ZOE / Covid test referral /Isolation

[InterstellarSleepingElla]

I've been logging on ZOE for a few weeks now. Yesterday I clicked not feeling quite choice. I had woken up feeling achy all over, not really bad just mild but it was there. Today I have clicked the same as I have a sore throat.

I have NO cough, temp, loss of smell/taste.

Other than the two symptoms listed I feel fine. I will book a test as advised (it does say some people will be tested even though the study believes they DO NOT have covid (ie no symptoms or unrelated symptoms).

"This does not necessarily mean you have COVID-19 as we are also inviting some people we believe do not have the virus."

Does this mean my husband will need to isolate (he is working out of the home, in retail).

Thanks!

Depends on the result. Have the test, I've been called in twice with mild symptoms, and if you are positive then yes, you will need to isolate as a household.

Please don't let that stop you having the test

Thanks, I'm just about to order my home test kit but didnt know whether I needed to phone DH to come home and isolate.

No, you’ve not got the symptoms that require you to isolate so shouldn’t need to call him home unless you subsequently get a positive test result. You may want to be more cautious as you’re feeling off, but as Zoe is sending people for tests without symptoms there’s no isolation requirement as such.

The only time I’ve seen ZOE mentioned is on MumsNet. When/how did people find out about it? I’d there any reason it’s not endorsed NHS England?

From their website:

“ .
It is endorsed by the Welsh Government, NHS Wales, the Scottish Government & NHS Scotland. ”

Unless you spike a fever or develop a cough or loss of smell/taste I would agree no one needs to isolate unless you get a positive result back. I can’t see many employers being sympathetic for anything other than the well known symptoms or a positive test.

Hopefully it will be quick either way.

@Redolent I found out about it on here and I think a couple of papers have publicised it (the guardian has). I don’t know if NHS England endorsed it as such but the government allocated them a certain amount of tests so I would take that as a pretty good reference.

To be honest I didn’t look into it much after I found it was in partnership with Kings college London.

Officially I think you’re meant to self-isolate whilst awaiting test results (although not your household). However, the ZOE app does recommend that some people book tests even if your symptoms wouldn’t usually indicate that you have the virus. This is in part to help them refine their algorithm eg which reported symptoms are likely to result in a positive test.

So I’m not really sure if you need to isolate! I think by the letter of the law you should, until you get the result.

[quote Cornettoninja]@Redolent I found out about it on here and I think a couple of papers have publicised it (the guardian has). I don’t know if NHS England endorsed it as such but the government allocated them a certain amount of tests so I would take that as a pretty good reference.

To be honest I didn’t look into it much after I found it was in partnership with Kings college London.[/quote]
Ah OK. Yeah I thought it was mentioned in a daily briefing and I’d missed it or something (in amongst the waffle!)

The Joinzoe.com app recommends people for testing when they don't have the usual COVID symptoms to refine the algorithm.

I've been offered a test twice. The first time, I hadn't been out for weeks and had one bout of diarrhoea (no other symptoms). It resolved in under 12 hours. Presumably something I'd eaten.

Second time, I had a bunch of symptoms associated with my chronic immune condition (mostly low-grade fever and joint pain). No one in the house had COVID symptoms, but I'd been to the GP with my baby (in mask, gloves, etc.) and took up the test just incase.

I didn't isolate either time. I assumed that I was being offered the test as a volunteer to help the researchers look for non-standard COVID symptoms (this was apparently how they found that a lack of smell & taste was strongly correlated with positive COVID-19 test results).

Agree with the PPs who say you don't need to isolate, unless you get a positive result of course.

Thanks all, booked the test and it will be here within 48 hours and then have to book a courier to collect the swab.

@Sandsnake I will isolate myself, don't really go out anyway as I have moderate asthma so being cautious.

@cornettoninja I agree some employers will be less than sympathetic - We already had to isolate about 6/8 weeks ago as I had symptoms and DH's work were not impressed, kept telling him he should come back after a week not two even though isolation note said 14 days for him. Don't think they would have been very pleased if he had to come home again today without symptoms (would have obviously if it was required but would have likely been met with an annoyed boss).

@redolent I also found out about the ZOE app on here.

They have asked me to do the same OP and all I reported was one symptom that doesn't match any of the usual COVID 19 ones. My test arrived today and is being picked up tomorrow. I'm happy to do it to help the research but I'm not isolating unless it comes back positive. I think they're testing to rule things out as much as confirm new cases.

I was advised to do a test by the app at the weekend - I have hayfever which I'm on prescription medication for, and I am absolutely certain I don't have Covid! It arrived on Sunday, I did the test that evening after 9pm, and it was collected at 8am on Monday. I have had no results thus far. I have been going for walks as usual, and am WFH, but it's a bit annoying to still be waiting on the all-clear.

ANY symptom you report on that app you get flagged for a test to help their research.

I had a test prompted by Zoe yesterday (tummy issues and a headache, so not normal covid symptoms). I was tested at 1:30pm at a local test centre and got the results emailed to me at 3:03am - unbelieveably fast!

For what it’s worth I was offered a test through ZOE without having, at the time nor at any point afterwards, any of the 3 key symptoms. I thought I was getting the test as one of the guinea pigs for testing their algorithm so was completely shocked when my test came back positive.
Not sure what the official guidance says but I’d be very careful between test and results (which I hear are sometimes coming back same day now) just in case your weirdly symptomatic as I was.

I said ‘I think I’ve got a cold or hayfever’ and they asked me to have a test. It was negative. No need to isolate. I think sometimes it’s for research isn’t it?