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Original poster

Guidance and school

16 replies

Stokey · 02/10/2023 08:28

So current guidance is for kids to stay at home for 3 days. DD2 tested positive on Thursday so kept her off school. But she was still testing positive yesterday so have kept her off again today. She feels fine though. Should I just stop testing her and send her back following the guidance or wait till she gets a negative test?

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LargeglassofRosePlease · 02/10/2023 08:32

I would keep her off and would not even be questioning my judgment on this.

That’s not fair if you stop testing and send her in to school when she may possibly be still positive and therefore contagious.
I know lots of children in our school who are immune compromised, some are even receiving cancer treatment.
You also have the staff to think of as well as the parents etc

Think of the bigger picture and keep her at home until she is better and testing negative.

Original poster
Stokey · 02/10/2023 08:36

@LargeglassofRosePlease thanks, that's definitely what I feel is the right thing to do. The guidance has just worried me and a friend who told me it took her 2 weeks to test negative last year!

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Muchtoomuchtodo · 02/10/2023 08:47

She’s had 3 days since her first positive test and she feels well so she should be back in school imo.

mind you, I work in the nhs where we’re not supposed to test and just go to work if we feel well enough to do our jobs so maybe that sways my opinion

Original poster
Stokey · 02/10/2023 08:53

@Muchtoomuchtodo thanks. This is why I'm conflicted - 2 answers and 2 opposite opinions! I think I may just ring school and see what they want. Luckily DH and I can both WFH so it doesn't affect us too much to have her here.

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Muchtoomuchtodo · 02/10/2023 08:55

Good idea @Stokey I’d be interested to know what they say. Do they provide the tests?

The next thing you’ll have is letters about her poor attendance

Original poster
Stokey · 02/10/2023 09:18

@Muchtoomuchtodo yes that's what I'm worried about. She's only just started Y7 so don't want her to get in trouble straight away. No tests from school, we just had some and then DH bought more when we tested positive.

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Againlosinghope · 02/10/2023 09:26

As a parent of a high risk child, id prefer it was a negative test before returning to school BUT in reality most people would send and most people don't test so don't know they are positive to start with. I also know that schools will be complaining about attendance and expect them in.
So don't feel bad if you do send as covid is spreading through schools so fast at the moment that your decision will likely make no difference to the spread at the school

alwaysonadiet1 · 02/10/2023 09:29

It's not usually infectious five days after symptoms begin. The first time I had covid my tests were positive for months afterwards so I wouldn't wait for a negative test

PinkRoses1245 · 02/10/2023 09:46

I'd send her back, i would have sent her today. You're infectious at the start.

Original poster
Stokey · 02/10/2023 10:10

alwaysonadiet1 · 02/10/2023 09:29

It's not usually infectious five days after symptoms begin. The first time I had covid my tests were positive for months afterwards so I wouldn't wait for a negative test

Thanks, I was worried about her not testing negative for ages. She had a streaming cold last week but that's passed so hopefully she's no longer contagious. I think I'll just send her in tomorrow.

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NotReadyForAutumnYet · 02/10/2023 10:12

I know what guidelines say. I know what my conscience says. If the government was so genuinely worried about attendance, or the benefit of children and education, they'd put in place a strategy that doesn't maximise illness! I'd keep her off if you can. 2/3 of people are infectious after five days.

PatChaunceysFruitCake · 02/10/2023 12:47

I know I'll get flamed for this but I'd send her in if she's well, the school will be riddled with it and you've followed the correct advice.

Agree with those who say you'll get a note from school. We get notes from school and local authority where attendance drops below 97%.

StillWantingADog · 02/10/2023 12:53

I have stopped testing mine and keep at home if they are unwell, send in if they are ok.
when I got covid and was testing everything day (in the days when LFTs were readily available) I was barely ill but tested positive for 17 days in row. No way does it make sense for a child who is well to be off school that long.

NotReadyForAutumnYet · 02/10/2023 13:38

It's rare to test positive for 17 days...just as it's rare to test negative within three.

alwaysonadiet1 · 02/10/2023 13:52

She's missing part of her settling in to senior school and symptoms have passed. She probably had it for a couple of days before you tested her. It will be going round school anyway because most aren't testing. I would send her in tomorrow.

Original poster
Stokey · 02/10/2023 16:52

Thanks all. I didn't bother phoning the school in the end. We've decided to send her in tomorrow. She seems fine and DD1 and DH haven't picked it up from her (or me) so I suspect she's not longer contagious.

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