Chat about Novel Coronavirus - 2019-nCoV - COVID-19

My daughters (year 10 and 7) will have 3 LFT tests over the next fortnight at school and then twice weekly tests at home.

I think the tests at home include parents but it is a bit vague.

After Test 3 in school, students and their families will receive home testing kits to use twice a week.

I assume they will be sent home with tests. Not sure if we will end up with 12 tests a week between the 4 of us.

The logistics of the in-school testing are interesting. If a child tests positive they must be collected within 45 minutes and aren't allowed to use public transport. Some families live a reasonable distance from the school and don't have cars.

My biggest concern is if a child tests positive and has to self-isolate but the rest of their year bubble doesn't will they get any remote teaching?

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/all-households-with-children-of-school-aged-to-get-rapid-covid-19-tests-per-person-per-week says

All households with children of school age to get 2 rapid COVID-19 tests per person per week
Whole families and households with primary school, secondary school and college age children, including childcare and support bubbles, will be able to test themselves twice every week from home as schools return from 8 March.

But elsewhere https://schoolsweek.co.uk/dont-hand-out-covid-testing-kits-to-pupils-families-dfe-tells-schools/

Instead, families should access tests via their own employers if they offer staff testing, by attending a local test site, by collecting testing kits from a local site or by ordering them online, the DfE said.
...
As with the tests for pupils, testing of family members is encouraged, but not mandatory.

I can't see many families trying very hard to obtain tests.

Greenwich and Haringey have drop in centers no appointment necessary.

It’s all about the power.

I doubt it's about power, more about influence I think. If you're a wealthy businessman, becoming PM is the gateway to printing your own money and putting your business empire on steroids.

I reckon he's in politics for the (indirect post retirement) money.

Apparently I can pick up packs of 7 LFD tests at a local test site a couple of miles away.

Might jog down one lunchtime.

So no mention of not needing to test if you have tested positive for Covid in the last three months?

GF school has come up with that one, which isn't mentioned else where.

That's in the instructions for my wife's box of home tests - no need to do the lateral flow tests for 90 days after a positive PCR test.

No idea whether that's to avoid an increased risk of false positives, or because of assumptions about immunity following developing covid. She works at the local hospital, so that's NHS instructions not some flaky set of school governors ...

That is different instructions to what the school have emailed, or am I missing something?

My understanding is that you are saying - no lft test for 90 days after a positive PCR test. Test at 91 days on. The school email is if you have tested positive within the last 90 days then no need to test until 90 days after the 8th March so first test will be 12 weeks so 17th May.

My kid's been back at school a while with the essential workers kids, the rest came back two days ago, just got a message saying she should stay home as there's been a positive test in her year.

That’s a blow!
I’ve basically assumed that this will happen a couple of times during the next 5 months.

Hope your kid hasn’t got it.

I've cancelled my day's work, probably for the best as I'm due to spend the day stuff outside the Christie but need to go through the hospital full of cancer patients and am fixing staff bikes. Off for a test in an hour, then need to sort a test for my daughter separately annoyingly.

The kid that tested positive's mum is a nurse, so had some tests at hand and he was showing symptoms, that kid sits next to mine.

Did anyone ask you to get tested? Last term my kids were off several times with positive tests in their years but at no time did we get a test.

No, but need to get tested for work now anyway every 2 weeks or whatever it's meant to be. Regular work is a bit different than the days hanging around the cancer hospital, but seems like it's worth doing now.

Not had info yet but I'd be surprised if the school didn't want my daughter's year testing. Lateral flow testing all over the place now too, don't think that was the case a few months back.

Maybe guidance has changed in the past couple of months: the booklet with the box of tests given to my wife sometime before xmas says that if you have a positive LFD test you should tell your manager, self-isolate and get a confirmatory PCR test, then:

"If your PCR test is positive you DO NOT need to self-test using the LFD for 90 days, from the date you become positive."

one of our kids is self isolating because of a classmate's positive test result as well. I think the rules say that if you are self isolating, you shouldn't go for any tests unless you have symptoms.

Negative, test centre was empty and everyone looked bored but were very nice.

Sat in traffic for ages to find pick up 2 boxes of these from a different test centre. Didn't have to drive or bring the child, in fact there wasn't anywhere to park, I hate traffic, especially when I'm part of it.
Didn't need to give any details for home kits, looks like there's 7 tests per box.

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Sat in traffic for ages

That'll teach you to ride a massive cargo bike.

I wish, I was in an actual car, it was awful.

DTM.

#insulttoinjury

I mean, I feel your pain. :)

Thanks, looking like the school is wrong.

Am confused thought 'you' were supposed to get test kits at home for the kids.

yeah, i think you are right. i can't actually remember exactly when we are supposed to use them but we are picking up a batch of home kits for the kids tomorrow.

i was specifically talking about testing kids who are self isolating though. there's no need unless they have symptoms and they shouldn't leave the house for a test without symptoms.

i guess we'll have to test our self-isolator (at home) before she goes back in on Tuesday. always a joyful experience with a 6 year old!