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Original poster

Zoe Covid App-invited for a covid test

93 replies

Thorilicious · 01/10/2020 14:41

I've been using the Zoe reporting app daily. Had a headache and sore throat a couple of days ago, and have been invited to have a covid test.
I've applied, but I'm assuming I don't need to isolate, as I don't have any of the main symptoms?

OP posts:
willitbetonight · 01/10/2020 14:50

I'm the same op and think we don't need to self isolate. Also chosen due to headache.

ethelredonagoodday · 01/10/2020 14:59

Yep same here. I just had a slightly tickly nose and mouth, but none of the actual symptoms. I did my test yesterday...

Original poster
Thorilicious · 01/10/2020 15:01

@willitbetonight that's what I thought too. Good luck with yours. I've selected home test, so at least I can pull funny faces in private while I do it!

OP posts:
RaggieDolls · 01/10/2020 17:37

Same here. Asked to take one when I reported a headache. I haven't isolated although I work from home so apart from dropping DCs to school I haven't been anywhere.

Patchworkpatty · 01/10/2020 18:02

I can't believe people are actually asking this .. !

Surely you can see that logic would dictate that you are suspected of having Covid..or you would t be asked to have a test.

The answer to the test will be negative or positive.

If you self isolate and it comes back positive - then you have no chance of infecting someone else. From that point.

If you self isolate and it comes back negative then you STILL haven't infected anyone and THEN you can carry on with life . Literally a few days.

If you don't self isolate and it comes back positive you have been exposing EVERYONE you have come into contact with. Some of whom could be left Ill for months or dead.

It really isn't hard. It's a VIRUS. It's virulent!

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 01/10/2020 18:07

But a headache and a sore throat aren't reasons to go for a test unless requested by the ZOE app. I wouldn't isolate for those reasons even if it did send me for a test.

Disclaimer, I don't use the ZOE app as I have a persistent cough and regular headaches and didn't want it telling me to keep getting tested when I already know the reasons.

Todaythiscouldbe · 01/10/2020 18:10

@Patchworkpatty

I can't believe people are actually asking this .. !

Surely you can see that logic would dictate that you are suspected of having Covid..or you would t be asked to have a test.

The answer to the test will be negative or positive.

If you self isolate and it comes back positive - then you have no chance of infecting someone else. From that point.

If you self isolate and it comes back negative then you STILL haven't infected anyone and THEN you can carry on with life . Literally a few days.

If you don't self isolate and it comes back positive you have been exposing EVERYONE you have come into contact with. Some of whom could be left Ill for months or dead.

It really isn't hard. It's a VIRUS. It's virulent!

The app is quite clear that you are not invited to test because they believe you have Covid. It is to gain information.
sugarwithcoffeeandcream · 01/10/2020 18:11

@Patchworkpatty that's not correct. The ZOE app is for research so sends people with a far wider range of symptoms for tests than the official guidance. If people had to self isolate every time they had a symptom on the ZOE list, there'd be no one out at work!

Cornettoninja · 01/10/2020 18:12

@Patchworkpatty it’s a bit different when it’s part of a research programme and you haven’t got any of the three testable symptoms. ZOE are looking as much to exclude common symptoms as much as they are include.

I fully agree with the isolation periods but they are very imposing, especially from an employment perspective, so isolating for random symptoms just means people won’t participate.

I’m taking part in a research programme where I’m tested every two weeks, I’m not isolating every time ‘just in case’ I’m asymptomatic.

GnarlyOldGoatDude · 01/10/2020 18:13

How strange, I got a Zoe invitation today too.

No typical Covid symptoms at all, just a sore throat. No fever, cough or anosmia.

I think they’re investigating whether “other” symptoms have any value.

Fizbosshoes · 01/10/2020 18:25

I've been invited for a test when I reported a sore throat. I didnt go anywhere except for the test and had the result back (negative) by 6am the next morning.
Of course no one wants to deliberately spread a virus, BUT I think it's very naive to say "it's literally a few days" when actually the time waiting for getting a test, and then getting the results could be far more than that (some results are taking 5 days) and for some people they wont be able to afford "literally a few days" for every headache or sore throat they get this coming winter.
That's why the government really need to sort out the booking facility and turnaround time of testing.

Patchworkpatty · 01/10/2020 18:26

What would it cost you though.. in reality . ? A little bit of inconvenience until a result which can be back within as little as 24 hrs. ?

