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Original poster

Sick of Covid? Well ignore the NHS symptom restriction & test if you have others

86 replies

Toastina · 09/12/2020 05:24

Seriously. After an outbreak where I work we've all just ticked the box even though we've not had the major symptoms, but we have had others. E.g. Sore throat, congestion etc etc... And guess what? All of us that did that came back positive.

That's one big factor why it's not under control, people just aren't testing themselves if they don't have the NHS three.

OP posts:
BefuddledPerson · 09/12/2020 05:29

I do feel frustrated at how we are not testing the right people. We have a shitty self-referral system with no doctor triage, so many with coughs are tested unnecessarily, many with your symptoms are not tested.

UK is at risk of major long term impacts in the population dye to the government letting so many people catch it.

SandysMam · 09/12/2020 05:30

Totally agree OP. DH’s work had an outbreak, main symptom was a headache and body ache. Only one person had a cough which sparked the testing spree. Some had stomach cramps and diarrhoea. Then others felt absolutely fine and so didn’t get a test but there was no way with the level of contact they had that they didn’t catch it.

Heatherjayne1972 · 09/12/2020 07:05

Agree. Three people at work had cold symptoms. Runny bunged up nose watery eyes headache no temperature no coughing
All positive

Iggly · 09/12/2020 07:06

I agree OP. I’m continuously stunned at this government and its deplorable approach to track and trace. Unforgivable

Hapixmas · 09/12/2020 07:08

I agree!

KatherineOfGaunt · 09/12/2020 07:16

Definitely agree. A friend is part of vaccine trials and tested positive one week, but the only symptom she'd had was a migraine. I'd had my first migraine a week prior, which makes you wonder...

Icequeen01 · 09/12/2020 07:18

Totally agree and we have been doing this at work. If someone starts to feel poorly we send them home and they get a test even if they haven't got any of the four main symptoms (but do have some of the secondary symptoms). If they test negative we still make them stay at home for 14 days just to be sure. If they are positive we need to know as quickly as possible to implement measures. I can't say where I work as it will be outing but we have to do anything and everything to ensure we keep the virus at bay or it could be catastrophic for us (not money related).

wheresmyliveship · 09/12/2020 07:22

Agree. I was nauseous and threw up for over 48 hours before I got a cough. I carried on as normal so god knows how many people I infected.

My advice to anyone now is to get tested if you feel a bit “off”

Bushola · 09/12/2020 07:24

Maybe the U.K. should test based on that Zoe app suggestions.

Tell it you’ve twisted your ankle - suspected Covid get a test and mark it on a graph as a case.

Mumof3andlovingit · 09/12/2020 07:25

At my work all the adults who tested positive aged 30+ had body aches and/or headaches as their symptoms. The loss of taste and smell came much later on.

LucyLocketsPocket · 09/12/2020 07:28

I thought you couldn't get a test if you didn't have one of the three main symptoms though?

icedgem85 · 09/12/2020 07:36

Absolutely agree!! My daughters both tested positive with nothing more than a snuffly nose.

tmh88 · 09/12/2020 07:39

It’s not that easy to get a test though, my dad currently has covid, his partner isn’t allowed a test as she doesn’t have 3 of the main symptoms she has body aches and headache they won’t give her one, she even explained her partner had it and she thinks she does too and there answer was well you still have 2 weeks of isolation so you can’t spread it anyway Confused

NiceViper · 09/12/2020 07:39

No-one is checking you're being truthful on the form. And the are other covid symptoms to the three listed. I think using a bit of common sense wouldn't go awry.

But the other problem with the testing regime is self-administration. Anyone in the know have any idea how many tests are likely to be false negatives on the grounds of incompetently taken test?

I have no idea if I did my throat swab properly (found it difficult and suspect that I got too much saliva on it) and all the warnings in the leaflet say that can make the test unreliable

(Symptoms that led my test were mainly feeling 'off', breathlessness, diarrhoea, fatigue, and then eventually loss of taste. But negative result)

milkysmum · 09/12/2020 07:41

Close contacts don't get a test unless they are displaying symptoms them self. Even if you got a negative test you still have to isolate so it's a bit pointless to test really.
( although if you are really wanting a test you can easily just say you have a symptom- you don't need to 'prove' this.

Skipsurvey · 09/12/2020 07:41

I have had plenty of cold symptoms, but negative, and frowned upon by my work.
i wish people would stop advocating testing when you cannot take time off work so easily

helpfulperson · 09/12/2020 07:43

What symptoms are other countries testing for?

Skipsurvey · 09/12/2020 07:44

how are you spreading it if you are socially distancing?

GreyishDays · 09/12/2020 07:46

@LucyLocketsPocket

I thought you couldn't get a test if you didn't have one of the three main symptoms though?
You just lie on the online form when you’re booking it.
Heatherjayne1972 · 09/12/2020 07:48

We can’t all social distance. I work 6 inches from other peoples faces. Patients and my nurse

Skipsurvey · 09/12/2020 07:49

@Heatherjayne1972 but you wear PPE

Skipsurvey · 09/12/2020 07:49

ii think you all want time off work

Ohdoleavemealone · 09/12/2020 07:51

My mum was exhausted and her work got her a test. Positive!

All the people I know who have had it have had symptoms - but not the 3 on the form! Sinus pain, sore throat, fatigue have been the main ones.

ComeHomeBillyBird · 09/12/2020 07:52

I've had shortness of breath and a mild cough for a day, been wondering whether to get tested.

OverTheRainbow88 · 09/12/2020 07:55

Luckily our Head Teacher is promoting this daily, we’ve had about 20 positive kid cases with a tummy upset or sore throat only.

It’s like they want it to spread really by just harping on about the 3 Symptoms