Is there any point in doing a Covid test before joining our Christmas bubble?

[PancakesandCoffee]

Hi,

My head is spinning with confusion!

My dp(arents) have just announced that they're very nervous about getting together for Christmas, which is obviously fair enough (forgetting for a moment that they've said the complete opposite before now 🙄) so we're all sort of left in limbo right now, wondering what to do.

My dd is at secondary school, so this is where the main risk lies. I've been looking into home testing, but how accurate will they be, if she only breaks up 5 days before we'd be due to bubble?

Any thoughts and advice would be much appreciated 🙂

Just giving this a bump...

Well if symptomless I think it would be wrong to use up an nhs test. Imagine if everyone did that. But if you can get a private test done - a few days after finishing school- then yes good idea and it would give you peace of mind. Doesn’t reduce the risk altogether though and at the end of the day if parents are not happy I probably wouldn’t be seeing them.

If they’re nervous (as mine are, dad has a terminal lung disease) your probably best sorting something brief and maybe even outside?! A Xmas eve walk etc?

You could get a test privately but as you say, there’s only 5 days between breaking up and then so not sure how much you could rely on result? Are you in an area of high infection? My parents are Greater Mcr, so we are going outside by patio heater whilst they sit in summer house for a festive drink and that’s that sadly this year. Hoping for a belting a Easter!! Xx

*youre

Thanks for the replies.

Sorry, I should have clarified - would be getting a private test. Wouldn't dream of getting an NHS one without symptoms! That would be a pretty selfish and shitty thing to do.

We were in tier one and actually, my parents are now saying if we do bubble, they'd rather come to us and be hosted, so they'd be coming into a low risk area. One of the lowest in the country actually.

That's the thing @mooshie06, I don't know if we'd effectively be throwing (a lot of) money down the drain if dd only breaks up a few days before taking the tests.

I think I’d be inclined to see what infection rates are like nearer the time. If you keep yourselves pretty much at home for the fortnight leading up to Xmas (other than daughter at school) and her school bubble doesn’t burst I think you’d be in the strongest position you could be? Being in a tier one area helps massively x

Good luck with getting a private test. DNephew contacted DH the other day to find out where he could get a private test done as he wants to go home for Christmas and his 92 year old grandmother is in his parent's bubble. He tried to book one at Boots and the 1st available test was 27th Dec! He's managed to get a postal one from Lloyds chemist and hoping the Christmas post doesn't get in the way. As it is the results will take 3 days so no guarantee he hasn't contracted it in the meantime.

@mooshie06, that's what we're going to do I think, just keep an eye on things.

I know my dds school have had a few cases since the beginning of term, but I haven't heard of any positive cases within the school for a few weeks now. The cases went up straight after the holidays, suggesting it was mixing outside of school that caused the rise. Also, since then, school have been much stricter with covid rules. Masks on all the time (apart from lesson, when spaced out), windows open and encouraged much more to stay apart.

It sounds as if they aren’t comfortable with the idea of mixing at Christmas.

If they're not comfortable then I'd respect that. I work in a school and am nervous about having my Mum. She's taken it out of my hands by saying she'd come for a couple of hours and sit in the extension with us in the lounge area, if not, she'd be happy with a walk - and this is subject to review a day or so before.

Not judging, but I think people have to make the decision between keeping elderly/vulnerable safe and letting their DC go to school.

If they are nervous about coming together then why are they forcing themselves. They won’t enjoy it and will have anxiety around Christmas and beyond.

The test is a bit pointless as it only shows that day. Could be incubating it and just not show positive on a test.

I’m nervous about meeting up with my elderly parents also and so for that reason having Christmas with DH only. It’s rotten but I couldn’t forgive myself if I passed them covid and they were extremely ill or died.

If in doubt don't do it. The downsides would appear to outweigh the upsides if people are nervous. Unless I'm missing something.

We were in tier one and actually, my parents are now saying if we do bubble, they'd rather come to us and be hosted, so they'd be coming into a low risk area. One of the lowest in the country actually.

Well that doesn't make sense. The risk is from people - the virus isn't present in the air of a particular location! The risk is your DD, so the safest thing would be for you to go to their house, rather than they come to your house and touch door handles contaminated by your daughter (potentially!).

Is it you still pushing for a meet up and would they prefer to leave it? If so let them. With a vaccine so close I really feel for older people whose family are pushing for a Christmas gathering. Any deaths over New Year will be tragic because we will be so close to a point of safety for anyone vulnerable. If it's their choice then that's a different matter.

Perhaps they aren't up to the cleaning needed after a visit? So they want to go to the OP. Plus they can choose to spend some time in their bedroom and limit contact.

I'm honestly not pushing anything. We have all said from the beginning that we have to be honest about what we are comfortable with. If they flat out said no, that would be that. There would be no convincing.

They want to make it work, but as safely as possible, hence I'm looking into private testing.

@Tarararara, well no, on reflection I suppose it doesn't 🤦‍♀️ as we won't actually be going out during that time anyway. They still like the idea of being hosted (for the first time!) though and we'll basically do whatever to make them comfortable.

They are 100% under no pressure though. We have spoken about an alternative Zoom Christmas lots of times and said we'll make it as nice as we can either way.

Take the children out of school a few days early. Isolate, then Get a home test for day 8. If you haven't got it by day eight I think you only have a 4% chance of developing it.

Don't waste your money on testing any earlier, it's not a safe bet at all as the children can still develop symptoms. I think testing on day 6 of isolation might mean you still have a 50/50 chance of developing symptoms.

You'll need 10 clear days from finishing school until test results.

Im not sure it would be worth it because it wouldn't be conclusive; the virus won't show up in the first few days of being infected (when you'd be symptomless, also).

I posted on this just yesterday

yes there are tests available the lateral flow test was £55 and I think you can take it anytime. A lady replied saying she works for the health service and getting a batch of them to do the same thing but over a few days

an alternative could be just meet them for a walk and / or exchange presents with them outside I guess.

You'd have to do the test around 3-4 days before she say yoyr parents. If she had a negative it just means she was negative when swapped . Will you self-isolate her to minimise risk?