PCR test? I have a cold.

[SunShinesBrightly]

I’ve had a very mild cold Saturday, Sunday and today. Didn’t go out over the weekend mainly because I couldn’t be bothered not because I didn’t feel up to it.
In normal circumstances I would just carry on as ‘normal’.
Bit of a heavy fuzzy head, sniffles, bit tired, tiny bit achy.
I can taste and smell everything, have no Temperature, no fever, no cough...

DH says I need a PCR test. I’m not sure I do. AIBU?
Is everyone testing no matter what?
Is he right?

We all know by now that covid presents in many different ways, especially in the fully vaccinated. The cough, fever and loss of senses isn't even in the top reported symptoms anymore. At the very least you need a LFT. And stay I for goodness sakes.

In*

I personally don't think isolation and testing is tenable over winter when Covid has such a broad set of symptoms and they're the same as a cold.

The answer has to be vaccination, we can't just shut down over winter.

Those are my symptoms for which I got a positive LFT last night and so did dh. Also have a cough. Waiting pcr results. So yes, could well be.

OH is poorly with a cold, we went and got tested yesterday just to be sure and results came through this morning. Better safe than sorry, there's loads of symptoms now not just the original 3. Took us about 30 minutes to drive to the site do our tests and get home so isn't an huge inconvenience. Still making him stay home so he doesn't give everyone his cold!

My main symptoms were feeling very stuffy/congested and a really sore throat. No temp, no loss of taste/smell and no fever. It takes minutes to do a test.

My local NHS trust has now said they don’t want people to test for common cold symptoms as they are aware we are now in cold and flu season. Please don’t test for ‘wider’ covid symptoms is the new advice. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Hi. Nurse practitioner here. Today my clinic was full of people with the same symptoms as you who didnt want to get a COVID test. Id bet my months wage that half of them have it. Get a PCR test.

I'm a teacher and my class had 5 children off school awaiting PCR results today. 4 came in having had negative PCRs. 2 were sent home in the morning with persistent coughs. One fell asleep. About 10 had streaming noses. This is a year R class so despite rigorous handwashing germs spread quickly due to sharing resources etc.

Most of the teachers feel pretty unwell with cold symptoms most days but if we stayed at home there would be no-one left to teach the children! Obviously any of the 3 named covid symptoms trigger isolation and a PCR test. 6 members of staff are isolating currently.

The beginning of my post sounds like a multi step maths word problem...

...how many healthy children are there in the class?

My dd had mild cold sy7mptoms for nearly a week (LFT testing frequently , going to school) before she finally got a positive, confirmed by PCR. I simply do not know whether the 'cold' was coincidental, or actually covid presenting long before it became 'testable'.

Hmm.. conflicting advice Toot.
This is what the advice is here too.
Main covid symptoms only.

It takes minutes to do a test
Well yes it does. I haven’t got any LF tests. I would have to go out & get some.

You order them online and they arrive within a day or two.

It’s easy to book and quick to receive results. Just book the PCR and then you will know for sure.

@JesusIsAnyNameFree

You order them online and they arrive within a day or two.

The next day in my experience.

Covid was exactly as you describe when ds had it, we would've thought it was a cold. No cough and no temp.

Our GP surgery sent a message out last week to ask patients to consider a PCR if having cold symptoms, as COVID presenting in this way especially among the fully vaccinated.

Almost unanimous!
PCR it is then!

I only had a little sniffly, tiny bit achy, headache and tired, I tested positive, I didn't get any cough, but did sneeze.

The ICU consultant who's been looking after my mam says he wishes people would test if in doubt or at least isolate. You can order both sorta of tests online very easily too now.

I'd test. Dd similar sx last week and tested positive both lateral flow and PCR. Dh and I similar sx negative on lateral flow.and 2 PCR 3 days apparent. Lateral follws still negative but both still at home as nhs workers and not allowed in for 10 days even if double or in my case triple vexed.

Delta variant very commonly presents with normal cold symptoms. I had mild temperature, headache, sore throat, blocked nose/sinuses, fatigue. Lost my sense of smell for a few days but that was a week in. No cough really despite me being asthmatic. Without a PCR I would have assumed a head cold.

Husband had some cold symptoms on Saturday, did a lateral flow yesterday at home which was positive and the went to the test centre a few hours later for a pcr and that came back today as positive. Me and DC have no symptoms and had negative lateral flows yesterday but test and trace advise to get a pcr due to being close contacts so we went for a pcr today and now waiting for results. They said if under 18 or double vaccinated you can carry on as normal whilst waiting for pcr results, unless you have any symptoms. So DC going to school tomorrow whilst waiting for PCR results

You'll be testing every week for cold symptoms. I haven't felt 100% once since being forced back into the office at the start of September.

Well yeah delta variant often is cold symptoms for a lot of people. Husband has burning runny nose, sore throat, aches and headache.

Well the NHS PCR booking website specifically says don't test without those 3 symptoms so there's a lot of conflicting advice.

And I have no confidence in LFTs. So many false negatives.