Do I have to get a PCR?

[sylbunny]

We've been track and traced ... not by the app but as a named contact. Due to the new rules none of us need to isolate. We've been told by T&T we should now get a PCR even though we don't have symptoms but I notice the wording is 'should' not have to. Do we have to get one?

Depends where you are. In Scotland you still need a negative pcr to get out of isolation which seems sensible.

Why wouldn’t you? You should.

It isn’t compulsory in England.

If you’ve been told you should, why wouldn’t you just to be on the safe side?

Are you vaccinated?

Depends. Some employers require this now.

Plus you could prevent others catching it.

Why wouldn’t you?

Assuming you live in England, who use "should" why wouldn't you? Just because it's not legally mandated? Surely it's sensible?

Double vaccinated and under 18s in the house so we don't need to isolate according to the new rules.

Ive lateral flow tested everyone - negative but I have a 4 month old and I don't want to have to PCR him as well. I've already LTF'd him and that was traumatic for all involved!

Are you happy to pass it on to other people or family members if you are asymptomatic?

How would you feel if someone did it to you and someone in your household died?

You'd all PCR a 4 month old without symptoms would you?

And yes we're in England.

So is all this money now being spent on a service that just calls people up to say "Hey, your mate has covid, just thought you should know. See ya at the footy."?

I personally don't see the point if there isn't a day/period stipulation. So you could test on day 2 and be negative but become positive on day 5. Surely a test say on day 5 would be more sensible?

@sylbunny

You'd all PCR a 4 month old without symptoms would you?

And yes we're in England.

🙄🙄🙄

That's exactly what we all said, yeah.

You don't need to test a 4 month old! Goodness gracious. It's the adults who need to test.

I'd PCR all the adults, but not the 4 month old.

The wording is 'should' so it's not law, but it is strongly advised as it's in the best interest of the wider public.

I’ve mixed up two threads. Ignore my previous post.

Primary aged children don't need to lateral flow test, again it's just the adults. Really weird that you'd pin down a small child to do a lateral flow test, it states on the leaflet I read they aren't for young children

I would PCR anyone who could go / has gone to meet other people independently, but not a baby or child so young that they wouldn't go anywhere without you anyway.

So e.g. I would PCR the adults, and an older child who might go to holiday club or a birthday party (or to school in term time). I would not PCR a babe in arms UNLESS they go to nursery and thus could separately infect those in the nursery.

Lateral flow tests are pretty much identical to PCR tests in terms of traumaticness. Don’t know why you’d bother to inflict that on a baby rather than doing an actual PCR test.

@worrybutterfly

I'd PCR all the adults, but not the 4 month old.

The wording is 'should' so it's not law, but it is strongly advised as it's in the best interest of the wider public.

Thank you for the least confrontational answer! this is what I'm leaning towards.

We've all have covid (except baby) and we have antibodies (tested in adults) and we are double vaxxed. We are isolating from close contact with anyone as well as we have vulnerable extended family so we don't want to pass it on so won't be seeing anyone. Just trying to decide if I should order 4 tests, 3 tests (toddler is 3 and had covid) or just 2.

Following the further information, I would only PCR the baby if you are sending them to nursery, not if they are just at home with you all.

I think if you’d been clear in your op that you were trying to decide whether to do PCR tests on asymptomatic toddlers/babies you’d have got different answers.

I mean I know mumsnet is harsh but in the space of ten mins I've been told I'm terrible for NOT doing PCRs and terrible for DOING LFTs. Make up your minds!

To be fair, he was fine. My tests have instructions on how to do under 12s and it's just inside the nostrils. He sneezed a lot and I was much more worried than him!

I mean I know mumsnet is harsh but in the space of ten mins I've been told I'm terrible for NOT doing PCRs and terrible for DOING LFTs. Make up your minds!

How very dramatic. I not call you terrible. If you read my post, I was questioning why you’d bother with a LFT on a baby instead of ordering the proper PCR test which is essentially the same in terms of the testing procedure.

And everyone who criticised you gif considering not doing a PCR had no idea you were talking about toddlers/babies because you left that information out of the op.