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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Covid Test for guests?

87 replies

SturminsterNewton · 31/08/2021 09:42

I have a couple of guests for the weekend at the end of September. They are staying with other people before they reach me and also have a wider social/family life than I. I live alone and WFH, so have been quite sheltered since Covid.

AIBU to ask them to do a test before they set off to me, or is that just being over-anxious (and rather inhospitable)?

OP posts:
Augusta1 · 31/08/2021 09:49

Well, it’s not very welcoming is it?!

rosie1959 · 31/08/2021 09:53

Well you can ask them wouldn’t bother me and I would do the test it’s no big deal But these tests are not 100% in fact far from it

NotYourCupOfTea · 31/08/2021 09:54

I mean you could - although lft are not the most reliable and they would need to book a pcr and wait 24hrs

Have you had both jabs?

PaddleBlue · 31/08/2021 09:56

I’ve been asked a few times before events, and happily done them.

Original poster
SturminsterNewton · 31/08/2021 09:56

I've had both jabs.

I appreciate I may be being over-cautious. I think being comparatively isolated for 18 months has skewed my perspective so I posted to get others' views.

OP posts:
GreatEelRun · 31/08/2021 09:57

If you said to me something like "I will be taking a test before you come to make sure I am covid free and would appreciate if you did the same", then I would be OK with it.

If you just sent me a note asking me to test I would think you a bit rude and I'd skip the visit.

SmidgenofaPigeon · 31/08/2021 09:57

I’d tell you I’d done one if it saved you the anxiety.

But I’d be lying.

idril · 31/08/2021 09:58

I think it's good manners to offer to test before going to stay with someone. Especially if they might be more at risk.

We did one before staying with a relative.

If you are worried, just ask.

GreatEelRun · 31/08/2021 10:05

I also think it depends on your audience. Are they older/ have young kids at school who are going back next week. What is their situation?

For me, if you asked me I think I would just skip the visit if I had to test. But then as I said that is just me. I worked throughout the pandemic, not NHS, but another role. Now, I still have to wear a mask all day, every day at work and it is making me ill and affecting my MH. I am menopausal and I just can't breathe. I am sick of the restrictions.

So, if someone I was visiting at home asked me to stick a massive bud up my nose to touch my brain, I would pass on the visit.

GreenTortoise · 31/08/2021 10:11

Your house your rules. I honestly don't get why people are so weird about taking a LFT. It literally takes minutes. If they don't find it very welcoming then don't come. Simple as that.

MrsSkylerWhite · 31/08/2021 10:13

Fine with us. Just had weekend guests, we all tested as a courtesy to each other.

Ponoka7 · 31/08/2021 10:14

"So, if someone I was visiting at home asked me to stick a massive bud up my nose to touch my brain, I would pass on the visit."

Luckily no-one is asking that.
We test regularly because we are all in contact with children in school. My DD does because she's a key worker. People have seemed to forget that we were asked to test, at least weekly if these things applied.
Put it in the right way and it shouldn't be objected to.

rookiemere · 31/08/2021 10:15

You can ask, but all it proves is that they didn't have covid at the point of testing.

Lemondrcps · 31/08/2021 10:15

they should do a test anyway as a matter of curtesy to you. We test before visiting people or going away. It's not hard to do

Original poster
SturminsterNewton · 31/08/2021 10:17

Personally, I don't think it's a big thing - hardly "a massive bud up my nose to touch my brain" - and I'd be happy to do one before staying with friends/having them to stay.

OP posts:
MrsSkylerWhite · 31/08/2021 10:19

Ponoka7

"So, if someone I was visiting at home asked me to stick a massive bud up my nose to touch my brain, I would pass on the visit."

If you’re brain is in your nose, I’m afraid you’ve got bigger problems than Covid.

rookiemere · 31/08/2021 10:20

I'd maybe try to desensitise yourself a bit before their visit- unless you're CEV or at high risk if you catch Covid - by going out a bit.
My friend wfh and has no DCs and is a lot more cautious than other friend and I because we have DC at school so we're in constant risk of catching it anyway so may as well go out.

SoupDragon · 31/08/2021 10:21

So, if someone I was visiting at home asked me to stick a massive bud up my nose to touch my brain, I would pass on the visit.

If you're doing that then you're doing the test wrong.

thebeatingofthedrums · 31/08/2021 10:22

TBH, I'm not sure I'd invite guests if I was worried about Covid (which I am). I think the assumption right now is that if you're hosting people, you're not that concerned, so you should correct that assumption if you're concerned.

I don't see the issue in taking a LFT to keep family and friends happy. You can't do a random PCR without symptoms though, and those are the more accurate ones.

CoralFish · 31/08/2021 10:22

I tend to just tell people I'm doing a lateral flow test before they're arriving/I'm setting off, and they usually state that they will do the same without any further prompting.

SoupDragon · 31/08/2021 10:23

is that just being over-anxious

I think it is but it is perfectly understandable. It's going to take time for everyone to get used to "normal" life again and everyone is going to get there at different speeds.

Notdoingthis · 31/08/2021 10:23

I find it hard enough doing these for work. I'd choose not to come.

Abraxan · 31/08/2021 10:25

No one has ever asked me to, but if they did I'd do one, no issue.
I'm used to doing them twice weekly for work so it really wouldn't bother me too much. Whilst not pleasant, it's a minute of discomfort at most.

We did/do LFTs before meeting up with older and more vulnerable relations anyway, as a matter of courtesy and additional protection to them, especially as I work in a school so there's no SDing or masks, etc and ole ty of covid knocking around. I'm Cv and getting covid knocked me for six, wouldn't want to pass it to someone else and risk them getting poorly.

SusieBob · 31/08/2021 10:25

@SmidgenofaPigeon

I’d tell you I’d done one if it saved you the anxiety.

But I’d be lying.

That's bit dickish, isn't it?

If I had a friend who asked me to test before visiting, I would do it. It's hardly a hassle.

Abraxan · 31/08/2021 10:25

So, if someone I was visiting at home asked me to stick a massive bud up my nose to touch my brain, I would pass on the visit.

A tad dramatic, I feel!