain.

I wouldn't send him in, without a negative pcr test.

My husband is confirmed positive since Friday at the moment and he just feels a bit phlegmy (sorry for tmi!). He would barely realise he has a cold let alone Covid right now. Our children are doing lateral flows every morning and we’ve booked a pcr for us all too. I definitely wouldn’t send mine in with any kind of symptoms in this scenario so you did the right thing.

@MamanSparkles

Are you really thinking of sending your son to school when:

• he is a close household contact of someone with covid
• he has what we, and the scientists, all know are symptoms of covid (even if the government haven't caught up)
• he hasn't had a PCR

Just before Christmas?? From a CEV teacher who is still seriously at risk despite vaccines, please don't do this.

Exactly this, ask yourself these questions op.

Just seen you’re getting tested, well done, definitely the right choice!

We were in this position last week. Daughter tested positive on the Monday. We all had negative tests. By Wednesday and Thursday we were all testing positive. I’m so glad I never sent my son to school on the Tuesday.

Sincere apologies, @MrsSkylerWhite!
I read your "no" as answering the question "Should I keep him off?" which wasn't what the OP asked.
My mistake. Really sorry.

Officially, he can go in, and I am constantly shocked by the fact kids in my Dc's classes are in class with them when I know very well their siblings have Covid. And invariably a few days later they do too, having merrrily infected everyone else in the interim.
So I would say out of Civic duty I would keep him at home and do a PCR for both. Then when you get the results of that, send him in if negative.

3 out of 4 of us have covid. It's been like a cold for all of us so you couldn't say for sure whether your sons symptoms are cold or covid without pcr testing him. It could be a cold though of course.

I wouldn't send him in, no, and would be doing PCR if his sister is positive and he has cold symptoms . I'm not sure how it's an unauthorised absence if your child is unwell .