New covid testing guidance published

[thedot]

From Friday 1st April: "Children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people, where they can. They can go back to school, college or childcare when they no longer have a high temperature, and they are well enough to attend."

www.gov.uk/government/news/government-sets-out-next-steps-for-living-with-covid

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-60911771

Is that not just what unwell people naturally do?

That is normal stuff, and exactly how it should be.

Common sense now being laid down in government guidelines.

Lots of people go to work when unwell.
They soldier on..

Finally the grown ups are back in the room and common sense prevails.

And to school/ college

Sorry if I am being thick here, very little sleep.

So if someone had really mild cold symptoms (runny nose, very occasional cough) but no temperature would they still be expected in school?

Oh thank goodness. What a relief.

I’ve heard parents say, well he’s not got a temperature because he’s had paracetamol. 🙄

@GeneLovesJezebel

I’ve heard parents say, well he’s not got a temperature because he’s had paracetamol. 🙄

Exactly. All schools will have experience of families who routinely ‘dose up’ genuinely unwell children and send them in.

DS (7) & DH currently positive. Neither have a temp and DS is bouncing off the walls with no symptoms at all, which is stopping me from working as DH is laid up in bed.

Assume the same circumstances in a weeks time and I’d be able to take him in?

I'm going to be honest, this isn't very helpful for schools.

We have more than 25% of teaching staff off right now with covid. Again; this keeps happening. More than half of them are ill, in bed and not functioning. One has a wife in hospital and 3 positive children at home. For every member of staff this is at least the second time they have had it, many the third and one person it is the 4th. We have year 11 and 13 students off again, some fine but positive, some ill, and again it isn't the first time; I have a year 13 student who is on infection number 4 and ill. Her mum died this time last year, so we have been dealing which her anxiety before this and now she is utterly broken again.

We have 1 supply teacher when we need 5. If we had 5 we could cover the rest without putting too much pressure on the staff currently in. As it is, most staff have at least 2 covers a week; teaching staff get 4 or 5 frees a week full stop.

I understand 'living with covid' but this isn't it. I understand that most people think that schools are trying to block students with 'just a cold' coming in the building, but far from it. This past 3 weeks have been survival mode again and staff are breaking.

Incidentally I'm on my way to a hospital appointment to deal with what is an after effect of covid, after catching it 3 times myself. So that is another member of staff off this morning.

@Katkincake

DS (7) & DH currently positive. Neither have a temp and DS is bouncing off the walls with no symptoms at all, which is stopping me from working as DH is laid up in bed.

Assume the same circumstances in a weeks time and I’d be able to take him in?

Yup. My daughter is currently at home, although going back tomorrow on Day 6 as she managed a negative test this morning.

She had a headache on Friday, 5 hours of fever on Saturday, slept for 14 hours and was right as anything on Sunday. Had I not tested and known it was covid, she was well for school on the Monday.

If this had happened a week later, she would have been in on the Monday as I've now run out of tests and would have no way of knowing that it was covid.

I cannot isolate my kids for 10 days every time they have a couple of off days like that.

DC y13 has A levels looming and all her teachers are off with Covid this week many have had it previously with absences coming in cycles for staff and students. How anyone can expect this to be a normal exam year is beyond me even with some of the modifications these kids have missed out on so much.

@SpringRainbow

Sorry if I am being thick here, very little sleep.

So if someone had really mild cold symptoms (runny nose, very occasional cough) but no temperature would they still be expected in school?

Well the guidance for adults is if you have any sign if a respiratory infection (and that includes colds) you should stay at home. So I’d assume the same is true for schools.

At the very least I don’t think schools would be operating outside the guidance if they refused a child who was ill but was sent in.

Well the guidance for adults is if you have any sign if a respiratory infection (and that includes colds) you should stay at home. So I’d assume the same is true for schools

That isn't what the guidance for adults says though

It says if symptoms of respiratory infection AND a high temp or feel unwell, then try to stay home until they feel well enough and no longer have high temp.

If you read the link in the OP, it actually says:

"From 1 April, updated guidance will advise people with symptoms of a respiratory infection, including COVID-19, and a high temperature or who feel unwell, to try stay at home and avoid contact with other people, until they feel well enough to resume normal activities and they no longer have a high temperature.

Oops, that was supposed to quote @RafaIstheKingofClay

... and I cross posted with @FreakinFrankNFurter anyway.

@Whyarewehardofthinking

I'm going to be honest, this isn't very helpful for schools.

We have more than 25% of teaching staff off right now with covid. Again; this keeps happening. More than half of them are ill, in bed and not functioning. One has a wife in hospital and 3 positive children at home. For every member of staff this is at least the second time they have had it, many the third and one person it is the 4th. We have year 11 and 13 students off again, some fine but positive, some ill, and again it isn't the first time; I have a year 13 student who is on infection number 4 and ill. Her mum died this time last year, so we have been dealing which her anxiety before this and now she is utterly broken again.

We have 1 supply teacher when we need 5. If we had 5 we could cover the rest without putting too much pressure on the staff currently in. As it is, most staff have at least 2 covers a week; teaching staff get 4 or 5 frees a week full stop.

I understand 'living with covid' but this isn't it. I understand that most people think that schools are trying to block students with 'just a cold' coming in the building, but far from it. This past 3 weeks have been survival mode again and staff are breaking.

Incidentally I'm on my way to a hospital appointment to deal with what is an after effect of covid, after catching it 3 times myself. So that is another member of staff off this morning.

Completely agree with this. It’s just not sustainable for schools. My yr9 DD is off again today because they don’t have enough teachers available. If staff are actually sick, they cannot work, whether in a school, hospital, GP surgery, care home. The idea that we’ve just got to get on with it now completely ignores the fact that for many people it is much more than just a few sniffles.

and a high temperature or if you feel unwell.

It doesn’t say or if you feel too unwell to work, although does slightly contradict itself further down.