Covid 19 - Govt plans to test need to self-isolate at preselected schools ( state &indie)

[Thisisconfusing]

So the Govt plans to experiment on our kids . Some schools ( state and indies )have been pre selected to test whether they can use daily lateral flows instead of self isolation . If this works I can absolutely see the merits of keeping as many kids in school as possible - but if it fails since this is testing transmission then lots of kids will get Covid as a result . Obviously it is well documented that most kids get mild or asymptomatic Covid but I know a 17 year old with no pre existing who has been referred to a lung clinic because of long Covid . Also CEV and CV kids haven’t been vaccinated ( and research shows that asthmatics are particularly susceptible to long Covid) . Also many young teachers haven’t been vaccinated yet either . This doesn’t sit comfortably with me that many people could be out at risk I don’t think schools have a choice on this and as far as I can see parents aren’t being asked for consent . What does any one else think ? The list of schools can be viewed at nasuwt.org.uk/uploads. None of my schools have been picked but at least one from your area will have been

Hi Thisisconfusing. We also live in London. We all caught Covid in the last wave (whole family - kids and us) most likely from the kids bringing it home from school. So you may be right in that perhaps my perception of risk has been affected by (i) the fact that we've all had Covid now and (ii) the fact that due to mine and DH jobs we are not able to work from home all the time and therefore we feel at risk anyway. None of us has been vaccinated yet in our family as the vaccination programme hasn't reached us yet. However, I think in order for the kids to be properly educated doing this study is a risk worth taking - but I appreciate that there will be different views on this (as on everything!)

I hope no schools in surge testing postcodes will be approved fir thus.

And it's not really adequate that you can decide to opt your DC out of testing and isolate instead if they are a cinract.

What if they are in class with those who have been contacts and are testing not isolating. And they are CV or has an immediate family member who is CEV

Presumably those people are 'acceptable' collateral damage. After all, as Boris said at the start, some of us will die. It's right that we care not aiming for zero covid. But this does increase the risk of DC bringing home from school, and for some families that would mean tragedy

Sorry @Seeline and @SoupDragon the original link to the list has been removed . I can’t seem to upload the copy i took but I’m struggling . PM me if you like

@nether. I agree . The thing is that most people will assume that they won’t be affected so it is an acceptable risk . But for those of us with a different risk profile who have been avoiding doing anything risky these trials suck

Karam Bales of the NEU has also been tweeting about this.

twitter.com/karamballes/status/1385356330987294720?s=21

What is interesting is the notion that daily LFT testing of close contacts will be as/more effective than isolation because some people don't isolate, and that's why they're running this trial. That is probably true. However it doesn't apply to close contacts in schools because close contacts have to isolate. You can't continue to turn up to school if the the school has told you to isolate, you will be sent home.

I'm also interested to see upthread that students who should have been isolating will also take two PCR tests alongside LFTs during the isolation period, but the results won't be available while they are isolating. Well this isn't true, is it? PCR results are now coming back within 24 hours in a lot of cases.

I have the suspicion that they are using this trial to also test the effectiveness of LFTs by testing them versus PCR on a pupil population who are more at risk of getting covid (therefore more likely to produce useful results).

The full list is a pdf at the bottom of this page.