Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

To believe that a lot of people don’t go bother to test for covid and don’t isolate when they should

100 replies

Fedupofcovid78 · 24/07/2021 15:22

Just to say I’ve followed all rules throughout including the social contact and isolation ones. But to be spreading as it is I honestly believe people suspect they might have it and don’t test as they don’t want it confirmed that they do and infect people.

OP posts:
User5827372728 · 24/07/2021 15:26

Yep and yep!!

gardeninggirl68 · 24/07/2021 15:28

thats not my experience

what kind of circles do you mix in to suspect that?

Narutocrazyfox · 24/07/2021 15:46

I imagine that many, if not most people do this. I've just seen this on another similar thread, and I know many people who wouldn't bother testing even if they do have symptoms. The attitude of a friend of mine is 'for most it's a mild illness, why get so worked up over it?'.

ruumis · 24/07/2021 15:47

I am not sure if I would test. Both dc and dh had covid couple of weeks ago so I don't think they would get again so soon. I am sahm so I stay mostly home and I wouldn't want to dc and dh to isolate.

nordica · 24/07/2021 16:24

This has been the case throughout the pandemic, but the government hasn't helped matters by not providing proper support to those who would take a huge financial hit if they didn't work for 10 days.

Cornettoninja · 24/07/2021 16:33

I think that’s a fair assumption, it’ll depend a lot on what peoples circumstances are. If I’m being completely honest every test done in this house (all negative) has been due to needing to access education/childcare/work or for specific events where we want to be safe rather than sorry. I can see us being a lot more lax over the six weeks holiday for instance simply because we can lay low at home if, for example, dd (5) is a bit off for a couple of days.

If any of us are clearly ill with identifiable symptoms then we’ll test but I’m aware that we may miss a very mild or asymptomatic infection taking this approach.

lannistunut · 24/07/2021 16:33

Yes, some. Please bear in mind the huge numbers who get no sick pay and have no savings.

Easy to judge, better to try to understand. Reality of life is isolation is costly - some would lose their home.

I follow all the rules myself, but wouldn't if my home was at risk.

Bedsheets4knickers · 24/07/2021 16:36

Yep agreed esp now it's summer holidays people have plans

CornishYarg · 24/07/2021 16:44

I wonder if the fact Delta seems to present with different symptoms from the main 3 symptoms is a factor. Someone on another thread on here made a good point that people on this board are very aware of this, but a lot of people won't be because the government haven't updated the testing criteria.

Shelovesamystery · 24/07/2021 17:07

A lot of people can't afford to self isolate. If a positive test means that you won't be able to pay your bills that month/will get into debt/don't know how you will feed your kids etc then taking a test is a big risk.

pinkgin85 · 24/07/2021 17:13

Definitely, I picked it up at a wedding function so clearly people are not taking it seriously. My family and I are isolating like we should.

BertieBotts · 24/07/2021 17:31

Most viruses are contagious before the symptoms are obvious, and we've always known there are symptomless cases of this one as well.

I'm sure some people are avoiding testing but even if everyone followed the rules perfectly, the virus would still spread. If it didn't it would have died out ages ago. It's how successful viruses work.

ButteringMyArse · 24/07/2021 17:32

Obviously.

LivingNextDoorToNorma · 24/07/2021 17:34

@CornishYarg

I wonder if the fact Delta seems to present with different symptoms from the main 3 symptoms is a factor. Someone on another thread on here made a good point that people on this board are very aware of this, but a lot of people won't be because the government haven't updated the testing criteria.
I think this is a really good point. The website to book a pcr test still only lists the ‘main 3’ symptoms as reasons to order a test (unless you meet the criteria for a test without symptoms). A person who only follows the sound bites, sees the posters etc, could very well be suffering from a sore throat or stuffy nose( increasingly looking like the symptoms of delta, especially when vaccinated), and have no idea it’s possibly covid. They could even log on to the website, see that they don’t meet the criteria, and carry on with their lives in good faith. They’d have no idea they weren’t doing the ‘right’ thing, because the official government website told them that they were.
DumplingsAndStew · 24/07/2021 17:37

Yeah, I'd assume that fairly accurate.

I know people who have said "ach, it's only a cold" without testing (even with one or more of the three main symptoms)

monstermunch1 · 24/07/2021 18:51

Covid is not "spreading as it is". There are lots of positive covid test results as EVERYONE is testing prior to their holidays so that they can sort it out before going away.

HelloMissus · 24/07/2021 18:55

This has been the case since day one - folk need to pay their rent.

Attheheart · 24/07/2021 18:59

I've been sensible. I followed all the rules, I still mostly do outdoor activities and keep my distance. I'd test if I had symptoms, but I'll admit I'm not testing asymptomatically, to avoid isolating unless I absolutely have to.

TotorosCatBus · 24/07/2021 19:26

I'm not sure if it's "a lot" but it's been happening from the start - kids going to school despite having symptoms etc

People need to eat and keep the roof over their heads so can't afford to isolate regularly. Only half of the population can work from home.

NotSonicTheHedgehog · 24/07/2021 21:56

@pinkgin85

Definitely, I picked it up at a wedding function so clearly people are not taking it seriously. My family and I are isolating like we should.
How do you know they aren’t taking it seriously? Maybe they were asymptomatic?
Jourdain11 · 24/07/2021 22:31

A friend of mine is currently in another city for research work. If she tests positive or gets pinged, what does she do? She can't stay in her Air B&B without (presumably) asking the owner to cancel the bookings and having to fork out for another 10 days. She can't get home without using public transport because she used public transport to travel there. It's problematic on a lot of levels.

BillyAndTheSillies · 24/07/2021 22:32

We as a household have been strict with it. Saw my FIL last week who said he had been pinged by t&t but just deleted the app. He was poorly and I suggested maybe he take a test - his response was he wasn't going to take a test because he was going on holiday and didn't want to find out he was positive and miss it!!

I was shocked. People just don't seem to care any more. All I hear at the moment is "well, I'm double jabbed"......everyone I know who is positive at the moment has had both vaccines. I'm not anti vaccine in the slightest, and have had both doses but I feel it's making people complacent.

Frazzled2207 · 24/07/2021 22:34

I’m doing regular LFTs and tbh if suddenly I got a positive I’m not sure I’d bother with a pcr unless I really doubted it was true.
I really don’t want to have to deal with T&T and for them to hassle me for my close contacts etc
I would however definitely isolate and inform my close contacts myself. I’m self employed so don’t have an employer that needs official confirmation etc

Darbs76 · 24/07/2021 22:44

Of course they are. One thing we have learned during this is that so many people are inheritantly selfish. I’m on day 10 of Covid and feel dreadful and I’m double jabbed. I hope people who are recklessly passing it on get a taste of it.

Warhertisuff · 24/07/2021 23:01

@Frazzled2207

I’m doing regular LFTs and tbh if suddenly I got a positive I’m not sure I’d bother with a pcr unless I really doubted it was true. I really don’t want to have to deal with T&T and for them to hassle me for my close contacts etc I would however definitely isolate and inform my close contacts myself. I’m self employed so don’t have an employer that needs official confirmation etc
I sympathise, but why in earth are you bothering with LFTs if that's the case?