If you've been vaccinated and do LFT two of three times a week, can you assume you don't have covid ?

[nonaomi]

Is it safe to say, you're quite safe if that's your situation ? Or your situation to be ? If the people you're seeing have also had two jabs and also do regular lateral flow tests ?

It's a hypothetical question by the way and not based on any planned rule breaking. I'm just thinking, a few months down the line. Everyone is vaccinated and I want to go to dinner at a friend's house or whatever it might be. Is it going to be finally ' safe ' in terms of covid ? can you give hugs and kiss on the cheek like normal ?

I feel like if everyone does the lateral flow tests as well as being vaccinated, then it should be quite safe, right ?

My instinctive reaction was no - because having the jabs doesn't stop you from carrying the virus, and LFTs have a pretty high false negative rate...

To be honest, I don't think there's much way of knowing that you're totally Covid free at the moment, and that's the problem. The BMJ had articles last week that half the people who have been vaccinated showed no symptoms but were still spreading high viral loads... if that's found to be true overall, then there will be a lot of vaccinated people who do regular LFTs but are still spreading it.

I don't think you can know that you haven't got it, so you just have to risk-assess what you're planning to do and see if it's an acceptable risk level if you did have it.

According to all the 'science', apparently not.

But from a 'getting on with your life' point of view, what is going to get better? This is the way we're going to be able to open things up.

I fully intend to do those things by the way. I find doing the tests quite reassuring, but most people in RL I know, think I'm mad.

Those tests have a bad reputation, but I think they're not as bad as people on here like to make out. There's been some new data that shows they're quite good.

By 'those things' I meant going to see friends and behave like a normal human again. I know I'll be worried, but I'll do it.

Without a PCR test you can't know.

But I don't think it's necessary to know this information 100% open up society again.

Once everyone has had their two vaccinations, even without LF testing, this should be enough to lift all restrictions (perhaps keeping the overseas quarantine for a while longer).

I for one don't intend to test myself for covid twice a week for very much longer.

Interestingly, now that anyone can get a supply of LFTs for home testing, I was feeling a lot safer. I had assumed that people would be testing like I was a couple of times a week. But in fact I don’t know a single person who actually is! And we all have school age kids

Exactly how far are people willing to take this?

Given that by the end of the summer pretty much all adults will be jabbed with vaccines which in real world scenarios show quite remarkable results in reducing spread and serious illness?

I'm not rubbishing your OP by the way - I just want to know. Are they willing to put their lives on hold forever just in case, and because you can never be 100% sure?

I mean, the chances are really high that you don't have covid. Of course it's possible, but so unlikely.

Meeting indoors will soon be allowed anyway. I think a modicum of common sense will be required, but people are already moving towards a much more normal way of living.

@HesterShaw1 absolutely agree with you. I am definitely meeting up with my friends. I kind of assumed it was quite safe with ALL those things in place, but recently I talked to someone who said they won't be seeing people 'yet' even when everyone is jabbed etc.. made me think if maybe I'm not worried enough ?

Not sure what we can say in life is ever 100% 'safe', but I would have about the same tolerance for accepting this risk as I would have for accepting the risk inherent in driving to my friend's house.

I’ve had a jab, my Mum has had two jabs, numbers are at 18 per 100,000. Tonight I am going to stay with my Mum!

Those things and consistently relatively low community numbers is the best it is going to get.

Go for it with a clear conscience... I am.

[quote nonaomi]@HesterShaw1 absolutely agree with you. I am definitely meeting up with my friends. I kind of assumed it was quite safe with ALL those things in place, but recently I talked to someone who said they won't be seeing people 'yet' even when everyone is jabbed etc.. made me think if maybe I'm not worried enough ?[/quote]
I think if you're able to assess risk sensibly after the year we have had, you have not given in to panic despite the bombardment of deliberate fear and exaggeration, and you have no underlying health issues which would make you vulnerable - then there's no need to manufacture worry now. Sounds like you and your friends are the "normal" ones :)

Quite honestly I feel sorry for these people who are frightened of waiters and waitresses not wearing masks outside, for example. What has been done to society? :(

@HesterShaw1 unfortunately I am deep down one of those panicked, unreasonable people ! But I fight with myself to chill out constantly! And even though I've struggled so much with my fear of things, I really thought it would all be OK once everyone has had two jabs. But there are clearly people who are even more scared than I am !

Vaccines and lfts aren't suddenly going to be more reliable on 17th May or 21st June. This is all we've got.

I've been vaccinated and was doing LFT twice per week. I got a runny nose and tested positive for covid. The LFT has always been negative, even on the day I did my positive pcr.

You can never be 100% risk free.

In the US the guidance says if everyone is double jabbed, then no need for social gatherings to have masks or SD indoors. (For perspective)

Local rates where I live are currently so low that they're not showing up on the ONS map and I'm part vaccinated. I'm doing weekly lft tests (for a hobby I'm doing_, but I'd be incredibly surprised if they showed anything!

It’s not guaranteed but yes it’s likely you’re safe.

@RuleWithAWoodenFoot

Vaccines and lfts aren't suddenly going to be more reliable on 17th May or 21st June. This is all we've got.

However the thing which will hopefully be better by those dates is further reduced rates of infection, rule.

I'm not doing twice weekly lfts and I don't know anyone who is except my daughter who is a teacher. Why would I? I'm not going places where I am at high risk of catching it and I am seriously concerned about the amount of discarded plastic and landfill which these tests are creating

I have two school aged children (secondary) and we are all testing x2 per week. I think it’s a small price to pay for the added reassurance that we are not spreading it to anyone, and helping to keep school open safely. I know the tests are not 100% accurate but recent studies suggest that they are pretty good at detecting those who are highly infectious. According to my dc the vast majority of their friends are testing too.