Covid question

[waverly]

The nanny texted this morning that she has a fever.  She watched the kids yesterday for us to do igloo dining.  I can ask her if she tested for Covid, but we are expecting a big snowstorm, so if she didn't go today she might not be able to until Wednesday.

The kids are hybrid and go to school Wed and Fri this week.  I am taking tomorrow off.  How should I proceed in terms of work and school on Wednesday? She has not reported a close contact with Covid. 

Also, the school has covid tests now.  Not sure how that works?  Should I ask them to test the kids on Wed or Fri out of an abundance of caution?  I'm not sure where to get the kids tested except maybe the drive through sites.

[erbear]

If fever is her only symptom and she has no known contact, I would suggest that she gets tested. I would send my kids to school, I think, if they were symptom free (for real).

[waverly]

Jan 25, 2021 20:08:43 GMT -5 erbear said:

If fever is her only symptom and she has no known contact, I would suggest that she gets tested. I would send my kids to school, I think, if they were symptom free (for real).

Would you ask the school to test them? We have rapid tests in the schools now.

[erbear]

Jan 25, 2021 21:49:14 GMT -5 waverly said:

Jan 25, 2021 20:08:43 GMT -5 erbear said:

If fever is her only symptom and she has no known contact, I would suggest that she gets tested. I would send my kids to school, I think, if they were symptom free (for real).

Would you ask the school to test them? We have rapid tests in the schools now.

Probably not. Honestly, the rapid tests aren’t so useful and I’m not sure it’s worth it if the data isn’t reliable.

[k3am]

I don’t think it’s worth having the school test them. Two days after exposure? The target window is 5-7 days.

Beyond that, not sure what I’d do.

[twinmomma]

I'd ask her to test but keep sending the kids in the meantime. That's basically how our school policy works - you don't have to stop sending the kids unless it's a known positive.

[marie]

Our school has tests too and I know they would not be happy if I sent them and requested a test. In fact, they would likely make you pick them up. They very specifically said that the tests are ONLY if symptoms present while at school. If you think they were exposed and need a test, you should do so before sending them to school. I know that is not very helpful because you really do not know if they were exposed, but I would not send them and ask for a test.

[waverly]

Thanks all. I’ll follow up with the nanny, and plan to test all of us at 5 days out at our local clinic.

[twinmomma]

My answer is also colored by the fact that testing here is a complete nightmare. You have to go get in line at the urgent care a couple hours before they even open in the hopes of getting on the list for the day before they run out. Otherwise you're turned away and told to come back the next day even earlier to get in line. Then results take 3-5 days to come back usually.

[waverly]

DH is going to check with her if she has a known Covid contact. I’ve not tested kids here before. It sounds like we could do walk ins if we can’t get on the list and numbers are down so I think we’ll be ok. If not I can ask the school on Friday but I think they might do it more in their discretion rather than a parent asking. I have to review their testing documentation.

ETA- looks like school testing is only for symptoms.  I don't really see why because so many kids are asymptomatic, but not my lane, I guess. Although if they have symptoms maybe test results would be more accurate since they are testing at the correct time? 

[waverly]

Update: Nanny got tested yesterday but no results yet. Kids are at home today for hybrid. They go tomorrow. It says don't send if presumed positive or a positive result. I can't say she is presumed positive though because she hasn't had a close contact with someone with Covid, so it could just be a sinus infection.

Send tomorrow or not?

[sdlaura]

waverly I would probably send. I assume they are masked and distanced at school, since hybrid, so that would give me more comfort. The only thing that gives me a little bit of pause is that her symptom is a fever. I feel like adults don’t get fevers that often so that would concern me more than, say, cold symptoms.

[waverly]

We got her results last night- negative and no known contact.

You are right sdlaura that adults don’t usually have fevers but she must be more prone to them. She had fevers this fall for a sinus infection.

[mommyatty]

I think fevers are really person-specific. I run a fever if I get really stressed. If I get a cold. If I get a sinus infection. My normal body temp is lower than average (97.4) but if any of the factors above hit, I’m generally at 101 or near 101. DH never runs a fever. Or if he does it’s like 100.4.

I’m glad she’s negative. And glad she bothered to test.

[waverly]

Yea definitely. If I run a fever it is very rare and usually a harder hitting virus or bronchitis. A 99 could be a fever for me even though medical professionals wouldn’t consider it because I am pretty much never above 98.6. I typically run in the 97s.

[sdlaura]

I’m so glad she’s negative!