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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:
StealthPolarBear · 01/10/2020 18:59

Nonsense. Only isolate when you have the symptoms, are in a household with someone with symptoms or are a contact of a case.
I reported a headache to zoe - I'd had very little sleep the night before. I was told to get a test, this was back when it was nearly impossible. I tried to book a test but gave up. Bollocks was a self isolating.

StealthPolarBear · 01/10/2020 19:00

Was I self isolating

Cornettoninja · 01/10/2020 19:01

@Patchworkpatty

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...

Hmm me too, so?

ZOE has added loads of valuable information to our knowledge of covid, doesn’t mean employers are going to be on board with isolating employees for an employee displaying none of the government approved three symptoms.

RaggieDolls · 01/10/2020 19:02

What would it cost you though.. in reality?

It would cost the Zoe programme my participation if I was suddenly being asked to isolate for a little headache when no one else is. It's not just me, if you have symptoms of coronavirus (Zoe participants without the three main symptoms do not) then your whole household should isolate.

I'm very happy to be part of this important scientific research. I am not willing to be held to an isolation standard that doesn't apply to the rest of the population.

Zoe write to you and emphasise they don't believe your symptoms are covid but they test to rule things out.

Neolara · 01/10/2020 19:08

I get a lot of headaches and I always have done. Every time I log a headache on Zoe I get asked to take a test. I have never taken them up on it. If I self isolated every time I had a headache, I'd barely ever leave the house.

lljkk · 01/10/2020 19:54

Don't have to isolate if Zoe merely invites you to test, I thought?
Is not legally enforced or expected.

EBearhug · 01/10/2020 19:57

So do you think I should isolate every month when I get a headache due to my period

I'd count that as feeling physically normal, because if it happens every month, it is normal for you.

StopMakingShitUp · 01/10/2020 20:20

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. ?

It would cost a loss of income for many people and it would be more than 24 hours for many people.

My dd had to isolate due to having a cough and it was two days from when they got the test to me getting the negative results. My husband has is self employed and just wouldn't take part in research if he was expected to not work for two or three days every time he was Invited to to do a test. He'd likely lose his job because his colleagues and the people who hire him would soon get pissed off with repeated absences.

Nobody is required to isolate for a sore throat or headache. Self isolation rules should apply to everyone, the symptoms and rules shouldn't be different for people taking part in studies.

Patchworkpatty · 01/10/2020 20:37

Then don't bother . It's as simple as that .

The whole point of ZOE is to try and get a grip.

It's a VIRAL infection.. spread by droplets . Droplets on surfaces like door handles , airborne, .. No one yet knows what actual symptoms mean you have it..

Isolate if you have even a small chance of making someone very ill.. or die.

Because there is no way back from death

LynetteScavo · 01/10/2020 20:38

You do not have to isolate if Zoe asks you to test!

They are looking to find out if people who don't have the typical symptoms test positive.

I was invited to test, but couldn't get one and felt too poorly trying to work and sort out DC to persevere. I really don't think I had Covid.

RaggieDolls · 01/10/2020 20:43

It's not 'don't bother' though is it? Participants are not required to isolate. 'Don't bother' suggests that the people on this thread are ignoring rules when that simply isn't the case.

RaggieDolls · 01/10/2020 20:44

*not required to isolate in the absence of the three recognised symptoms.

PurpleDaisies · 01/10/2020 20:45

You’re making up your own rules @Patchworkpatty

Nobody connected with Zoe is suggesting people need to isolate with a headache.

StealthPolarBear · 01/10/2020 20:53

Patchwork maybe typing on mn is a symptom. You should isolate for 14 days

Wigeon · 01/10/2020 20:56

Same thing happened to us - we basically all got a cold, and the Zoe app invited us to test. Because we didn’t have any of the three symptoms which require self-isolation, we didn’t isolate. Test results (negative) back 18 hours after doing the test which I thought was pretty impressive.

The email from the app said

“ You’ve recently reported feeling unwell with a particular combination of symptoms. We would like to offer you a test to discover if you have the virus right now. This does not necessarily mean you have COVID-19 as we are also inviting some people we believe do not have the virus. You may also invite any other app users who live in the same household with you to also be tested.”

