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

[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?

@Siameasy

If you do PCR they phone you every day Certainly not doing any asymptomatic LFTs here. Having said that could be a chance to miss work in January so maybe might do one a week

Not in my experience, both of my children have had covid, separate times. I was called soon after the positive, provided what was required and that was that. I suspect many people complaining about being called constantly are not actually answering the calls.

@ChangeChingyChange - are you for real?

OMG! This means there will be A LOT of covid-positive people in shops and groceries!!

So many people doing this now. I was speaking to a lady who lives locally and she was on her way back from taking her son to school and then told me she’d got covid and felt terrible. I was trying not to make it too obvious as I backed away. I don’t know why I felt the need to not show I was horrified. Ridiculously British of me!
Also my daughter was meant to be going to a wedding but decided against it. The brides mum was apparently telling guests not to do pcr tests incase they tested positive.

Could it be because there is a shortage of tests at the moment too?

There is a shortage of lateral flow tests.

@aliceca heard about the shortage of lateral flows too, and then 2 days later was the PCR shortage on top of that.

I have a question. It's something that I have pondered (usually at 3am when insomnia hits). My question is this...if you register a positive LFT, do a PCR which is also positive does that then show up in the figures as 2 cases of Covid or 1?

The bases of this is...how would they know that it is the same person doing the tests and not 2 different people?

@trappedsincesundaymorn

The bases of this is...how would they know that it is the same person doing the tests and not 2 different people?

I asked this on the data thread and apparently it is merged and counted as one case, confirmed by PCR. A fancy word beginning with Dupl...

@aliceca

There is a shortage of lateral flow tests.

I ordered mine online last night. They arrived today.

www.gov.uk/order-coronavirus-rapid-lateral-flow-tests

Sorry to burst your bubble but my DD woke with a cough which I was sure would turn into a chest infection, obviously doc wouldn’t see her until tested. She was better by the day of the test which was 2 days later (we did the test just to be sure) but still came back positive. Don’t be selfish just because YOU don’t want to miss the festivities.

I agree with shouldistop.
Numbers are not dropping.
Trying to get lateral flow kits is difficult.
Some idiots are still attending and having get togethers. They are a danger to others and in denial there’s so much selfishness.
My friends neighbour had a party this weekend.

Pcr tests are also used to look at genetic sequence of the virus.. That is how scientist find new mutations and learn whether or vaccines need updating. No pcr, no information

@Tigger1895

Sorry to burst your bubble but my DD woke with a cough which I was sure would turn into a chest infection, obviously doc wouldn’t see her until tested. She was better by the day of the test which was 2 days later (we did the test just to be sure) but still came back positive. Don’t be selfish just because YOU don’t want to miss the festivities.

Sorry that was meant to go to Changechingychange

So they dont have the pcr test...would that not mean that numbers go up? As they infect more people? Hmm.? Yet numbers go dow you say? Just saying...😂😂

YANBU
I'm not happy today to find out a teacher at my sons school has had symptoms for a week but hasn't tested for 2 reasons.

1. The head asked her not to as they are already short staffed.
2. She didn't want to spoil Xmas

So she's carried on working for over a week, with a continuous cough, potentially infecting a lot of people who may go on to be ill themselves over Christmas. I'm fuming

I won’t test. Any excuse for a lack down. When it’s highly unnecessary. The NHS isn’t overwhelmed. Need to just get on with life.

@FaLaLaLaLaaaar

Yes, my DM has had 2 positive lat flows, but hasn’t bothered getting a PCR. She knows she has Corona and is isolating, so why does she need a PCR?

I really would encourage her to get an official PCR. If she has complications or long covid, having the positive on her record really will help any furtive medical treatment. Also if she still tests positive in a month and goes for treatment, they’ll count it as her first positive and stick her back in a covid bay.

@Angrywife

YANBU I'm not happy today to find out a teacher at my sons school has had symptoms for a week but hasn't tested for 2 reasons.

1. The head asked her not to as they are already short staffed.
2. She didn't want to spoil Xmas

So she's carried on working for over a week, with a continuous cough, potentially infecting a lot of people who may go on to be ill themselves over Christmas. I'm fuming

That really is awful and I would be naming and shaming the school to the press for that. That one person going in has potentially made many families miss Christmas!

I think most people would still isolate with a positive LFT even if they didn't bother with the PCR. How can you enjoy Christmas with your family knowing you might infect them?

I definitely think a lot of people probably don't bother with the confirmatory PCR and likely don't report the LFT result either. They just accept it and stay inside for a few days.

I wouldn't bother with a PCR, I would isolate though, I am retired so it is quite easy to do this plus then I wouldn't have T&T pestering me

@Queenbee77 I think it's more about the ability to track the numbers, if they're no tests sent off then they can't be sure it was or not, so doesn't clearly show what the levels actually are.

My friends 3yr old daughter was really poorly on saturday. Temp of 40, vomiting, lethargic. Very unwell. She refused to get medical advice in case she had to get a PCR. Could have been meningitis but she flatly refused to call 111. People are definitrly avoiding being tested.

One of my adult daughters had a 'slight cold', took a test and it was positive. 2 days later she has no symptoms but still has to isolate because she's infectious. If she goes out and unknowingly infects an ambulance driver, or a doctor, a nurse or a refuse collector, those people will have to isolate and it may ruin their Christmas and mean they can't work. Putting others at risk has a knock on effect on society and is totally irresponsible. She's not out of isolation until after Christmas day so will miss our whole family Christmas, but she has chosen to do the right thing.