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Original poster

DD had to have a lateral flow test to go to a 21st - would you ask for it?

169 replies

Bouledeneige · 23/05/2021 20:42

DD was invited to go to a 21st during last week. I'm not sure on numbers but I think there were 12 of them there at a pub marquee. The hosts parents required her to take a lateral flow test today before going. They have no members of the family with vulnerable health conditions. She got some tests a few weeks ago from people giving them out in the street so it wasn't any extra bother.

Would you also request such a thing if it were your DC's 21st? I ask because my DD's 21st is in August and she plans to party in our garden - probably with similar numbers. It hadn't occurred to me to do something similar. I have been double jabbed and taken part in the Imperial antibodies research project which shows I'm positive for antibodies. The only other person who lives here out of uni term time is my DS.

OP posts:
LadyWhistledownsQuill · 24/05/2021 02:16

Bugger that. I attended a birthday party for a neighbour in her 90s (who has firmly adopted the attitude that something will kill her) and it never even occurred to me - and I can't imagine it occurred to her either.

Demanding it for a group of healthy 20 somethings is ridiculous

Spinningaround21 · 24/05/2021 02:48

An age group that’s mostly not vaccinated and are currently in some areas now being caught by the Indian variant which is now working it’s way around the U.K.

It’s sensible, still a pandemic on plus lots more mixing going on. Anyone that declines meh up to them at this point. Lots of us are doing them for various reasons. LFTs have picked up many infections in staff at my hospital so they can be useful and if it makes people feel better about mixing…. You also don’t always know a families experience with covid, if they’ve lost someone or family members/ friends that have been very sick etc. It will make them more cautious.

SakuraEdenSwan1 · 24/05/2021 03:16

I would not require any test and certainly would not take any. The sooner everyone stops all this bullshit the better!

redtshirt50 · 24/05/2021 03:17

I wouldn't mind either way, but I would be happy to do one if it meant that everyone could feel comfortable

I have a friend who is asking everyone to do tests before meeting up with them - they've had a rough year of losses so I totally get it (even if I think it's a bit overkill)

ZoBo123 · 24/05/2021 04:07

When does it end though? Covid will be around for a good few years. Are you going to demand guests at her 22nd, 23rd, 30th birthday do it? How long do you think it will take to vaccinate the world

Blueberry40 · 24/05/2021 04:53

As the parent of a child who tested positive last week after a random lateral flow test at home (no symptoms at all) and who I would have been merrily sending into school to spread the virus had we not done one, I can confidently say YES this is a good idea!

Only takes 2 minutes to do one and might just save passing on the virus to someone else.

nancywhitehead · 24/05/2021 05:17

It's a good idea. The tests are free and really there is no reason for people to kick up a fuss about doing them.

garlictwist · 24/05/2021 05:19

It's a good idea. Most people haven't been vaccinated yet, or not fully.

nancywhitehead · 24/05/2021 05:20

@Bouledeneige

A lateral flow test is no more reliable than an antibody test.

Everyone one I know is double jabbed or a student so even if people did get infected it won't really matter. Will it?

Yes it does matter, even if it spreads amongst healthy young adults who are not going to die from it.

The reason is because the more widely it spreads, the more likely it is to mutate into something that the vaccines are NOT effective against, and then we are back at square one.

People think they are fine because they are not likely to become seriously ill or die, but that is just wishful thinking. Every single time the virus passes to another body increases the risk of it mutating.

It is just sensible to contain it as much as possible, and for the sake of a 2 minute test, you really might as well do what you can.

MiddleParking · 24/05/2021 05:25

I’d do it if I wanted to go (theoretically - it wouldn’t occur to anyone I know to ask for such a thing) but I’d think they were weird and roll my eyes inwardly. Especially as you say it’s the parents asking for it for a 21st!

traumatisednoodle · 24/05/2021 05:51

I would not require any test and certainly would not take any. The sooner everyone stops all this bullshit the better!

If you don't test eventually you will be unable to fly. You already won't get a hospital bed without a covid test. Why is this bullshit ?

BooblePlate · 24/05/2021 05:58

These threads are going to keep coming up. It’s going to be a thing amongst social circles for a while, and I’ll do what I’m asked if it means I can join in with friends and family and they feel some sense of reassurance that they’re doing the right thing.

