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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think if you can stand in a queue for 5 hours, you’re not ill

140 replies

TheMurk · 13/09/2020 09:39

Five hour queue for Covid testing in Bury yesterday, as pictured in various newspapers.

Now, when I’ve been ill before with various Illnesses and viruses (flu, noro, mumps, bronchitis etc, remember them?) I’ve been in no position to go anywhere but my bed.

When I say ill, I mean suffering the generally expected effects of whatever virus it is, to such an extent that it disrupts my daily routine and requires rest, fluids and medications. Not so Ill that I’m in any danger, or need to go to hospital. But ill that is noticeable to those around me. Needed time off work, that sort of thing.

It’s by the by that in none of these instances I required any sort of test to establish what was making me ill - it was plainly obvious by the symptoms.

But supposing I had a virus so unique and potentially deadly that required a test and subsequent isolation measures, let me tell you now I would have been in no shape to drive, walk or bus it anywhere, stand in any sort of queue for even a short period, attend a test that is uncomfortable and then get myself home.

Especially if the virus is SO CONTAGIOUS that in the rest of the public domain you must wear a mask, stay 2 m away from everyone else and you can’t even touch so much as a library book for fear of being overwhelmed and struck down by this virus.

I mean, who are these people getting tested?

And if they’re well enough to stand in a five hour queue, they are far from a hospital admission - so why are all our lives on hold for this?

Bonkers.

OP posts:
linerforlife · 13/09/2020 09:42

You've made the point the virus is highly contagious. You can have very mild symptoms and still infect other people, who may themselves require a hospital admission. So you can be well enough to be in a queue for 5 hours, and you should still be tested.

MrsStefani · 13/09/2020 09:43

Because some people have mild symptoms but they could potentially spread it to others, such as teachers or doctors, so they need to know before they go back to work. it would be silly for these essential workers to isolate for two weeks when they could be fine. Parents need to know for the children, whether it's safe for them to go back to school or not.

Debradoyourecall · 13/09/2020 09:44

Some of them will be parents getting kids tested so that the kids can go back to school/nursery and the parents can go back to work - rather than having to isolate for two weeks. And single people in a similar situation, wanting to get back to work. All it takes is a cough or fever to need a test and from what I’ve read not everyone feels awful with COVID.

Flamingolingo · 13/09/2020 09:45

I’d say a 5 hour queue with other people who may have Covid is a really great way to catch it even if you don’t already have it...

Tinkywinkydinkydoo · 13/09/2020 09:45

Because people aren’t allowed back to work or school without a negative test result! Stand in a queue for 5 hours or stay home I paid for 2 weeks, I know which one I’d choose.

GoldfishParade · 13/09/2020 09:46

I guess some people will be getting tested as a precaution. For example if you were planning on moving in with an elderly parent say to care for them, you'd want to know you dont have it. My only issue with it is presumably you could walk in without having it, get tested and get a negative result, but have picked it up on your way out of what is essentially a hotbed for the virus (the clinic).

Also question: why does this test involve having a massive pole stuck up your nose? Its 2020 can there not be a more pleasant way of doing it?

MrsGradyOldLady · 13/09/2020 09:46

I had to get tested yesterday. I don't feel unwell but I have a cough and sore throat so I followed ths government advice. Do you not agree with the government advice?

sammylady37 · 13/09/2020 09:47

Have you not heard of asymptomatic carriers? Off are you not aware that for most people the infection is mild and they will indeed be able to queue for hours?

Original poster
TheMurk · 13/09/2020 09:48

@MrsStefani what, just teachers and doctors?

Can’t imagine a lesser spotted doctor catching anything these days, they’ve not been see in public for months!

But my point is - if it’s so highly contagious and deadly, surely it’s 1.counterproductive for huge numbers of people to be congregating in lines for hours, and 2. Surely if it’s deadly you know all about it. If you need to guess and then get tested in case - you don’t have it, or if you do it’s no worse than any other sniffle.

OP posts:
PixiePowered · 13/09/2020 09:48

Have you considered that those people didn't want to get tested however, as they have developed a consistent cough or temperature, they now have to in order to return to work and comply with government guidelines?

I had a 4 hour round trip for a test. I teach, came down with the cold that lots of other children and staff had. I suffer mostly in my ears, nose and throat and it always develops in to a cough. I needed to get tested before I could return to work as I has a new persistent, consistent cough. I knew I didn't have COVID but I did what was expected of me - never once did I claim to be so ill I was near hospital admission.

