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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To drive 35 miles for a covid 19 test

65 replies

Yellowskies1988 · 28/04/2020 15:06

Had an email from work that I should seek a test if I'm self ilsolatong, which I am due to wife having a temp and being unwell for the last week or so. I've done 1 week and due 1 more self isolation. Wife is high risk and has had a letter to state this and must remain at home for 12 weeks (she's done 4 weeks)

My HR department have email to state I should take a test if I've had to self isolate. No home delivery slots are available for testing and the closest is 35 miles away. That's me taking my wife who has been instructed not to leave the house and also my 2 boys aged 7 and 5, my 7 YO is autistic too.

OP posts:
NurseButtercup · 28/04/2020 15:09

Sorry it's not clear, who needs to have the test is it you or your wife or both of you?

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 28/04/2020 15:11

Most people are that sort of distance from a testing centre. Our nearest is 25miles in the nearest city.

CornishPorsche · 28/04/2020 15:12

Why do you need to take the kids with you? Go on your own. 35 miles in a car is nothing for this, you haven't got an alternative.

Original poster
Yellowskies1988 · 28/04/2020 15:12

@NurseButtercup it would need to be both. The tests can be carried out upto 3 people per car.

OP posts:
Original poster
Yellowskies1988 · 28/04/2020 15:13

@CornishPorsche it is when my wife has had the symptoms. She doesn't drive and she would need the test as she has been the one with the symptoms

OP posts:
Aroundtheworldin80moves · 28/04/2020 15:14

Tests can only be done in first 5 days of symptoms Ibelieve?

Original poster
Yellowskies1988 · 28/04/2020 15:15

@CornishPorsche it would obviously be 70 miles too as I don't plan to live there

OP posts:
CaptainBlunderpants · 28/04/2020 15:19

Testing is most accurate within day 4 of symptoms though?

Brevityisthesoulofwit · 28/04/2020 15:24

I don’t understand why your wife needs a test. HR said you have to, not her. They need to make sure you haven’t caught it from her so can go back to work.

Aridane · 28/04/2020 15:25

Why does your employer require your wife to take a test?

TerrapinStation · 28/04/2020 15:29

I don't know if there's some missing punctuation but I'm not sure who has the symptoms.

If it's not you why do you need a test?

To answer your general question I think driving to get the test is perfectly reasonable

Original poster
Yellowskies1988 · 28/04/2020 15:29

@brevityisthesoulofwit
@aridane

I would have assumed the reason because I am self isolating because of her I have shown 0 symptoms

OP posts:
TerrapinStation · 28/04/2020 15:31

On one of the press conferences I'm pretty sure they said not to have a test if you don't have symptoms because you'll stop someone with symptoms having one - is that still the case?

Original poster
Yellowskies1988 · 28/04/2020 15:32

@terrapinstation

I have had to self isolate for 14 days as my wife has shown symptoms... I don't need a test as I have so far shown 0 symptoms of this. (I've self isolated for 7 days now)

Why am I being asked to get tested or even take my wife who doesn't drive anyway and is in the high risk category

OP posts:
Tarararara · 28/04/2020 15:32

Tell your work you don't qualify for a test. The testing website is clear that the only people who currently qualify for a test are:

•essential workers with symptoms
•people who live with essential workers and have symptoms

Assuming you are an essential worker, if you currently don't have symptoms, you don't fall under either of those categories.

TheFairyCaravan · 28/04/2020 15:33

You don't need a test. Leave them for the people who do

TerrapinStation · 28/04/2020 15:35

Why am I being asked to get tested or even take my wife who doesn't drive anyway and is in the high risk category

What did your work say when you asked them?

It's a good thing for your wife to get tested surely then she'll know if she has it. You aren't being very clear on what exactly the problem is imo

cardibach · 28/04/2020 15:35

I don’t know why you are being asked. You can’t be tested if you don’t have symptoms, those are the rules. Your wife could be, and if she turns out not to have it you don’t have to self isolate. If she does, you do have to in case you develop symptoms.

AmelieTaylor · 28/04/2020 15:36

Are you a healthcare key worker?

NurseButtercup · 28/04/2020 15:37

You're not showing symptoms so, according to government guidelines you don't need to have the test.

If your employer has requested that you need to have the test before returning to work, then yes you will need to make the 70mile round trip to take the test.

Haffdonga · 28/04/2020 15:38

If you are self isolating with someone who has symptoms you both need a test plus all others in the household.
If your wife (or child) tests positive for Covid then you would need to continue to stay in quarantine whether or not you have it (because you might get it any minute).
If you test positive then you have to stay in quarantine.
If you ALL test negative then you could safely go back to work.

Haffdonga · 28/04/2020 15:41

On the gov.uk website

The employer referral portal allows employers to refer essential workers who are self-isolating either because they or member(s) of their household have coronavirus symptoms, for testing.

So your employer has referred you because a member of your household has symptoms and you are an essential worker.

Original poster
Yellowskies1988 · 28/04/2020 15:50

@haffdonga
@NurseButtercup
@AmelieTaylor
@@cardibach
@TerrapinStation
@tarararara

Basically I'm getting the feedback that I need to take my wife who is high risk anyway and must stay inside for 12 weeks according to her government letter. My son who is autistic and my other son on a 70mile round trip just to make my work happy. No phone call off work. Just an email, I've tried to contact HR confirming this but nothing. I could understand if it was day 1 of this self isolation but it's almost day 8 now

OP posts:
Tarararara · 28/04/2020 15:52

A-ha, thanks Haffdonga, that is different criteria to the self-referral portal.

Haffdonga · 28/04/2020 15:59

@Yellowskies1988

Presumably it's 8 days in because testing wasn't available to your category 8 days ago and it is now. I'm not sure why you're so pissed off with us Hmm