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Original poster

Haven’t done a PCR test - worried

58 replies

holly76666 · 07/11/2021 07:58

I started developing all the classic Covid symptoms and immediately did a lateral flow test, which unsurprisingly came back positive. I’ve been self isolating ever since and tomorrow is my last day. DH and my toddlers don’t have it yet as far as I know (DH is doing daily lateral flows and the DC aren’t showing any symptoms).

Do I still need to do a PCR or have I left it too late now? Also, could I get in trouble for not having done one?

OP posts:
cowburp · 07/11/2021 08:15

@holly76666

Could I also have put my family or others at risk? Sad We’ve been careful for the duration - DH has been taking the DC out but only for walks and not meeting anyone.
The only thing I can think of is the people you met just before you got symptoms won't be told or notified on the app. But there must be loads of people not testing and spreading it these days.
cowburp · 07/11/2021 08:16

It sounds like you've all been cautious so that's good. Not like you've all just carried on regardless.

WhoCaresNotMe · 07/11/2021 08:16

I wouldn't have one anyway and would just isolate and tell people myself, not going on holiday or anywhere that would need a test anytime soon. anyone could have had it anyway without knowing.

Iggly · 07/11/2021 08:16

[quote holly76666]@Iggly should I order a PCR now for my DC a even though they’re not showing symptoms? Should I also order one for my DH?

My judgment is shocking sometimes, I feel so annoyed with myself.[/quote]
Yes!

For example, my dd tested positive on a lateral flow. So we ordered tests for her and everyone else in the house (it asked why and I said “because we were in close contact”).

We tested her first then waited a few days and tested the rest of us just in case. (We didn’t show symptoms). All tests were negative.

Karwomannghia · 07/11/2021 08:17

Don’t worry about it. Dd had several positive LFT and did go for a pcr but the results never materialised. We just treated her as if she did have it with isolation etc. I also told her school because they were testing on the first day back within 90 days so would have risked testing positive when she wasn’t still really. I’ve also had it which was confirmed with a pcr and had to tell work and various other people for it to go on record and not one has asked to see the email from the test.
As for being worried about putting your family at risk, that’s the same whether you do a pcr test or not.

cowburp · 07/11/2021 08:17

[quote holly76666]@Iggly should I order a PCR now for my DC a even though they’re not showing symptoms? Should I also order one for my DH?

My judgment is shocking sometimes, I feel so annoyed with myself.[/quote]
Up to you and your DH really. I would personally but I'm cautious.

Original poster
holly76666 · 07/11/2021 08:21

In our local authority the guidance is not to PCR test under fives just isolate for five days if a household member tests positive.

@Bowlofhotslop oh, is that really the case? I’ve been completely stressing out that I’ve somehow harmed my DC by not getting them a PCR done.

OP posts:
Quartz2208 · 07/11/2021 08:21

I think the guidance says if you don’t PCR test then you must treat it as positive and isolate for 10 days which she has done.

Realistically what would track and trace have done informed people they may have been in contact with a positive case - the majority of whom would not need to isolate and one suspects not PCR either

I assume your family were LFT if so it’s fine

The only downside is that you could be positive for 90 days of you wanted to travel

Karwomannghia · 07/11/2021 08:30

How have you harmed your dc by not testing them? Tests don’t prevent infection.

trumpisagit · 07/11/2021 08:31

You have done fine OP. Don't worry.

cowburp · 07/11/2021 08:32

I’ve been completely stressing out that I’ve somehow harmed my DC by not getting them a PCR done

Think it through- deep breath, sip of water.

All that testing DC will do is tell you if DC has covid or not. It's not going to give her covid. So if they've had covid then you haven't noticed and they've been fine.

Bowlofhotslop · 07/11/2021 08:33

@holly76666 yes I was really surprised, official letter from the council via nursery. The rules have changed, if you are under 18 or double vaccinated you don’t need to isolate at all even if a household member tests positive. The government website actually says “ Children and young people aged under 18 years 6 months who usually attend an education or childcare setting and who have been identified as a close contact should continue to attend the setting as normal” so our local five day isolation is extra really. It sounds like your family have been more careful than the minimum so there’s really nothing to worry about. Having a PCR would make no difference to whether your kids catch it.

