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Original poster

Would you go out with friend in these circumstances?

65 replies

EmmaGrundyForPM · 31/08/2021 08:31

My friends teenage son has just tested positive for Covid (PCR test). Not too poorly but obviously now has to isolate.

I'm supposed to be going out to dinner with my friend on Friday night. There are 4 of us going, all women in their 50s, all double jabbed. Friend is doing a PCR test today but if its negative is still coming out. We're going to a restaurant where we will be inside. I'm very tempted to pull out but don't know if I'm being ridiculous.

We have a holiday booked to Greece in a couple of weeks which is also affecting my decision. We had already decided not to go out for the 10 days before flying although this Friday is 14 days before flying.

Should I pull out of Friday's dinner to be on the safe side? I suspect if I pull out so will the others.

OP posts:
Newchallenge · 31/08/2021 08:32

I think, given that you have a holiday coming up, that I would cancel in your situation.

Noteventhebestdrummer · 31/08/2021 08:33

I would definitely pull out! You don't want to risk losing your holiday!

PurpleDaisies · 31/08/2021 08:34

I would cancel because of the holiday, or meet them outside instead.

BitterTits · 31/08/2021 08:36

I'd pull out in your situation but your friend isn't doing anything wrong according to the current rules. You could catch it from any member of the public.

Original poster
EmmaGrundyForPM · 31/08/2021 08:41

@BitterTits that's what I thinking, I could catch it anywhere. But I hardly go anywhere else, I wfh, our food shop is delivered each week.
I'm picturing us in the restaurant, grouped around a table, obviously no masks, and thinking "No!"
I have thought about asking to change to an outside venue but the weather is so crap .

OP posts:
JennaPenna · 31/08/2021 08:44

I wouldn't want to risk it for my holiday

HipHopBanzai · 31/08/2021 08:44

No, I wouldn't go in those circumstances. It's not worth the risk of your holiday.

WhyOhWhyOhWhyyyy · 31/08/2021 08:46

With the holiday coming up then I’d pull out of the meal. Even with a negative PCR it would surely be unlikely for her not to have caught it from someone she lives with. I know she’s not doing anything wrong but I personally wouldn’t want to risk it. If it wasn’t for the holiday I would probably go though, but then I’m of the mindset that we’re all going to catch it at some point.

Remmy123 · 31/08/2021 08:47

No way as you have your holiday and you have to test to return!

Lovelydovey · 31/08/2021 08:48

I’d pull out and explain that you don’t want to put your holiday at risk. It would be too great a risk for me to be comfortable with, especially given how close, and no doubt how precious, your holiday is.

I’m afraid I cannot understand why isolation is not still required for household contact (especially ongoing contact). While I understand that limited and not ongoing contact (such as having lunch with someone who later tests positive) doesn’t lead to isolating. I just cannot understand why it was allowed for ongoing household contact. And while your friend is correct in her interpretation of the rules, I’m planning to try and avoid contact with people in this scenario and not do so myself (I know I am very fortunate that I can WFH and my employer would support me in working from home in if a household member had tested positive).

rookiemere · 31/08/2021 08:48

I'd pull out, I was very cautious in the week before my holidays and that was just in the UK. I don't quite understand how a PCR done straight away is going to detect it as usually takes a few days to spread from person to person.
FWIW I'd probably drop out even if that friend doesn't come, sounds like prevalence in your general community is high.

BritishSummertime · 31/08/2021 08:49

I wouldn't risk it holiday or not. Yes you can catch it anywhere but you sound low risk (WFH, food shop delivered etc) so in comparison this would be high risk.

LadyCatStark · 31/08/2021 08:50

No I wouldn’t risk my holiday!

DiscoDown21 · 31/08/2021 08:53

I’m going on holiday in two weeks and we’ve made the decision to not eat out for the next couple weeks to reduce the risk. Both fully jabbed but lots catching it atm.

So me if I was in your shoes I wouldn’t risk it. Plenty would though. To be honest my friendship group are quite wary anyway and if they had Covid in the house they wouldn’t go out negative PCR or not. None of us would want to risk anyone else.

Suzi888 · 31/08/2021 08:53

I wouldn’t risk a holiday, no chance. I’d be staying in until the day I went lol

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 31/08/2021 08:54

Why is your friend doing a PCR test? Does she have symptoms? How will having a negative test today be any use for Friday?

If you are uncomfortable about going then decline, the other adults involved can make their own decisions presumably, you aren't responsible for them.

whatswithtodaytoday · 31/08/2021 08:58

No way would I go, she will almost certainly get it off her son. The immediate PCR thing is daft, it takes a few days for the infection to show up.

You can't risk your holiday. I'm sure they'll understand.

rookiemere · 31/08/2021 08:58

@AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair the new protocol is that household members take a PCR if someone in the house tests positive. If they are negative they don't then need to isolate. But problem is it doesn't take incubation period into account.

Mindymomo · 31/08/2021 09:00

@AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair. That’s what’s being advised now, if you have been in close contact to someone who has tested positive, you will be advised to get a PCR test done, but it’s not compulsory.

I personally wouldn’t risk the meal.

HelloMissus · 31/08/2021 09:01

I’m very pragmatic about catching Covid - reckon we’ll all get it at some point.
But I’d be protecting that holiday for sure!!!

HalfwomanHalfcookie · 31/08/2021 09:03

I'm in the same situation as your friend. Dh has covid, I've had a negative PCR.
I'm not isolating, but keeping my interactions with others to a bare minimum. If I was her I would say to my friends go without me and have a great time. She hasn't said that, so unfortunately you have to make the decision. If I were you, I wouldn't go either.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 31/08/2021 09:12

[quote rookiemere]@AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair the new protocol is that household members take a PCR if someone in the house tests positive. If they are negative they don't then need to isolate. But problem is it doesn't take incubation period into account.[/quote]
Where are you reading that? The Gov.uk website says you can take a pcr test if you don't have symptoms. Has this changed to must/should and they haven't updated the guidance yet?

CornishTiger · 31/08/2021 09:13

No way if I was risking an important planned event. I dodge enough if it in work if I had choices I’d politely decline

CornishTiger · 31/08/2021 09:15

And I’d frame it as

This has made me realise that prior to holiday I really need to be limiting all social contact so we don’t risk being able to go. Unfortunately I’m going to pull out of meal. I hope you all have a lovely time. I’ll miss you but we can catch up after my holiday.

rookiemere · 31/08/2021 09:20

@AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair I'm in Scotland so guidance may be different here -apologies.