To think you don't need a bloody PCR test for everything?!

[JuneDr]

I went for a meal on Saturday night and last night/yesterday afternoon started with the tell tale food poisoning signs.

I was up last night vomitting and could feel how green I looked! Still feel off this morning but a little better. I have told work I won't be in today because of this.

They have said I should get a PCR before returning to the office.

WHY?! I have absolutely no cough, no fever, no change in taste or smell, no cold symptoms of any kind. I have been sick after eating a meal out and already feel a little better.

Is this ridiculous or just me? Do we just have to have a test now every time we feel slightly unwell no matter what it is?

The thing is just depends on the context. I went to the doctor recently as I had bacterial tonsillitis. My tonsils were covered in pus, I had a sore throat and no other covid symptoms but it was quite clear what the cause of the sore throat was. I was prescribed antibiotics for goodness sake and the doctor still said I should do a PCR. Total lack of common sense

The govt had steadfastly refused to update the symptoms list because that would be admitting it’s actually even bigger.

Our local PH has been including lots more symptoms, as has the ZOE study which has been monitoring symptoms and testing since the start.

But, no, go with the govt., I mean, it’s not like they try to avoid uncomfortable facts, is it?

working for the NHS, they are the ones who go with the 3 main symptoms
you have no leg to stand on if you want to take time off for other reasons that might be covid

what is PH?

It is incredible that a private entity, your employer, can mandate what health test you must carry out. I am almost sure they are not legally entitled to do this, but it does not seem to matter anymore. We are happy with anyone checking our health records apparently. The bouncer of any club can do it, why not your employer?

I am not from the 'freedoms' brigade at all, but there are circumnstances that allow this total interference of the State in our lives. Accepting that anybody (not the state of health system) can routinely tell us what to do with our bodies, without powerful reason or even beyond governmental guidance is nuts.

Have you reported your food poisoning?

PH I assume means Public Health

@girlmom21

You don't have to say you've had symptoms on the website. You can say you're getting a test because an employer has asked you to.

This

And yes if been sick need 48hrs off work by which time you could have booked a pcr and had results back

Great post @Giveaschitt

My Dd has been on antibiotics for an ear and chest infection. She's had a negative PCR before I took her to the doctors and got this diagnosis. A few days later school called me to pick her up and asked me to get her PCRd again. Just pointless imo.

Thing is if they extended the list to a much bigger range of symptoms would they have the capacity to deal with the number of tests

I think they're being a little over-cautious, but I ticked YABU because it's easy to get a PCR and I'd rather work for an employer who has tight covid protocols than lax ones. It's just designed to keep you and your colleagues safe and everyone working. Unless you live a long way from a test centre it's not really a big ask.

Many other countries list more symptoms than the UK, so why can't we?

I think in cases such as stomach bugs or food poisoning it’s not necessary

I think we should start listing cold symptoms (running nose etc) as reasons for a PCR as this is how delta and omicron both seem to present

Totally ridiculous that your colleagues want to minimise the risk of catching covid just before Christmas. The crazy bastards.

Had a similar conversation the other day. I’ve got a cold or have I? Is it covid? Do we go for a test for every cough or sniffle? I’ve done a home test that was negative but apparently these are not accurate? I’ve not temperature, no loss of taste

@JuneDr

I took my temp last night and this morning and no temperature.

I'll go and so a LTF, I have them downstairs.

I had a positive test back in September and never had a temp (also never had a cough) It can present in multiple ways unfortunately 😩

@NellieBertram

Totally ridiculous that your colleagues want to minimise the risk of catching covid just before Christmas. The crazy bastards.

then a test should be required every day (twice a day?) If you are taking public transport the risk is probably much higher than a clearer case of food posisoning. Not everyone is obsessed with Christmas in that way. I am extremely cautious all the time, not just for bloody Christmas.

@toomuchlaundry

Many other countries list more symptoms than the UK, so why can't we?

Which many other countries? The UK is among the countries doing the most tests to its population (I am not complaining about this). The rate of test taken by the population is much much higher than most our neighbours. So can you be more specific?

@MrsLargeEmbodied

my work would not let me take time off for possible covid unless it was one of the 3 actual nhs symptoms,

@MrsLargeEmbodied

Your work is crazy then. I had a positive test in September and didn't have any of the "official" symptoms. Delta presents like a cold!

You won’t be eligible for a PCR test if you don’t have any the symptoms that qualify you for one.

I had COVID, I had severe diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting. Newer variants are causing more symptoms.

I do agree with you though.

In most cases when people get sick after eating out it’s not actually “food poisoning” (ie food that is infected with bacteria) but a virus that is picked up a result of someone infected handling the food.

So it could be COVID or it could be a norovirus or similar.

I can see how it feels like overkill when there's a very likely other candidate for your sickness; however vomiting does seem to be a common symptom of the Delta variant - that was my friend's son's only symptom when he tested positive a couple of month ago, and I've seen quite a few people on SM say similar.

I agree with you OP. It’s crackers