Do I have to get a PCR for 3 year old...

[guiltynetter]

Who only had covid 6 and a half weeks ago? He's been sent home from nursery with a temperature and a bit snotty. Nursery are saying he has to have a PCR before he can come back in. I'm worried about it showing positive from the previous infection and then we'll have to isolate for Christmas 😭

You don't have to no, but also nursery can refuse to have him back for ten days as a temperature is a new symptom and therefore requires a new pcr, so you're a bit stuck.

This is a drama, DH tested positive for ages after he had covid

You could isolate instead, which sucks, but you'll be free for Christmas Day :-(

It's better than risking another PCR.

I believe the guidance is that a new symptom = a new test even if the lesson has had Covid recently.

It's no testing for 90 days after a positive UNLESS new symptoms I believe OP. Obviously you don't have to test but nursery aren't obligated to have your DC if you don't provide a negative result.

this guidance is interesting and suggests as reinfection within 90 days is rare, if your DS tested positive they could work up the sample to see if there was another potential cause for the symptoms (e.g flu). So even if he did test positive I imagine they would do this and you may not have to isolate.

If nursery are aware he’s had a positive result in last 90 days and are saying he still has to have a PCR I think I’d go ahead and cross my fingers for a negative result!

This is so hard! I don't want to get him another PCR. All 4 of us (me, DH, DS, DD) could end up potentially with another 10 day isolation. We can't afford to take time off work. I could keep him off for 10 days but I need him to go to nursery so I can work 😭

A woman in my office was asked 3 times to PCR her 18 month old for colds. The third time my friend actually just swabbed her own nose at the test centre instead of her child's because it was the same cold they had all had...

We were testing negative 3 weeks after having had positive PCRs.

I think average length of positive PCR is circa 22 days (this was from an academic paper that I found)

All 4 of u wouldn’t have to isolate if in England