Health and social care, shop workers etc,...Frequent exposure?

[MiniTheMinx]

Hi all, I have been wondering for some time if health care, social care, shop workers and others in front facing work directly with others are coming into contact with Covid frequently. Not so much whether people are testing positive more than once, although this is happening, but more that we are frequently being exposed to the virus in such a way that we could hypothetically be contracting it, but are not becoming ill on each exposure.

The reason i ask is because I have had three periods of not feeling well. The first back in February when we were not being routinely offered tests. I had a short elevation of temp, with chills, sore throat, small intermittent dry cough, and ached. I wasn't so well as to not work. The second was in August but I had already booked holiday and was at home. Aching all over like I have never known, cough which was persistent but intermittent, not breathless, headaches. Not ill enough at the time to really worry, and knowing I wasn't going to be in contact with anyone. Didn't have the symptoms that suggest testing.

Then now. Contact with suspected case discharged from hospital. No transparency on testing/result etc,.and I have a huge headache, stuffed up nose, sinus pain, feel a bit sick and have another small intermittent cough, and my neck aches. I have weekly testing now, so sent test today. But employer expects me to work tomorrow. I have had the first Pfizer 5 days ago with only an aching arm. So, its not that.

I am wondering if it is possible to be so frequently in contact with this virus, and to be fighting it off at the earliest so that it never has a chance to establish. Would this make you feel ill? Would you even test positive every time? Is this even possible?

Has anyone else experienced similar? is it time to extend the symptoms in the advice for testing? and how do others reconcile feeling slightly unwell with symptoms that whilst commonly reported by covid positive people are not listed for testing but still having to attend work?

Lastly, if randomised test pick up asymptomatic cases, these cases are always self reported as asymptomatic. There is an element of both objectively not meeting the three symptom test criteria, but also the subjective measure of how someone feels. I believe there are issues here which haven't been explored and that this is leading to further infections. what could be done?

Can you get an antibodies test?

@unmarkedbythat

Can you get an antibodies test?

I tried to order one via online independently of work at it was rejected. Work have not offered my the anti-body test. have you had it?

No, I haven't had one. A few people at my work have done one, most who had confirmed positives in the past but at least two who haven't. I'll ask them how they got the tests because our employer doesn't provide them.

I've had cold after cold after cold the last few months and felt generally run down and have been amazed not to get a positive covid test because we've had repeated outbreaks at site.

Thank you, I'd be interested in finding out how I can get the antibody test.
People are testing positive with cold symptoms. the whole thing seems so odd, especially if you are coming into contact with covid repeatedly. See, I have a bit of a hypothesis that it may be that in some people with repeated exposure their immune system would be quick enough to react without the virus being sufficient to test positive on a PCR. But that wouldn't necessarily mean they couldn't pass it on, I think this is what worries me about myself. Is this even possible.

I'm going to have weekly testing now. To start with my employer wasn't pushing for us to do this, there was no enthusiasm for making the kits available! its only now they are literally throwing them at us.