I wouldn’t ask anyone to do one if I were throwing a party (almost everyone I know has to do them fairly routinely anyway but I wouldn’t ask for one specifically for a party or ask for proof).

Jobsharenightmare · 24/05/2021 06:19

Yes I would ask for this. It just means less risk and less hassle all around. It also means less risk for it being passed on. It's the fastest way out of this especially given that age group haven't generally been vaccinated. Younger people are still getting Long Covid. Younger people can still die.

ChloeCrocodile · 24/05/2021 06:29

I’d do it if asked but think it is a bit daft tbh. How do they even know if it’s been done? Those who don’t want to do it will just lie.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 24/05/2021 07:32

Very sensible and I’d be relieved if anyone refused to test and declined the invite.

Peaplant20 · 24/05/2021 07:51

New research suggests that the vaccine is only 30% effective against the Indian variant after one dose (but as effective after 2 doses), and a huge proportion of the country have only had one or no doses so to anyone saying things like “when will it end” and the sooner we stop this the better, it will end eventually once everyone has been offered their two doses, not much longer to go but in the mean time we should all do what we can to reduce the spread and reduce the chances of an even more harmful mutation.

CrabbyCat · 24/05/2021 08:11

Sounds very sensible to me even if people are jabbed, given close contact with anyone who subsequently tested positive for covid means 10 days self isolation. It may be outdoors, but I very much doubt everyone will be maintaining social distancing at the party.

Covid itself may be low risk for young adults / doubly vaccinated people, but the 10 days self isolation could be really problematic.

Whatshouldicallme · 24/05/2021 08:19

The test takes two minutes and is no effort at all. We are in the middle of a pandemic and it is in everyone's interest to stop spreading COVID around so we don't end up in another lockdown.

Everyone I know are taking weekly lateral flow tests anyway, and it's sensible to take one just before you go to a party with lots of people. I would ask everyone to take one just before and offer to provide one on the day if it's easier. I wouldn't require proof as I'd trust my friends not to lie about it.

Whatshouldicallme · 24/05/2021 08:25

"To answer your question I don't think anyone has a right to demand my medical status unless I choose to disclose it."

You are entitled to this opinion, but it's standard practise in many places (eg schools, doctor's offices, hotels, restaurants/pubs, travel etc) to require information about COVID symptoms and test results before you are allowed entry and this really isn't any different.

Willdoitlater · 24/05/2021 08:29

I think asking everyone for a test is OK and so is NOT asking. I'd just make sure everyone knew my stance and make it clear there would be absolutely no hard feelings if someone took the opposite view and declined the invitation. Or use the inevitable differences of opinion on this as an excuse to hold two parties.

yeOldeTrout · 24/05/2021 08:31

No i wouldn't ask for this.
I would also decline to go if asked for it.
If DD wanted it from her friends I wouldn't talk her out of it, though.

I guess I could go away for a few days if DD wanted to demand it of me.

MiddleParking · 24/05/2021 08:34

@Whatshouldicallme

"To answer your question I don't think anyone has a right to demand my medical status unless I choose to disclose it."

You are entitled to this opinion, but it's standard practise in many places (eg schools, doctor's offices, hotels, restaurants/pubs, travel etc) to require information about COVID symptoms and test results before you are allowed entry and this really isn't any different.

It’s really not standard for pubs and restaurants to require negative tests before you go in. Requesting that you voluntarily don’t go if symptomatic isn’t the same thing.
LauraLovesLemons · 24/05/2021 08:35

Excellent idea. I am doing them twice a week anyway for work and sometimes an extra time when I'm going out somewhere where I'm going to be indoors or in close contact with people eg dentist, hairdresser, lunch with family etc. It's called being considerate to others.

tulips27 · 24/05/2021 08:36

Absolutely astonished to see that some people wouldn't take such a simple step to protect other people.

User72642 · 24/05/2021 08:37

@ZoBo123

When does it end though? Covid will be around for a good few years. Are you going to demand guests at her 22nd, 23rd, 30th birthday do it? How long do you think it will take to vaccinate the world
Yes! Spend 2 minutes doing at her 22nd, 23rd, 24th. As you say, COVID will be around for then and isn't it better NOT to be in lockdown?