Can the school require testing of a child with no symptoms who has had Covid within the last 90 days?

[dameofdilemma]

Dd had Covid just before Xmas. The primary are now requiring all children and parents to LTF twice a week, regardless of symptoms.

But dd could presumably still test positive for 90 days (which is presumably why the PCR email said not to test for 90 days).

Also don’t see what the benefit is to the school of dp and I testing (other than not going into the school playground to collect dd) as, again, I don’t think we should test dd for 90 days. Presumably the school wants parents to test so they then test kids daily.

Obvs we would test if we had symptoms but I’m loathe to keep dd off school for ten 10 days repeatedly over the next two months.

Similar situation with my dc and I won't be lateral flow testing unless they develop symptoms until we're passed the 90 days. School can only request you test they can't make you.

Don't think LFTs pick up as much residual infection as PCRs would. Maybe try one and see. I know you shouldn't PCR for 90 days unless you get new symptoms but unsure if info for LFTs is the same.

So don't do it. Say nothing but if outright asked if you're all testing twice a week you say 'of course'.

Our primary 'strongly recommends' dc test twice a week...i just don't 🤷🏻‍♀️

They are asking you to lft, which doesn’t show up old infection so it’s a reasonable request.

Parents of primary aged kids have been advised to test twice weekly since about April last year. We have been, but I know many who haven’t.

I wouldn’t test a child who had recently been positive though unless they have symptoms.

My DS is going back to school on Monday after having covid, I will be ditching the twice weekly LFTs for the next three months unless he has symptoms.

LFT won't show up an old infection so it shouldn't matter. Equally you don't have to do it.

PCR and LFT work in different ways and people have got very confused about the whole 90 days thing

School are just trying to keep numbers down by detecting cases as early as possible.

Lots of kids are being reinfected hence why they want everyone to test.

In the past you were told not to PCR or LFT for 90 days so it is a change of advice. It's not compulsory

Your child can still get covid. Just test.

@Januarypip

LFT won't show up an old infection so it shouldn't matter. Equally you don't have to do it.

PCR and LFT work in different ways and people have got very confused about the whole 90 days thing

School are just trying to keep numbers down by detecting cases as early as possible.

Lots of kids are being reinfected hence why they want everyone to test.

Tbf, I think changing government advice with little explanation has helped cause confusion.

It’s highly unlikely that an LFT will still be showing up positive for 90 days. It probably highly unlikely that an LFT will still be positive after a month tbh.

Just don't do it. I'm not testing DS. School doesn't ask for proof of results.

The school can't make you do any testing at all. Whether you chose to follow their request is down to your own social ethics and morals.

Lots of people are getting reinfected within 90 days, especially if they didn't have omicron last time. And apparently this new ba2 omicron subvariant is reinfecting people who've had ba1 Omicron. So it's possible, even if statistically less likely.

PCR tests are different to LFD tests, and can pickup very low traces of dead virus for up to 3 months after infection, so not reliable to test with those for 90 days. LFD tests only pickup active antigen so are reliable to test with again as soon as you're infection free.

Altmember - thanks, that’s a helpful explanation re PCR and LFT.
Dd was still testing positive on LFT after her ten day isolation (but had no symptoms throughout) so was wondering if the antibodies triggered a positive test.

I’ve no desire to spread the infection but neither do I want to wrongly test dd and make her miss school when she isn’t infectious (and it isn’t a new infection).

My kids are still in their 90 days so have not been testing them. However did a couple of tests on all of us this week as we all have sore throats and heavy colds. All 5 of us are negative on lft so assume we are ok. So will continue not testing until our 90 days are up.

@Waxonwaxoff0

Just don't do it. I'm not testing DS. School doesn't ask for proof of results.

Oh @Waxonwaxoff0 you’re always here before me saying what I was going to say! 😂😍

@SeeminglyOblivious

So don't do it. Say nothing but if outright asked if you're all testing twice a week you say 'of course'.

Our primary 'strongly recommends' dc test twice a week...i just don't 🤷🏻‍♀️

This. They don’t know if you’ve done it or not. Just ignore.

I got conflicting advice - one school
Said rules had changed and to test within the 90 day period with LFTs twice a week or daily as a close contact, the other said don’t LFT without new symptoms in the 90 days. Does anyone have a link to the latest guidance?

@SilverGlassHare straight in there!

My son currently has asymptomatic covid - one of the many kids in his year who have all had it at the same time.

He is due on a school residential in a couple of weeks and the school has asked all the kids have LFT tests on the morning they leave. I am a little concerned that it will still show positive still even though he will clearly be passed the infectious stage.

@dameofdilemma

Altmember - thanks, that’s a helpful explanation re PCR and LFT. Dd was still testing positive on LFT after her ten day isolation (but had no symptoms throughout) so was wondering if the antibodies triggered a positive test.

I’ve no desire to spread the infection but neither do I want to wrongly test dd and make her miss school when she isn’t infectious (and it isn’t a new infection).

Yes, myself and 2 of my kids continued to test positive on LFT beyond day 10. I'm day 11 today and still positive, My kids went negative on day 13. I know the rules say to stop testing and end isolation after 10 days regardless, but the science says that people can still be infectious for longer. I'd rather err on the side of caution than go out and give it to someone else. My kids didn't miss any school anyway, as their day 11 and 12 fell on a weekend.

I know a child who had covid at the beginning of November and tested positive again yesterday despite being asymptomatic. Just test.

You will only be being asked this due to the number of cases.
It really isn't that big of a deal when schools are so stretched.
Just do it - don't listen to the selfish arses that tell you to lie about it. At least have the balls to tell school if you are refusing to help them so they are aware.

The only new guidance I've seen was issued as term began on the DfE's education blog, it said students should LFT as they returned to school even if within 90 days of a positive.

They can’t make you. You should though.

I’m a teacher and I have had Covid within 90 days- I’m testing twice a week. Coming up nagatice now, so I know that a positive result would be a real one.

I honestly don’t understand why you wouldn’t. It is absolutely rife in all the schools round here, if you can do anything to help stop the spread then you should.

People are getting reinfected. I'd test to be on safe side and help limit spread. LFTs don't show up old virus do they (else would be pointless using them to test to release).