Have you sign-up for weekly asymptomatic testing at APS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would rather risk unchecked spread for the extra 5 minutes of learning that might be lost if they don't pull kids out during lunch? All of us that watched the last 1.5 years go down know full well there is a huge amount of filler in the school day. I'm OK with my kids missing some of that filler in order to be sure they aren't unknowingly spreading to their classmates or teachers.

Spreading to teachers? Those teachers are mandated to be vaccinated. Are you one of these anti-vaxxers that think vaccines don't work? This is exactly why they were put to the front of the line to get a vaccine!

I'm not an anti-vaxxer at all, but where have you been the last month? Vaccinated people are getting this. I will give up 5 minutes of my kids learning during a week to get them tested to make sure they are not unknowingly positive and spreading the virus...what exactly is your problem?

COVID is not going away. There's not going to be Zero COVID. And vaccinated people are getting the equivalent of a cold or less. That is the purpose of vaccination.

It sounds like you're saying vaccines don't work then. Stop with the anti-vax, stay in your home forever nonsense. It's causing people to not get vaccinated.

Not to hijack the thread but this isn't true. They're getting "mild" illness, which just means you don't need to be hospitalized. But you may be as sick as you've ever been in your life. Not just a bad cold.

some people are getting as sick as they've ever been in their life. That is hardly what is happening to most vaccinated people, or most children. My son had mild covid. He had a low grade fever lasting less than 24 hours, and chills. No cough (even though he has moderate asthma) no other symptoms. No spread to his unvaccinated siblings, or his vaccinated parents. This is the MOST LIKELY scenario.

When was this? Delta?

yes- delta- beginning of August.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington, where life is viewed as a zero sum game.

Arlington, where a few noisy people think "health" consists solely of prevention of a respiratory virus that we have very successful vaccines for and healthy kids under 12 are at less risk of complications for than the seasonal flu. Plus, that prevention must come at the expense of the infinite number of other aspects of physical health and mental health (including academics and social development)

The most mentally taxing aspect of the pandemic has turned out to be dealing with anti-vaxers, anti-maskers, anti-testers, etc.

Keep your kid home if you can't abide by basic rules of society. Be an oppositional jerk in your own home.

DP. Yes, vaccines for those eligible, masking, and following all guidance for schools. I’m sensing, though, a subtle shift, now, toward gentle bullying of those who are hesitating about asymptomatic testing.

I won't be subtle.

I have zero patience for selfish people who can't do the most basic things to keep our kids in school.

Vaccinate, mask, test.

all of these things are not the same. And asking to discuss them does not make people 'selfish'.

vaccinate- sure that's an easy one. Do it.

Mask-- well, its probably a good idea, but it does come with a cost. so much communication is lost when you speak through masks. Is that outweighed by the benefits to wearing masks? Probably... but asking to discuss it, or wanting research, etc- does not make someone 'selfish' or suggest they aren't willing to do 'basic things.'

test? test asymptomatic? that are unlikely to be spreading? and leads to lots of needless quarantines? that's a whole new kettle of fish.

Yes, per the CDC, Arlington currently has "substantial" community transmission:
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view

therefore the CDC recommends screening of students at least weekly:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/operation-strategy.html#anchor_1616080181070

From the material you quoted CDC DOES NOT recommend screening students at least weekly. It says "Some schools may also elect to use screening testing as a strategy to identify cases and prevent secondary tran"

cdc is very tentative on the benefits of screening.

look at table 4 - CDC recommends that in areas with moderate, substantial, high transmission students should be screened weekly.


Table 4. Testing Recommendations by Level of Community Transmission

Testing Recommendations: All Schools
Diagnostic testing: Symptomatic students, teachers, and staff and close contacts referred for diagnostic testing
Screening Testing for teachers and staff: expanded screening testing of teachers and staff offered at least once per week

Testing Recommendations by Level of Community Transmission
Substantial Transmission
Orange
Screening testing for students: expanded screening testing of students offered at least once per week

When combined with prevention measures, such as mask use, physical distancing, and others, testing protocols might be an effective tool in reducing transmission.

