Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
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:
TerrapinStation · 28/04/2020 15:59

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

It isn't must though is it? I thought it was more like strongly recommended.

The risk of going on a car journey with the people in your household can't be any different to staying in the house with those same people. I haven't been to a test station but in every photo I've seen they staff are PPE-ed up.

Original poster
Yellowskies1988 · 28/04/2020 16:03

@haffdonga I'm not pissed I wish this forum had an edit function so I would just update the original post. I was trying to reply as quick to everybody as I could.

OP posts:
Reallynowdear · 28/04/2020 16:12

Your employer does not have a say over your wife breaking her shielding.

Lightofthephoenix · 28/04/2020 16:12

I'm confused

I thought it was only the person who showed symptoms that had to self isolate.

Reallynowdear · 28/04/2020 16:14

The household has to isolate when one, or more, person has symptoms.

sittingonacornflake · 28/04/2020 16:16

Your employer can't require your wife and children to go anywhere.

Rhayader · 28/04/2020 16:17

The test won’t be accurate if you aren’t symptomatic. The first symptomatic person in the household needs to take a test

HowFurloughCanYouGo · 28/04/2020 16:18

I thought it was only the person who showed symptoms that had to self isolate.

You are kidding me aren't you?

HowFurloughCanYouGo · 28/04/2020 16:19

The test won’t be accurate if you aren’t symptomatic.

WHAT?! If you have coronavirus you will test positive. Even if you don't have symptoms.

drspouse · 28/04/2020 16:23

If your wife must stay inside for 12 weeks she's in the shielding group and you shouldn't be having any contact with her even in the house and neither should your DS.
OR if you and your DS are having contact with her you shouldn't be going out to work.

Only people with symptoms are supposed to be tested. If she's in contact with you in the house, you need to be shielding too, not just self-isolating for 14 days.
If she has symptoms and is NOT shielding, she needs a test (not you).
You'd have to take her and any children who can't stay alone.

drspouse · 28/04/2020 16:24

If you have coronavirus you will test positive. Even if you don't have symptoms.

This is true but if his wife doesn't have CV he isn't going to get it from her; it is most helpful to know if SHE has it as she's the one with symptoms.
If his test comes back clear it doesn't mean she hasn't got it and won't pass it on to him.

Crunchymum · 28/04/2020 16:26

So you have taken 2 weeks off work to self isolate?

Lightofthephoenix · 28/04/2020 16:26

You are kidding me aren't you?

No? Is it days for person showing symptoms, 14 days for everyone in the household, I thought it had changed to something else?

blueluce85 · 28/04/2020 16:26

@Lightofthephoenix please tell me you are kidding?? If not, this is worrying

Lightofthephoenix · 28/04/2020 16:27

*7 days for the person showing symptoms that should of read.

Rhayader · 28/04/2020 16:27

Not necessarily, the viral load might be too low in someone who is recently infected... you are meant to test the first symptomatic household member.

TabbyMumz · 28/04/2020 16:27

It's quite simple. You cant take a test as you have no symptoms. You are off work because your wife has symptoms. If your wife takes a test and is negative, you can get back to work. However, your Wife can say no thankyou if she doesnt want one. Your employer cant force someone who is not their employee to do anything.

Hagisonthehill · 28/04/2020 16:31

It's only your wife needs the test,though how accurate it would be after a week is questionable.I get your problem though as taking an ill woman and to small children on a drive that long is daunting.
I've driven past a testing centre and there were a lot of cars queueing
You don't need a test but will if you show symptoms.
Just email your HR.Tell them your wife is shielding so you are trying to access a home testing kit(and try again to).That no one else in your family has symptoms so not eligible for testing.

TerrapinStation · 28/04/2020 16:31

Why would someone not want to take a test if they have symptoms?

I know the work can't make the wife take the test but I can't think why she wouldn't want to for her and the family's sake.

Original poster
Yellowskies1988 · 28/04/2020 16:32

@drspouse

**If your wife must stay inside for 12 weeks she's in the shielding group and you shouldn't be having any contact with her even in the house and neither should your DS.
OR if you and your DS are having contact with her you shouldn't be going out to work.

I have to go to work as they won't pay me to. Shield

OP posts:
whatsleep · 28/04/2020 16:33

From what I understand person 1 has symptoms (your wife) everyone else in the house then isolates for 14 days as this is how long it can take to catch it and show symptoms. If your employer is insisting you be tested due to being around someone who is symptomatic, it would be pointless testing before 14 days as this is how long it could take for it to show up? Also as others have said you don’t meet the criteria if you don’t have symptoms. It would seem pointless having your wife tested as she is in Isolation anyway which won’t change regardless of a positive or negative result. And if she becomes unwell you would seek medical help regardless of test result. It would be taking an unnecessary risk bringing her into contact with other people at the test centre.

Original poster
Yellowskies1988 · 28/04/2020 16:33

@Crunchymum yes as per gov guidelines. I'm currently on day 8.

I've had this topic done about work not paying me to shield with my wife

OP posts:
whatsleep · 28/04/2020 16:36

If your wife is high risk and showing symptoms medical advice might be that she needs a test but I doubt in her case they would send her to a drive through facility? Sorry your having such a crap time trying to keep safe while also trying to provide for your family.

PotholeParadise · 28/04/2020 16:49

TerrapinStation

  1. Because if she does have it, and she goes to a testing centre, having the test after she's developed symptoms will change nothing about her family's life as they are proceeding as if it is coronavirus as recommended. But she will be one more source of exposure for the HCP who tests her. Ideally, she and their children have to travel 35 miles there and 35 back without exiting the car and touching anything that someone else might touch. No toilet stops.

  2. Suppose she doesn't have it and she has something else? That means a woman who is supposed to be shielding because she is specifically vulnerable to a virus like coronavirus has just gone out to a place frequented by people with suspected coronavirus while already run-down from another virus.

In the OP's situation, I would not be doing it, if I could possibly avoid it.

drspouse · 28/04/2020 17:13

I have to go to work as they won't pay me to. Shield

Well, then your wife isn't shielding unless she's isolating herself from you when she's at home, is she?

If you're going out to work and bringing the virus home she may as well go out.

So if she IS isolating herself from you then you don't need to self-isolate if she's ill.
If she ISN'T then you can take her to get a test.