How do you get a test for minor symptoms without lying?!

[CanICelebrate]

I keep reading on MN and elsewhere that cold symptoms and headaches can be covid symptoms and that people have been tested positive with such symptoms.

I’ve felt pretty crap for 2 days but when I went online to look at testing it said I could only get a test if I had one or more of the ‘classic’ symptoms.

I really don’t want to lie (and have no intention of doing so or exaggerating my symptoms) but equally I’m scared to go anywhere, such as work, petrol station, church, shops etc, just in case I have it!

Do I need to wait to see if I get worse? If you’ve been tested positive without the classic symptoms, did you lie to get a test?

Just get a test. Say you’ve got a classic symptom. And don’t ask MN

Have you got the Zoe app? Sometimes they will ask you to test for other symptoms, which then makes you eligible for NHS test

Just lie.

Are you in an area with mass testing (anyone with no symptoms)? If not just lie. There's not a shortage of tests as far as I know.

Local councils are sometimes asking people to test for a much wider variety of symptoms than the big 3. If yours is doing this it will be detailed on their website. Usually they say to answer 'no' to symptoms on the booking form and instead choose 'my council has asked me to test'.

Otherwise yes, I would just lie. Now is not the time to be second guessing.

I’m a GP who also works in the COVID assessment hub. I think the criteria are too far narrow. Also lots of people without any abuse the system to get a test for all sorts of reasons so don’t feel bad. Just get a test if you’re suspicious. No one at the test centre will question it.

That should have said “without any symptoms”

I think these testing available now that you can be tested even if you seriously unwell. If you feel something isn’t right please just get a. Test.

They have a lot of spare testing capacity right now.

Download the Covid Zoe app and put in your symptoms. I've been asked to test every time I've put anything other than 'I feel normal'. There is then a section on the NHS site for people asked to test by the app.

Plus you're adding to important research.

You could call 111?

Personally I have no qualms with lying to get past a web page and obtain a test. There isn’t a shortage of tests and frankly it’s better to put that pressure on the testing centre rather than 111/GP (who would both be likely to recommend testing anyway)

It’s also worth considering your movements two days before your symptoms started - if you went out and about your app could need updating to notify other people to isolate.

My friend had a headache, bad back and just generally felt very unwell.

She lied to get a test and was positive, her cough didn't arrive until two days after her test.

I really do think the government need to revise the three main symptoms so people are aware that it could be covid with different symptoms.

Use the Zoe app, I’ve had an invitation for a test today with minor symptoms.

But it’s not like you feel absolutely fine and just going for the sake of it. You have some sort of feelings of not being well. Just get a test

I agree @DumpedByText (your username makes me sad - hope you’re okay!).

I think a headache combined with one or two other symptoms would be good to add to the list. I get that they don’t want to run out of tests but there’s no point in pretending these symptoms don’t exist if they want to get a handle on things.

@cornettoninja I'm embarrassed to say I did the dumping by text, he was a dick that I couldn't waste anymore air speaking to him! Thanks for caring though x

Ha! - I’ll forgive you for enforcing karma

Lie. I did for my daughter after GP advised a test (she didn't have classic symptoms). Luckily it was negative but it's better to be safe than sorry.

Ive lied twice, once my son was sat next to positive case for 6 hours and developed a migraine and nausea 7 days later. Doctor told me to lie

My whole family just took a test yesterday so our other don can come home from hospital safely again a doctor told us to say we had a cough

I got a test yesterday after having been in close contact with a person who’s tested positive but only shown symptoms of a cold, I also feel like I have a cold so thought better to be safe than sorry . Nobody questioned me at the test centre you just need to fib on the website when you book

Hubby and I tested yesterday as have felt lethargic, achey, generally unwell, me more so than him for last few days. I filled in the online form and it doesn’t require details, just a ‘yes or no’ in the do you have symptoms box. No one asked anything else at the test centre. As we are due back to work and school we thought it was the responsible thing to do.

Join the COVID Symptoms Study app (ZoeApp), speak to your gp or lying are the 3 ways I know about, unless you live in an area where anyone can test.

I didn't test because I didn't have the three symptoms. Instead I had sinusitis and very runny nose. I had some temperature but no fever. The illness lasted six days and now I am on the mend. I even checked Zoe but they didn't have sinusitis as a symptom.

It's not like they actually have any way of checking if you have any symptoms. I had a fever and a cough and am waiting for a test that was recieved by the lab on Christmas day, so whether there's any point is another issue I suppose.