My friend has tested positive with none of the 3 symptoms BBC has just said to look out for.

[Destinysdaughter]

They are:.
High temperature
Consistent cough
Loss in taste or smell

My friend had none of the above, she had aches, fatigue and diarrhoea, she only got a test as I was concerned about her odd symptoms and we were planning to go visit my sister who has asthma and is 60. She had no idea she had it, so really, what I'm saying is, the information that is being put out is wholly inaccurate and shouldn't be regarded as the holy grail for what constitutes symptoms as obviously they are much more varied about this. I'm pissed off about this as it feels like dangerous disinformation and if you have the above symptoms you may have no idea you have it and will be out and about spreading it to others ...

@BiarritzCrackers

You apply online. It asks if you have the main symptoms. There’s an option for no I don’t have those symptoms. It still allows you to apply for the test. And as others are saying some don’t have any symptoms and are testing positive.

I do think the BBC have a responsibility to consider how people will interpret its reporting of government advice. If it's reporting, "The government advises people to get tested if they have XYZ symptoms", it ought to be adding a line to at least flag that many people have Covid without experiencing any of the three key symptoms. I agree that ideally everyone would inform themselves about the virus from a variety of sources, but in the real world a lot of people's research techniques are not that sophisticated, and it's foreseeable people may look to the BBC website as a reliable source of information.

Bol87 Actually, I don't think I'm overreacting if my friend had passed it on to my sister and her husband because she wasn't aware she had it because sending have ANY of the symptoms that just tonight, the BBC were saying you should look out for! Fortunately, I was.

You'd have to be living under a bloody rock not to know there are other symptoms.

They have explained that it's rare not to have one of these 2(now 3) symptoms alongside the others. And they have explained that they aim to keep the message quite clear Listing all of the known symptoms just confuses people.

Your friend made a complaint to the BBC.
WHAT A MUPPET

If you're not well during a pandemic, then educate yourself by looking at official information channels (Govt/NHS) not the News agency.

She needs to take responsibly for herself.

Oh, that's worth knowing, thank you.

Correction, because she didn't have any of the symptoms the BBC said tonight she should be aware of.

No they are not wrong.

The government has decided that those are the symptoms that will automatically trigger isolation and Required test because those symptoms are the most common ones so if you have them it's a high possibility that may have it but no one has said that there are not other symptoms that could be associated or infact you could have it with absolutely no symptoms that is why everyone has to follow other social rules because no one knows for definite.

There has been plenty of information about covid symptoms both official ones that we are directed to follow rules about and other ones associated on government sites or places like who etc but also articles written or studies etc

Your friend made a complaint to the BBC.
WHAT A MUPPET

Actually I made the complaint because I was annoyed that the 3 main symptoms they stated on the news tonight, my friend didn't have, and there will be many pp relying on the BBC for their main source of information, and they need to include the other symptoms because not everyone is aware of them.

Those symptoms are exactly what me and DH had a couple of months ago and he is convinced that we had covid.

Why are people not aware though?

Has no one thought to do even some reading about the disease that has caused a global pandemic to gain a basic understanding?

I agree with a poster above (sorry I can't find it now) that the BBC and other news outlets should add a sentence or so to explain that not having these particular symptoms does not mean you definitely don't have it as a sort of disclaimer.

@Ginkypig

Why are people not aware though?

Has no one thought to do even some reading about the disease that has caused a global pandemic to gain a basic understanding?

I agree with a poster above (sorry I can't find it now) that the BBC and other news outlets should add a sentence or so to explain that not having these particular symptoms does not mean you definitely don't have it as a sort of disclaimer.

The NHS doesn't give this disclaimer. Why would the BBC?

The loss/change in sense of smell or taste wasn't added until two months into lockdown.

How is your friend feeling today, OP?

She's not so exhausted, not aching but still has diarrhoea and now a cough, but feels better than a week ago. And weirdly, her 20 year old son who lives with her, has tested negative!