Moderate (yellow), substantial (orange), and high (red) community transmission:
Students, teachers, and staff participate in regular screening testing to reduce the risk of transmission within the school.
Teachers and staff participate in routine screening testing at least once per week. In areas with substantial and high community transmission, twice a week screening testing might be preferable to quickly detect cases among teachers and staff.
Students in elementary, middle, and high schools participate in routine screening testing at least once per week. If a confirmed positive case is found, any close contacts are quarantined and tested.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington, where life is viewed as a zero sum game.

Arlington, where a few noisy people think "health" consists solely of prevention of a respiratory virus that we have very successful vaccines for and healthy kids under 12 are at less risk of complications for than the seasonal flu. Plus, that prevention must come at the expense of the infinite number of other aspects of physical health and mental health (including academics and social development)

The most mentally taxing aspect of the pandemic has turned out to be dealing with anti-vaxers, anti-maskers, anti-testers, etc.

Keep your kid home if you can't abide by basic rules of society. Be an oppositional jerk in your own home.

DP. Yes, vaccines for those eligible, masking, and following all guidance for schools. I’m sensing, though, a subtle shift, now, toward gentle bullying of those who are hesitating about asymptomatic testing.

I won't be subtle.

I have zero patience for selfish people who can't do the most basic things to keep our kids in school.

Vaccinate, mask, test.

all of these things are not the same. And asking to discuss them does not make people 'selfish'.

vaccinate- sure that's an easy one. Do it.

Mask-- well, its probably a good idea, but it does come with a cost. so much communication is lost when you speak through masks. Is that outweighed by the benefits to wearing masks? Probably... but asking to discuss it, or wanting research, etc- does not make someone 'selfish' or suggest they aren't willing to do 'basic things.'

test? test asymptomatic? that are unlikely to be spreading? and leads to lots of needless quarantines? that's a whole new kettle of fish.

Yes, per the CDC, Arlington currently has "substantial" community transmission:
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view

therefore the CDC recommends screening of students at least weekly:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/operation-strategy.html#anchor_1616080181070

From the material you quoted CDC DOES NOT recommend screening students at least weekly. It says "Some schools may also elect to use screening testing as a strategy to identify cases and prevent secondary tran"

cdc is very tentative on the benefits of screening.

look at table 4 - CDC recommends that in areas with moderate, substantial, high transmission students should be screened weekly.


Table 4. Testing Recommendations by Level of Community Transmission

Testing Recommendations: All Schools
Diagnostic testing: Symptomatic students, teachers, and staff and close contacts referred for diagnostic testing
Screening Testing for teachers and staff: expanded screening testing of teachers and staff offered at least once per week

Testing Recommendations by Level of Community Transmission
Substantial Transmission
Orange
Screening testing for students: expanded screening testing of students offered at least once per week

When combined with prevention measures, such as mask use, physical distancing, and others, testing protocols might be an effective tool in reducing transmission.

Moderate (yellow), substantial (orange), and high (red) community transmission:
Students, teachers, and staff participate in regular screening testing to reduce the risk of transmission within the school.
Teachers and staff participate in routine screening testing at least once per week. In areas with substantial and high community transmission, twice a week screening testing might be preferable to quickly detect cases among teachers and staff.
Students in elementary, middle, and high schools participate in routine screening testing at least once per week. If a confirmed positive case is found, any close contacts are quarantined and tested.

no they don't- this is all in the 'if you choose to have a screening program' not a 'recommended if you are in this level.'

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington, where life is viewed as a zero sum game.

Arlington, where a few noisy people think "health" consists solely of prevention of a respiratory virus that we have very successful vaccines for and healthy kids under 12 are at less risk of complications for than the seasonal flu. Plus, that prevention must come at the expense of the infinite number of other aspects of physical health and mental health (including academics and social development)

The most mentally taxing aspect of the pandemic has turned out to be dealing with anti-vaxers, anti-maskers, anti-testers, etc.

Keep your kid home if you can't abide by basic rules of society. Be an oppositional jerk in your own home.

DP. Yes, vaccines for those eligible, masking, and following all guidance for schools. I’m sensing, though, a subtle shift, now, toward gentle bullying of those who are hesitating about asymptomatic testing.

I won't be subtle.

I have zero patience for selfish people who can't do the most basic things to keep our kids in school.

Vaccinate, mask, test.

You’re going to need to make your argument to APS about mandatory testing.

[Anonymous]

Countless school systems are doing fine without neurotic screaming for constant testing. It’s the next round of virtue signaling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No way am I signing up for this. If my asymptomatic kid tests positive, all three of his siblings need to miss two+ weeks of school? No way, especially since no one else in their class will have to quarantine.

