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.

You can be reinfected within weeks. It’s fine to LFT within 90 days as lateral flows are not the same thing as pcr.

The school are trying to keep the school open.

@Waxonwaxoff0

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

We've not done any tests either. Just saying of course if asked

@NeverForgetYourDreams

Don't worry, we know. Kids talk and we hear them telling their friends. Often the children are worried about it as they seem to be more responsible than their selfish parents!

You can still get Covid in those following 90 days. Doing your tests will keep many vulnerable people safe.

Two children in DS's class had COVID in November and now are positive again (presumably Omicron, which half the class has). I wouldn't have thought their parents needed to test, but they were right to do so.

In my school we are seeing lots of re-infections. My own DC tested positive again after 7 weeks and we have cases as little as 4 weeks after first infection.

In the UK they can’t ‘require’ testing, only request it.

Schools, that is.

Schools don't ask fir proof so just don't do it.

Tests give my son nosebleeds so we don't test him.

Parents aren’t always the most considerate. Want schools to stay open but won’t test. We are literally seeing children get reinfected time and time again in waves alongside staff. We and a lot of other schools are struggling to stay open (primary). I think people forget that children maybe mainly ok, staff aren’t when highly exposed. There is a supply shortage for a reason…

Had a symptomatic child in class the other day, coughing everywhere all morning. Parents said we don’t test. Sent him home for a PCR or isolation they were positive.

The child next to them is incredibly poorly and round it goes again. Such selfish behaviour.

I notice it’s the keep schools open at all costs brigade which couldn’t give two shits if schools are struggling to staff lessons of it other people are getting sick.

Lfts don’t show up old virus and this is advice that pre dates omicron. My child has what I assume was Delta in December and Omicron in January just five weeks later. Her symptoms were minimal and could have easily been missed but it helped to reduce spread and shows why lfts are important with a new variant and high rates in schools.

I’m assuming we are going to get another wave if you can get Omicron B after having version A. I wonder how many parents proudly lying that they have done tests will be complaining if the class/school closes due to lack of staff

@toomuchlaundry

I’m assuming we are going to get another wave if you can get Omicron B after having version A. I wonder how many parents proudly lying that they have done tests will be complaining if the class/school closes due to lack of staff

I don't lie. No one asks if we've done tests or not so no need to lie.

Presumably the school wants parents to test so they then test kids daily

What do you mean? Why would parents testing mean the kids would be tested daily?

Yes, the 90 day exemption from asymptotic lft testing has gone. Schools were sent this from the DFE on 2nd Jan.

Schools can only advise / request you test though. They can't insist on it, though they can refuse entry to children displaying clear symptoms.

Ultimately, if you want to support schools staying open, test! It's rife out there right now.

Thanks Opihr that's helpful. We've tested DD now.

They should update the Covid/gov website page that refers to no PCRs for 90 days to say it doesn't apply to LFTs, would really help!

DD was one of the first reinfections (well, as far as know, obviously) in her class, having had it in early December and again a few weeks ago. Lots of her classmates were going down with it just as they returned from Christmas so we had to get them to clarify what to do re: the 90 day advice and they came back to us having spoken to the local public health team who advised that we should still test DD (they were asking for daily testing at that point as so many close contacts). She was negative for a bit but then positive - she was feeling a little under the weather but mostly just tired so we weren't sure but then she became really unwell.

I'm not sure what we'll do now if there are more close contacts! I'm so worried about her getting it again - it's left her with some horrible after effects.

NeverForgetYourDreams

Waxonwaxoff0
Just don't do it. I'm not testing DS. School doesn't ask for proof of results.

We've not done any tests either. Just saying of course if asked

This is fine. As long as you don’t then complain if the school has to send your child home anyway as there aren’t enough adults to keep them all in school safely. Because the teachers have all got Covid.
Which is what happened in my daughters secondary school last week.
In the primary school I’m in we managed to stay open but only just. We were one adult away from needing to close at least one class down. Couldn’t get supply.

Carry on not testing but don’t be angry if that then has implications for your child’s school.

@babybythesea

NeverForgetYourDreams

Waxonwaxoff0
Just don't do it. I'm not testing DS. School doesn't ask for proof of results.

We've not done any tests either. Just saying of course if asked

This is fine. As long as you don’t then complain if the school has to send your child home anyway as there aren’t enough adults to keep them all in school safely. Because the teachers have all got Covid.
Which is what happened in my daughters secondary school last week.
In the primary school I’m in we managed to stay open but only just. We were one adult away from needing to close at least one class down. Couldn’t get supply.

Carry on not testing but don’t be angry if that then has implications for your child’s school.

Why would I complain? Testing isn't stopping the spread. I caught Covid from a work colleague despite her doing daily LFTs as it didn't show up positive until too late. They aren't catching it quick enough.

Ok, sounds like I should ignore what one school said and get post covid dd testing - will do it tonight.

No they can't make you do anything, even with no previous covid infection.

But in our case dd had covid twice in one month. She had covid in early December when she caught it from me and dp. She went back to school and there was a big outbreak in her class and she caught it again 5 weeks after first infection.

So having covid recently doesn't mean you cannot get it again.

But no they cannot make you do it all. Even if your kids hadn't had covid before!

My kids primary was recently recommending daily tests but not compulsory.

@babybythesea

NeverForgetYourDreams

Waxonwaxoff0
Just don't do it. I'm not testing DS. School doesn't ask for proof of results.

We've not done any tests either. Just saying of course if asked

This is fine. As long as you don’t then complain if the school has to send your child home anyway as there aren’t enough adults to keep them all in school safely. Because the teachers have all got Covid.
Which is what happened in my daughters secondary school last week.
In the primary school I’m in we managed to stay open but only just. We were one adult away from needing to close at least one class down. Couldn’t get supply.

Carry on not testing but don’t be angry if that then has implications for your child’s school.

They've missed so much schooling we now resigned to them being sent home and home schooling again - whether we test or not would make zero difference.

Not been angry once .... it is what it is.