How do people still not know?!

[Biscoffandtea]

Currently on a self catering holiday for half term in the UK. My FIL turned arrived yesterday full of cold coughing continously. He said he's fine as he's done a LF. I pointed out as he has one on the main three symptoms he needs to have a PCR. He claims he had no idea that it was a requirement and doesn't know what the main symptoms of covid are. He said he would book a PCR but wasn't going to isolate whilst waiting for the results.

I'm so cross about it all 😤 How on earth, over 18 months later can people claim they don't know when they should get PCRs?!

We've all had covid, did LF, came up positive so did PCR to show work. We've also all had colds, flu etc. Did LF , came up negative, carried on as normal. I thought most people did that.

@Sootybear

We've all had covid, did LF, came up positive so did PCR to show work. We've also all had colds, flu etc. Did LF , came up negative, carried on as normal. I thought most people did that.

Yes, they do. Its the most sensible thing to do whilst getting on with your life. Covid isn’t everything.

Because he doesn’t want to know.

Suggest he listens to Nick Robinsons’ report on Today Programme this morning, from Royal Preston Hospital.

Have you told him to go home?

Biscoffandtea

Again I totally agree with this and I have a great deal of empathy with people in this situation. However, this is not my FIL's case, he is retired and has been for a number of years, has no commitments. I think it just doesn't suit him to isolate so is claiming ignorance.”

Yep, this.
You’re kinder than I am. I’d have sent him packing.

@SweetBabyCheeses99

Because you can’t force people into getting medical tests, whether it’s for their own good or others. Plenty of people have unprotected sex and then don’t have an STD test, sometimes passing infections on. Plenty of people at the moment have symptoms of serious illness such as cancer and they can’t even get a GP appointment let alone testing. The world doesn’t revolve around covid and people can’t get tests forever for the symptoms of a cold.

Why not if it keeps vulnerable people keep safe and transmission down, protects the NHS and limits the disruption high prevalence rates cause to the economy. It's hardly a big deal. It's likely to go on for ever if people can't get a grip and follow simple instructions from the medical profession.

No, it’s not. Do people care about spreading other viruses? How many times have people gone into work with a cold, or taken their kid to school with one? It’s everyone’s responsibility to keep themselves safe, it is not people’s responsibility to do that for everyone else.

Well people with covid are filling up our icus here in Ireland, so I think that is a bit more serious than a sniffle. If I had the flu absolutely I would stay away from people and have my kids do the same. Comparing the consequences for some people of catching covid to people catching a cold isn't really a fair comparison is it?

Plenty of people at the moment have symptoms of serious illness such as cancer and they can’t even get a GP appointment let alone testing.
The world doesn’t revolve around covid and people can’t get tests forever for the symptoms of a cold.

Can you explain how people spreading covid is going to help people get diagnosed with cancer?

Comparing the consequences for some people of catching covid to people catching a cold isn't really a fair comparison is it?

For some people it is. My point is that it’s not my personal responsibility to keep you or someone else safe. It’s yours and their responsibility for themselves. Same as it always has been.

@Mynameismargot

No, it’s not. Do people care about spreading other viruses? How many times have people gone into work with a cold, or taken their kid to school with one? It’s everyone’s responsibility to keep themselves safe, it is not people’s responsibility to do that for everyone else.

Well people with covid are filling up our icus here in Ireland, so I think that is a bit more serious than a sniffle. If I had the flu absolutely I would stay away from people and have my kids do the same. Comparing the consequences for some people of catching covid to people catching a cold isn't really a fair comparison is it?

True. Polio has about the same stats as covid. Would I act as normal if there was a good chance I had polio? No I wouldn't.

It's not a cold.

I think you are being naive to think people people don’t know. Of course they know. They just don’t want to test and want you to stop badgering them. LFT are actually a lot more reliable when you have symptoms but you actually have to do them, and a lot of people don’t.

@zoemum2006

You have news articles saying Lateral flows are a lot more reliable than thought and travellers now needing only lateral flows.

Why should people assume they’re rubbish?

And some can be used with symptoms, it says on the packet if they can.

@Overthebow

Comparing the consequences for some people of catching covid to people catching a cold isn't really a fair comparison is it?

For some people it is. My point is that it’s not my personal responsibility to keep you or someone else safe. It’s yours and their responsibility for themselves. Same as it always has been.

Well yeah absolutely I get your point, you made that clear. That doesn't mean I have to agree with it. I think that saying it's your fault you should have protected yourself from me is a pretty shitty attitude 🤷‍♀️ It's a bit like kids swinging their fists around saying if my fist happens to hit you then it's your fault.

