COVID, Thanksgiving and the SAT

Well, the COVID bug has finally hit close to home. DS, 16 and a Junior in H.S., went to his girlfriend’s family’s home on Thanksgiving and also the day before. On Friday, the girlfriend came down with symptoms of COVID and on Saturday (yesterday) got test results that were positive. DS got tested today. Waiting for results. DS is scheduled to take the SAT next Saturday. We may have to punt on that. Next one is March 18.

The only good thing to come out of that little Thanksgiving visit to the girlfriend’s house is that her older brother, a college freshman on NROTC scholarship, was home and talked about transferring to Marine Option. DS told me he is now thinking about Marine Option too. I am glad that DS is considering both Navy and Marine Options. I tried to tell him to at least consider Marine Option, but he had to hear it from someone other than his Dad. His girlfriend’s brother is a friend and was the CO of their high school NJROTC unit. DS is not a STEM guy and is more of the outgoing, charismatic, PT-oriented type of individual. A great mixer and people person and not an engineering nerd. So, to me, he seems more suitable to be a Marine Corps officer. But, what do I know?

He sounds like a great Marine candidate. He'll need to decide between Navy and Corps by the time he fills out his application as you can only select one option.

Hope all goes well on the COVID front.

Another thought is to look for a local ACT tests if he doesn’t want to wait til March. My DD is scheduled for Dec 12. We gave up on SATs after too many cancellations. Hope everyone recovers quickly from COVID.

1. He's a junior so he has plenty of time.

2. Despite general CDC guidance not to have "mixed family events," etc. at Thanksgiving and beyond, your son (and the GF's family) did anyway?

3. Hmmmm......

TheRightStuff said:

1. He's a junior so he has plenty of time.

2. Despite general CDC guidance not to have "mixed family events," etc. at Thanksgiving and beyond, your son (and the GF's family) did anyway?

3. Hmmmm......

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1. You do not know OP’s family or place of residence, yet you choose to criticize him or her publicly based on guidance that isn’t legally binding.

2. Hmmmm......

DW, DS #1 and I spent Thanksgiving home alone. None of us three go out very much at all. I work from home, and DS number 2 is doing college on-line.

DS #2 has been a regular at girlfriend’s house for the past couple of months. So, we weren’t especially concerned. He is very close with that family, and has a class in school with his girlfriend and had been attending church with her. Their school has been open. And, COVID has not been especially bad here so far. We always knew that DS #2 would be the highest risk to come into contact with COVID. But there’s really only so much you can restrict a healthy, active high school junior who is involved in extracurricular activities and sports. We will keep him home from school until he gets a negative test back (hopefully.). So far, he feels great and even went for a run this evening. He’s confined to his bedroom and must wear a mask when he comes out. I think we will survive.

Skipper07 said:

1. You do not know OP’s family or place of residence, yet you choose to criticize him or her publicly based on guidance that isn’t legally binding.

2. Hmmmm......

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1. Nobody said that "CDC guidance" was "legally binding".

2. It wasn't a "criticism," it was a question.

3. His/her/anyone's place of residence is irrelevant for CDC guidance as it applies (as was said) "generally" across the board (federal agency).

4. Get over it. The earth is not flat and you can't argue with science.

5. Not even a "hmmmmmmm" for you.

NJROTC-CC said:

DW, DS #1 and I spent Thanksgiving home alone. None of us three go out very much at all. I work from home, and DS number 2 is doing college on-line.

DS #2 has been a regular at girlfriend’s house for the past couple of months. So, we weren’t especially concerned. He is very close with that family, and has a class in school with his girlfriend and had been attending church with her. Their school has been open. And, COVID has not been especially bad here so far. We always knew that DS #2 would be the highest risk to come into contact with COVID. But there’s really only so much you can restrict a healthy, active high school junior who is involved in extracurricular activities and sports. We will keep him home from school until he gets a negative test back (hopefully.). So far, he feels great and even went for a run this evening. He’s confined to his bedroom and must wear a mask when he comes out. I think we will survive.

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Understood. But as far as "required activities" for school, extracurriculars and sports vs. the Thanksgiving visit they really are not even close to the same category as far as permissive vs. mandatory activities.

Hope everyone will be ok.

The fact that it was a Thanksgiving visit is just a coincidence. DS has been going to his girlfriend’s house several times a week, seeing her in school and attending church with her for months. He is almost a part of her family. I don’t believe any CDC guidelines were being violated by DS. Perhaps the family shouldn’t have had their own DS home from college or Grandma over for Thanksgiving. But that’s a different question. The person with COVID is the girlfriend who DS sees in school anyway. He would have visited her at her house anyway. CDC has not recommended complete stay-at-home. Has it?

If everyone wants to debate the intricacies of the CDC guidelines, COVID precautions, and who is following what, take it to another thread or better yet, another forum. Since this is in the ROTC thread let’s focus on the impact COVID has to things related to the application. I know there are SAT and ACTs coming up for many candidates in the next two week. Good luck to all.

Update. DS had COVID Test last Sunday, Nov. 29th at a local CVS. It is now Friday, Dec. 4th. STILL no test results. He is feeling strong as an ox and has been running every night. I said f - it. I sent him back to school this morning because he really wanted to go. As of 6:19 p.m. STILL no test results. He will take the SAT tomorrow. Frustrated with the COVID testing infrastructure. IT SUCKS.

NJROTC-CC said:

Update. DS had COVID Test last Sunday, Nov. 29th at a local CVS. It is now Friday, Dec. 4th. STILL no test results. He is feeling strong as an ox and has been running every night. I said f - it. I sent him back to school this morning because he really wanted to go. As of 6:19 p.m. STILL no test results. He will take the SAT tomorrow. Frustrated with the COVID testing infrastructure. IT SUCKS.

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My self-administered test at CVS last July took a week—Sunday to Monday of the next week. I smelled a rat when I saw the deposit box was jam packed and overflowing by 2PM. I called my Doc the next day. Got a test same day and an answer in three days. If you really want to know, go to an Urgent Care Clinic, pay the freight and get a quick test.

Was he symptomatic or just in contact with an infected person?

Do what you and DS feel he needs to do. Just please follow the guidelines and make sure you remain the adult in the room. Don’t feel like the Lone Ranger. That’s a good metaphor to teach your DS.

Wish him the best of luck!

He was only exposed. No symptoms. Tomorrow will be about 10 days since he was exposed. So it was a close call, but I decided to send him to school today and SAT tomorrow and long as he has no symptoms.

The USA needs to get better prepared to deal with the next pandemic. I don’t think the current administration is completely to blame because nothing like this ever happened before. But now that it has, there’s no excuse not to be ready next time. We need to have a ton of PPE ready and a system of testing and contact tracing that can be rapidly implemented and widely available. To be as far into this pandemic as we are and still have to wait over a week for results of a test is shameful.

UPDATE: DS still no symptoms. He took the SAT for his first time yesterday. It has now been a full week since he got the COVID test and 10 days since his exposure. Still no test results.