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Original poster

how many symptomatic people not bothering to test are there out there??

79 replies

alladinisalive · 18/10/2020 17:35

Just wondering how many people there are actually walking around with symptoms who are not testing??? I only ask because when I was in the queue at the supermarket today there was a lady behind me not social distancing from me at all talking very quietly on her phone (with no mask) which made me intrigued to try and hear what she was talking about, the quieter and more suspicious her talking the harder i tried to listen!!!!The words I particularly heard where "you must not say anything to anyone or half term will be ruined. If it comes back positive we will all be doomed. If you dose up on all this you will work through it!!! Therefore I had a quick g;lance at her shopping 2 boxes of paracetamol some cough mixture and a thermometer!!!!

OP posts:
KnightsofColumbusThatHurt · 18/10/2020 20:53

@Lemons1571

By the time test and trace call you you’re probably on day 9 or so? So not long to go until the 14 days, maybe 5 days of isolation?

Day 1 - your last contact with person incubating covid

Day 3 - person gets symptoms

Day 4 - person gets tested

Day 7 - person gets results (it’s taking around 3 days at the moment)

Day 9 - t & t get in contact with you and tell you to isolate

Yes, and the average incubation is 4-5 days, so if you make it to day 9 you are probably almost home and dry anyway!
Watermelon999 · 18/10/2020 20:57

Sadly I think you’re right OP.

For many of the reasons already stated and also that I can imagine workplaces not being impressed with multiple isolating episodes, let alone the financial implications.

The whole culture of this country would need to change which won’t happen overnight. We are a country that tends to struggle into work when ill and think it’s being brave. We tend to look down on people who are ill regularly and assume they’re swinging the lead. I’m as guilty of that as anyone. (Not with covid though).

Covid is completely different, but attitudes are ingrained.

Watermelon999 · 18/10/2020 20:59

@Lemons1571

By the time test and trace call you you’re probably on day 9 or so? So not long to go until the 14 days, maybe 5 days of isolation?

Day 1 - your last contact with person incubating covid

Day 3 - person gets symptoms

Day 4 - person gets tested

Day 7 - person gets results (it’s taking around 3 days at the moment)

Day 9 - t & t get in contact with you and tell you to isolate

Imagine how many people you’ve infected in that time!

No wonder we’re screwed! 😩

Flatwhite32 · 18/10/2020 21:03

I know people whose kids have had fevers and they aren't testing them. My 2 year old DD had a temp on Monday and she got tested on the same day. She screamed her head off during the test, but calmed quickly afterwards with some chocolate buttons. The temp only lasted a couple of days (and thankfully she was negative), but she's in nursery, I'm pregnant and I'm a teacher, so there was no way I was risking not testing her. I had to take time off work, but what can you do.

Angrymum22 · 18/10/2020 21:10

Currently isolating due to family member (student) testing positive only symptoms were mild cold like symptoms and headache. Only tested because of contact with terminally ill relative. We were very surprised when it came back positive. However neither of the mid 50s adults who had close contact have had symptoms ( now 10days since contact ).
Another family member ( student) tested positive. Only symptoms were change in taste/smell and headache.
I haven’t had any symptoms but had virus in Feb where I had classic symptoms and lost my sense of smell for over 2 months. I can’t believe I haven’t been infected, I spent 8 hours in a car with one of then the day before her symptoms start.

KnightsofColumbusThatHurt · 18/10/2020 21:14

I haven’t had any symptoms but had virus in Feb where I had classic symptoms and lost my sense of smell for over 2 months. I can’t believe I haven’t been infected, I spent 8 hours in a car with one of then the day before her symptoms start.

Isn't that because you have already had Covid in Feb and are now immune?

Ormally · 18/10/2020 21:33

A great many people have been surprised when they have tested positive (either asymptomatic or testing because of work, surveys etc). The '3 UK symptoms' are far too reductive, very easily mistaken or not constant enough (slight temperature for example), and there seem to have been a lot of others that either make the list in other countries, or may be much more of a headline problem in many people, like headaches lasting days, but they are not taken seriously as a sign that a test should be prioritised.

I have had loss of taste, but this was well over a week AFTER constant vomiting and being unable to lie down or sleep without something like heartburn and racing heart. Had a right abdominal pain that made me think in terms of appendicitis or ectopic pregnancy. So I would not have tested until a good 8 days in, and even then only on the possible basis of the loss of taste.

Children's symptoms may be very different again (Mark Porter, Radio 4 recently). My DD has had 2 outbreaks of a rash on trunk and back, like chickenpox, within about 3 weeks. Negative test but this is v. unusual. Temperature, cough and sense of smell normal, but this isn't. I would be amazed if it's not circulating in the classrooms even with the numbers that seem to be known from schools.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 18/10/2020 22:25

Imagine there are loads that won’t as they don’t want to have to stay in for the isolation period or want their children in school and not at home.

wegetthejobdone · 18/10/2020 22:27

In my area you don't need to be on benefits, you can qualify just for a low income. Its administered by the borough council.

wegetthejobdone · 18/10/2020 22:27

For the £500.

