How will schools be able to go back in September? (Continued)

SusanC10 wrote: »

Yes, our GP has not seen the Kids in ages but now if one of them gets a Temp or Cough, I will be calling him.

We did exactly that on Sunday. Temperature + cough, plus sore throat and chest tightness so rang to get confirmation that we were to keep him off school etc. For us it was mainly about having a paper trail for school absences because I can see that we'll have many days ahead where he needs to stay home and if you go over 20 it's an automatic Tusla referral. So this way, I've it documented.

He got referred for a test even though it's likely a chest infection. And as soon as the symptoms occurred I kept him indoors away from other children - us too and will until the result comes back. Where we live though there's been practically no cases. I might be up the walls a bit if there were local outbreaks though!

For what it's worth, the test wasn't upsetting for him. He was a bit surprised by how far they went in his throat and his nose, and his eyes watered a bit for the nose swab, but he was grand. It felt weird but not sore, he said. He wouldn't be keen on getting it done again but wouldn't be scared either.

Ninthlife wrote: »

Test received at 6.30pm to confirm a negative test

So approx 31hrs from test to result..

Glad it is negative.
Good to know the length of time. Thanks.

Neyite wrote: »

We did exactly that on Sunday. Temperature + cough, plus sore throat and chest tightness so rang to get confirmation that we were to keep him off school etc. For us it was mainly about having a paper trail for school absences because I can see that we'll have many days ahead where he needs to stay home and if you go over 20 it's an automatic Tusla referral. So this way, I've it documented.

He got referred for a test even though it's likely a chest infection. And as soon as the symptoms occurred I kept him indoors away from other children - us too and will until the result comes back. Where we live though there's been practically no cases. I might be up the walls a bit if there were local outbreaks though!

For what it's worth, the test wasn't upsetting for him. He was a bit surprised by how far they went in his throat and his nose, and his eyes watered a bit for the nose swab, but he was grand. It felt weird but not sore, he said. He wouldn't be keen on getting it done again but wouldn't be scared either.

Thanks for the feedback on how it works.

tscul32 wrote: »

For the classes sent home to isolate for 2 weeks because of a case, does anyone know have they been given work to do at home/online, etc. I know it will vary from school to school but just wondering if anyone here has experienced it.

The schools I am aware of (2 primary - neither with cases or isolating) haven't and aren't giving any kids homework for the first two weeks.
After that both schools are assigning all homework via an app/google drive/email so it can be completed by all kids who are able to meet the criteria to use those facilities.

kippy wrote: »

More kids are getting tested since schools reopened (see logic for this in the last few posts)
We don't know if more kids are testing positive for covid now than there were two weeks ago - it's likely there are, as more people in general are testing postive for covid than there were a few weeks ago.
Is covid rampant in kids/schools? No.

I know the logic and never claimed it was rampant in kids/schools.

Benimar wrote: »

Great news.

Still waiting here. 33 hours from test.

For what its worth the test was done @ Punchestown, Kildare

kippy wrote: »

Sorry, I took the term "pouncing" as rampant.

Nah, it was merely a question about the virus spreading through schools once they reopened as in it "pounces" from a few who may have it, like in any close indoors environment.

tscul32 wrote: »

For the classes sent home to isolate for 2 weeks because of a case, does anyone know have they been given work to do at home/online, etc. I know it will vary from school to school but just wondering if anyone here has experienced it.

Our kids school used the Seesaw app back during lock down. It's quite handy and the teacher can communicate via voice memos or text.

Kids can reply back with voice/text depending how old they are.

Grandeeod wrote: »

Updating from my last post, but are we seeing a situation since schools reopened, that parents are presenting kids to test centres with very random/mild symptoms (that could be easily explained as non covid) out of fear or is there a very real chance that covid was hiding in the long grass and is pouncing all over schools?

The actual outbreaks in Schools is climbing steadily. No doubt about that.

Parent's can't present kids at test centres though. You need to be assessed by a GP who puts you forward for a test.

It's entirely possible that the GP's are being extra cautious. Add into the fact that most GPs are still operating a phone consult rather than in person so they would be missing the observational stuff like looking down the throat or listening to the chest so can't really diagnose definitively over the phone.

Neyite wrote: »

Parent's can't present kids at test centres though. You need to be assessed by a GP who puts you forward for a test.

It's entirely possible that the GP's are being extra cautious. Add into the fact that most GPs are still operating a phone consult rather than in person so they would be missing the observational stuff like looking down the throat or listening to the chest so can't really diagnose definitively over the phone.

Agreed, but for me, it was a discussion with gp re sending kiddo for testing. She asked me what I thought and I told her I felt it was a viral back to school thing that is going around but I would feel better to have kiddo tested. I pointed out that the cough though harsh was infrequent and more than likely caused by sore dry throat so would prefer test, which gp agreed with.

Neyite wrote: »

Parent's can't present kids at test centres though. You need to be assessed by a GP who puts you forward for a test.

It's entirely possible that the GP's are being extra cautious. Add into the fact that most GPs are still operating a phone consult rather than in person so they would be missing the observational stuff like looking down the throat or listening to the chest so can't really diagnose definitively over the phone.

I just phrased it badly. Obviously when I said presenting kids at test centres, I meant on referral. Like everyone I've done 6 plus months with this thing and know how things work. As to my original question, there is a possibility that extreme caution from parents and GPs is leading to more kids at test centres? I spoke to a former work colleague today (now a teacher) and he was referred for a test after a phone conversation with his GP. Got a fairly quick appointment at the Aviva Stadium test centre. He was being precautionary as he didn't feel well and the GPs attitude was, get a test.

Re. Tusla being involved if you go over 20 days absence. Our school has always said to us that this is only for 'unexplained' absences. We have a brief form to fill in that they keep on file - name, date(s) absent and brief reason and were told that as long as they receive them for any absences then it's fine. Now that may vary from school to school but in general it is absenteeism without explanation that Tusla would be concerned with. I wouldn't want parents to be sending their children into school if they felt uncomfortable doing so in these strange circumstances for fear of Tusla.

Grandeeod wrote: »

I just phrased it badly. Obviously when I said presenting kids at test centres, I meant on referral. Like everyone I've done 6 plus months with this thing and know how things work. As to my original question, there is a possibility that extreme caution from parents and GPs is leading to more kids at test centres? I spoke to a former work colleague today (now a teacher) and he was referred for a test after a phone conversation with his GP. Got a fairly quick appointment at the Aviva Stadium test centre. He was being precautionary as he didn't feel well and the GPs attitude was, get a test.

As mentioned, more kids as test centres is exactly what is to be expected. There are guidelines to follow - people are following them.
Better safe than sorry.

wirelessdude01 wrote: »

Hearing that most parents aren't getting past the receptionist and/or nurse in the GP office. They tend to go down a checklist and then test or no test

I can well imagine that happens in the busier practices. We live out in the boonies with the nearest single confirmed case 20 miles away though so probably the doctors surgeries are less inundated with potential cases and probably could take my call.

With us, on Sunday I got the receptionist who said she would get the nurse to call me back. Nurse calls me back, explained that with a temp+cough+chest tightness the protocol meant escalating it to the GP for a covid assessment. GP calls me and I repeat the same so he schedules the test but he also prescribed antibiotics to cover both eventualities.

So I think that the GP was thinking 'chest infection' but wanted to err on the side of caution. To be honest, hearing the combo of symptoms he would have been remiss not to refer as they are just so similar to covid.