Phoenix21 · 13/09/2020 09:49

I’ve seen a lot of ‘if you can stand for 5 hrs your not ill’, my immediate response is why isn’t the question ‘why has the govt created a situation where people are having to stand in a queue for 5 hrs to get a test during a pandemic’.

I suspect many of those people have been exposed and need a test to:

Avoid 2 weeks quarantine
Go to work (to be able to pay bills)
Go to school (to be educated, allow parents to pay bills)
Possibly queuing on behalf of an ill person in a car nearby

I highly doubt they are queuing for the shits and giggles of it.

Original poster
TheMurk · 13/09/2020 09:50

@MrsGradyOldLady perhaps my initial post was too subtle.

No, I don’t agree with the government advice handling of this situation.

OP posts:
PixiePowered · 13/09/2020 09:50

But my point is - if it’s so highly contagious and deadly, surely it’s 1.counterproductive for huge numbers of people to be congregating in lines for hours, and 2. Surely if it’s deadly you know all about it. If you need to guess and then get tested in case - you don’t have it, or if you do it’s no worse than any other sniffle.

Do you really not understand that it isn't deadly for everyone and a lot of people do just have mild symptoms. However they need to be tested because not everyone will be as lucky and we need to keep others safe.

Sargass0 · 13/09/2020 09:51

If you have symptoms- you're supposed to use a drive through so not sure why you'd be standing in a queue for 5 hours.

Original poster
TheMurk · 13/09/2020 09:52

@PixiePowered I absolutely do “understand” (know) that it’s not either half as contagious or deadly as we’ve been led to believe. That’s my point.

OP posts:
MrsStefani · 13/09/2020 09:52

Ha ha! @themurk yes, GPs are a very shy species this year!

No what I meant was that some people have the option of working from home, but essential workers 'such as' teachers and doctors desperately need to be in work (safely) at this stage in the pandemic. Children need their education and parents need to go back to work, and doctors, nurses, carers etc will be desperately needed for the second wave.

Phoenix21 · 13/09/2020 09:53

Surely if it’s deadly you know all about it. If you need to guess and then get tested in case - you don’t have it, or if you do it’s no worse than any other sniffle.

You realise that if some has a mild ‘just a sniffle’ case that they could transfer it to someone else who ends up hospitalised?

People shouldn’t have to queue for 5hrs that’s a madness as those queuing may well contract it while doing so.

The govt needs to get the home testing back up and running - many people cannot get one as there’s no availability.

Sophoa · 13/09/2020 09:53

One of my children tested positive. No symptoms at all but was tested as had been around people who were positive. He could probably have run a marathon whilst positive but lucky he was tested as he then stayed home and didn’t infect anyone

Phoenix21 · 13/09/2020 09:54

@Sargass0

If you have symptoms- you're supposed to use a drive through so not sure why you'd be standing in a queue for 5 hours.
No car? Can not afford petrol to drive 100miles to nearest centre?

Again I highly doubt people are queuing for fun.

FishPalace · 13/09/2020 09:55

But my point is - if it’s so highly contagious and deadly, surely it’s 1.counterproductive for huge numbers of people to be congregating in lines for hours, and 2. Surely if it’s deadly you know all about it. If you need to guess and then get tested in case - you don’t have it, or if you do it’s no worse than any other sniffle.

I think you fundamentally misunderstand the point of testing.

MrsStefani · 13/09/2020 09:55

It is a bonkers situation that people have queue so closely together for 5 hours, the country desperately needs more home tests. But at the moment, what's the alternative? A teacher can't isolate for 2-weeks at a time, every time they have a cough or a temperature? Best to get tested so they can safely go to work.

PixiePowered · 13/09/2020 09:55

I absolutely do “understand” (know) that it’s not either half as contagious or deadly as we’ve been led to believe. That’s my point.

Ah, one of those.
This post makes sense now.

Original poster
TheMurk · 13/09/2020 09:55

But you could pass on flu or a any other virus to an elderly relative and it hits them so hard it becomes deadly.

That has always been the case.

OP posts:
[AUTO]d3jqakcn9qlt2 · 13/09/2020 09:55

As others have said, you're not meant to only get tested if you feel very unwell, you're supposed to get tested if you have symptoms. I think you're being willfully ignorant here.

MrsStefani · 13/09/2020 09:56

Covid is not flu!! Confused