Rejected petition Use the saliva test to check for Covid-19 in children.

Many parents avoid testing their children for Covid-19 because the current test is so invasive for young people. This leads to an increased risk of Covid-19 transmission in the community. It is in everyone’s interest to use a safer, less invasive test for children.

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The current nasopharyngeal swabs are too invasive, traumatic and damaging (e.g. leading to nosebleeds or ongoing psychological trauma) for young children.

The saliva test is currently being used by Southampton City Council for school children and university staff and students. It is said to be as accurate in picking up the virus as the nasal and throat swab: https://www.southampton.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid19/covid-testing/testing-programme/about-the-saliva-test.aspx

This petition was rejected

Why was this petition rejected?

There’s already a petition about this issue. We cannot accept a new petition when we already have one about a very similar issue.

You are more likely to get action on this issue if you sign and share a single petition.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/550053

We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.

Date submitted 10 January 2021
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