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AIBU?

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Original poster

Just tested positive, can I still provide Xmas Dinner but not attend?

157 replies

Tereseta · 19/12/2021 16:42

I was supposed to be cooking for dh and dds and elderly mil for Christmas. Felt a bit off colour today and did lft which was positive, waiting on results of pcr.
Obviously this has stopped my Christmas in its tracks, but dh and dds are still hoping to go to mils for Xmas day (depending on their lft being negative) would I be still be OK to cook/prep the dinner at our home for him to take to mils or not?
He's not much of a cook and mil is disabled and unable to cook a big meal. Dh is carer for mil so will be round there daily depending on negative lft.
AIBU to cook the dinner for h to take round on Xmas day? Don't want to ruin everyone's Christmas.

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 19/12/2021 16:57

I am really surprised they would take the risk to go to an elderly woman’s house.

dementedpixie · 19/12/2021 16:57

I think its insane that family members with a covid positive person in the household can still go out and about tbh

Darbs76 · 19/12/2021 16:58

The advice is to do a PCR if close contact and daily LFT. My partner has it but I haven’t caught it. But I already had it in July, I have been testing daily

mnaab · 19/12/2021 16:59

Lateral flows aren't very reliable. I have covid (PCR positive) and symptoms but all negative lateral flows. Not even a faint line.
DH won't be having contact with elderly disabled MIL until we are fully in the clear. If DH is the only person that can care for MIL then surely masked up and in and out as quick as possible would be best?

I don't think food is too much of an issue as long as once it's cooked you're very careful not to contaminate it.

WhatToDo1988 · 19/12/2021 17:00

Your dh and dd really shouldn't go over there. They might not be testing positive yet but still carry it and why take any chances with a disabled old woman?! Order her some food.

00100001 · 19/12/2021 17:01

The ja d washing is because people are dsusting, and cough in to their hands, touch their faces etc all the time.

Surface transmission is minimal.

No-one will catch covid from a roast potato.

But they probably will, if a member of a covid household goes to theirs for a prolonged period indoors...

Paquerette · 19/12/2021 17:04

@gsaoej

It would be insane for anyone in your household to have any contact with MIL whatsoever.
I agree. LTFs aren’t very accurate. My DS had a negative LFT on a Sunday evening, then came back from school Monday with a headache and stomach ache which had started at lunchtime. LFT on Tuesday morning turned positive immediately, confirmed with a PCR. He must have been infectious in class on Monday ☹️. I don’t know anyone who has had a positive LFT before they’ve had Covid symptoms.
MorningStarling · 19/12/2021 17:05

None of you should go I'm afraid. It's not worth giving an elderly person Covid just because of the date. Just delay it by a week or so and have a late meetup.

Covid will (probably) be killed by the cooking process, assuming you intended to cook at the MIL's place. (If you intended to pre-cook and send it over, forget it.) But you'll have to touch everything, you'll be touching the containers, most likely you'll be breathing in and out as you do it. The virus is transmitted so easily.

Chloemol · 19/12/2021 17:05

No

humdingle · 19/12/2021 17:14

@Darbs76

The advice is to do a PCR if close contact and daily LFT. My partner has it but I haven’t caught it. But I already had it in July, I have been testing daily
No, it's not. If you're in England, the advice is to do daily lateral flows.
MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 19/12/2021 17:14

Do you really not like your MIL? Sending likely covid positive people to,her not a great idea. (Food a somewhat secondary issue - though for me there would be an ‘each’ factor in eating food handled by and breathed on by someone with covid

blueshiningsea · 19/12/2021 17:14

I cooked for my family when I had covid and they didn’t catch it from me, I sanitised regularly and the heat will kill the bugs. My MIL also cooked us a Sunday roast and tested positive the next day and we didn’t get it.

KateyKontent · 19/12/2021 17:15

Only your DH is likely to be double vaccinated. Your family should be testing every day and take a PCR.

Your dh should make a plan b just in case. Delivering food should be ok, visiting less so.

Current guidance in England (not strong enough imho).

Fully vaccinated people who come into contact with a person with Covid (any variant) should take daily lateral flow tests (LFTs) for seven days, whatever their age or vaccination status.

The seven-day period starts on the day they're notified by NHS Test and Trace, and the results should be reported online or by calling 119.

If they get a positive LFT result, they need to take a PCR test and self-isolate until you get the result.

Unvaccinated adults who come into contact with a positive case must still self-isolate.

bofski14 · 19/12/2021 17:16

Absolutely not. That is crazy. And for people saying there is "no evidence" that it can be transmitted through food, that is because officially doing an experiment and publishing it would be a waste of time. If you can catch it off a door handle, you can catch it from putting food in your mouth that an infected person has breathed on. Saying that, if you thoroughly reheat the food, it should be fine although I would have the whole household isolate because scientifically, that is what makes sense. The government do not care about you or your family.

sausagepastapot · 19/12/2021 17:17

It'll be absolutely fine. That's very kind of you.

humdingle · 19/12/2021 17:17

@dementedpixie

I think its insane that family members with a covid positive person in the household can still go out and about tbh
Well, we are. And I'm glad. Everything has been disrupted enough for this predominantly mild illness where the people who require hospital treatment are mainly made up of those who won't take vaccinations. Why should healthy people stay at home just in case they have it so that vaccine refusers can carry on going out and about in relative safety? Bonkers.
BlackCatz · 19/12/2021 17:19

Well, we are. And I'm glad

Me too. Madness to keep people locked up who are testing negative.

CheshireKitten123 · 19/12/2021 17:19

I don't think so, but check with NHS 111

DaphneDeloresMoorhead · 19/12/2021 17:20

@Bluntness100

I am really surprised they would take the risk to go to an elderly woman’s house.
Op has already said that her DH is MILs carer and goes every day. Maybe there is no alternative provision.

Plus I know my parents (disabled, non-verbal mother and dad who cares for her) have already said that they would rather take their chances of getting Covid than not see anyone for 14 days. They did that last year.

MajorCarolDanvers · 19/12/2021 17:24

In your circumstances I would postpone Christmas by a week.

happychristmasbum · 19/12/2021 17:27

Depends on MILS disability really. If Covid wold be very problematic for her, I don't think anyone from your household should be going round there for a while.

Hillary17 · 19/12/2021 17:27

If they pop it in the oven you’ll be fine. Virus can’t survive in high temps :) very kind of you!

44PumpLane · 19/12/2021 17:29

One of my 5 year olds had covid, symptomless, noone else caught it as we all did multiple PCRs over several days and a ridiculous number of LFTs.

The point of the above is that your family is not definitely going to get it and honestly just isolate form them and have them do another pcr closer to the time.

Mask and gloves when you prep the dinner if you're up to it, all will be fine.

Muchuseaschocolateteapot · 19/12/2021 17:29

Get yourself well and have Christmas Day when you safely can. We have moved it due to illness and holidays etc. No-one Will mind if it’s moved by a week. Hope you are better soon.

Yubaba · 19/12/2021 17:31

My son has Covid at the minute, he’s allowed out of isolation on Christmas Eve.
I am still going to work in the NHS, I have to do and LFT every day for 10 days (work policy) but other than that I’m free to come and go.

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