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Original poster

To think rates are going down because people are choosing not to have PCRs?

357 replies

Glassery · 19/12/2021 16:38

Two of my friendship group have this weekend told me that they have symptoms, have got a positive lateral flow, but have decided not to go for a PCR test as a positive result means they would have to isolate over Christmas.

Instead they are going to carry on with their lives as normal for the next few days ‘because it would be a shame to have to make the children stay home’ with them.

Personally I think it’s a disgrace but anyway…

AIBU to think the drop in rates over the past few days is not because Covid cases are falling but instead because selfish people don’t want to isolate until 28th Dec?

OP posts:
Darbs76 · 19/12/2021 22:36

It’s good to get a positive LFT confirmed as it might help travel plans later on. My kids could only attend their uncle’s wedding in Poland as they had covid in last 6 months. So even if people just order a home test it’s better to get it officially confirmed

MrsJackWhicher · 19/12/2021 22:47

Family member today tested positive on a LFT. She had told people she she has been in contact with so they can LFT test, she will self-isolate. No reason to do a PCR and all the jobsworth heavy machinery that work involve.

Buttermaflooby · 19/12/2021 22:48

Probably so they don't have to put up with track and trace calling 50 million times a day. Take an lft and isolate in peace!

GoodPrincessWenceslas · 19/12/2021 22:57

The drop in rates has only been yesterday and today, and that's primarily because it's the weekend when reporting is always more dodgy.

MooseBreath · 19/12/2021 23:21

I'm the opposite. The slightest tingling in my throat and I've had a PCR test because I'm so worried about spreading it to my vulnerable SIL.

Sugarplumfairy65 · 19/12/2021 23:31

@Badbadbunny

Yes, people either aren't doing the LFT tests or not reporting the positive results.

In my son's flat at Uni, one of them tested positive on Tuesday. The others just beggared off home on Wednesday (early as the term didn't finish until Friday). That just left my son and the positive case. My son couldn't come home as we're both CEV and can't risk him coming home if he has it. He tested positive on Thursday (LFT) and has symptoms.

All his flat mates have since said they've either got symptoms or had a positive test at home. They all used public transport to get home, so heaven knows how many people they infected on the way.

They basically didn't test because they didn't want to risk having to isolate and be unable to get home before christmas.

That's just one flat of 10 people. If that's repeated in other places, it's huge numbers of people out there delaying/refusing tests just so that they can continue as normal and not having to risk isolation.

This is terrifying. Especially given the news last week from blood cancer UK that one in 100 people with blood cancer are dying of covid.
Sugarplumfairy65 · 19/12/2021 23:37

[quote invinoveritass]@antisocialsocialclub almost as angry as it makes me, to think we're all being crippled for a virus so deadly, you need to test to see whether you've actually got it 🥴[/quote]
You just dont get it do you? You can be asymptomatic and passing it on to people who are not as lucky as you.

I'm presume you are healthy and unlikely to suffer much or develop complications if you catch it? Well guess what? There are millions of people who are not as lucky as you.

CoffeeMuggins · 19/12/2021 23:42

People are absolutely avoiding testing. I've had a close friend tell me they won't be testing even though they had a temperature and being unable to swallow. They didn't feel bad for long so they're clearly okay, apparently. There was a fight and we agreed to disagree. Taking a bit of a break from that whole mess.

Covidworries · 19/12/2021 23:48

The other reason to test is to catch omi varient as this requires close contact to isolate for 10 days in wales at least

imtiredandiwanttogotobed · 19/12/2021 23:51

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

imtiredandiwanttogotobed · 19/12/2021 23:52

Argh wrong thread

antisocialsocialclub · 20/12/2021 00:12

I don’t this is true but someone on here (who I think was a GP) said if you don’t take a PCR, the fact you’ve had COVID isn’t on your medical records and this is important, something to do with getting the right care if you get long COVID. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Explosivefarts · 20/12/2021 00:19

@Peakedtoosoon

I don't think I know anyone who wouldn't isolate with a positive test (certainly not who would carry on as usual, maybe some who would still go out for a walk) but I do think now schools are closed and people have time off work, they'll just stay at home rather than take a PCR.
Not everywhere we finish on Wednesday
Chloemol · 20/12/2021 00:40

@Glassery

Two of my friendship group have this weekend told me that they have symptoms, have got a positive lateral flow, but have decided not to go for a PCR test as a positive result means they would have to isolate over Christmas.

