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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask guests to take lateral flow test?

203 replies

Blue1212 · 05/07/2021 11:28

It's our sons 1st birthday party on Saturday and we are planning a get together in the back garden.

We don't have a massive garden, and although we won't be going over the numbers allowed, it could be difficult for everyone to distance.

My brother qmd his family, has just phoned up to cancel as their daughter has just tested positive for covid, and our dd's school has sent home two classes from her year group today.

Aibu to ask all adults attending take a lft as a precaution?

OP posts:
ineedaholidaynow · 05/07/2021 12:55

Why would people not take the test?

randomkey123 · 05/07/2021 12:55

Yes, and I'd get them to wear masks, gloves, get them to change into clean clothes on the doorstep and thoroughly bleach their shoes/bags as they walk through the door.

Hmm
godmum56 · 05/07/2021 12:57

do you mean hand them out at the door? Because if you do anything else how will you be sure they did it?

IamnotSethRogan · 05/07/2021 12:57

I don't think it's unreasonable. I'd assume all reasonable people do it anyway before a gathering. I know that myself and friends always take a test before we mix with other people

Rainbowsandstorms · 05/07/2021 12:57

I think it makes sense and while cases are high, precautions such as these are part of learning to live with it. I appreciate they aren’t that reliable but it’s an extra precaution and reduces the chance of anyone having to isolate afterwards due to contact with a positive case.

ineedaholidaynow · 05/07/2021 12:58

What will people do if testing and proving you have had the vaccine becomes the way we have to live with this virus? Other countries have adopted this approach for a number of areas in life

gillysSong · 05/07/2021 12:59

I'd just say i'd done one and it was negative. Never done one and wouldn't for a party.

PurpleDaisies · 05/07/2021 13:00

@randomkey123

Yes, and I'd get them to wear masks, gloves, get them to change into clean clothes on the doorstep and thoroughly bleach their shoes/bags as they walk through the door.

Hmm

Because that’s the same as asking someone to do a test…
gillysSong · 05/07/2021 13:01

@ineedaholidaynow

Why would people not take the test?
Because it isn't reliable.
Muchtoomuchtodo · 05/07/2021 13:02

It wouldn’t bother me as I do them regularly for work, but they’re not the most reliable and I think do give a false sense of security as a result.

You’d be better off really limiting the number that you invite and making sure that everyone stays outdoors.

SlipperyDippery · 05/07/2021 13:03

@Hotcuppatea

I remember before Covid when the climate emergency and plastic waste was high on the agenda. That seems to have gone out the window now where people seem happy to take these tests when the risk is low and not think twice about all the plastic waste it is generating.
I completely agree with this. I strongly oppose the normalisation of asking people to take these tests. There are other problems in the world than covid, which we are exacerbating because people seem completely unable to keep risk in perspective.
Unsure33 · 05/07/2021 13:05

this thread exactly shows why the government relying on common sense wont work

people are aware of the tests reliability so should not change behaviour even if negative
Asking people to test could REDUCE risk ( like every other restriction ) not eliminate it .
My 7 year old grandson had to have several tests before a serious operation and made less fuss than some of you

If you got asked to do a test you can say yes or no and if you felt that strongly then yes dont go .

When we have family visiting we do them - but we are not stupid enough to make us feel 100% safe .

traumatisednoodle · 05/07/2021 13:06

*And thus they are more likely to alter behaviour and engage in riskier behaviour (eg lots of hugs, going indoors regardless etc etc)

Yep, counter productive*

This is ridiculous we have been doing them 2X weekly in the NHS since december. Have we stopped wearing masks, distancing or washing our hands ? Of course not. Millions of people are doing them twice weekly including secondary school pupils.

We visted older relatives this weekend- we all lateral flowed first I am well aware they are an imperfect tool, but hopefully they pick up some assymptomatic cases (2 in DS year and DB- none of whom would have got a PCR).

ineedaholidaynow · 05/07/2021 13:16

Surely tests are better than nothing, especially as from the 19th they might be the only things we have

ChateauMargaux · 05/07/2021 13:18

I would be totally fine if someone asked me to do this.. might be slightly more problematic if it was the whole family though..

SoupDragon · 05/07/2021 13:19

If someone asked me to do a test before a party, of course I would. It's not a big deal

It's not a big deal for you It is a big deal for others for a variety of reasons.

godmum56 · 05/07/2021 13:19

@gillysSong

I'd just say i'd done one and it was negative. Never done one and wouldn't for a party.
see this is what i am thinking
motogogo · 05/07/2021 13:21

I wouldn't, if you have a dd at school she's more likely to be infected but not showing up on a test than your older guests! If you are that worried I would cancel or reduce numbers to ensure 2m distancing

changingstages · 05/07/2021 13:21

yep, I would take one (have to for work anyway) and I'd be very pleased if those who didn't want to take one were turning down invites.

Screamingcowboy99 · 05/07/2021 13:23

@Medievalist

They're so unreliable I'm not sure there would be much point.
This. You need to wait 30 minutes for the result. Where will they go while they wait?!
SoupDragon · 05/07/2021 13:26

@motogogo

I wouldn't, if you have a dd at school she's more likely to be infected but not showing up on a test than your older guests! If you are that worried I would cancel or reduce numbers to ensure 2m distancing
Especially as 2 classes in her year group have just been sent home.
Twokitstwokats · 05/07/2021 13:26

I wouldn't come. I am sick to death of the accountability, testing and recording to do normal things. It is none of your business and an invasion of trust and privacy.

me4real · 05/07/2021 13:29

The tests take half an hour to work (that's how long the home tests I got from the NHS told me to leave it anyway) so how would you do it? Would you drop them all off a test now so they can take it, or make them wait outside? Or are they supposed to obtain tests themselves and do it at home?

I suppose I would do it if someone asked (depending how much I wanted to go to the event-it's a pretty unpleasant test) but not everyone would.

There are a lot of false positives from the various tests, and probably some false negatives too maybe, especially if self-administered.

RedToothBrush · 05/07/2021 13:29

@Unsure33

this thread exactly shows why the government relying on common sense wont work

people are aware of the tests reliability so should not change behaviour even if negative
Asking people to test could REDUCE risk ( like every other restriction ) not eliminate it .
My 7 year old grandson had to have several tests before a serious operation and made less fuss than some of you

If you got asked to do a test you can say yes or no and if you felt that strongly then yes dont go .

When we have family visiting we do them - but we are not stupid enough to make us feel 100% safe .

The problem is the gap between understanding this and the concept that having done a lateral flow will 'protect' you (especially when children present aren't doing them too)

There are people on the thread who clearly don't get the difference.

PurpleDaisies · 05/07/2021 13:30

This. You need to wait 30 minutes for the result. Where will they go while they wait?!

They would be doing them at home before coming.