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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

No lateral flow, no gathering?

44 replies

Stopsnowing · 30/12/2021 10:39

I was planning to get together with friends over the new year either at theirs or ours. I said we would all get lateral flows. They don’t have any.
Yesterday we were asked to do lateral flows before a family gathering but when we arrived someone hadn’t by which time it was too late for us to leave (we were dependent on others for a lift)
Aibu to say no lfts no indoor socialising?

OP posts:

CallmeHendricks · 30/12/2021 12:00

@LadyGAgain, "Our economy is on its knees. People on zero contracts (largely hospitality) can't afford their bills. We have to get on with it."

theworldsgonefeckingmad · 30/12/2021 12:00

If you are so worried OP, stay at home! You cannot dictate what others do and unless you are avoiding every shop, restaurant etc and don't have school age children and also don't work, you will likely be exposed at some point very soon and won't know where you caught it.

LadyGAgain · 30/12/2021 12:11

[quote CallmeHendricks]@LadyGAgain, "Our economy is on its knees. People on zero contracts (largely hospitality) can't afford their bills. We have to get on with it."

Surely, in order to be able to "get on with it" and help the economy revive, we need healthy, non-Covid people at work. How is letting infectious (whether they know it or not) people roam at large through the population going to get us to that point?[/quote]
So if omicron is like a cold for most people, why wouldn't you just get on with it? Before covid people had colds and flu. If unwell, people stayed at home. Took responsibility for themselves and others. People were not legally isolating. It's the isolation that's bringing the economy down. The majority of people with omicron are no more unwell than the common cold and cough.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 30/12/2021 12:44

If someone coming to mine told me to LFT or they weren't coming, I'd probably tell them not to bother coming. I'll more than likely do a test anyway but would not be impressed at someone telling me to do so in my own home.

Equally, if you're not comfortable with it then it's best you don't go. It's easy enough for someone to say they've done an LFT without actually doing so.

millymolls · 30/12/2021 12:53

If you’re not comfortable without them ask for them but fight be offended or upset when people drop out. Simple

Don’t understand the hysteria personally if you’re not vulnerable but that’s just me

EveryFlightBeginsWithAFall · 30/12/2021 12:59

I can't get hold of any anywhere. Would have liked to test the dc when they get back from Ireland before school starts but doesn't look like that's going to happen !

Kite22 · 30/12/2021 13:06

YANBU to make tht choice for yourself, but, as everyone else said, many of us have not been able to get hold of any, for quite some time.

I think, if you are clinically vulnerable, then you probably shouldn't be going to any indoor gatherings at the moment, and, if you are not, then you have to accept that some people won't bother to test...... some people aren't able to (due to the tests no longer being available) ...... some people will just lie and say they have when they haven't...... that the lfts aren't actually that accurate..... that the lfts often don't show until you've already had it a few days..... etc etc.
If you are double jabbed and hopefully now boosted as well, and if you try and distance as much as you can and open windows to ventilate as much as you can, then that is all you can do.

Gechik · 30/12/2021 13:24

Do whatever you want, I have never tested anyway so wouldn't particularly care and probably wouldn't bother going if I had to faff with getting tests and YABU for not posting in the covid section

fluffi · 30/12/2021 13:25

YANBU I wouldn’t have anyone in my home who hasn’t done an LFT the same day.

PinkWaferBiscuit · 30/12/2021 13:27

@fluffi

YANBU I wouldn’t have anyone in my home who hasn’t done an LFT the same day.

This is absolutely your right but logically if you had friends who you had invited over who couldn't get a test you would surely just give them one of yours to test with rather than deny them entry.

Isnt that the obvious solution.

Artesia · 30/12/2021 13:29

@fluffi

YANBU I wouldn’t have anyone in my home who hasn’t done an LFT the same day.

But what’s to stop everyone just saying “yep, done one, all clear”? Unless you start demanding they produce the evidence.

icedcoffees · 30/12/2021 13:29

I don’t expect them to magic them up but I am not comfortable about indoor socialising without them and am surprised they are considering it

Well, it's your choice whether you want to socialise with them or not, but you can't then be offended or pissed off if they cancel on you last-minute and you can't get to where you want or need to be (you mention relying on them for lifts in your OP).

There's a HUGE shortage of tests. I live in a town of 7k people and our local chemist had one box of 52 packs of tests come in on their delivery yesterday. That's it.

If people can't access tests for days/weeks on end, they're highly unlikely to make the decision to hide away at home if they're otherwise absolutely fine.

WheelieBinPrincess · 30/12/2021 13:45

Wouldn’t bother me, but then I don’t feel frightened of catching covid every time I leave my house. We did LF’s before a few Christmas gatherings but they’ve run out now, we will try and get more but I don’t intend on battering down the hatches while we wait.

fluffi · 30/12/2021 14:09

This is absolutely your right but logically if you had friends who you had invited over who couldn't get a test you would surely just give them one of yours to test with rather than deny them entry.

Yes if I had enough spare tests then I’d offer them to friends and family planning to visit.

But what’s to stop everyone just saying “yep, done one, all clear”? Unless you start demanding they produce the evidence.

Nothing but I hope I can trust my friends and family. Anyone visiting me knows how I feel about covid and why i’m trying to minimise exposure. Also I accept I can’t ask/demand that people test when meeting them outside of my home.

BeLessMe · 30/12/2021 14:11

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz

Yanbu to not want to attend if others arent testing, however, lfts are seemingly quite poor at picking up covid atm (ot sure if it's because its Omicron).

I’ve just read that the advice is to swab throat and nose for omicron, even if you have the new nasal only swabs.

Exhausteddog · 30/12/2021 14:17

I must be lucky (twice) as I ordered a pack the week before Xmas and one 2 days ago and both arrived within 2 days.

Nononononoyes · 30/12/2021 14:20

@Stopsnowing

I don’t expect them to magic them up but I am not comfortable about indoor socialising without them and am surprised they are considering it. I am eking Out my lfts and planning To cut down on gatherings accordingly.

Happy for this to be moved
To the covid section.

I think you ABU to rely on LFT’s. I think they give a false sense of security (both my positive children had negative LFT’s the day they had positive PCR’s and symptoms) and if you are that worried about getting COVID you are better off staying indoors.

Kite22 · 30/12/2021 14:39

I must be lucky (twice) as I ordered a pack the week before Xmas and one 2 days ago and both arrived within 2 days.

I think you are - I've tried 5 times over last 3 weeks (latest yesterday) and there have been none available on any of the times I have tried.

Dontlickthetrolley · 30/12/2021 14:50

I ordered 1 pack of tests on Monday morning, 1 box arrived yesterday and a further 2 boxes arrived today. No wonder they haven't got any tests when they're sending out more than requested.

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