It's not weird, you won't always test positive straight away.

Chris Whitty explained why those three symptoms were the ones we were to look out for - because so far, the information suggested they were the most common. That a long list would simply confuse and overwhelm.

Your friend shouldn't be visiting people when she's ill. Or at least that's not the actions of the "intelligent" woman you describe. Why is she relying on the BBC only for information?

If the disease is mostly spread by spittle droplets, and she wasn't coughing, then makes sense she didn't give it to anyone.

My cousin's only symptom was loss of sense of smell and she failed to give it to her 60yo parents.

Crocodile personally I don't think it should be needed as most people with any critical thought should be able to understand that those symptoms are only highlighted not complete and that as a new disease what is known about it changes regularly as more becomes known about it (plus all diseases not only covid generally have core common symptoms but not everyone who contracts it would fit)

but but if they did it might help go stop ridiculous reactions like this thread.

@tankflybos

It's not weird, you won't always test positive straight away.

Chris Whitty explained why those three symptoms were the ones we were to look out for - because so far, the information suggested they were the most common. That a long list would simply confuse and overwhelm.

Your friend shouldn't be visiting people when she's ill. Or at least that's not the actions of the "intelligent" woman you describe. Why is she relying on the BBC only for information?

Ah the UK public are too thick to understand what everyone else manages quite well defence.

I wonder how much this is covering up for the fudging of the testing stats. How well would the system cope if everyone that ought to be getting a test actually applied for one?

Who visits someone when thwy have diarreah anyway ? Surely you wait 48 hrs from clear as advised by nhs
Also they list main symptoms experienced as known so far
3/4 of the country would be isolating if every possible symptom was listed as other ilnesses havent gone away ,plus some have no symptoms hence why we have mask wearing and social distancing
My ds had a runny nose from inhaling water when we were due to visit my nan , I am as sure as i can be it was just a runny nose and nothing else bit just to be sure we didn't visit and all stayed in as weekend, to make sure he developed no other symptoms . It would be great to have a quick home test as come winter so many bugs are around , i dont see how we can be going into quarantine every other week or having tests everytime we feel a little under the weather and amount of tests needed will be huge

If your friend had visited and infected your sister it would have been her fault, not the BBC. It's very obvious she had a bug and needed to stay home.

YANBU to think the Gvt’s official list of symptoms should perhaps be expanded

YANBU to think the Govt’s comms is generally poor.

YABU to be blaming the BBC for it! They simply reported the current guidance - which is what the testing system is based on. Don’t blame them as they have a responsibility to reflect the current official guidance

I'm not sure why you're blaming the bbc - the nhs website about booking a test says:

You can get a test:
• for yourself, if you have coronavirus symptoms now (a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste)

Aren't they just reporting the symptoms we've specifically been asked to look out for, and isolate/get tested if we have?

Anyhow, I've made a complaint to the BBC as I'm so pissed off about this. My friend is an intelligent woman who had no idea she had it and I think the BBC should be much more careful and precise about the information they are giving out as for some pp they are still their main source of guidance.

There has been much to complain about on the BBC but this isn’t one of them. The official symptoms are the cough, temp, loss of taste & smell. I felt unwell last week with a sore throat, headache and general malaise and was told by 119 that I didn’t qualify for a test without one of the three major symptoms, so in order to get tested I’d have had to lie.

Do you live with your friend? If not you were planning to mix three households which is not allowed. Folllowing the guidelines is the bext way to protect your sister.

It's not the BBC's fault those are the official symptoms the government has asked peope to look for. Chris Whitty said that whilst there are other symptoms, patients don't have Covid without also having one of these three. Are you sure friend didn't have a temperature?

Mine started as a sore throat back in March.

(a high temperature, a new, continuous cough, or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste)
See the original OP doesn't have the word 'change' in it? Which did the bbc say?I had a weird taste in my mouth but no loss of taste or smell. Also no temp (the nurse actually asked me twice so it must normally be a big indicator)