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

[Bouledeneige]

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.

[quote Peaplant20]@bumbleymummy yes but you said that the people left to be vaccinated were most likely very low risk. Pregnant women over 28 weeks are critically vulnerable and asthmatics are not low risk. And neither were prioritised so to say the people left to be vaccinated are low risk is incorrect.[/quote]
If asthmatics were considered high enough risk they would have been prioritised by the JCVI.

The majority of those that have not been vaccinated are low risk.

@bumbleymummy yes the majority are. But I think we need to remember there are still apt that aren’t.

*a lot

I think it's a very sensible idea. A group of us went to see our pregnant friend outdoors but we tested on the day. It isn't infallible but it at least helps reduce the risk. The tests are free and take a minute to do, so why not.

Yep - were not quite 21 anymore but I arranged a small outdoor gathering of adults for a friend and reminded everyone to LFT that morning. Nobody was offended. Everyone did it.

Just common sense really.

Yes, and as I said, they have to weigh up their own risks because there are no guarantees.

It seems a bit precious. I wouldn't bother going and no doubt they'd be glad!

We all took them yesterday to protect the elderly members of our family, even though they’ve been jabbed. It wasn’t a big ask.

@bearandowl

Horrible. The tests are not even accurate. So what is the point? Just pointless virtue signalling.

Tell that to all the teachers and students in my daughter’s school (she is a teacher) they all do lateral flow tests twice a week to prevent outbreaks.

Holly I guarantee they don’t

In dds secondary hardly any kids doing them

@Abraxan

Do people check these tests?

No, though you are supposed to report the result.
But they are very easy to do and the results are incredibly easy to read.
If someone is willing to do them regularly then they are less likely to be the type of person to ignore a positive result and not act on it. If they were the type who'd ignore a positive result they'd be more likely to just not do the test at all.

I was asking about the hosts - do they expect to see the result.

I had a PCR test in winter because I had a fever and a cough. I had no issue doing that but the testing of people who feel fine seems like a money maker. The WHO said asymptomatic transmission was rare - or did they backtrack? I have stopped paying attention.

I'd be interested to know how they define the pandemic as over.

@bumbleymummy

It is "throwing caution to the wind" if everyone had that attitude. It's not about whether those particular students are likely to get ill, it's about preventing spread overall so that we don't end up in lockdown with thousands dying in hospital for a third time . Scientific modelling has showed this is a possibility depending on the behaviour of variants over the next few months, so if we can reduce the possibility of this, why wouldn't we?!

Sorry, but I do think the scientific models that have presented this as a possibility are more reliable than your assessment that all will be okay because "most vulnerable people have been jabbed."

I've been working throughout lockdown and take a LFT twice weekly myself as it's required for my workplace. I take a long journey on crowded public transport everyday and have been throughout the pandemic. I am not sat in my home office quivering at the thought of mixing with the infected at an outdoor party. But -- I have seen firsthand how COVID can rip through a workplace, how even relatively young people can be badly affected, and how LFT can pick up asymptomatic cases and prevent it being spread to other people.

It takes less than 2 minutes, it's not perfect but it's certainly better than nothing, and it's absolutely silly to make such a big deal out of such a simple precaution.

Blimey this is like the masks for leisure activities thing again. There is a difference between compulsory work and education testing and something optional like a party. I wouldn’t go to an adults only party where I had to wear a mask the whole time - it wouldn’t be enjoyable. I might tolerate it for a children’s party because that is for children’s benefit. Some people feel the same about testing. I don’t. We have different boundaries, all of us

You're only being asked to stick a cotton bud up your nose and throat. Not donate a kidney.

Are you trying to convince me, megletthesecond? I’ve already said repeatedly I would do as people ask. No need to be sneery about it.

However, I can see that others might not have the same view as me, and might choose not to socialise where that’s a requirement.

The government have asked every adult to do 2 LFTs a week so if people are doing that I don't see the issue as they'll be testing anyway

For adults yeah I think it's a really good idea to ask that people do this. A bit weird to insist and want to see proof though (if she does) - I think we have to begin to trust each other and make our own risk assessments.

