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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think you shouldn’t say you hade Corona Virus

83 replies

CorinnaSinner · 26/03/2020 13:59

When you’ve not been tested?

Obviously symptoms are very important and you should self isolate - that’s a given. Alert people you’ve come into contact with.

I rang my mum and she told me her friends daughters had it. I asked - so she’s been tested then?

Turns out no but friend and friends daughter are still telling people she has it.

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 26/03/2020 14:04

I'm 99.9% certain I have it right now. I have the typical symptoms and it certainly doesn't feel the same as anything I've ever had before (even though for me it's not particularly bad). There is a very slight chance that it's actually some other thing I have, which has the same symptoms, but it's pretty unlikely. So I am saying I have it and will, when I'm better, say I've had it. If having had it or not is particularly relevant to whatever situation then I will say I'm certain I've had it but I haven't been tested.

Original poster
CorinnaSinner · 26/03/2020 14:10

... what?

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 26/03/2020 14:11

What what? :)

Original poster
CorinnaSinner · 26/03/2020 14:12

What what what? Grin

OP posts:
thecatneuterer · 26/03/2020 14:13

I'm saying that if you've got/had the classic symptoms then you can be pretty sure that that's what it is. So why shouldn't you say that?

SwingSuperiour · 26/03/2020 14:13

The count is only based on those been tested. A virus doesn't care about the availability of tests.

Thousands and thousands more will have it than has been counted.

Thisismytimetoshine · 26/03/2020 14:13

What makes you so certain, thecat? You and everybody else? You can’t possibly know.

FatimaLovesBread · 26/03/2020 14:14

You could say that about any illness though surely? My doctor has listened to all my symptoms and presentations and using that made a diagnosis that I have had it. But obviously I haven't been tested.
Doctors exist to make diagnoses with the best of their knowledge. Testing helps for clarification and to track and halt spread but i think you should be able to make a diagnosis without it.

OoohTheStatsDontLie · 26/03/2020 14:15

If someone has had a high temperature, a cough, breathing difficulties and has been very ill with it, at the moment I think it's fine to say they've had it as it's very likely. If you want them to be more accurate they could say they had the symptoms and they think its likely they had it, but what's the point

thecatneuterer · 26/03/2020 14:15

@Thisismytimetoshine because - as I've said - I have the classic symptoms and a high fever that I've now had for four days. It would be a huge coincidence for it to actually be a different virus that's causing it. Of course I can't know for certain, but I'm pretty damn sure.

xTinkerhellx · 26/03/2020 14:17

Seeing as only those in hospital are being tested, there are thousands of people who have it but will never be 100% certain as they are not being tested.

So yes, people will say they've had it without being tested and they will probably be correct.

MumW · 26/03/2020 14:20

I know someone who has had what we would normal describe as just the 'flu. High temperature, cough, fatigue, etc which lasted for over a week and has left them feeling drained and weak. They've had this year's 'flu jab so they're 99.9% certain it was corona. However, they are not saying they've had it, they are saying "I had all ghe symptoms and fairly sure it was but as I haven't been tested I'm assuming there is still a possibility that I can catch or transmit it so, until proved one way or the other I'm behaving as though I am at the same risk as everyone else"

Saying that you've had it but not had it confirmed will subconsciously affect the way you behave and will put others at risk. I think making claims is as irresponsible as not practising social distancing or self isolation.

OnlyTheLangoftheTitBerg · 26/03/2020 14:21

The danger with saying you've (generic 'you') had it without knowing for certain is that you will/may assume you have immunity now and you may be less careful in your behaviour accordingly, but some people will be wrong and will still be highly susceptible to catching and spreading it. About three weeks ago I had all of the symptoms - fever, headache, cough, breathlessness, feeling fluey, the works. I was tested just before community testing stopped because I had had possible contact with a confirmed case - this was when contact tracing was still taking place - and my test was negative. It was just another winter/flu bug.

FatimaLovesBread · 26/03/2020 14:23

Those of you who think you can't say you've had it without a test... do you say you've had a cold, flu, strep throat, tonsillitis, chicken pox, food poisoning etc without being tested for it? Or do you say "suspected" for every illness? Or realise that a lot of diagnoses dont need to just depend on a quantitative evidence?

Anyway, it's a moot point for me as I have actually being saying "suspected Covid-19" but I dont think it matters if others don't.
Unless of course they've got a runny nose and an achey foot and no other symptoms and are then attributing that to Covid-19

Thisismytimetoshine · 26/03/2020 14:25

That’s it, OnlytheLang. I had a horrendous dose of something with all the relevant symptoms before Christmas, but I think I’m safer to assume it was just a flu virus and I’m not actually immune to this thing until they roll out antibody tests for all.

FatimaLovesBread · 26/03/2020 14:26

That's true about changing your behaviour though.
I am still practising social distancing because I dont know for certain, it's not fully known whether you are fully immune and can't transmit it to others even once you've had it and because I'm still too ill to get up and about. But I get that others may just assume they're now "safe"

Fivefourthree · 26/03/2020 14:27

I have a friend who has been 'classified' as having it, based on symptoms not test. This from 111

Porcupineinwaiting · 26/03/2020 14:35

YABU I think. Unless you think everyone w the virus is admitted to hospital, it's quite clear that there are lots of untested people with it out there.

wehaveafloater · 26/03/2020 14:43

I guess this only really be one relevant if someone medically proves you only get it once? ( wouldn't that be useful ) Ie all those who have had it can then step in to help those who are going through it ?

RonaldBiliousWeasley · 26/03/2020 14:45

My parents ended up in the corona tent at hospital. They weren’t tested as they weren’t admitted but they were told that based upon symptoms they could assume they had it and to go home until they were unable to breathe properly.

AnaisB · 26/03/2020 14:46

I’m not sure why this bothers you.

I’ve had symptoms as have 2 others in my house of 4. My trainee tested positive. I’ve literally never had lung pain or breathlessness before (unless exercising.) lll still practise social distancing of course.

MrsTerryPratchett · 26/03/2020 14:48

Much better to behave as though you have it if you don't than the opposite.

DixieFlatline · 26/03/2020 14:52

I know someone who has had what we would normal describe as just the 'flu. High temperature, cough, fatigue, etc which lasted for over a week and has left them feeling drained and weak. They've had this year's 'flu jab so they're 99.9% certain it was corona.

The flu jab is nowhere near effective enough to be certain it wasn’t a strain of the flu.

maggiecate · 26/03/2020 14:54

Until there's an antibody test available even if you're 99.9% sure you've had it you should still maintain social distancing rules, and if you get symptoms again don't assume it can't be coronavirus if you've haven't had the proper test.

Lobsterquadrille2 · 26/03/2020 14:57

Much better to behave as though you have it if you don't than the opposite.

I agree with this. I have all the symptoms but would still say that I have "a virus". I'm not risking anyone else's health though, with the unfortunate possible exception of my daughter as we live together.