OP your FIL isn't alone. I am a GP and am still having multiple conversations about this every day both in person and on the phone. I've had people book f2f about something else and come in coughing their guts out with btw Dr can I have some antibiotics for this cough I've had for a week that I didn't bother getting a test for because it's obviously not a covid cough. That after sitting in the waiting room for 15 minutes coughing everywhere spreading it around. So many people seem surprised when I suggest a covid test for their new onset cough/fever/change of taste or smell/sore throat/headache etc

I had a weird conversation with a family member who couldn't understand why I PCR tested DD with a cough. The confusion seemed to come from lack of understanding of the word 'symptoms'.

Family Member - "how can she have covid symptoms? She's doesn't have covid"?
Me - "I don't know if she has covid or not, that's why we're testing".
Family Member - "but you don't need a covid test for a normal cough".
Me - "cough is a symptom of covid, that's why we're testing"
Family Member - ?

Like you, OP, I wonder why otherwise intelligent people are just not getting the basic concepts?

Of course people know they just can’t be arsed anymore. I mean I for one am not going to test now. I simply cannot be arsed.

LFTs are more convenient and easily obtainable plus faster. PCRs are a ball ache.

I wish they’d update the PCR symptoms- it’s an open secret that the three symptoms are bullshit now. Changing them will do more good - because the current three symptoms
Are already confused with colds/flu so why not make it more targeted?

People keep saying we have to just live with covid. Ok but good luck getting nhs treatment when ICUs are backed up and they don’t have the space, time or capacity to treat you because covid means more ill people needing help.

@Treblebass

Of course people know they just can’t be arsed anymore. I mean I for one am not going to test now. I simply cannot be arsed.

More fool you

@SweetBabyCheeses99

Because you can’t force people into getting medical tests, whether it’s for their own good or others. Plenty of people have unprotected sex and then don’t have an STD test, sometimes passing infections on. Plenty of people at the moment have symptoms of serious illness such as cancer and they can’t even get a GP appointment let alone testing. The world doesn’t revolve around covid and people can’t get tests forever for the symptoms of a cold.

Except at the moment the world somewhat does revolve around Covid as it has caused 5 million deaths worldwide. Just get tested if you have symptoms - you might not care about dying, but the person next to you might.

@Treblebass

Of course people know they just can’t be arsed anymore. I mean I for one am not going to test now. I simply cannot be arsed.

Your ambulance driver that gets you to hospital when you can't breathe? She can drive fast, but she can't be arsed. She doesn't even pop the lights on for this one! Just doesn't feel arsed. Oh well.

I have a friend who keeps posting on Facebook about this awful cough and cold she has, exactly the same symptoms my DD has had and she had a positive PCR. This person's DD had chicken pox just before half term and she was posting aftwr a couple of days asking when she could send her back to school because even though she had loads of spots, she wasn't feeling unwell 🤦‍♀️ Her younger DD had a few spots appear and she posted "might need to keep her off tomorrow as well". Really?!

@Whitegrenache

Don't know or don't want to test?

I'm done with it all now I'm afraid.

Call me selfish - I'll Accept the name

If you'd just turn up and risk shitting over someone else's holiday because you are "done with it all" that puts you well into stupid, selfish bitch category.

OP - I was just thinking the very same thing. I am currently in my car in the car park at A & E whilst my elderly FIL is being assessed ( it's likely he will need surgery, we aren't just here for the outing...). Obviously I can't be in the hospital with him, and because he is elderly and in pain he is a little confused, and even at the best of times using a mobile phone is a challenge for him, so the staff have kindly said that I can come in very couple of hours and they will update me.

Stood in the very long queue a little while ago the lady in front of me had a cough, a persistent one. When she got to the desk she was immediately sent back outside and I heard them calling for someone to go and attend to her as she was another 'suspect COVID'. Clearly this is happening quite a bit. I find it astonishing that anyone would present at A&E, full of vulnerable people, young and old, with symptoms. How is that ever acceptable?!

Some humans are stupid, some humans are selfish. If you work on the basis that most (like your FIL) are a bit of both, then the world starts to make a lot more sense.

Plenty of people have unprotected sex and then don’t have an STD test, sometimes passing infections on.

First time I’ve heard covid being compared to an STD 😂 the things people say to excuse lazy testing honestly.

@Summerfun54321

Plenty of people have unprotected sex and then don’t have an STD test, sometimes passing infections on.

First time I’ve heard covid being compared to an STD 😂 the things people say to excuse lazy testing honestly.

I was a bit by this comment as well, STDs and covid just can't be compared- there is an inherent choice element with unprotected sex (the choice to have sex and the choice to do so unprotected). If that comparison is to be made with symptomatic people refusing to test, not isolating thereby potentially infecting others then surely a better analogy is when condom is removed during sex without the other party knowing?