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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:
happytoday73 · 22/12/2021 08:55

To me it all depends on whether you've spent time together prior days.. If you have then in some ways it's not worth messing up Christmas day as you have already potentially exposed each other so may as well crack on with enjoying Christmas if no symptoms, all jabbed if allowed and not overly vulnerable...

If haven't seen each other.. Then yes I would..

Wherehasthecommonsensegone · 22/12/2021 08:55

@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.
The advice has always been not to use a Lateral Flow Test if you have symptoms so this isn’t surprising.
MajorCarolDanvers · 22/12/2021 08:55

Perfectly normal in today's world.

HeronLanyon · 22/12/2021 08:55

I se it as completely normal and sensible. It’s what we are all doing so as not to unwittingly expose vulnerable family members to it. Obviously it will throw plans into chaos but surely we’ve got used to that and meet up can be later and you can still have a Christmas ? It’s very tough for those living in their own but we have zoom backup plans and January (or later) gathering up sleeve if need be.

Wheresthebeach · 22/12/2021 08:55

Of course you test. Don't be absurd. We are all testing before seeing my MIL. She's 89 and I don't want to give her Covid.

Don't you think you'd feel awful if you gave an elderly relative Covid and they ended up hospitalised, or dead?

Benjispruce5 · 22/12/2021 08:56

Btw double jabbed is no protection from catching it. I know one triple jabbed friend isolating due to catching Covid and one double jabbed , just triple jabbed teen with it.

listsandbudgets · 22/12/2021 08:56

We will all be testing before we set out on Christmas morning. There will be 3 over 70s, one with diabetes and also one younger relative with half a lung missing. I dint think any of them would do well with covid Xmas Sad

I've put a few extra bits in freezer, an extra tub of chocolates and bought a joint of beef and some crackers just in case

PurpleDaisies · 22/12/2021 08:56

Have you been living under a rock? I caught covid double jabbed from my double jabbed boys and (pre omicron). The vaccines aren’t perfect, especially against infection.

Autumncoming · 22/12/2021 08:56

You may be asymptomatic because you have a low viral load and your immune system can cope with it.
But if it's enough to test positive, it's still enough to have the chance of infecting someone, particularly someone vulnerable whose immune system can't cope with it, allowing the virus to replicate and make them seriously ill.

Jasmine11 · 22/12/2021 08:56

Stop being so dramatic OP, I'll bet your SIL didn't 'demand' she probably just asked. Why wouldn't you do a test if someone asks? It's not that onerous, and you'll be indoors with a lot of people in winter so no open windows. You can still pass it on even if you are fully vaccinated, what if you pass it to someone there who then passes it on to someone vulnerable the next day? Let me guess you don't like your in-las so anything they asked would make you 'cross'?

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

This is one of the most selfish things I've read on mumsnet - you'd rather not test in case you have it, so you are happy to potentially infect others, just so your immediate family don't miss out?!

Curiousmouse · 22/12/2021 08:56

What nonsense OP. If you weren't worried there was a chance of being positive, and thus infecting the elderly relative, you wouldn't mind doing it. And "demanding " is a bit of a slur. You are out of order.

chillied · 22/12/2021 08:56

Being vaccinated doesn't mean you can't get covid. It just reduces the likelihood, and also reduces the chance you'll get severe hospitalization level symptoms.

In relation to the new Omicron variant Chris Who try has said that being double jabbed is NO protection against that variant. Being boosted is 70% protection.

DH does LFTs daily for work, the kids have done them frequently for school, I do them frequently to check I'm not carrying Covid, and certainly before meeting up with people.

The lateral flow tests aren't cast iron brilliant, they can give false negatives, but it's way better than nothing.

You don't have to wait until Xmas morning you can test now as well (if you can source enough tests) - take away some of the suspense!

I've heard that testing first thing in the morning is a good idea - it would show up more strongly if you do have it. Don't know of that is true or old wives tale.

