First day on holiday...tested positive for COVID

[PrueHal]

Unbelievable but on my first day in a European country I've tested positive for COVID.

I feel unwell and very tired but still well enough to go out and explore a bit with breaks. I bought meds and a mask.

Would you isolate if you were me? Or would you continue as normal.

We did at least have lunch outside today which hopefully helped.

Because it can put your mind at rest that it is COVID rather than something else. You can also then know what to expect and to treat in a way that has helped before. You can know to rest and not push it.

I know so many people with it and dh is just recovering from something that was probably covid. Didn’t test as it didn’t change anything. We’re now on holiday and I’m feeling tired and headachy but might just be run down. No plans to test. Last summer pil had covid on holiday in Florida. Fairly sure half the plane had it judging by all the coughing. It’s not killing people now just don’t visit a care home and wash your hands.

I wouldn't isolate, no. There's no requirement to.

But then I wouldn't have tested either. I'd have done whatever I used to do when I felt a bit under the weather and cracked on with it.

I'm also curious why you tested.

But people didn't need to know what it was before covid? People just though, I feel a bit shit. I'll have some paracetamol and put my feel up for a bit or whatever.

If you don't need to know, why is it going to put your mind at rest? About what?

People are very emotional when it comes to Covid

So what if she went to a pharmacy to get tests, no one knows another persons life or what immuno deficiencies they or a member of their household, may have

If you feel well carry on.

If you feel unwell, rest up, take paracetamol and drink plenty of fluids.

I wouldn't have tested because I would do the above anyway. I certainly wouldn't be isolating or staying in unless I felt unwell.

I hope that you don’t feel too awful @PrueHal and that you get to enjoy your time away.

Ignore the kooks.

Why test if you have no intention of doing anything with the results?

Exactly, it's weird.

I think you should isolate. Have consideration for those who may be vulnerable if they catch it.

Yes this is why I did it. That and curiousity. Had the opposite effect obviously!

I managed to stay out for 3 hours before feeling I would drop. Went to the park and a museum which was empty apart from me and another woman also masked up and coughing a bit.

Loads of people I know have it just now so I reckon must be on the rise again.

If you took the decision to test, you must have thought about what to do if positive. I don’t know anyone in real life who’s tested for years. Just get on with your holiday if you feel up to it

She's already said why. And it's normal to need to know for sure what the facts are before deciding what to do.

Honestly baffled by the anger on here for you taking a test! Maybe they think you're making them look bad.

I think it's helpful to let the people you are with make their own decisions, and I'd definitely eat outside only.

Having gone from being a healthy runner with a personal trainer before covid to now walking with a cane if I leave the house (which is almost never because I cannot walk much) - I'd rather make my own risk-assessed decision.

Well done though for all those who found it was 'only a cold'. Not all of us were so lucky.

I've decided to mask up for much of the trip and the relative I'm with is going to do the same to avoid catching it. That plus sanitiser.

I feel rotten so not passing it to my loved one is reason enough.

It is killing people still it just isnt making headlines. Its killing the vulnerable ....I am in the middle of cancer treatment and my immunity is very low. If I catch covid i cant fight it and I will be very ill and possibly die plus I cannot have my treatment to keep me alive. Thats a very ignorant statement

So sorry to hear that @Maddy70 and it’s also a horrible fear to live with daily, worrying about catching the bloody thing whilst still trying to retain some normality.

To be fair some people do have a point. Why did the OP test if she wasn't going to definitely isolate. She tested and is now dithering about what to do so what was the point?

I see you've made your decision now @PrueHal

The worst place for spreading it is going to the be the aeroplane home.

I recently had Covid. I tested twice (I work in health care and was on site) and it was negative. Ended up testing a third time and it was positive. In the mean time, I'd been at work. I didn't have the typical Covid symptoms but I wasn't feeling right and knew a few others had it. I probably spread it whilst thinking I didn't have it. I live with someone CEV, they caught it this time around and have been OK, thankfully. It's lingered for longer than a cold but the symptoms weren't much worse.

The point was to ask if she should isolate. So she asked. Most posters said no. She decided not to. Not much dithering there.

When I feel ill I usually test because I have a child who is on immunosuppressants and he would struggle to fight off Covid if I passed it on to him. So at least I can take precautions like keeping my distance and washing my hands frequently etc. I don't think anyone isolates now unless they are feeling so rough that they don't want to do normal things, which is what you would expect with any illness. Sometimes I see people out and about with masks on and I assume that they are either CEV or that they have Covid and feel ok but are being careful not to pass it on. Covid is NOT just a cold. It can be deadly for some people and cause long term health issues for others. I don't find it much of a sacrifice to be careful around others when I know I have Covid.

It's not killing most people who get it now - but it is still killing people or leaving them with long term disabilities. Not disagreeing with your other comments, but please be accurate about the effects Covid can have 🙂

If you tested them I assume you are prepared to isolate otherwise what was the point in testing.

Yes, covid is dangerous for people with low immunity - when dd had chemo she was neutropenic she was advised not to go on public transport and stay home as much as possible. This is what we did to lessen the risk of her catching any type of virus as it could have killed her. Viruses are everywhere, it was up to us to minimise the risk of her catching something and during covid she had to shield that was our responsibility to keep her safe.

It’s the same as flu and colds - if you’re ill with those you shouldn’t be spreading them either. All illnesses are a risk to vulnerable people. Having cancer treatment, you have to protect yourself from all illness, not just covid. I have to go into work if I’m not feeling unwell even if I have covid - nhs hospital. We’re told not to test C (except the chemo ward where they’re more cautious).

You need to do what you think best @PrueHal - but having just had it, I should warn you that one of the current strain's symptoms is tiredness and headaches. You may find, for a few days, that if you try to do too much, you will feel even worse. So I would advise also taking it easy, and not try to do too much sightseeing etc. until you stop feeling rotten. We were really not feeling brilliant for the first 3-4 days