Are we unusual?

[MattDillonsEyebrows]

Are we unusual in that the four of us in our family have never done either a lateral flow or PCR test?

We are a family of four, me, DH, DD5 (just finished reception)& DD4 (just going into reception after the summer).

We had one period of isolation for DD5 before Christmas and DH had to isolate last year when a work colleague tested positive but at the time, the advice was just to isolate, no need to test.

Since then, we’ve had no symptoms no school, (DD5 continued school during lockdown 3), nursery or work bubbles burst, and no pings on the app. I don’t think we’ve been reckless, we are double jabbed, and wear masks but we’ve never had symptoms so never tested.

I feel we have been exceptionally lucky, but also, a part of me feels a bit weird because none of us have ever done a test and I’m wondering if if we are unusual or others are similar to us?

I've had 4 PCR tests, 3yo 2, DH and 7 yo none. 3yo bubble prematurely burst with positive lateral flow twice but negative PCR. Think you're extremely lucky not to have had any bugs. But don't feel bad!

Just one lft as DS2 felt tired one day then cases broke out at school that weekend. His class and DS1's both ended up isolating anyway. (The cases were through informal cross-bubble contact out of school.)

My life has been cancelled for most of the past 16m and most of my socialising is outdoors anyway. I've spent very little time indoors, and do things like food shopping late at night when it's quiet and very low risk.

DH had been working at home until recently, and is now in a near empty office.

The most likely way for covid to enter our household is through the DCs and they've never met the threshold for PCR testing. They had sniffles last September which did not meet the criteria at the time, and they've been fine since. They normally are resistant to minor illnesses.

We've never had to test for symptoms. DH had probable covid back in April 2020, but that was before mass testing was in place and you couldn't get a PCR unless you were admitted to hospital.

DD (8) and I have never had any of the main 3 symptoms so have had no reason to have a PCR.

But both DH and I have done many LFTs. Initially started when DD went back to school and parents were asked to take twice weekly LFTs. This was later extended to all adults. So no, I don't think you are unusual to not have had a PCR, but I do think you are unusual not to have had a LFT (which is for asymptomatic not symptomatic testing) as the government has asked all adults to do this twice weekly.