Aibu ti be slightly annoyed with DH for taking a Covid test

As a public health specialist I know this. I’m just making the point that said immunity means that vaccination for the majority is no longer required and that Covid is no longer the problem it was in the past. Arguably this can be interpreted as saying we need to treat it like any other viral infection now and testing is no longer required in the normal day to day machinations of life.

Op people were brainwashed and frightened by this illness that can have zero symptoms but you still need to test, brainwashed to have a load of jabs. A family member of mine had a jab and had to go to hospital with raised blood pressure and nose bleeds, then was really ill afterwards. Ive Never had a jab and never had more than a common cold since it all started. I know many people who took days off work because they tested positive although they were completely fine or had a sniffle. People vunerable to covid will be just as vunerable to a cold or flu virus.

Please don't misrepresent the article and the reasons for the change of approach. The nonoffering of the covid jab is because of pre existing immunity!!

In 2024, the current situation is one of very high levels of population immunity against the SARS-CoV-2 virus and the emergence of new omicron subvariants that are not associated with increased disease severity compared with earlier variants.”

Oh come on - we never came close to compulsory vaccines

This.

Lots of people are still testing because lots of people have vulnerable family members or underlying conditions. Your husband was sensible whilst you mixing with an elderly parent wasn't. Be annoyed at yourself.

Taking a Covid test when you feel ill is now the responsible and sensible thing to do, you could kill a vulnerable person by spreading it around.

I don't see the point in testing anymore. People have either had the vaccine or they haven't, we've all decided how we are going to live with the risk of catching COVID and it's just another illness you can get now. It wouldn't stop me going about my business unless I was specifically seeing someone immunocompromised. But that would be true for any illness, not especially COVID.

I work in public health/immunisations and the eligibility criteria for covid vaccination has been massively reduced this year. The JVC recommendation was that even front line health staff don’t need vaccinated this year and are moving towards upping the age eligibility from 65 to 75. (Although the NHS opted to offer the vaccine but more as a PR exercise rather than a scientific approach). Unpaid carers/relatives who live with or support vulnerable people are not eligible for the vaccine now. All this shows that Covid is not the danger it once was.

We really do need to think of it the same way we would any other virus - keep away from others until you are free from symptoms. There is no evidence based requirement for testing anymore.

Any other “moral” argument for testing is rather pointless.

https://www.bmj.com/content/386/bmj.q1728#:~:text=Unlike%20last%20year%2C%20the%20JCVI,contacts%20of%20people%20with%20immunosuppression.

edited to add link to BMJ article

Exactly this. Whatever the official “rules” are or aren’t - if you’re sick with ANYTHING you shouldn’t just go coughing sneezing all over your elderly relatives. Makes no difference if it’s Covid or a bad flu. You should keep your illness to yourself however best you can.

Never said I didn't minimise the risk. Testing is neither here nor there though.

And you don't think it might be considerate to minimise the risk of people dying?

I get there's vulnerable people out there but they can't influence others actions only their own. If they don't want to get whatever virus that may be about then it's up to them to take whatever action they need to take. Just because they exist in this world doesn't make any difference to OP socialising.

So everyone elderly, and everyone medically vulnerable, should isolate forever, so that everyone else can do exactly what they want to with no common sense and no thought? Rather than everyone taking common sense infection control precautions when ill (avoid unnecessary mixing with others; keep distance; ensure good hygiene; keep everyone informed; maintain good ventilation)?

You are confusing the fact that we are “living with it” because fundamentally we had no other choice, with the idea that it is “just a mild virus like any other cold”.

People have said it repeatedly but it doesn’t seem to be sinking in: COVID can be mild, but it is not like any other cold. It has fundamentally different and poorly understood effects on the body, including long-term ones.

I am still testing with the supplies i keep at home, and if I’m sick, I do stay home for the first couple of days until I feel I’m no longer infectious. With Covid I would give it a longer timeline especially for vulnerable people.

I think it’s polite to give people a heads up if you are coming out to socialise with any illness.

People may have a holiday coming up or be in training for an important sport event. They may have a crap immune system.

Then it’s up to them whether they miss the event if they want to avoid the ill person. I would. I don’t want to be ill at this time of year.

I think people are being irrational about all of this and being very harsh on Op.

There's a lot of stuff about, there's no guidance from whoever about what you should do so you use your common sense. Vast majority aren't testing and I agree with a pp that it doesn't matter what someone has, they're ill. Having covid doesn't make a blind bit of difference Vs another virus such as flue or a cold on steroids.

So if you feel rubbish then you act appropriately, if you feel ok then you just crack on. OP quite rightly went about her social stuff as she felt ok and these days it shouldn't have to cross your mind that if you have covid you stay away.

I get there's vulnerable people out there but they can't influence others actions only their own. If they don't want to get whatever virus that may be about then it's up to them to take whatever action they need to take. Just because they exist in this world doesn't make any difference to OP socialising.

Anyway that's my opinion.

YABVU to be mixing with elderly/ vulnerable people when you are unwell, regardless of whether you’ve done a Covid test or not. Even if it wasn’t Covid, you wouldn’t want a vulnerable person to get the flu or a bad cold anyway, would you?

In my experience, the corporate environment (not somewhere traditionally full of vulnerable people) has changed since Covid in that now if you are ill, you don’t come in, to avoid passing it on to everyone else. It’s just common sense, especially as most office jobs can be done from home anyway. I apply the same rules in my personal life. If I feel rough, I don’t want to make anyone else feel that way, so I keep my distance from everyone. Especially loved ones!

I would have done what you did OP.

Felt ill have a day off.
Felt ok carried on.

This is the guidance we are all asked to live with now.

Completely reasonable not to do a test. You would have been expected to attend work regardless as you were well.

Is your DH trying to get out of some Christmas stuff 🤣

That's why I don't test. It's just weird. We have spent millenia living our lives together with viruses and often dying of them. This virus is not special.

I don't see the point in covid tests now. It doesn't change my actions if it is a cold/flu vs covid to be honest. I say home if I am too unwell to work, WFH where I can if I am well enough and avoid elderly family members. Having covid doesn't change that. I do all those things with a cold/flu as who wants to spread that anyway.

I was unwell a few weeks ago with what I assume if the current covid going around. Really bad cold, in bed for days and left with a cough. I avoided all elderly family members for at least week I was the worst (I'd say closer to two weeks in the end I avoided them). Off work for a few days followed by WFH a few days. We skipped kids weekend activities (I was too unwell to drive to take them). I also avoided supermarkets and shops etc bar the pharmacy to get medication.

Which is why we should rely on our common sense. And it's beyond me why anyone's common sense would trivialise Covid as mild.

Covid can be every bit as bad as those things. It's a mistake to trivialise it as a mild virus. I'd have thought that was obvious.

Look last year I was pretty much of the option that Covid was now mild for most and we should treat it like a cold. The second time I had it I was just a bit tired for a week.

This latest strain is pretty nasty. It evolves. Some people may shake it quickly - my son did in 3 days. I haven’t been ill for a year. Yet this took me out for about 6 weeks. My doctor said people are going on to develop secondary infections with it. It has caused me huge inflammation that has lead to chest and rib pain. I had zero cold symptoms just sheer never ending exhaustion . Covid is just bizarre.

I think though we need to live with it, we also need to appreciate that it’s still quite a novel virus that causes huge problems for some people. It would be good if people could be a little less selfish and just stay at home when they are ill. And be mindful of visiting elderly/immuno compromised people.

You need to tell people. I would be seriously hacked off if you didn't tell me as I have family members who need to go on antivirals if they get Covid.