The problem is that “covid like symptoms” can be anything & everything with the new/various strains. I don’t think it’s reasonable to test for covid every time you have a runny nose or a cough or a headache or a stomachache or or or… (unless you live with someone immunoeomprpmosed). |
My kid wouldn't be tested in this situation so they'd be at school. No symptoms=no test. |
“COVID like symptoms” can be anything from mild cold symptoms to a headache to gastro issues to fatigue and so on. So no, my family is not taking a COVID test for every symptom. There are 5 people in my house and at any given time one person may have some sniffles or a headache or be feeling tired or wake up with a scratchy throat or whatever. Also the few times we caught an incidental diagnosis back when testing was required the symptoms were almost nothing. None of us has even gotten a fever from it. I’ve had worse seasonal allergies. So there is nothing that would even tip me off that it might be COVID. If someone in my household does get a fever or have significant symptoms then they stay home for a few days anyway. What is the point of testing then? |
Nobody seems to have mentioned the current CDC guidelines on this: stay home if you're sick, and return to normal activities when your symptoms are improving and you're fever-free without medication for 24 hours. Take additional precautions for 5 days, such as social distancing or masking (but it's a pretty weak suggestion), especially if you're around vulnerable people. Based on that guidance, OP isn't doing anything wrong.
The best thing we could do as a community is create better norms around masking. I don't blame a high schooler for feeling uncomfortable social pressure on this topic. I have a work event coming up, and it seems inevitable that people will get Covid; I'll bring masks but I probably won't use them if no one else does. |
The additional precautions could also just be hand washing or opening windows as per the CDC. |