Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Are you still testing?

128 replies

Usernamestillloading · 30/10/2022 19:22

Came down with in the old world would be a ‘cold like symptom’ on Saturday - scratchy throat, slightly elevated body temperature, tired, achy - didn’t occur to test, woke up today to feeling slightly better however had a sudden dizzy spell- had just one test leftover so tested and I’m positive- feel slightly worried mainly because I know it’s Covid, but are people still testing?

OP posts:
Athenen0ctua · 30/10/2022 21:14

If someone feels unwell, tests negative, then makes a non essential visit to a vulnerable person, then they are not behaving at all in a responsible way.

TheyreOnlyNoodlesMichael · 30/10/2022 21:16

Nope.

Greendoorsaremyfavourite · 30/10/2022 21:17

Yes, if I have symptoms & if positive, I stay home. I've had it twice and was very unwell both times. I don't want to risk passing it onto someone vulnerable, especially my mum and nan.

CrunchyCarrot · 30/10/2022 21:17

Yes I test because I'm curious and unvaccinated. I had Covid at the beginning of the month, recovered quite quickly. Will test again if I think I might have it.

shinynewapple22 · 30/10/2022 21:17

I have stopped testing without symptoms now. Had carried on for a while when visiting my mum (care home) but after hearing so many people weren't getting positive tests until after having symptoms for a couple of days there doesn't seem any point. I would test if I had any kind of symptoms.

CornishGem1975 · 30/10/2022 21:18

Nope. I'm not repeatedly paying for tests as soon as everyone has a sniffle or a cough, which is constantly right now.

LikeAStar1994 · 30/10/2022 21:19

I test before I donate blood. I'm not required to. It's my choice alone.

TooShyShyShhh · 30/10/2022 21:19

Yes

JanetSally · 30/10/2022 21:19

Athenen0ctua · 30/10/2022 21:04

Excuses for what? If I'm unwell I am not going to visit anyone vulnerable, I don't need to know what I have.

That's fine. You seemed to imply that because some powered vulnerable to colds there was no point testing for Covid.

Apologies if I got that wrong.

FrazzledHippy · 30/10/2022 21:21

Yes, several times a week, BUT, I work in a care home. If I didn't, I'd only test if I had symptoms

bluetongue · 30/10/2022 21:21

I wouldn’t for a headache or fatigue but had very obviously cold like symptoms a few weeks ago - sore throat, runny nose, cough and low grade fever (fever with cold is normal for me) and I tested. Negative but I still stayed off work for a few days as I honestly felt pretty miserable and it wasn’t just a sniffle.

My work requires us to stay home for 5 days if positive and stay out of the office if unwell. Standard civil service office job but some of my colleagues are vulnerable.

BayCityTrollers · 30/10/2022 21:22

Yep because I’m a nurse and work with vulnerable older adults.

Have been unwell with a cold and have tested 4 times over 3 days as I’ve been worried it’s COVID again. Doesn’t seem to be but last time I had it, I tested negative for 24 hours and spent the day at work before testing positive.

I did feel more chesty that time, this time it’s throat, head and aches.

Still testing our patients on admission and weekly as well.

Passmethecrisps · 30/10/2022 21:24

I was unwell back in September, tested and was positive. I tested extremely regularly for the second part of 2020 and all of 2021. For months it was daily due to various contacts being positive and the rules at the time.

In September I tested as I felt very unwell and didn’t feel able to go to work. After the fact I realise that really we need to remember that lots of common illnesses make us too unwell to work and a risk to the vulnerable. I wish we had learned that the guidance to stay at home if unwell applied to lots of illnesses and doesn’t stop with covid.

I have a handful of tests leftover from work but will not use them any more

HouseofHolbein · 30/10/2022 21:25

I don't test. I only get basic sick pay and can't afford that. Covid sickness is now counted in our sickness record and can lead to disciplinary. We are expected to work unless we can't.

Basically I'm either well enough to be at work or I'm not. Not a great deal of point in paying for tests when I'll be expected to be in work regardless.

I'm in retail at just above minimum wage if that makes a difference.

Athenen0ctua · 30/10/2022 21:27

JanetSally · 30/10/2022 21:19

That's fine. You seemed to imply that because some powered vulnerable to colds there was no point testing for Covid.

Apologies if I got that wrong.

I'm hardly going to test negative then visit vulnerable people when I clearly still have something else. So I would have no reason to test.

JanetSally · 30/10/2022 21:29

Athenen0ctua · 30/10/2022 21:27

I'm hardly going to test negative then visit vulnerable people when I clearly still have something else. So I would have no reason to test.

As I said, Apologies if I misunderstood you.

Athenen0ctua · 30/10/2022 21:31

In September I tested as I felt very unwell and didn’t feel able to go to work. After the fact I realise that really we need to remember that lots of common illnesses make us too unwell to work and a risk to the vulnerable. I wish we had learned that the guidance to stay at home if unwell applied to lots of illnesses and doesn’t stop with covid.
I agree.

MakkaPakkas · 30/10/2022 21:31

I've run out of tests and don't test anymore. If I'm ill I keep a distance from vulnerable people, but really I just get on with things as I always have done.

JanetSally · 30/10/2022 21:36

Athenen0ctua · 30/10/2022 21:31

In September I tested as I felt very unwell and didn’t feel able to go to work. After the fact I realise that really we need to remember that lots of common illnesses make us too unwell to work and a risk to the vulnerable. I wish we had learned that the guidance to stay at home if unwell applied to lots of illnesses and doesn’t stop with covid.
I agree.

Me too.

OhSunnyMorning · 30/10/2022 21:43

Not tested in about a year.

User301022 · 30/10/2022 22:26

Yes still testing, only if I have symptoms though. Just because we are legally allowed out with covid, doesn't mean that I want to go out spreading it to everyone if I can help it.

feelthebeatfromthetangerine · 31/10/2022 08:10

I test before seeing CEV people and/or if I feel sick with Covid-like symptoms.

If anyone I was in contact with said they had Covid, I'd test even if without symptoms.

I know too many people who have died of Covid and people who are living with Long Covid to treat it as "just a sniffle."

PurplePastaBake · 31/10/2022 08:35

Yes if feeling unwell. I deal with 50-100 people daily as part of my job and I would hate to pass it to any of them and their families. I also still wear a mask when carrying out 1:1 meetings with members of my team. I would get full sick pay if I was off with covid, but the majority of my team wouldn’t so why would I put them at risk when I can test and stay away?

Darbs76 · 31/10/2022 08:38

Yes I am fortunate I can work from home if I have covid. I unwittingly gave covid to 2 colleagues last month, wasn’t even sick that day but one is really suffering still and I feel terrible, even though I wasn’t aware I had it. If I didn’t test and knew I had it I’d feel a whole lot worse about it

FuckabethFuckor · 31/10/2022 08:44

Not any more. For a while there was a loophole on the gov site meaning I could still order free tests. But they’ve closed that off now. I don’t buy them, they’re too expensive.