+1 And sports too. Their entire teams.

Look we don’t test for flu after people are vaccinated with the flu. if we did, there would be asymptomatic people testing positive. Many will test positive after being fully vaccinated with no ability to transmit the virus.

This will cause shutting down of activities, quarantining without need, etc.

I want to add the caveat that my kids are in age groups where everyone can be vaccinated.

If I had elementary kids, my answer would be different.

So you are are saying you are OK sending your kid to school and sports practice with asymptomatic COVID? WTH?

Why TF do you think "many will test positive after being fully vaccinated with no ability to transmit the virus"?


https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/delta-variant.html
"Fully vaccinated people with Delta variant breakthrough infections can spread the virus to others.

For people infected with the Delta variant, similar amounts of viral genetic material have been found among both unvaccinated and fully vaccinated people."


Sigh...

ARE YOU GETTTING TESTED REGUALARLY? If not, have you stopped doing anything outside of your house? Indoors?

My kids have to wear masks at school and on sidelines near other kids. I wear a mask (even though VA doesn't require it) indoors at grocery stores, the gym, etc.

So, it's the same really. And if I have zero symptoms, how the hell do I know if I am asymptomatically Covid positive currently unless I did a test DAILY??? There is no policy or even suggestion to do daily testing on vaccinated individuals.

So, yes, I think this is such a minimal, minimal thing.

They either have to test every single kid and staff that walks through the door on a daily basis (not feasible) or this is really just worthless.

[Anonymous]

^ and I have researched vaccines (it's my Fed job) for the past 26 years and I KNOW that if you randomly tested those fully vaccinated for influenza, you would get positives with no symptoms, and likelihood of transmission extremely low.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would rather risk unchecked spread for the extra 5 minutes of learning that might be lost if they don't pull kids out during lunch? All of us that watched the last 1.5 years go down know full well there is a huge amount of filler in the school day. I'm OK with my kids missing some of that filler in order to be sure they aren't unknowingly spreading to their classmates or teachers.

Spreading to teachers? Those teachers are mandated to be vaccinated. Are you one of these anti-vaxxers that think vaccines don't work? This is exactly why they were put to the front of the line to get a vaccine!

I'm not an anti-vaxxer at all, but where have you been the last month? Vaccinated people are getting this. I will give up 5 minutes of my kids learning during a week to get them tested to make sure they are not unknowingly positive and spreading the virus...what exactly is your problem?

COVID is not going away. There's not going to be Zero COVID. And vaccinated people are getting the equivalent of a cold or less. That is the purpose of vaccination.

It sounds like you're saying vaccines don't work then. Stop with the anti-vax, stay in your home forever nonsense. It's causing people to not get vaccinated.

You are missing my point entirely. Vaccines do work, but my kids cannot yet get the vaccine. I don't want them to get it or spread it to anyone else. This is about protecting the community at large. We aren't staying home, we are living our life. Going to work, going to school, participating in extra curricular activities. At the same time, we are trying to protect ourselves and others by limiting the spread by wearing masks inside and getting tested if it is available. Everyone in my household that can get the vaccine has gotten it, and my under 12 kids will get it as soon as it is available. This was all a discussion about getting kids tested in school which i support to limit the spread and reduce the risk that we will have to close down on a wider level.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would rather risk unchecked spread for the extra 5 minutes of learning that might be lost if they don't pull kids out during lunch? All of us that watched the last 1.5 years go down know full well there is a huge amount of filler in the school day. I'm OK with my kids missing some of that filler in order to be sure they aren't unknowingly spreading to their classmates or teachers.

Spreading to teachers? Those teachers are mandated to be vaccinated. Are you one of these anti-vaxxers that think vaccines don't work? This is exactly why they were put to the front of the line to get a vaccine!

I'm not an anti-vaxxer at all, but where have you been the last month? Vaccinated people are getting this. I will give up 5 minutes of my kids learning during a week to get them tested to make sure they are not unknowingly positive and spreading the virus...what exactly is your problem?

COVID is not going away. There's not going to be Zero COVID. And vaccinated people are getting the equivalent of a cold or less. That is the purpose of vaccination.