Lalliella · 07/11/2021 08:35

I wouldn’t worry OP. It sounds like you’ve all been cautious. What I would do though now is to order PCRs for the whole family, you can go on the system and say one of you has had symptoms for a couple of days. If they come back negative no problem. If one or more is positive, then you’ll get a phone all but it’s perfectly fine, just tell them that you haven’t been out much and they won’t bother you again. I think this is the best way to put your anxiety to bed on this one.

rwalker · 07/11/2021 08:42

You've isolated and contacts would of been recommend PCR . The only problem now is if you PCR the family and any test positive T and T will be on at you as a contact to test and you could well test positive (90 days) and they would make you isolate for another 10 .
.

rainbowandglitter · 07/11/2021 08:45

Have you told everyone you've been in contact with before your positive test? If not, they could have been going out and about and possibly spreading it without realising

JKDinomum · 07/11/2021 08:50

@holly76666

Thinking about it, I’m so worried that I could have put my DC at risk Sad What if they’ve had it without us knowing?
Loads of kids probably have had it without knowing, it doesn't really matter or make any difference to anything.

If you are anxious, test your kids / DH now. My friend's son tested positive 11 days after her, having isolated with her for 10 days.

Otherwise, you really don't need to worry about test and trace etc. It's not Big Brother who's going to arrest you for not testing. There's no requirement to test, it's only a recommendation. You've done the safe and legal thing by isolating for ten days.

vdbfamily · 07/11/2021 08:52

You cannot harm your children by NOT testing them. If they had become unwell with Covid you would have noticed they were unwell.

SpookyPumpkinPants · 07/11/2021 08:56

@holly76666

Not testing your children hasn't put them at risk, how could it have? It doesn't prevent transmission, it just tells you if they have it or not.

If they've had it & had no symptoms, all good! If they didn't get it, all good.

You all isolated which is good.

Test & trace are variable, but are not there to find people who didn't get a PCR test, not to work out where you have been (but not told them) if you do get a PCR, so you really don't have anything to worry about at all!!

nothing to worry about at all

TinaYouFatLard · 07/11/2021 08:57

Give yourself a break OP. No possible harm could have come to your children by not testing them.

Original poster
holly76666 · 07/11/2021 09:05

Not testing your children hasn't put them at risk, how could it have? It doesn't prevent transmission, it just tells you if they have it or not.

My worry is that if they have had it without me knowing, it now won’t be on their medical records going forward, which could cause an issue if they are unlucky enough to get long Covid or other complications further down the line. If they’d had a PCR it would have been picked up and put on their records.

OP posts:
Starlightstarbright1 · 07/11/2021 09:11

You have had too much time to think.my ds was in a car with someone who tested positive. She didn't do a pcr just isolated and told everyone she was in close contact with. Dc went to school as normal. My ds did lateral flows and is fine.

You isolated as you aren't travelling don't worry.

Remember at the beginning they didn't even test if you had symptoms

Iggly · 07/11/2021 09:13

Did you inform close contacts that you had covid? I.e people who had seen you in the days before you got the positive?

That’s the main issue.

Idontgiveagriffindamn · 07/11/2021 09:19

@holly76666

Not testing your children hasn't put them at risk, how could it have? It doesn't prevent transmission, it just tells you if they have it or not.

My worry is that if they have had it without me knowing, it now won’t be on their medical records going forward, which could cause an issue if they are unlucky enough to get long Covid or other complications further down the line. If they’d had a PCR it would have been picked up and put on their records.

But if they’ve not had any symptoms then why would they get long Covid? You’re massively overthinking this.
DumplingsAndStew · 07/11/2021 09:24

Continously seeing people applauding that positive cases are going down (which is a great thing) then reading many instances of people not getting a PCR test, or advocating that others don't. You realise these infections won't be counted in any stats?

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