HalloHello · 22/12/2021 08:56

I have faith in the jabs to offer protection but I still don't want to get covid and be stuck in the house for 10 days so if I can reduce that chance by everyone doing LFTs then surely that's a good thing. I don't think anyone thinks it's completely fool proof to get a negative but surely does offer reassurance.

cherryonthecakes · 22/12/2021 08:57

Are the tests being demanded or requested? If it's demanded, is it because someone is sick or very anxious?

My kids are teens and they've volunteered to LFT before seeing their gran and dad. They've said that their friends feel the same. Most have had only 1 jab maximum and know that they are more likely to be asymptomatic and don't want to infect people who might not be so lucky.

UnaOfStormhold · 22/12/2021 08:57

We're testing before seeing people at Christmas and have back up food in the freezer just in case. I'll be watching the LFT with great suspense as it would be very disappointing not to be able to go, but I wouldn't dream of not doing them.

The vaccine makes a big difference but it's not 100% protection - some people don't get an immune response and people can still get ill if they get a high enough viral load. For example I've read that the vaccine reduces the risk to an 80 year old to a level comparable to a 50 year old. Which is a significant, and in many cases life-saving, reduction, given how much of a difference age makes, but still makes precautions a very sensible idea.

SoupDragon · 22/12/2021 08:57

It is the responsible thing to do.

DS has just had it (double jabbed) and I've tested as required before I've gone out for the whole week (I didn't have enough tests for DD and I to test every day for the 7days!)

I would happily test before going out to crowded places now. I don't see the problem, especially with the newer LFTs.

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

All the more reason to test!

Deisogn · 22/12/2021 08:57

I think you need to read more about how the vaccines work and what protection they are likely to offer and not. It's all a game of probabilities and stacking the odds in your favour (presuming you want to know).

BFCfairy · 22/12/2021 08:58

YABU you just need to prepare for having it and getting your own food in to have on Xmas day.

I think the question is why wouldn't you test

And the answer to that is a pretty lame one compared to why you would.

We are meant to be travelling to see family and elderly on 26th and have not been out out instead taking kids walks etc and are testing frequently. I have however made peace with the possibility of a positive result and I'd rather know than not know and of course not travel.

HaveringWavering · 22/12/2021 08:58

You are wrong about elderly people being completely safe as long as they are vaccinated. You’re wrong about anyone being completely safe as long as they have been vaccinated. Perhaps this is a result of the focus on the high proportion of unvaccinated people making up the hospital admissions. But there are vaccinated people in hospitals too.

Your teens should understand that risking the death of their cousins’ grandparents is worse than missing extended family Christmas.

rosydreams · 22/12/2021 08:58

i got covid and had both jabs just go to a pharmacy get the test kits their free .Its no effort

NovemberNovemberDarkNights · 22/12/2021 08:58

@Newjobnewstart

Just say you tested and it's negative. I'm not testing unless I have symptoms. Lfts are the most reliable anyway so u could still be positive even with a lat flow.
Twat. You'd soon be an ex friend
SMBC2020 · 22/12/2021 08:58

For a long time, I've been testing before I meet up with anyone and I think I'll be testing every day over the holiday period. We're seeing a lady in her 80s during Twixtmas and I'll be testing the baby too to be sure she doesn't have it. I'm triple jabbed and me and the baby have both had covid but it's just common courtesy to protect the vulnerable.

Redwinestillfine · 22/12/2021 08:59

We are not 'tesing all the time' but do test before meeting up with people especially older relatives. Perfectly sensible and yes everyone I know is doing this.

FreeBritnee · 22/12/2021 08:59

I think talking about her ‘demanding’ that testing is done us being a little melodramatic. I assume she is asking everyone attending to do LFTs before they come which sounds entirely sensible.

Whyarewehardofthinking · 22/12/2021 08:59

Why wouldn't you test? I caught COVID for the second time after 2 jabs and was still ill enough to be off work for a month. Why the hell would you risk passing that to anyone? Plus, I'm fit and healthy and certainly not vulnerable, but caught it again and school and then couldn't be in for 4 weeks as I couldn't walk down a corridor without panting and even attempt the stairs.