It sounds like you're saying vaccines don't work then. Stop with the anti-vax, stay in your home forever nonsense. It's causing people to not get vaccinated.

You are missing my point entirely. Vaccines do work, but my kids cannot yet get the vaccine. I don't want them to get it or spread it to anyone else. This is about protecting the community at large. We aren't staying home, we are living our life. Going to work, going to school, participating in extra curricular activities. At the same time, we are trying to protect ourselves and others by limiting the spread by wearing masks inside and getting tested if it is available. Everyone in my household that can get the vaccine has gotten it, and my under 12 kids will get it as soon as it is available. This was all a discussion about getting kids tested in school which i support to limit the spread and reduce the risk that we will have to close down on a wider level.

Kids have a lower risk of COVID than a vaccinated 35 year old. Reduce the spread? The virus is going to continue to spread, no matter what. It's a virus that is endemic! Do you demand such things for the flu? No.

We all have our own personal risk tolerances, but stop trying to impose your irrational risk tolerances on other people. If you want to fight an endless war to control the spread, then be my guest. This "let's not cut and run" mentality reminds me of Iraq War supporters in 2007.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You would rather risk unchecked spread for the extra 5 minutes of learning that might be lost if they don't pull kids out during lunch? All of us that watched the last 1.5 years go down know full well there is a huge amount of filler in the school day. I'm OK with my kids missing some of that filler in order to be sure they aren't unknowingly spreading to their classmates or teachers.

Spreading to teachers? Those teachers are mandated to be vaccinated. Are you one of these anti-vaxxers that think vaccines don't work? This is exactly why they were put to the front of the line to get a vaccine!

I'm not an anti-vaxxer at all, but where have you been the last month? Vaccinated people are getting this. I will give up 5 minutes of my kids learning during a week to get them tested to make sure they are not unknowingly positive and spreading the virus...what exactly is your problem?

COVID is not going away. There's not going to be Zero COVID. And vaccinated people are getting the equivalent of a cold or less. That is the purpose of vaccination.

It sounds like you're saying vaccines don't work then. Stop with the anti-vax, stay in your home forever nonsense. It's causing people to not get vaccinated.

You are missing my point entirely. Vaccines do work, but my kids cannot yet get the vaccine. I don't want them to get it or spread it to anyone else. This is about protecting the community at large. We aren't staying home, we are living our life. Going to work, going to school, participating in extra curricular activities. At the same time, we are trying to protect ourselves and others by limiting the spread by wearing masks inside and getting tested if it is available. Everyone in my household that can get the vaccine has gotten it, and my under 12 kids will get it as soon as it is available. This was all a discussion about getting kids tested in school which i support to limit the spread and reduce the risk that we will have to close down on a wider level.

Kids have a lower risk of COVID than a vaccinated 35 year old. Reduce the spread? The virus is going to continue to spread, no matter what. It's a virus that is endemic! Do you demand such things for the flu? No.

We all have our own personal risk tolerances, but stop trying to impose your irrational risk tolerances on other people. If you want to fight an endless war to control the spread, then be my guest. This "let's not cut and run" mentality reminds me of Iraq War supporters in 2007.

DP but I don't understand how people could possibly be anti-testing except out of sheer obtuseness. The false positive rate on these Biomax tests is less than 1%, besides which according to APS's own testing procedures once they get a positive test, they test the kid again right away! Seems like the chances of a false positive are pretty low.

PP above seems to be saying that they expect kids to get Covid and that's just fine with them since chances of fatalities in kids are very low. That is not where most other people are right now -- in general the government and health authorities wants to prevent all spreading of Covid because (1) all spread increases the chances of further mutation into an even deadlier virus; and (2) any spread risks further spread, i.e., before Delta every person getting Covid spread it to like 3 people, and now with Delta that number has at least doubled, and every transmission risks transmission to others who haven't been vaccinated.

PP above is also ignoring the high risk to families who have others living at home with them who perhaps cannot be or cannot be convinced to be vaccinated and could get the disease from an asymptomatic child coming home from school.

PP is like "I and my family will be fine what's all this about testing eh?" whereas most other people want to help others in the community by reducing further spread of the disease and bringing the infection numbers down. Rather than working together, PP is like "if this might POSSIBLY inconvenience me in any way even though it's for the greater good, count me out."

Man, that is cold.

