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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Christmas morning Covid test being demanded

859 replies

Quarks69 · 22/12/2021 08:27

Is everyone else having these? My sister in law has demanded this from my side of the family as her elderly parents are going to be at the dinner. With a family of five and three are my busy teens I am worried that we could end up with no xmas day if one of us is asymptomatic (for the second year running obvs).

I do get that we are in bonkers times, but Was so looking Forward to seeing everyone, including my parents, that this is making me cross...isn’t this the point of the jabs!?

OP posts:
ilovesooty · 23/12/2021 15:56

I agree with @HeronLanyon. We don't exist in a societal vacuum.

MsMeNz · 23/12/2021 16:10

We are all testing Christmas Eve before 4 house holds getting together at ours later on Christmas day. We have a couple of vulnerable people in the group and it's the right thing to do just in case. My kids hate it but they understand it's to protect their grandparents.

me4real · 24/12/2021 11:40

You've given me ideas @Quarks69 , or at least your sis has. So we're all testing on Xmas morning just in case because of you. Smile

PeeAche · 24/12/2021 16:10

My family have just submitted pictures of all their negative tests to me (they're all arriving tonight). They're calling them their "Covid Tickets" 😅

See, we can still have fun!

CuddlyDudley · 24/12/2021 16:28

I said earlier about I've requested people to test and it's a good thing really. This morning ds and dp tested positive. Ds right away and I made do do another test after spotting a faint line after the test had expired which then came out positive right away. Im glad we did test as we were seeing several elderly people over Christmas. Best to check to be sure

WhatAHexIGotInto · 24/12/2021 16:33

I haven't read the full thread because, frankly, I can't be bothered and I find people like you just so ridiculous OP. YABU. Of course you fucking are.

3scape · 24/12/2021 16:57

Seems fair. If you don't like it stay at home.

WabbitsAndWeasels · 24/12/2021 17:16

For the people concerned about all the plastic waste - these items have already been produced, the plastic is already in the system. There is no extra plastic waste from people testing than what has already been produced. There is likely millions of boxes of LFTs sat in warehouses around the UK, I had no issue ordering and getting a pack in just over 24 hours this week suggesting there's not a supply issue but a delivery issue is various parts of the UK likely due to Xmas and covid isolations. People should test before seeing people outside of their normal circle (there's no point testing before going into work if you're there 5 days a week for example) but should certainly be testing before seeing anyone who could be considered vulnerable. It's one Christmas, yes, for some elderly relatives this could be their last but would you really want it to be your lack of testing that may cause that?

Sirzy · 24/12/2021 17:26

Hospital treatment generally involves a lot more plastic than a LfT anyway!

lljkk · 24/12/2021 17:50

Yanbu... will all of you be unwelcome if even 1 of you tests + ? That's what I thought my relatives would say. I wonder how many years of "Test before you socialise" ppl will want. Maybe only as long as the tests are free?

WabbitsAndWeasels · 24/12/2021 17:56

If one of them tests positive is not unlikely they all will be before long. Of course some people somehow manage to remain negative in a room full of positive people but there's no way to know which one of them if any it might be. Why would you want to put vulnerable people (that you presumably like as you want to go so much) at risk because you can't be bothered to make plans for a Christmas at home just in case?

No one is saying they want to test forever. There's a new, highly transmissible variant going around just in time for mass gatherings of people in public spaces and private homes (is it the dominant variant at the moment?). Of course the message is going to be test regularly and before meeting vulnerable people in particular. By next Christmas we might be in a different situation but this Christmas the best thing to do is test and stay home if anyone in the household is positive.

IrishMama2015 · 24/12/2021 18:07

I wonder OP do you feel like this because the elderly people involved are not YOUR relatives? Or do you suspect one of your teens has it and you don't want it to be known?

Offmyfence · 24/12/2021 18:27

@lljkk

Yanbu... will all of you be unwelcome if even 1 of you tests + ? That's what I thought my relatives would say. I wonder how many years of "Test before you socialise" ppl will want. Maybe only as long as the tests are free?
No idea on how many years it will be, but given the rate of infection of the current strain it's a good idea? No?

100,000 infections per day, in case you're not aware?

GabriellaMontez · 24/12/2021 18:57

@Quarks69 just here to remind you that mumsnet is not representative of society and sometimes presents a narrow cross section. Happy Christmas 🎄

Darbs76 · 24/12/2021 19:38

Says it all. Don’t want to test incase you’re positive but happy to risk infections others. Selfish with a capital S

BluebellsGreenbells · 24/12/2021 19:59

Says it all. Don’t want to test incase you’re positive but happy to risk infections others. Selfish with a capital S

Quick we have a volunteer for schools!!

Offmyfence · 24/12/2021 20:32

@BluebellsGreenbells

Says it all. Don’t want to test incase you’re positive but happy to risk infections others. Selfish with a capital S

Quick we have a volunteer for schools!!

I really don't understand that comment?
WhatToDo1988 · 24/12/2021 22:45

My whole family got LFT's this morning. This meant TWO adult family members have had to go in isolation as they tested positive. We have elderly vulnerable people who don't have many Christmases left. We would all rather our grandparents got a nice Christmas with at least part of the family and not have the guilt of causing them to die alone suffocating in a Covid ward.

Autumnalblooms · 25/12/2021 07:00

If I had trusted my lft'sI would have gone to inlaws this weekend and seen my eldest DC who lives away. All were negative even the day I tested positive on two different pcr tests two days ago .I have absolutely no faith in them. Merry Christmas to every one.

Indoctro · 25/12/2021 07:06

Yes i tested me and my two young kids last night as have guests today

It's the right thing to do

Northsoutheastwest76 · 25/12/2021 07:21

You say you wouldn't go if you had it but if you don't test how will you know?
Sorry nit read whole thread yet so probably covered.

catfunk · 25/12/2021 07:21

I don't understand why you'd even think twice. We're testing every day over Xmas as mixing households a lot more then usual.

Ireolu · 25/12/2021 08:31

The jabs are not full proof. Several people have covid at the moment despite having all 3 recommended. LFTs are a minimum in my opinion before seeing other people regardless of if vulnerable or vaccinated.

steppingcarefully · 25/12/2021 08:35

@YeOldeNameChange

We’ve all spoken amongst ourselves in our family and none of us are testing any more prior to our Xmas meet up as we aren’t bothered about catching it.
None of you are bothered about catching it but what about anyone else that any of you will be seeing after you've all mixed? Maybe you will all be staying at home for the next 7 days or more? If not I hope you will be contacting people you are planning on meeting up with and telling them you all mixed without bothering to test so they can decide if they want to possibly be exposed to the virus. I've heard so many people say they're not worried about catching it because the symptoms are mild which seems to be true in most cases but they are not looking at the bigger picture of then going on to spread it to others.
phishy · 25/12/2021 08:41

@YeOldeNameChange

We’ve all spoken amongst ourselves in our family and none of us are testing any more prior to our Xmas meet up as we aren’t bothered about catching it.
We’ll, aren’t you all renegades 🙄

I hope I don’t have the misfortune to come across you or your family.