And they revealed many of the requests are coming from parents concerned for their children.
As a result, a reminder message about testing was issued this week, with a Health and Social Care Partnership spokesman saying: “This is naturally understandable, but it is important that testing is undertaken only when it is appropriate to do so.
“In Dumfries and Galloway we are fortunate that the current prevalence of Covid-19 remains relatively low. However, this could change at any time – particularly as people are travelling and interacting more as lockdown eases – and we have a population which has had very little exposure and therefore little immunity.
“As a consequence, we must all remain vigilant and follow the Scottish Government guidance.”
He stressed that, unless specifically directed, only people who display one of three well-established symptoms should seek testing, and isolate (with their household contacts) until test results are received.
These symptoms are:
· A raised temperature
· The onset of a new persistent cough
· The loss of or change to sense of taste or smell
The spokesman added: “Testing people who have one of these symptoms helps ensure that tests are not carried out unnecessarily and that resources are used in the most effective way.
“If you have one of these symptoms, a test can be arranged by visiting the NHS Inform website – www.nhsinform.scot.”
However, parents have hit back and said schools are telling them to take children for tests – even with just a cold.
Mums and dads in Dumfriesshire have described having to travel to Carlisle, and even Penrith, to get tested on the orders of headteachers after pupils developed a sniffle.
And it was reported that one primary school in the area sent home 15 children in the space of a week with potential covid symptoms.
One parent, who asked not to be named, said: “It’s getting ridiculous and some commonsense needs to be applied at the schools. The children are back together, indoors, after months of isolation so it’s pretty obvious that they’re going to get sniffles and bugs off each other and that this will continue into the winter.
“I am not prepared to keep taking mine out of school and putting them through a test, which is not particularly pleasant, just because they sneezed in class- and that’s not even a symptom!”
Dumfries and Galloway Council were contacted for a comment.
And they revealed many of the requests are coming from parents concerned for their children.
As a result, a reminder message about testing was issued this week, with a Health and Social Care Partnership spokesman saying: “This is naturally understandable, but it is important that testing is undertaken only when it is appropriate to do so.
“In Dumfries and Galloway we are fortunate that the current prevalence of Covid-19 remains relatively low. However, this could change at any time – particularly as people are travelling and interacting more as lockdown eases – and we have a population which has had very little exposure and therefore little immunity.
“As a consequence, we must all remain vigilant and follow the Scottish Government guidance.”
He stressed that, unless specifically directed, only people who display one of three well-established symptoms should seek testing, and isolate (with their household contacts) until test results are received.
These symptoms are:
· A raised temperature
· The onset of a new persistent cough
· The loss of or change to sense of taste or smell
The spokesman added: “Testing people who have one of these symptoms helps ensure that tests are not carried out unnecessarily and that resources are used in the most effective way.
“If you have one of these symptoms, a test can be arranged by visiting the NHS Inform website – www.nhsinform.scot.”
However, parents have hit back and said schools are telling them to take children for tests – even with just a cold.
Mums and dads in Dumfriesshire have described having to travel to Carlisle, and even Penrith, to get tested on the orders of headteachers after pupils developed a sniffle.
And it was reported that one primary school in the area sent home 15 children in the space of a week with potential covid symptoms.
One parent, who asked not to be named, said: “It’s getting ridiculous and some commonsense needs to be applied at the schools. The children are back together, indoors, after months of isolation so it’s pretty obvious that they’re going to get sniffles and bugs off each other and that this will continue into the winter.
“I am not prepared to keep taking mine out of school and putting them through a test, which is not particularly pleasant, just because they sneezed in class- and that’s not even a symptom!”
Dumfries and Galloway Council were contacted for a comment.