[Anonymous]

The only people who are cutting and running here are the people saying "Don't test my child because I'm afraid of the results!" Good lord people borrow some courage and let your kids get tested sheesh.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Arlington, where life is viewed as a zero sum game.

Arlington, where a few noisy people think "health" consists solely of prevention of a respiratory virus that we have very successful vaccines for and healthy kids under 12 are at less risk of complications for than the seasonal flu. Plus, that prevention must come at the expense of the infinite number of other aspects of physical health and mental health (including academics and social development)

The most mentally taxing aspect of the pandemic has turned out to be dealing with anti-vaxers, anti-maskers, anti-testers, etc.

Keep your kid home if you can't abide by basic rules of society. Be an oppositional jerk in your own home.

DP. Yes, vaccines for those eligible, masking, and following all guidance for schools. I’m sensing, though, a subtle shift, now, toward gentle bullying of those who are hesitating about asymptomatic testing.

I won't be subtle.

I have zero patience for selfish people who can't do the most basic things to keep our kids in school.

Vaccinate, mask, test.

all of these things are not the same. And asking to discuss them does not make people 'selfish'.

vaccinate- sure that's an easy one. Do it.

Mask-- well, its probably a good idea, but it does come with a cost. so much communication is lost when you speak through masks. Is that outweighed by the benefits to wearing masks? Probably... but asking to discuss it, or wanting research, etc- does not make someone 'selfish' or suggest they aren't willing to do 'basic things.'

test? test asymptomatic? that are unlikely to be spreading? and leads to lots of needless quarantines? that's a whole new kettle of fish.

Yes, per the CDC, Arlington currently has "substantial" community transmission:
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view

therefore the CDC recommends screening of students at least weekly:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/operation-strategy.html#anchor_1616080181070

From the material you quoted CDC DOES NOT recommend screening students at least weekly. It says "Some schools may also elect to use screening testing as a strategy to identify cases and prevent secondary tran"

cdc is very tentative on the benefits of screening.

look at table 4 - CDC recommends that in areas with moderate, substantial, high transmission students should be screened weekly.


Table 4. Testing Recommendations by Level of Community Transmission

Testing Recommendations: All Schools
Diagnostic testing: Symptomatic students, teachers, and staff and close contacts referred for diagnostic testing
Screening Testing for teachers and staff: expanded screening testing of teachers and staff offered at least once per week

Testing Recommendations by Level of Community Transmission
Substantial Transmission
Orange
Screening testing for students: expanded screening testing of students offered at least once per week

When combined with prevention measures, such as mask use, physical distancing, and others, testing protocols might be an effective tool in reducing transmission.

Moderate (yellow), substantial (orange), and high (red) community transmission:
Students, teachers, and staff participate in regular screening testing to reduce the risk of transmission within the school.
Teachers and staff participate in routine screening testing at least once per week. In areas with substantial and high community transmission, twice a week screening testing might be preferable to quickly detect cases among teachers and staff.
Students in elementary, middle, and high schools participate in routine screening testing at least once per week. If a confirmed positive case is found, any close contacts are quarantined and tested.

no they don't- this is all in the 'if you choose to have a screening program' not a 'recommended if you are in this level.'

Are you being deliberately obtuse?

“Testing
Viral testing strategies in partnership with schools should be part of a comprehensive prevention approach. Testing should not be used alone, but in combination with other prevention to reduce risk of transmission in schools. When schools implement testing combined with prevention strategies, they can detect new cases to prevent outbreaks, reduce the risk of further transmission, and protect students, teachers, and staff from COVID-19.”

The CDC recommends testing. I’m so tired of this “alternative facts” sh1t

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ and I have researched vaccines (it's my Fed job) for the past 26 years and I KNOW that if you randomly tested those fully vaccinated for influenza, you would get positives with no symptoms, and likelihood of transmission extremely low.

Asymptomatic <> false positive

[Anonymous]

Be thank for that while not perfect, at least APS offers weekly screening testing. We in ACPS will have to wait until the Commonwealth rolls out its program in October!!!

[Anonymous]

Opt-in rate for asymptomatic testing is very low - around 5,000 students, staff, etc. - less than 20% probably.

That amount may include staff who are required to test based on not being vaxxed and athletes who already signed up. Doesn't sound like hardly anyone is signing up unless they have to.

Good for everyone. Keeps false positives from unnecessarily closing the school to many students.