Are people still getting non-COVID viruses?

[Frazzledstar1]

Been feeling a bit unwell with a scratchy throat so been doing LF tests for 5 days in a row now, all negative so far. Cough has turned wet/chesty (little bit of phlegm coming up - sorry tmi) and now I have a slightly raised temperature. Is it possible that I’ve caught a regular old cold virus, or should I be waiting for the positive LF to appear?

About 1 month ago I was feeling crappy with a raised fever and I’d travelled abroad so had received fit to fly tests and day 2 tests etc and all negative. So I’m hopeful this is just a cold. Can anyone offer me some positive vibes? I have a Christmas trip planned and I’d hate to miss it

I had the scratchy throat followed by the feel of razor blades in my throat last week, felt similar to tonsillitis, I was unwell for 3 days then it eased off (just left a slight cough), all tests were negative.

@Angelton

You shouldn’t be using a LFT if you have symptoms, it won’t give you a correct result. You need a PCR.

LFTs are actually most accurate when you have symptoms. While you are symptomatic a single LFT is likely to pick up 90 - 95% of Covid cases. For asymptomatic people, they detect fewer. I've posted above about the rationale for advising PCRs for those with symptoms, but happy to give more detail if anyone would like. I can see that the advice usually given on this may lead people to believe that LFTs don't work if you have symptoms, but it's actually the opposite!

You don't have a child in nursery do you OP? :o We must have had at least ten non-covid viruses this year.

Thanks everyone for your comments, just to update that it turns out I do have COVID

I seem to be lucky enough that it’s hasn’t affected me much more than a bad cold would, will certainly be much more on the ball in the future should DCs etc present symptoms, or me again I guess!

When did you eventually get a positive test OP? I must have done about 7 LFT and 2 PCR, all negative, before I gave up and accepted it wasn’t Covid!

Funny enough later the same day that I started this thread! I tested negative in the morning, it positive in the evening on LFT. Then had confirmed with a PCR the next day. So was day 2 of having symptoms, approx 4 days after being in contact with others who tested positive.