Would you still test if you had a feeling you may have covid

[Cruiser24]

Whats the general view of this these days

Sorry but thought add message to the persons quote would leave their quote. Obviously not

Absolutely not. If I was ill, I’d likely stay at home anyway. If I wasn’t, then I’d not have tested anyway.

Yes I'm in bed very I'll at the moment but had a row ( disagreement really) with DH as I want him to pick up a test for me but he is adamant why bother? I want to know if it's not covid then it's flu and I will get vaccinated.

Source for this claim? (Remembering vaccines wear off, and there are often new variants not included in the current vaccine.)

A good amount of CV/ECV people are there due to immunity issues, such as lack of any immune system/compromised immune system due to medication. This may mean that the vaccine has little effect. As far as I'm aware, their risk has only decreased slightly.

Genuine question and sorry to pick you out as I know many others share your point of view, but your post sums up the thinking of some people really well.
What made you test? Did you feel unwell and think it might be covid? Surely if you felt unwell you would have avoided those elderly relatives anyway, covid or not? If your test was negative would you have visited them then? You may have had covid but it wasn’t showing on tests. If this was the case testing is worse than not testing and avoiding people when ill, as it appears to give some a false sense of security.

@Lovesocksie , with non-covid viral illnesses people generally get out & about again when they feel better. With Covid, this can be within 2-3 days, but LFT remains positive and the guidance is to lie low until 5 days, when most (not all) people will not be shedding much virus.

It's a tricky one, to be sure. I've just got over covid and I'm 90% sure I caught it from a friend I spent the day with, who was feeling 'a bit better' from their viral illness - they didn't test. I had 3 rough days, waited till 5 days to emerge - they are still off colour, and who knows how many people they put out of action when they were mingling.

We're still building population immunity with this new virus, and there's a balance to strike between 'business as usual' and slightly modifying behaviour to reduce transmission where we can.

@Walkacrossthesand
Thanks for your response.
I’m sorry you’ve had covid and hope you’re feeling better. I think your friend should have avoided you really, which was my point. Had she tested then yes, I guess she would have known and thus avoided you (you would hope) But I think the responsible thing to do with any virus is to stay away from people, within reason, until clear of all symptoms.
Had your friend tested, and lay low for 5 days, even though they still feel unwell would they still be infecting people? Guidance says not. There’s still a lot for us to learn isn’t there.
I agree, it’s a balance. Staying away from people as much as possible when ill is the most sensible thing to do, and has always been the case in my opinion even pre covid.
Glad you’re feeling better.

There are people like me who have back to back colds throughout Autumn and Winter. I have two or three per month (despite doing everything in my power to stay healthy)! If I avoided people every time I had a sniffle I would never go out, never go to work etc.
Seeing that Covid can present as a sniffle I do test every time I have cold symptoms just in case. Covid might be a sniffle to me but could make someone else very ill. This is why I want to know if it's a bog standard cold or Covid. And yes I do also try not to pass on a cold to anyone but like I say, I simply can't take two weeks off sick every month! I'd lose my job. No one wants to get a cold but Covid is far more likely than a cold to cause long term problems. Several people I know have long Covid and it's had a devastating effect on their lives.

@SallyWD I totally see what you are saying. But the reality is a cold can also be devastating to someone who is vulnerable.

That's what I struggle with - people (rightly) don't want to spread covid, but are much more relaxed about spreading other viruses.

I agree that colds can also cause problems in the vulnerable and I would never visit an elderly or vulnerable person with a cold.
However, I think Covid is much, much more likely to cause complications than a cold. Interestingly, my friends with long Covid weren't at all vulnerable. They were all fit, healthy, slim 40 somethings with no health conditions. One of them had been in a wheelchair since April 2020 because it attacked her organs. My other friend got it in June 2022 and has lost her job because she's still too ill to work. She now uses a mobility scooter on long walks. I have never seen a cold affect a healthy 40 something like this.

I’d be livid if I went to the dentist and someone had covid. You could literally kill somebody. My aunt died of covid because her carer, who knew she was positive, went to her anyway. 2 weeks later an awful death.

As manager if this is happening I’d make sure staff were off and push this with “your aboves” id also ensure all staff were retrained on fit testing FFP3 masks and that they wear one, the windows are open and you have a HEPA filter/dentair thing on in each room.
And you definitely rearrange or offer to rearrange any appointments for people who are immunocompromised/immunosurpressed with autoimmune conditions, elderly, diabetic etc.

Honestly in CEV groups everyone’s main pinch point is the dentist and some people haven’t been for nearly 4 yrs because they can’t take the risk. At least in hospitals they can mask. All healthcare should be masked with a decent respirator. Please keep them safe.

This is very wrong. Lots of people don’t have a functioning immune system and are very much still at as much risk as 2020.

They also cannot get hold of antivirals very well right now as the system changed. It’s mad. All they get is a free test - so they at least know what they died of I guess.

This country has a vaccine only strategy with hardly any vaccines.

Thing is lots of us so with small children spend half of winter with one cold or another, we can’t just stay inside the whole time. That’s why I don’t test with covid, it doesn’t really make a difference which virus it is, there’s people vulnerable to lots of viruses. I have to get on with my life if I’m well enough to or I’d never be at work during winter and my dd would never be able to go nursery, soft play or other activities. I stay in if too unwell to be able to go out, but I don’t test.

However, I think Covid is much, much more likely to cause complications than a cold. Interestingly, my friends with long Covid weren't at all vulnerable. They were all fit, healthy, slim 40 somethings with no health conditions. One of them had been in a wheelchair since April 2020 because it attacked her organs. My other friend got it in June 2022 and has lost her job because she's still too ill to work. She now uses a mobility scooter on long walks. I have never seen a cold affect a healthy 40 something like this.

Yep - one of the fittest (not like that) guys I know is really struggling.
My friend who died from it was perfectly healthy too.

I think it's worth being aware that it's (anecdotally, but that's all we have) really on the rise at the moment, and taking whatever precautions you are comfortable with, maybe thinking to test if you wouldn't normally for 'cold symptoms'.
Also I've heard people are vomiting then testing positive?! Which was never a symptom with the first wave.

"Thing is lots of us so with small children spend half of winter with one cold or another, we can’t just stay inside the whole time. That’s why I don’t test with covid, it doesn’t really make a difference which virus it is, there’s people vulnerable to lots of viruses. I have to get on with my life if I’m well enough to or I’d never be at work during winter and my dd would never be able to go nursery, soft play or other activities. I stay in if too unwell to be able to go out, but I don’t test."

@Overthebow I totally agree with you.

It just seems that people only care if it's covid and don't worry about other viruses. That's the point I was making.

But yes, I won't test again. For me it's pointless. If poorly I will stay at home. I will request to wfh if possible (although could still be asked to go in as my role isn't fully feasible to do at home).

When I had covid the rules were to isolate until day 10 if still testing positive but day 11 it no longer mattered whether positive or not. I tested positive for a few more days but was back at my desk on day 11 as I was needed at work and wasn't being effective at home due to not being able to get the work I needed.

I'm asthmatic and often have a lingering cough for most of the winter months and unless I was feeling unwell I will carry on.

Yes and I am positive. I’ve been told to stay off work for 5 days.