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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:
Muchtoomuchtodo · 13/09/2020 09:56

Our ds has had a runny nose for a few days. Then he told us he couldn’t taste his tea. If his taste hadn’t have been affected he’d have gone to school as normal but as it was, what should we have done?

A) ignore it and carry on as usual - sending him and his brother into a large secondary school and me into work (NHS with a very vulnerable group of patients)
B) whole family isolation - him for 10 days and the rest of us for 14 days - 2 kids missing school (one in GCSE year) and 1 NHS employee absent from work (unable to work from home)
C) arrange a test for him and return to work and school as soon as we got a negative result (or self isolate for good reason if the result was positive)?
We chose C and were lucky to get a drive through test 30 minutes drive away. I’d have driven further or stood in an outdoor, socially distanced queue if that’s what it took to get the test done.
The criteria leave a lot of people with very little choice but to queue if they’re trying to behave responsibly.

Original poster
TheMurk · 13/09/2020 09:57

@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.

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

One of those?

Oh, you mean someone who has a different point of view?

Terrible thing, thinking for oneself.

It must be stopped.

OP posts:
Soubriquet · 13/09/2020 09:57

I’ve had possible Covid.

Mine was right at the beginning of lock down so no testing available.

I had honestly never felt so ill in my life. No way could I have queued for 5 minutes let alone 5 hours.

But I know that the symptoms can be a lot milder

FinnyStory · 13/09/2020 09:57

Surely the bigger concern is that such a queue is allowed?

It's true that the vast majority are likely negative but there must be increased likelihood that some are infected, than there would be in a random sample if the population. Why would deliberately let them mix for so long? I don't think you can criticise people who meet the criteria for testing going to the centre they've been told to go to.

Chucklecheeks01 · 13/09/2020 09:58

@TheMurk I cant decide if you have completely missed the point of testing or your being deliberately obtuse.

Sargass0 · 13/09/2020 10:00

Phoenix21

No car etc - then you order a home test or go to your nearest walk in.

I know there are issues with this (we couldn't get a home test and don't have a car so had to wait for a slot at the walk in.)

The OP's point is that she thinks all the people queuing are all CV positive when that's not the case.

MrsStefani · 13/09/2020 10:01

I now have lung and heart damage from having covid in March. I was a healthy and active woman in my thirties with no underlying health issues - healthy diet and non-smoker. I've only had flu twice in my life and trust me covid is not flu! After a relatively mild infection for 10 days (I could've queued at that stage) I went massively downhill and I haven't recovered yet.

OpenlyGayExOlympicFencer · 13/09/2020 10:01

@FinnyStory

Surely the bigger concern is that such a queue is allowed?

It's true that the vast majority are likely negative but there must be increased likelihood that some are infected, than there would be in a random sample if the population. Why would deliberately let them mix for so long? I don't think you can criticise people who meet the criteria for testing going to the centre they've been told to go to.

Yes, exactly. The framing of the OP is very daft.
3billboardsoutsidebarnsley · 13/09/2020 10:02

I guess it’s a case of needs must. The state of the NHS in general involves a great deal of waiting around. You can feel like utter shit but still have to wait over 4 hours to be seen in A&E. How these testing queues are going to work in winter when it’s cold and wet is a real concern. Are there places people can at least sit down to wait if they are unwell or unable to stand for long?

walksen · 13/09/2020 10:03

The disease is contagious and insidious but it is well known that it does not spread easily outside as BLM, be day parties, beach crowds etc have show. I'm sure you know this.

This country has a well established culture of presenteeism and teachers kids and workers in all industries work with heavy colds, mild temperatures and coughs all the time. At present, lots of these symptoms will get you sent home so people are getting tests because they are required to by schools and workplaces etc.

BBCONEANDTWO · 13/09/2020 10:04

You can have mild symptoms and then all of a sudden be really really ill so when you are standing in the queue you might be OK but give it a couple of days if you are positive and you could end up being admitted to hospital.

Phoenix21 · 13/09/2020 10:05

@TheMurk

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.

Definitely. If/when I have cold or flu symptoms I stay away from vulnerable people and up my cleanliness as to not pass it on.

With Covid some people may know they’ve been exposed, have no symptoms and be able to pass it on, a negative tests reduces this.

MrsStefani · 13/09/2020 10:05

Indeed @3billboardsoutsidebarnsley I've literally had to lay down on an A&E floor with a suspected heart attack brought on by Covid. Still had to 'queue' - waited an hour to be seen!

Comefromaway · 13/09/2020 10:06

Some of them will have been contacted by test & trace. In my area there was a local outbreak and everyone who lived in certain streets or who had visited certain pubs were told to get tested. The fact that people complied prevented the area from going into local lockdown.

Phoenix21 · 13/09/2020 10:06

@Sargass0

Phoenix21

No car etc - then you order a home test or go to your nearest walk in.

I know there are issues with this (we couldn't get a home test and don't have a car so had to wait for a slot at the walk in.)

The OP's point is that she thinks all the people queuing are all CV positive when that's not the case.

Home testing is not universally available. I did mention that above.
To think if you can stand in a queue for 5 hours, you’re not ill
Phoenix21 · 13/09/2020 10:07

My image didn’t post Confused

To think if you can stand in a queue for 5 hours, you’re not ill
sammylady37 · 13/09/2020 10:07

@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.

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

I thought exactly the same when I read that post! I’m outta here, not going to waste my time any further!
Phoenix21 · 13/09/2020 10:09

FFS, that was the wrong image, here’s a link.

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/health-54072479

Mellonsprite · 13/09/2020 10:10

Are there places people can at least sit down to wait if they are unwell or unable to stand for long?

No, the one in Bolton is on the site of the old bus station, basically razed to the ground, open patch of concrete. It snakes past the open market and job centre.
People are very scared here, they don’t want to queue with others to have the test as there’s a general feeling if you don’t have it when you join the queue you may well do as you leave the queue.

3billboardsoutsidebarnsley · 13/09/2020 10:10

MrsStefani. That is a bloody disgrace. It’s terrible that the NHS has been reduced to situations like this. I hope you are starting to recover.

ameliajoan · 13/09/2020 10:11

YABU and your ignorance is embarrassing.

JinglingHellsBells · 13/09/2020 10:11

How do they not need a wee in 5 hours? I would.

StormInACoffeCup · 13/09/2020 10:13

If you feel very unwell, then obviously you can't stand in a queue for 5 hours.
If you just have a cough or a loss of smell, then you probably can, and either of those symptoms means you should get tested.
My workplace requires a test result within 72 hours if you call in sick with cold symptoms, fever ,cough, etc.

3billboardsoutsidebarnsley · 13/09/2020 10:15

Mellonsprite. That sounds grim. Reading on here and in the media about our handling of Covid makes for such depressing reading. Some developing countries are putting the UK to shame in their management of this.

LagunaBubbles · 13/09/2020 10:15

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

OP go back to watching You Tube. The point of testing and the fact some people can have mild symptoms has clearly passed you by otherwise you're just being goady. Those people with mild symptoms can then pass it on to people who can and have died.