To ask if you have a relative aged 65+ at Christmas you should ALL lateral flow test?

[Fmesanta]

Don't want to be the martyr as I know there are a range of views within the family but AIBU to expect all the adults coming to test before they do if we have guests over 65 years old?

Yes before any gathering not just with people 65+. It's become common courtesy to do so.

People should definitely test before a gathering.

We always test before we gather with others, as do they. It's seems to have become the considerate/polite thing to do.

I tested last week before driving an elderly and quite frail relative several hours - zero symptoms but tested positive. So so relieved that I’d done the test (though not thrilled with the last minute Christmas changes that ensued obviously).

We do one before going to anyone's home at the moment - these days it's just common courtesy between our circle of friends and family.

YABU to expect it, as it expect that they will be doing that without being asked. Not everyone is testing as a matter of course and won't realise that you are expecting it of them.

We do them regardless of the age and health of those we are seeing, and also regardless of whether we are meeting indoors or outside. Not just for Christmas either.

@Hont1986

YABU to expect it, as it expect that they will be doing that without being asked. Not everyone is testing as a matter of course and won't realise that you are expecting it of them.

So a message just to say that we will be testing before they arrive and would be good if they could all do the same before we mix with dear old granny

Yes and they need to test when they are setting out, not first thing in the morning then leave it hours before going out to visit people.
The gp Sarah Jarvis who goes on TV a lot talking about the virus was saying that you could test negative in the morning but be positive by the afternoon.

YANBU, we have everyone coming here and I’ve asked everyone to do it.

Doesn’t matter whether the guests are elderly or not, you should be doing the tests. That’s what we will be doing - guests range from 1 year old to 88 years old.

@Gertie75

Yes and they need to test when they are setting out, not first thing in the morning then leave it hours before going out to visit people. The gp Sarah Jarvis who goes on TV a lot talking about the virus was saying that you could test negative in the morning but be positive by the afternoon.

She also gave some very dodgy advice this week on R2 about lateral flow tests. I can only assume she hasn’t taken one for a while.

I think it’s common sense but nothing will convince those who don’t see the point.

People should be testing before meeting anyone. It’s not just the health worry it’s the sheer Incontinence that goes with it. 10 days isolating isn’t good for anyone.

No.
We have a family member whose mental health would be so adversely affected by spending Christmas alone, we won’t test.
It’s up to people to make a decision based on personal circumstances.

What do you do when the 89 y.o. guest is the one refusing to test? 😂. Short of shoving a swab her nose as she enters the house I don't really know what to do. My mum is immunosuppressed and so we need to be sure everyone is covid free.

Deaths from omicron are apparently 8 to date. Deaths from suicide over the same period are around 250.

False negatives in asymptomatic cases are about 42%.

So roughly 50:50 chance if you test just as a screen, it will be an erroneous result. But having done the test, one is likely to feel more confident about mixing with vulnerable population (or others in general).
False sense of security, in my opinion.

Our eldest is 62, we’re all testing. It’s really not that difficult.

@Whattochoosenow

Deaths from omicron are apparently 8 to date. Deaths from suicide over the same period are around 250.

It's impossible to know the statistics at this stage - deaths aren't formally ruled as suicides until the inquest has happened, and that takes months or years, so there's a serious lag time.

However, in 2019 there was an average of 18 suicides per day, so even in normal times you'd expect 250 suicides every 13.8 days. As shit as it is, those numbers are a baseline and can't be blamed on COVID.

I'm thoroughly opposed to further lockdowns, but this statistic going around isn't particularly illuminating.

Any gathering, totally - we have three meets with other people (ILs, some friends, my family) in the next week and will test before all of them. Appreciate it may be tough for people who have had difficulty getting tests though.

As to accuracy, no they are not a panacea, but unfortunately a lot of damage was done early on by tests comparing them with PCRs, which they can't be compared with for accuracy, as they do different things (see linke below). A subsequent UCL study published in Clinical Epidemiology has confirmed that they they do a good job of detecting people who are likely to infect others so are better than first thought: www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2021/oct/lateral-flow-tests-detect-most-people-risk-transmitting-covid-19

Negatives in asymptomatic cases are not necessarily 'false negatives' but indicate the carrier is much less likely to infect others, as people are not all equally infectious.

I’m doing a lateral flow before meeting anyone, irrelevant of age, it’s a perfectly normal thing to do these days.

My DM is 88, has no interest or wish to test ... I can't force her , I did test myself today (aged 63) but I leave it up to individuals to do what they want to do.

My family have been doing LFT before meeting up with friends over the last few days ….it’s just being respectful of other peoples situations.

I wouldn't expect anyone to test themselves - only that they would not come if they were ill. We had a family meet up yesterday four of the guests are over 70/75. They've all been vaccinated to protect themselves - no-one even suggested testing before meeting.