Visiting after a negative test

[Stokeywonk20]

DH and I live in a tier 4 area offering asymptomatic rapid testing. PILs are also tier 4. I’m struggling with why we shouldn’t visit them if we both get negative tests on Christmas Eve. We both work from home and stick to the rules. The main reason not to go seems to be to have crap time in solidarity with everyone else.

I’m a doctor. False negatives are common (responsible for the outbreak on my ward recently). Also all it says is if you have covid at that moment, you could be brewing it and not have symptoms yet/be too early to test positive yet. Don’t do it. It’s not safe because you have one negative test.

Many areas of the country (north east, north west, Leicester) have had months and months of awful restrictions. Most of tier 4 were tier two or at least pre second lockdown had much more freedom. Don’t risk your family members health.

If it’s the lateral flow rapid testing it is also not as accurate as a regular PCR test, if you’re going to do it then do it anyway. But you are not protected because you have a rapid test result,

Apart from the fact that rules are rules, you can develop covid and become infectious at any time after you have had the test that says you’re negative at that moment when he test was taken

My sympathy was there but it’s running low now. I’m in greater Manchester. I haven’t been allowed to visit my parents inside since July! I haven’t seen friends since March because restrictions have been so tight up here on travelling. I have followed the rules. I am on week 6 of Covid and feel rotten. I can’t play with my children, I can’t even cook for them. I’m hoping my parents can come round on Christmas Day but if not then I’ll see them when allowed. I’m very close to them, they used to look after my children 2 days a week but we stopped this in March to protect them. We haven’t been to see my in laws all year.
Just get on with it and stick with the rules, it’s selfish not to!

Can you visit peoples houses in tier4?

@secretlyhappy no they can’t visit anyone in tier 4. Every single thread with a dilemma is about tier 4. I know it sucks i really do but it’s getting annoying. Until last week you could see people, I’ve not been allowed anyone in my garden since July! It’s just tier 4’s turn to do their bit. It’s crap for everyone but ignoring or bending the rules and forming 6 billion ‘support bubbles’ that are just a bending of the rules that I see all over this board is not going to help.

Rant over and not directed at OP just a generalisation

Not taken as such covidrelapse and I do appreciate your frustrations.

Thanks to posters for sharing their views.

I would visit and just socially distance as much as you can

We are tier 3 and having family round Xmas day

We have all booked pcr tests for Wednesday

And before people moan - my local sites has 350 spaces each available (each day) right now so plenty of availability - I can book any a lot I want this week

Rapid tests have around a 50% chance of giving you a negative when you actually do have covid (or 97%, if you go by the Uni of Birmingham results).

You may as well just flip a coin.

True jelly but they clearly worked on Liverpool

Our rates dropped from 750/100 000 to 98!

@JellyBabiesSaveLives

Rapid tests have around a 50% chance of giving you a negative when you actually do have covid (or 97%, if you go by the Uni of Birmingham results).

You may as well just flip a coin.

Not all of them. There are significant differences depending on the time test is taken after last possible exposure and type of rapid test i.e. Blood or Swab & whether Antigen or Antibody.

There are some blood IgG/IgM tests that have approx 94% Sensitivity when testing 10-14 days after possible exposure, but if testing 5-7 day after last possible exposure the same test kits are only 50% Sensitive.

I can't find the study right now but I know the Australian Govt assessed 10 Lateral Flow kits and found only 3 were accurate enough for their use.

@Covidrelapse we couldn’t see people until last week at all as have been in tier 3 since lockdown and couldn’t see people during lockdown either. I understand the frustration though as everyone seems to be trying to bend the rules. I think people in Tier 4 feel hard done by as they are the only tier who cannot mix for Xmas day which is hard for some. @Ginogineli so you have a test on Wednesday that is negative but that just means it’s not detectable- you can still become infectious on Thursday or Friday so taking a rest doesn’t really make it safe does it? although there are tests available the more tests to process the longer the result turnaround is which delays contacts isolating who could be passing it on unknowingly and means people having to be off work waiting for results longer than necessary- some of whom don’t get paid. Don’t waste a pointless test that tells you nothing and inconvenience others for your own selfish gain. You are in tier 3 you can mix with another household why is that not enough for you?

because id feel better with vulnerable parents

i still wont hug/kiss but at least i've done what i can in same way employers now test once per week to minimise risks

i'm not wasting a test - there's literally hundreds available near me in just one centre for everyday this week- they're literally begging people on facebook to get one. they have so far, 350 spaces available tomorrow in one centre and im a small town

i'm near liverpool so there's about 20 test centres within 10 miles from me - both symptomatic and asymptomatic - i could go everyday if i wanted to. Towns near me are begging people to test twice a week

@Ginogineli but the test won’t mean anything 2 days later and depending how it’s in your area- lots of people are waiting 48hrs + for results. And as I explained there may be plenty of tests available but higher demand means longer waits for tests. You will do it anyway, but it really is pointless

no its not as i'm getting it wednesday - i'm off thursday so at home and wait times here currently less than 24 hours

its no perfect but it is better than doing nothing and hoping for the best!