Original poster
Thorilicious · 01/10/2020 20:56

Thanks all for confirming.
If I had one of the main symptoms, I would of course isolate, and in fact have done previously while waiting for my DH to be tested.
If the study expected you to isolate to take part, they would not get as many participants, so I'm pleased that's not the case.

OP posts:
SoUtterlyGroundDown · 01/10/2020 21:01

That’s rubbish @Patchworkpatty. I was asked to test by the Zoe app because I reported a runny nose. Only symptom. I did it, it was negative.
Zoe asks people to test for all sorts of reasons. Research, testing a hypothesis, even as a control group.
As to what is there to lose... well it took 2 days for my postal test to arrive and 4 days for my result to come back. That would have been 6 days that I couldn’t take my children to school.

SoUtterlyGroundDown · 01/10/2020 21:03

@Patchworkpatty

Then don't bother . It's as simple as that .

The whole point of ZOE is to try and get a grip.

It's a VIRAL infection.. spread by droplets . Droplets on surfaces like door handles , airborne, .. No one yet knows what actual symptoms mean you have it..

Isolate if you have even a small chance of making someone very ill.. or die.

Because there is no way back from death

Then best you have a chat to the Zoe creator as they are completely clear in their guidance that you do not have to isolate when invited for a test if you don’t have one of the three main symptoms.
Patchworkpatty · 01/10/2020 21:16

As I said ... then don't bother !!

But I thought we were trying to get this under control.

Simple question.

Will self isolating regardless of guidelines make us safer or less safer ?

Simple answer . Yes it will.

Do it or don't do it... balance you life issues against someone's ACTUAL life.
(My 42 yr old neighbour with no underlying health issues, died in April after several weeks on ventilator.. she WFH (solicitor) and leaves 2 under tens and a poleaxed husband ) it might be colouring my view .

SoUtterlyGroundDown · 01/10/2020 21:17

As I said ... then don't bother !!

I didn’t. As per the instructions.

PurpleDaisies · 01/10/2020 21:18

But I thought we were trying to get this under control.

Yes. By following the actual rules, not the ones you’ve made up yourself.

DoubleDeckerBusRideLover · 01/10/2020 21:23

I get invited by Zoe to a test just about weekly - imagine how much isolating I would be doing! I think it is because I report so many journeys / events out of the house without a mask (teacher).

I have only actually done one once and it was such a faff that I am afraid I haven't again.

Ietthemeatcake · 01/10/2020 21:28

I had the same, reported headache and feeling dizzy and did my home test yesterday. It's the second time I've been asked to do one, but the first time I couldn't get one without driving 40 miles.
My DH said I WBU to get one because ill people needed them and there's a shortage 🙄
I went to a yoga class today then had a bit of a wobble in case I test positive, but if I hadn't been doing the study there's no way I would have been isolating for 1 day of feeling a bit dodgy last weekend.

Ceara · 01/10/2020 21:31

The app asks me to take a test every time I report a migraine. I've taken two tests; I didn't get one the third time , in September, because I couldn't get a home test and I wasn't prepared to take the risk of going to a walk-in centre full of actual ill people (or, less selfishly, to take up a test which someone else actually needed).

I didn't self-isolate on any of the 3 occasions the app asked me to test. In my case, though, I was able to be 100% sure that it walked like a migraine and quacked like a migraine, and definitely was a migraine, as opposed to an infection of any kind, because I've had migraines for 20+ years and they are unmistakeable for anything else

If I had had vaguer symptoms, of some kind of an infection, I would have isolated if I could, to be on the safe side. But I am WFH anyway, and I have a partner to take my child to school, so no employers or school attendance enforcers to take issue with my precautionary isolation. If your employer or your child's school will only accept compulsory self-isolation for one of the 3 officially recognised main symptoms, I can see people would be unable to isolate because the ZOE app had invited them to test because of other symptoms - however much they might want to.

SoUtterlyGroundDown · 01/10/2020 21:33

Also, if people have to isolate every time they’re asked to take a test for minor, non Covid symptoms, they’re just going to stop reporting the symptoms. Meaning Zoe will miss out on research opportunities.