I am hosting a party for 6 year olds yesterday. I obviously won't be doing it for them - especially as they are all in the same bubble at school anyway so not sure it would make any difference.

doh tomorrow not yesterday! not enough coffee

@Whatshouldicallme

It is "throwing caution to the wind" if everyone had that attitude. It's not about whether those particular students are likely to get ill, it's about preventing spread overall so that we don't end up in lockdown with thousands dying in hospital for a third time

It really isn’t. The sooner people start to remember what it’s like to live with very small risks without resorting to shutting the country down, the better.

Unless you think that vaccines don’t work in preventing serious illness, hospitalisation and death, despite current evidence to the contrary, why do you think thousands are gong to end up dying in hospital?

And yes, there have been models showing worst case scenarios. There always are. It doesn’t mean they’re definitely going to happen.

I'd be happy to do one if asked.
If I held a party, it wouldn't occur to me to ask others to do one beforehand but I can see it would be reassuring for the more nervous guests so maybe I might.
Not that I'm socialising wildly mind you...

I've got an appointment with my podiatrist tomorrow & I'll do a LFT before then.

She's paying for a PCR once a week as well as 2 x LFT.
She's had both jabs & it's been well over 3 weeks since the 2nd one.
She will happily show you proof of her most recent negative test results & her vaccination certificate.

She's seeing people face-to-face & up close on occasion - amazing how close you can get when dealing with feet!
It's her own private practise & she's doing her damndest to reassure all her clients that they are as safe as it can be.

I think it's only fair that I return the favour!

@bumbleymummy

"It really isn’t. The sooner people start to remember what it’s like to live with very small risks without resorting to shutting the country down, the better."
How have you assessed COVID to be a "small risk"? Most countries across the world have shut down at some level over the past year because of this virus. Unless you believe in some massive conspiracy theory I'm not sure why you think the world has shut over something so inconsequential.

"Unless you think that vaccines don’t work in preventing serious illness, hospitalisation and death"
I believe they work as scientists say they do, which is not to 100% for each individual. I believe the scientist when they say that there is a reasonable chance that not enough people in the UK have been vaccinated to protect us from a third wave as larger or larger than the last two.

"And yes, there have been models showing worst case scenarios. There always are. It doesn’t mean they’re definitely going to happen."
Of course, but this is the same thing people were saying last autumn before the second lockdown and it didn't stop the risks being real. If we can take small and easy steps to reduce the chances of this happening why wouldn't we? I am tired of lockdown and I really don't want to do it again.

@Whatshouldicallme

A small risk in the context of a 21st birthday party in a marquee with young people with no underlying conditions in a country with low case numbers, hospitalisations, deaths and a high percentage of the high risk people having had 2 vaccines.

One scientist in particular? Because several have said that we should have sufficient protection now between vaccines and natural immunity to prevent hospitals being overwhelmed even if cases do rise again.

And last year we didn’t have the (majority of) the most vulnerable groups vaccinated.

How long do you want to keep taking these ‘small and easy steps’ for? Years?

Until we have vaccinated all adults wanting the jab, then yes, it’s reasonable. Lots of vaccinated people forget that there are many desperately waiting, like my asthmatic brother whose hospitalisation was at the “wrong” time to get into group 6

@bumbleymummy

"A small risk in the context of a 21st birthday party"
If you can make it a smaller risk why wouldn't you?

"One scientist in particular?"
No, that was a typo because I was writing on my phone. I meant scientists, specifically SAGE and Chris Whitty.

"And last year we didn’t have the (majority of) the most vulnerable groups vaccinated."
The variants circulating were also different and less transmissible.

"How long do you want to keep taking these ‘small and easy steps’ for? Years?"
I'd happily take LFT for the rest of my life if it meant I'd never need to endure another lockdown!!

Anyway, without getting caught up in so much detail -- my point is not that people should stop living. I just feel that we should all do our part to reduce the spread of this as much as possible, especially when measures such as LFT are free and easy.