If it's negative then great . Return to normal.. but if it's Positive then you can't go and undo all your contacts.

It's well documented that many people have ABSOLUTELY no symptoms.

Abraid2 · 01/10/2020 18:29

@Patchworkpatty

I can't believe people are actually asking this .. !

Surely you can see that logic would dictate that you are suspected of having Covid..or you would t be asked to have a test.

The answer to the test will be negative or positive.

If you self isolate and it comes back positive - then you have no chance of infecting someone else. From that point.

If you self isolate and it comes back negative then you STILL haven't infected anyone and THEN you can carry on with life . Literally a few days.

If you don't self isolate and it comes back positive you have been exposing EVERYONE you have come into contact with. Some of whom could be left Ill for months or dead.

It really isn't hard. It's a VIRUS. It's virulent!

You don’t understand what the Zoe app is trying to do. It’s not track and trace.
Fizbosshoes · 01/10/2020 18:30

What would it cost you though.. in reality . ? A little bit of inconvenience until a result which can be back within as little as 24 hrs. ?

As I said when I went for my test (in august) it didnt cost me anything apart from an afternoon not going out which wasnt a problem.
But the reality is most tests ARENT coming back that quickly. It might cost someone a weeks work (in RL not everyone can wfh) ....and I'm suggesting that some people might not be able to afford that.

zafferana · 01/10/2020 18:30

I had a cold and ZOE invited me for a test. I didn't bother.

PurpleDaisies · 01/10/2020 18:31

@Patchworkpatty

I can't believe people are actually asking this .. !

Surely you can see that logic would dictate that you are suspected of having Covid..or you would t be asked to have a test.

The answer to the test will be negative or positive.

If you self isolate and it comes back positive - then you have no chance of infecting someone else. From that point.

If you self isolate and it comes back negative then you STILL haven't infected anyone and THEN you can carry on with life . Literally a few days.

If you don't self isolate and it comes back positive you have been exposing EVERYONE you have come into contact with. Some of whom could be left Ill for months or dead.

It really isn't hard. It's a VIRUS. It's virulent!

This is nonsense.

You need to isolate with one of the three key covid symptoms. Not because of a headache.

This test is for scientific research.

SerenadeOfTheSchoolRun · 01/10/2020 18:33

But by that logic we should all be self isolating until we have a negative test result not matter if we have a headache, a sore throat or no symptoms at all. What about the people picked at random for tests by the ONS? Should they self isolate while they wait for their results?

The government advice is to isolate and test if you are coughing, have a temperature or lose your sense of smell. If you have something else and Zoe asks you to test then that is part of a separate research project so you don't have to isolate unless the test comes back positive.

Beach11 · 01/10/2020 18:34

I got invited for nausea & stomach cramps that lasted a few days. Had the home delivery test. Luckily negative

SorrelBlackbeak · 01/10/2020 18:36

I've been invited for a test because I have a sore throat and runny nose. DD had a cough at the weekend am with negative results through yesterday. There's a shortage of tests round here so we ended up driving an 80 mile round trip for DDs test.

I know I have not been in contact with anyone else who might have it (DH and I both wfh, shopping is delivered, no visitors for more than 2 weeks ) so I am not going to take up an unnecessary test.

TheSockMonster · 01/10/2020 18:37

You don’t have Covid symptoms and haven’t been asked to isolate by Trace and Trace so you do not need to isolate, no.

Some people report sore throats with Covid, some report headaches and some report no symptoms at all. I assume the Zoe app is gathering data on how predictive these symptoms (or lack of) are on predicting Covid.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 01/10/2020 18:38

What would it cost you though.. in reality . ? A little bit of inconvenience until a result which can be back within as little as 24 hrs. ?

In reality it can cost people money when they can't work. What about those whose results don't come back within 24 hours? You can't seriously expect people to isolate for days when they don't have symptoms.

Patchworkpatty · 01/10/2020 18:42

I know exactly what the ZOE app is trying to do.. I have been logging since it was made available.

One of the research findings this week were the unusual symptoms found from people testing positive that didn't match the 'regular' 3...

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 01/10/2020 18:45

So do you think I should isolate every month when I get a headache due to my periods @Patchworkpatty? Should I isolate every time I get an upset stomach due to my knackered digestive system just in case it's covid?

ChaChaCha2012 · 01/10/2020 18:46

until a result which can be back within as little as 24 hrs.

This made me laugh out loud. More likely three days+ than 24 hours.