to wonder who is right in this disagreement?

[WiganDiva]

Just had a conversation with my cousin, who is coming on Xmas Day with her family. There will be twelve in total. She mentioned in passing about doing a LFT on Xmas Eve.

It turns out her family are doing LFTs before they go anywhere and meet anyone. And, crucially, she assumes everyone else is doing the same.

We only test when we’ve been a close contact (or symptoms) and are otherwise carrying on with our lives. No one we’ve met or are planning to meet has asked us about LFTs beforehand.

She says this no one asks because everyone is doing them and it’s a given. I think no one asks because everyone is doing what they feel comfortable with and would explicitly ask if they wanted everyone they were meeting to have done a LFT first.

What do you think? This is not about the rights/wrongs of testing but about what people are assuming about other people.

I am not testing and my elderly relatives aren't and are socialising far more than I am inside so I don't think they are at risk from me.

I wouldn’t assume…but I test at least twice a week and always do another test before meeting up with other people.

I do it so I can be as sure as I can that I am not transmitting COVID to other people. It’s one tiny thing I can do for the good of others and it’s not much hassle. A bit like recycling.

In my job I need to go into people’s homes a couple of times a week and I do an LFT before going - as in it’s the last thing I do before leaving the house. When we were in the office one day a week I would do an LFT in the morning before leaving home. At the moment I would assume that people would be testing before meeting up socially with friends and family, especially where there any health vulnerabilities. I wouldn’t assume that people are regularly testing before going out shopping or just out and about in general.

Absolutely LFT before meeting indoors with others. It's hardly tricky to just do one!

Before a group event then yes we do, but before meeting up with say one friend then no we don't but are careful about distancing and would trust they would cancel if any symptoms.

Yes I would assume that's what people are doing

I'm also with you op. Just tell he you've done them and you're all negative to give her peace of mind?

I certainly wouldn't assume people tested. If I wanted them to, I would ask them to.

My guess is that about 10-20% people test regularly whether they have symptoms or not, 50-60% test when they are going to an event that requires it or when they have symptoms, and 20-40% never test at all (or only would if they were really ill).

We tested for the first time today ahead of expected visitors on Christmas Day. DH was totally shocked to find he is positive. No symptoms but now phoning around.

I would assume in the way that I think it's a reasonable expectation and I want people to do that, but also realise that not everyone will. But the two indoor gatherings I have been to, one it was explicitly asked, one it was talked about and I believe we all did. It's definitely shifted the last few weeks, especially with the official advice changing. Especially as Omicron can ramp up quickly and so quickly flip from negative to infectious. They are now advising to test shortly before you meet people, not the day before.

I think quite a lot of people probably are

But maybe that’s more in my circle of people with kids at school where there’s a lot of it about

What a bizarre post. The point of taking LFTs is so that people can live their lives normally. How do you know that every single person you see in these busy places hasn't done the intelligent and selfless act of taking an LFT first?

It's not bizarre at all. Everyone on MN appears to be cancelling plans left, right and centre out of fear of catching COVID (even when they test negative) but IRL everyone is doing everything as normal and nothing appears to be getting cancelled.

I mean, yes, obviously I don't know if every stranger I see is doing LFT's but nobody in my immediate circle is. We've all discussed it, btw, so I'm not making assumptions.

I'm sure I'll get lambasted for that but I'm self-employed and work outdoors, and only really see DH (who is also self-employed) and my parents who are retired, healthy and triple jabbed, and none of us have ever taken any tests.

I would assume everyone was being sensible and doing them before large gatherings, yes.

Replace the word assume with hope and I'd be right with you, but surely virtually every thread on MN week in, week out must tell you assuming anything is only going to lead to confusion, miscommunication and upset, whatever the 'assumption' is made about.
Each and every one of us is an individual with our own thoughts, opinions and experiences in life. A LOT of people seem to live in bubbles of "other people like them" and often seem really shocked on thread after thread about things that people consider to be really normal.

If something is important to you, then don't assume anything would be my advice.