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AIBU?

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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:
Lindy2 · 22/12/2021 08:44

You don't want to test incase you get stopped from going because one of you has Covid? That has to be one of the most selfish comments I've seen for a while.

We are having a small Christmas gathering. We'll all be testing on Christmas eve, Christmas day and Boxing day which is the days we will be together. DH will possibly test twice a day as he's in a high risk job.

We're doing it to protect each other which is somewhat more important.

You'd not be on my guest list.

HollysBush · 22/12/2021 08:44

YABU. Yes, we are testing every day this week before seeing relatives (also work in Hospital, so in contact with a lot of other vulnerable people).
But what do you mean you won’t get a Christmas Day?

RNBrie · 22/12/2021 08:45

We are testing every morning as we're quite busy every day. My dc are too young to be vaccinated. My dh has been double vaxxed but was quite unwell with covid a month ago and still struggling with his breathing. One of my dc appears to have had covid twice, only a month apart and really unwell both times. Positive PCRs both times.

Yes I believe in vaccines but I'm also aware that I don't want to be the reason someone else is worryingly unwell.

moomin11 · 22/12/2021 08:45

YABU. My DD tested positive on the weekend the day after having seen her grandmother, thankfully her grandparents are testing negative so far but it really worried me. We've had to cancel all our Christmas plans, it's crap, but I'd prefer that to spreading it to all our close family.

User2638483 · 22/12/2021 08:45

Yep this was going to be the plan here as vulnerable grandparents if our Christmas plans weren’t ruined anyway because of covid

I see your point that you’d rather not know, if everyone is well anyway. But because of the elderly people there you should.

NandorTheRelentless · 22/12/2021 08:45

@Missushbb

it does seem a bit ott but i can see her point. however i don't have a lot of trust in lateral flow tests as mine was repeatedly negative when i had symptoms, got a PCR and was positive. Even people with symptoms are saying they're ok as the lateral flow was negative. in my experience that didn't matter.
i don't have a lot of trust in lateral flow tests as mine was repeatedly negative when i had symptoms

^If you have coronavirus symptoms:
The symptoms of coronavirus are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste. Find out more on the NHS website.^

If you have symptoms, do not take a LFT test. Stay at home and take a PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test

scrivette · 22/12/2021 08:46

Even if you are vaccinated you may endanger lives, you could still pass it on to someone who is vulnerable.

I don't get why people are reluctant to test, it takes a few moments and offers other late reassurance.

We are testing before we meet people and will be asking my guests to test as well. If they are not prepared to test they are not coming. My FIL is ill and I am not prepared to risk him being ill.

Fallagain · 22/12/2021 08:48

FFS!
“Of course I don’t want to endanger lives. I guess my issue is that we have all been jabbed. If we get it, it’s not going to endanger lives. Both sets of parents are old not vulnerable”
Being vaccinated does not stop transmission. It reduces it but doesn’t stop it. The current variant is much more transmissible. Older people are more vulnerable to covid but anyone can become very ill with it.

Hemingwayscatz · 22/12/2021 08:48

Sounds sensible to do one imo with elderly people being present and it is government advice as well.

toomuchlaundry · 22/12/2021 08:48

If parents are old then they are more vulnerable than you in respect of COVID.

We are testing before DM comes to us for Xmas. And a couple of days beforehand too not just on Christmas Day.

Can’t believe people wouldn’t be doing this before meeting elderly/vulnerable relatives. In fact I test before any social meet up. And for those saying just lie, that is awful.

Hemingwayscatz · 22/12/2021 08:49

Both sets of parents are old not vulnerable

Being old does automatically mean you’re vulnerable.

Sittingonabench · 22/12/2021 08:49

I have complete faith in the jabs doing what they should - reduce the symptoms and the likelihood of hospitalisation and death. But they don’t stop transmission so yes I took tests every other day leading up to going to my sisters. Now I’m here I will take a test before any gatherings outside this household. That seems sensible.

