Growing concerns over lack of Covid tests across Sussex

Worried parents across Sussex are being driven to distraction by a lack of Covid tests for their children.
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Many youngsters are being sent home from school with colds and are told they cannot return for 14 days unless they have a negative test for Covid-19 - but parents are finding it impossible to book a test.

Mum Sarah Newell posted on the West Sussex County Times Facebook page: “My youngest has a bit of a cold with a slight cough, told by the school to get a test or isolate for 10 days, I’d have better luck winning the lottery at the moment than getting hold of a test.”

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Corinna Jean White said: “I can’t seem to get a test, I’ve been trying since Saturday... my youngest can’t go back to nursery until we all have had one.. it’s ridiculous. iI thought there were enough tests ... a cold or flu is so common now but we have to wait to be tested. Who knows how long that will take.”

Heather Kellaway added: “My two boys are not allowed back until they get tested but I tried for five days to get a test and there were none so the school have said keep them home for 10 days then thy can come back,”

Karen Slk Ray said: “It’s a nightmare! I work in a school and I’m off because my daughter has a common cold. We are currently waiting on the results. Neither of us or my other two girls are able to return to school until we have a clear test result.”

Kelly Hearn said: “There are so many parents having this issue, Schools need to know the difference between a cold and corona! And schools should have tests readily available like care homes.”

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A Balcombe mum said: “I am a teacher, my daughter has had a temperature, her cousin had one on Monday. Despite two sets of parents trying since then (it is now Wednesday) we cannot get tests.

“I’ve tried at 6 and 7am in the morning and at 8 and 12 o’clock at night. I’m beside myself, this has far reaching consequences.

“My son only had one week at his new secondary school and now cannot attend. I cannot return to work.

“A friend of mine who is also vital school staff is in the same position with her child. They need to at least get keyworkers through to having tests.

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“The schools my child and my son attend are also telling me they have many families who have children with temperatures unable to get tests.”

She added: “The system is now so flawed that I fear it will lead families to avoid reporting symptoms or ignore them to avoid this massive disruption to their lives.

“We need to know we can get tests quickly, particularly when we know our children are displaying common symptoms associated with colds which in children often lead to temperatures.”

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