StCharlotte · 18/10/2020 22:43

@Alternista

Well, hopefully then it means loads more people have had it than the official figures show, so we’re a bit closer to coming out the other side of it...
That's a straw I can clutch at Grin
3littlewords · 18/10/2020 22:52

Don't people get sick leave for this?

Some will only get SSP, the self employed will get nothing, parents taking 2 weeks off for childcare purposes will get nothing.

Chelsea567 · 18/10/2020 23:04

I thought you could get a test unless you had 1 of the 3 symptoms. DH had massive headache sickness and fatigue but none of these are on the list so didn't get tested. Who knows if he had it or not? I've had a cold. No test. Probably just a cold? I'm not bothered if I have to self isolate but I don't want to lie about symptoms we don't have in order to get tested.

Watermelon999 · 19/10/2020 07:55

@cptartapp

My son's football manager has just told the team his wife tested positive this afternoon, yet whilst awaiting her results he was present at the match this morning and his son played the full game. Lancashire.
That’s awful @cptartapp, really irresponsible.

The same thing happened at our school with 3 kids who had been for tests but sent into school while waiting for results and tested positive.

ScrapThatThen · 19/10/2020 08:36

Testing and self-isolation are in the main altruistic so it's not surprising we query doing it when it will inconvenience us and blame others when they don't do it!

willowdeandickson · 19/10/2020 09:29

My children tested positive last week (mild fevers, otherwise ok), I took a test at the same time and mine was negative. I have had mild symptoms over the last week with headache/fatigue/swollen glands, like the start of a sore throat. It’s vague symptoms, in normal times I would have just said ‘might be catching something’ and head on to work... as I’d already had one home test I couldn’t order another and would have to go to a test site, but there were no slots available. I could just be feeling meh from being cooped up for a week with no real fresh air and exercise, and I have to isolate for two weeks anyway so seemed pointless to waste another test given the shortage, as I’m WFH regardless so only difference is whether I go out or not ... if I’d been feeling properly sick I would have got one in case I needed hospital treatment.

Flaxmeadow · 19/10/2020 10:43

unable to lie down or sleep without something like heartburn and racing heart

A friend if mine thinks she had it around the end of March. Her son, who she lived with, was at college in a very high covid hotspot, used public transport everyday. He also had his college friends round to the house

She had to lie on the couch a lot and said she felt breathless and that her heart kept pounding and racing, as if she'd just been on a really long run.

BlindAssassin1 · 19/10/2020 12:39

I don't think its that people aren't bothered, but there's a new feeling that you're wasting resources if you want a test, you're being a bit of drama lama, a ponce, skiving work and its 'just a cold'. Between my DC's school and my work that's certainly the attitude.

Lots of people are still going to work when they're spouses and kids are feeling very unwell at home, but wouldn't dare rock the boat at work, especially if they've had to SI at an earlier date.

WankPuffins · 19/10/2020 12:46

Lots.

SSP is a pittance and that’s if your company pull their finger out and get if sorted asap. So many people I know have had to get Acas involved over shit employers dragging their feet with SSP.

IronLawOfGeometricProgression · 19/10/2020 13:31

An older relative tells me her retirement community age group don't bother getting tested because it's too complicated, and only stay in if they are too ill to go out. Carry on regardless she says. But it's ok because they don't know anyone who's got it. (They won't, if they don't get tested will they?!)

IronLawOfGeometricProgression · 19/10/2020 13:36

My godmother has had it recently. It only found out when carted off to hospital and tested. Her symptoms were not the classic 3.

She can't imagine who she caught it from because they don't know anybody who's had it.

cptartapp · 19/10/2020 14:27

watermelon now his test is positive too. Brilliant.

Watermelon999 · 19/10/2020 14:56

@cptartapp

Not surprising really is it.....what an idiot

ThinkWittyThoughts · 19/10/2020 19:11

I agree that it's crap @cptartapp but did the football manager do anything wrong?

My son is currently quarantined from school as confirmed case in his class. When we checked the rules, the rest of our household didn't need to change anything. Maybe it is different if a family member is awaiting a test?

We decided to quarantine the whole house, as an extra precaution because we could. DC2 at private nursery & both adults wfh full time. But that was our choice. We're not obliged to, and actually if our younger child was at school we wouldn't be able to make that choice.

The recommendations don't make sense & don't encourage people to act in the common interest.

Witchend · 19/10/2020 20:00

If a member of the household has symptoms you should isolate unless they have a negative test, definitely isolate while they are waiting a test.
If you're in quarantine without symptoms (ie due to being in contact) then the household doesn't need to isolate.
Different situations.