Instead they are going to carry on with their lives as normal for the next few days ‘because it would be a shame to have to make the children stay home’ with them.

Personally I think it’s a disgrace but anyway…

AIBU to think the drop in rates over the past few days is not because Covid cases are falling but instead because selfish people don’t want to isolate until 28th Dec?

Yes they are wrong to do this

But never mind when we go into lockdown you can thank them as it’s their actions, and those like them, that’s got us there

Cbtb · 20/12/2021 01:15

Reasons to get a PCR after a positive lateral flow

  1. So it can be tested and sequenced for new variants - that’s how omicron was picked up
  2. So that the government has accurate spread figures to plan (badly)
  3. So that you are documented to have covid in your medical records and so can access long covid clinics if needed.
  4. So that you have covid recorded in your records and so can document when you got infected - so if you test positive within 90days or whatever it is you don’t have to isolate again
  5. In case you are in the small minority who had a false postive lat flow - pretty stupid to isolate for 10 days when you don’t have to
  6. So you can access isolation payments if needed
hellosunshineagainx · 20/12/2021 01:21

Quite the opposite here, had to go for pcr three times the past five days (husband then child then me) and it's never been so busy!

Beseen22 · 20/12/2021 05:45

@eggybrains your trust must have a much better set up that mine because that is not the case across the board. If HDU don't have a side room available you will sit in the hell that is medical admissions until HDU can get a room flipped (took a grand 7 hours last night). If you had taken the PCR when you first had a positive LFT you could go straight to the main high care respiratory pathway bay to commence NIV because you have a documented case to commence.

StripyHorse · 20/12/2021 07:30

@Justheretoaskaquestion91

If you have a positive LF and you’re isolating I can easily see why you wouldn’t do a PCR. For me it’s a total ball ache to have to go to a test centre as I have 2 small children. Ordering them to home can also take days and god knows if it even shows still. They should make it possible to just log LF positives online or something if people so choose.
You are supposed to log all your tests (positive and negative). Realistically, it's not the end of the world I suppose if you don't log a negative, but the positives do start the ball rolling with contact tracing etc.
bananaandoears · 20/12/2021 07:34

I thought cases are rising, not falling.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 20/12/2021 07:39

I don't understand why we're supposed to log negative LFTs. Mine are going straight in the bin, I'm not faffing around logging anything!

OhWhyNot · 20/12/2021 07:43

I know a few people that are not testing when really they should be

Many can not afford to be off work

Jessie75 · 20/12/2021 07:47

That and people aren’t being allowed to work from home I’ve spoken to a number of my contacts and colleagues and they are expected in the office as usual and I doubt a lockdown would be obaide either, people have had enough.

ohfook · 20/12/2021 07:47

Yes I know a few people who have tested positive on a lateral flow and then haven't gone to get a pcr because they haven't seen the point. They all work from home though and have taken it upon themselves to isolate.

PoloMintHum · 20/12/2021 07:50

The trouble is that some people are over testing, taking all the lfts and selfishly hoarding them. In my area they've been out of stock when I checked twice this week.

So the hoarders are responsible for excess plastic waste, plus covid spreading because other people can't obtain LFTs.

MsEmmeline · 20/12/2021 08:13

Why does everything have to be so divisive? Anti-vaxxers, people not doing LFTs, now people doing LFTs Confused. It suits the government for the population to be fighting within itself, because we're then not looking at them and holding them accountable for what they're doing (or not doing).

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