How is it possible we don't want to test this person and those like her?

[ChristmasFlint]

We have a friend who has travelled from the US (from a state with confirmed cases) to Spain and now to London. She has a fever and a dry cough and feels rough. She's young so likely will be fine. She called 111 who said she doesn't need to be tested as she hasn't come from one of the hot spot areas. Surely this foolhardy and we would want to test all incoming travellers? She's merrily riding around on the tube this morning!

If she traveled from her US location before it appeared there, that would make sense. Though if she has symptoms including fever why is she on the tube?

I would suggest calling again to be on the safe side, but not panic - she's most likely fine.

She has a fever and a dry cough and feels rough.

She's merrily riding around on the tube this morning!

These 2 statements rather contradict each other. If she is feeling that bad she isn't going to be 'merrily' going anywhere. Anyway; surely she could apply her own common sense here?

Do you have any other idea of what resources would be needed to test everyone as they arrive into the country?

That’s why self isolation is recommended. Your friend is being incredibly selfish to be on the tube rather than staying in her accommodation.

How many confirmed cases in the state and were they in the area she was in? Depending on the state it might be similar to saying someone in the SW is at risk because there are some confirmed cases in Scotland.

If she genuinely thinks she’s at risk of having been in contact and is symptomatic, she should be self-isolating regardless of testing. Why the hell is she riding around on the tube.

Testing her wouldn't make any difference, the results wouldn't be known for a few days anyway. She needs to self isolate

My point is that she was told she doesn't need to self isolate. She came from Washington state after they had confirmed cases. She feels rough but she's young (19) and pushing through because she doesn't want to miss out on London. I just can't imagine they told her this is all fine!

She can't be that feverish if she's out and about? Did they ask what her temperature is?

Her fever has been consistently at 39-40 but she has been able to get it down to 38 by taking ibuprofen and paracetamol together. She's a teenager and she doesn't want to miss out on London. I think it's insane they told her she's fine to not self-isolate. She is my friend's daughter. She was due to stay with us and I've said no way.

If she was really ill she'd be missing out on London whether she liked it or not. I am sure she's fine - and the temperature is obviously wrong.

No sorry you're all wrong. WHO says 80% of cases are mild / asymptomatic.

OP I think she could have it. And this is why it's spreading so fast. The majority of people are well enough to go out and about, spreading it around willy nilly.

There's probably thousands out there who have mild symptoms and haven't been tested.

@PriscillaPresley exactly this!! I don't get why people can't understand this. Someone might have symptoms and 'feel fine-ish' and carry on with their lives as normal, but then infect someone like me who is immuno-compromised. It's so selfish!

It’s not her fault if she is following the published advice though

But even if it isn't COVID-19, she clearly has some sort of viral illness, which she's passing on to other members of the public, some of whom will be vulnerable. She should be keeping her microbes to herself, so yes she is being selfish.

@LuckyMarmiteLover she isn't following advice, because the advice is that if you develop the exact symptoms she has, you should self-isolate.

She's silly because it she stayed at home for a couple of days she'd probably feel better sooner than it she's out and about getting tired. She's a prime candidate for complications, not to mention spreading whatever she has around.

@ChristmasFlint did she definitely tell 111 her symptoms, or just where she'd come from? could she have fibbed about their advice?

they told her she's fine to not self-isolate

advice is that if you develop the exact symptoms she has, you should self-isolate

So not even health care officials can agree on the best course of action.

I ran through the 111 online corona advice and came up with the same thing as her. I even called myself - no need to self isolate. Unless you've been to one of the areas with a severe outbreak (Italy, China etc) or have been in contact with someone with a confirmed case the advice is to not self isolate which seems like utter madness. The US has clusters of cases and deaths in the state she's from but that doesn't seem to matter. She's feeling worse and wants to come to our house!

Where should she be staying?

The truth is now Coronavirus is out there, lots of people will have it now. The numbers of positive tests now reflect people who caught it 2-3 weeks ago.

The government have given up on the idea of trying to contain it. They have very narrow criteria for who they are advising to isolate themselves (only if you have symptoms and have been to China/Iran/Northern Italy or had contact with a confirmed case).

Basically most people who have mild symptoms like this young woman will be told to just get on with business as usual.

You'd hope there would be a sense of self responsibility, but evidently people aren't capable of this. Testing kits aren't infinite, if she knows she has been somewhere with cases, does she need someone to tell her to self isolate or you know, could she make an effort to stay indoors, even if not for the full 2 weeks for a period of time? Or does she need someone on the end of the phone to tell her to?

If she thinks she may have it; why hasn’t she got the nous to self isolate rather than careering round on the tube? She sounds like a selfish thicko.

Remember we have a Conservative government! They’ll have run the numbers and decided 500,000 deaths in vulnerable groups will be less disruptive to the economy than a Chinese style shutdown. Hence “business as usual” advice.