Lalliella · 22/12/2021 08:49

You do realise that if you have covid you shouldn’t be mixing with vulnerable people don’t you? And you do realise that taking a LFT has no bearing on whether or not you have covid? FFS have you learned nothing these 22 months? Your SIL is extremely reasonably and YABVVVU.

milkysmum · 22/12/2021 08:49

I think it's a pretty reasonable request to be honest. I have to test each morning before I go into the office, so absolutely will be doing before seeing elderly relatives.

Divebar2021 · 22/12/2021 08:50

No wonder we can’t get LFTs locally if people are testing daily …. Where the hell are you getting them from? Ordered some online but no idea if they’ll arrive before Christmas.

Dishwashersaurous · 22/12/2021 08:50

Op - do you think that someone who is vaccinated , irrespective of other conditions or circumstances, can't get really ill?

comfortablyfrumpy · 22/12/2021 08:50

Sensible. We are all doing the same.

Bavarois · 22/12/2021 08:51

@Missushbb

it does seem a bit ott but i can see her point. however i don't have a lot of trust in lateral flow tests as mine was repeatedly negative when i had symptoms, got a PCR and was positive. Even people with symptoms are saying they're ok as the lateral flow was negative. in my experience that didn't matter.
Jesus H Christ. If you have symptoms, get a PCR. Do not use LFTs, for this exact reason. Honestly, over a year in and people are still clueless and spouting rubbish.

We'll be doing LFTs and we're all triple jabbed. It's the responsible thing to do, my elderly granny will be there on Christmas Day and I don't want to infect her. ' but my Christmas Day might be ruined, wah wah' are you 4?

mrsed1987 · 22/12/2021 08:52

I'm doing 2 tests a week but will also test Christmas morning as my parents are coming one over 70 and one on chemo. It's the sensible thing to do although I am worried if one comes back positive but it's the right thing to do. Especially as I'm working in the office tomorrow.

cherryonthecakes · 22/12/2021 08:52

The jabs mean that you're unlikely to be hospitalised if you catch Covid. It doesn't mean that you won't transmit or catch Covid at all. I see them like a seat belt. I could be hurt in a car crash while wearing a seat belt (catch Covid) but without the seatbelt I would probably be even more injured.

There's been lots in the news about people who are only double jabbed with AZ having low protection against Omicron. The current vaccines are slightly less effective against Omicron than Delta and Alpha too.

If you're worried about someone being positive before the 25th then start daily LFT testing now. Id rather know on the 22nd than 25th.

Cattitudes · 22/12/2021 08:52

Yes definitely test. Have something as back up meal in the fridge or something you can cook from frozen just in case. Vaccines help but they aren't 100%. Impressed that your teens are all fully vaxed, still waiting for second jabs for some of mine.

Abraxan · 22/12/2021 08:53

Everyone I know is using LFTs before Christmas Day meet ups.

I understand the dilemma to na extent but also the consequences of not testing.

You test positive - you're Christmas plans have to stop and you miss out, along with others who are invoked.

Disappointing for all but better than the alternative.

You don't test and then subsequently infect other people whilst there - much greater inconvenience for them all for an even linger period and for a few it may be greater health risks and an unpleasant illness.

No one wants to be the one that tests positive and changes everyone's plans but even more so no one wants to he person that infects half the other guests and spoils their whole Christmas period.

RedRobin100 · 22/12/2021 08:53

I am worried that we could end up with no xmas day if one of us is asymptomatic

Surely this is all the more reason to test before you go?

Benjispruce5 · 22/12/2021 08:54

Yes we will be as DH’s parents coming. LFT before meeting indoors with anyone vulnerable is a sensible precaution. Imagine how you’d feel if you or your family have Covid to a vulnerable relative.

MajesticallyAwkward · 22/12/2021 08:54

YABVU, it's a perfectly reasonable request. And it's not a hugely time consuming thing to do an LFT.

I will be testing myself and DCs before we go to my mums for Christmas. We're all jabbed but the dc aren't and my newborn nephew isn't so even if one of us is asymptomatic I would want to know so we don't pass it to the newborn or my (jabbed) CEV DGM. If someone is asymptomatic but positive we would isolate, because that's the reasonable thing to do.

Saying you don't want to test because it might ruin your Christmas is incredibly selfish and comments like that are the reason more lockdowns are being talked about.