Testing

[littleturquoisecaravan]

My husband is really unwell with suspected Covid. He feels he has a duty to test and tell work (teacher) if he has it . Work prefer staff not to test and just carry on as usual.

If your work (school) policy was to just not test at all, but you work with a child for whom covid could be fatal, what would you do?

Crack on as normal and hope for the best?
Or test and report the result, take necessary time off, and ignore the no testing policy?

Fatal is a very strong word.

If it could be that serious of course he should test

If it is covid it won't change anything. Schools can't tell staff to isolate or to test. Is it actually the policy to not test? That would be surprising. If he's too too ill to work he should call in sick.

I would test and report, and I think that policy from the school is immoral. If schools feel they have to put pressure on staff like that because they couldn't cope with all the covid absences otherwise, then they should be putting pressure on the government to get things in place across society to reduce the amount of covid - not just shrugging their shoulders and getting everyone to pretend it doesn't exist.

He feels he has a duty to test and tell work (teacher) if he has it .

because it’s the end of term by any chance?
I am in the don’t test, won’t test camp. SE anyway so I can’t take time off.

If he's very unwell he should stay off work, Covid or no Covid. I don't see what difference a test makes. Flu can kill an immunocompromised person just as efficiently as Covid.

If he is too ill to work don’t go in. I’m sure if any child is ECV they would be affected by amy other serious illness. There must be a protocol for alerting that child’s parents so that they can decide whether to keep the child home.

Depending on the year group and lesson your husband can wear a mask whether it is Covid. No- one would be happy getting ill just before the holidays even if they are otherwise healthy.

What does it being near the end of term have to do with anything?

Handy way to bring the holidays forward and not go in for the last few days, but without really being ill enough to warrant a day off.

He knows what he should do. It depends whether he's going to do it.

@HcbSS

Still have two full weeks left here.

He tested positive and told work.

They have begrudgingly told him to stay off for 5 days and return next Monday as per their policy following a positive test. (He was reminded of their policy not to test in the first place).

@HcbSS
He will work from home once he feels well enough doing ppa for other staff where needed and also prep for September. HTH.

Good for him. Hope he feels better soon. What an awful policy - is it written down or informal?

It's informal.

Basically pretend it isn't happening and come back as soon as you feel well. (Less inconvenience for work).

If you test you have to stay off for 5 days. (Individual get in trouble for testing, but so inconvenient for work)

Individual can't get in trouble *

Are they like this for other illnesses (chickenpox, vomiting, scarlet fever etc), or just covid?

Anyway, thanks to your husband and hope other staff and parents look out for him in the same way.

Seems to just be Covid.

People get a real bee in their bonnet about Covid testing for some reason. In my opinion it should be treated like vomiting and diarrhoea, chicken pox etc and the incubation period followed.

Only difference is there is no test for the others because it is visible/obvious. You are shitting,vomiting or covered in spots.