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?

17th Dec 92,503
18th Dec 89,074
19th Dec 82,886

@shouldistop @LibrariesGiveUsPower

The last three days have been increasing and the numbers of tests are up hugely. You’re off the mark.

Here’s the link to the daily stats

coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

And your friends are very unusual.

[quote Justheretoaskaquestion91]@DreamerSeven

How do you know it’s not covid, I don’t understand?[/quote]
Are you getting me confused with ChangeChingyChange? It’s not my daughter who had covid symptoms.

@ChangeChingyChange

My daughter technically had symptoms for 2 days and I put my head in the sand to it. She had a runny nose and cough but she does have asthma. She's absolutely fine now though so I know its not covid and she's OK but lesson learned I should just do LFTs and accept the outcome instead of putting my head in the sand. I'm just desperate for her not to miss Christmas with the in laws which I know is silly really

Say what?

@Moonbabysmum

True; however my hypothesis is that the numbers will continue to fall next week.

😂 Yes, I know the evidence is actually that cases are going up, but my hypothesis is that they are falling...

Lol.

I think in your post you're trying to have a pop but I'm not sure it's worked as that's the point I'm trying to make...

My hypothesis isn't that the cases are actually falling. It is that the positive PCR results are falling (and will continue to do so over the next few days), because people aren't bothering to get a PCR as they don't want to isolate over Christmas.

When DD had 2 positive LFTs I didn't see the point in doing a PCR. We knew she had it, we isolated her, tested the rest of the household, reacted accordingly.
I only bothered with a PCR in the end because school needed it to accurately record her absence. Otherwise it seemed redundant.
To the people above implying there are loads of reasons for doing a PCR, aside from contributing to statistics, what are those reasons?

We arrived back in London last weekend. None of my immediate friends have it but anecdotally friends of friends seemed to have picked it up in hospitality, parties and dinners and gigs the previous week.

Loads of people are now isolating, the pubs are empty and loads of stuff is cancelled so it seems reasonable numbers will drop next week because mobility is so restricted. Kids off school in lots of places too.

@LibrariesGiveUsPower

They haven’t dropped the last 3 days, the last 3 days were highest ever!

The figures have dropped slightly the last two days. And yes, I suspect people are avoiding testing.

Not testing doesn’t mean you don’t have it. How incredibly stupid.

They have also removed the requirement for a PCR for people with no symptoms living in a household with someone who has tested positive.

Err, no they haven’t! Was told this on Friday…

Yes there’s so many people doing this, particularly with school aged children, that it is the reason I am not seeing a relative who needs a transplant. My Dd, who is clinically vulnerable, has been bravely wearing a mask at secondary school (luckily not too many comments) but of course it doesn’t protect the wearer much. She has had little social life since this began.

@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 can log them

@ChangeChingyChange how do you know it isn’t Covid if you haven’t done a test?

Symptoms can be very mild and short lived or indeed completely symptomless.

@ChangeChingyChange

My daughter technically had symptoms for 2 days and I put my head in the sand to it. She had a runny nose and cough but she does have asthma. She's absolutely fine now though so I know its not covid and she's OK but lesson learned I should just do LFTs and accept the outcome instead of putting my head in the sand. I'm just desperate for her not to miss Christmas with the in laws which I know is silly really

Those were my DH's symptoms this week for 2 days. Positive PCR.

You can't just pretend it's not happening. Hope your in laws have all their jabs.

@DreamerSeven

I am indeed! I’m sorry, my question was for @ChangeChingyChange

@Foolsrule

Not testing doesn’t mean you don’t have it. How incredibly stupid.

They have also removed the requirement for a PCR for people with no symptoms living in a household with someone who has tested positive.

Err, no they haven’t! Was told this on Friday…

The current advice is to take daily LFTs instead

@ImaginaryCat

When DD had 2 positive LFTs I didn't see the point in doing a PCR. We knew she had it, we isolated her, tested the rest of the household, reacted accordingly. I only bothered with a PCR in the end because school needed it to accurately record her absence. Otherwise it seemed redundant. To the people above implying there are loads of reasons for doing a PCR, aside from contributing to statistics, what are those reasons?

To get full pay from work? Qualify for an isolation grant?

Rates haven’t dropped though. They were showing lower yesterday and today because it’s the weekend and the figures are always lower on the weekend, and then they jump up again by Tuesday. So I would expect lower rates tomorrow and then an increase on tuesday when the figures have caught up.

@Bluntness100

The last three days have been increasing and the numbers of tests are up hugely. You’re off the mark.

Here’s the link to the daily stats

coronavirus.data.gov.uk/

And your friends are very unusual.

From your own link -

17th Dec 92,503
18th Dec 89,074
19th Dec 82,886

Positive cases fell by approx 3,500 from 17th to 18th and then fell by approximately 6,000 from 18th to 19th.

Because - I think - people don't want to isolate over Christmas so are not going for PCRs!

I work from home again now, due to the wfh if you can mandate. If I got symptoms or a positive LF, I'd just isolate, wouldn't bother going out for a PCR. I'd take DD out of nursery too and just explain to my employer. If they said well you need to confirm with a PCR to keep DD at home with you, I'd go and get one. Given their past actions though, they aren't that strict.

Some people who can't work from home will probably need a PCR to claim sick leave though.

@Glassery Please do share. I’m not being difficult, I can’t see why I should encourage her to get one.

She knows she has Corona and is isolating. She’s following the rules.

What difference does a PCR test make?

@AlternativePerspective

Rates haven’t dropped though. They were showing lower yesterday and today because it’s the weekend and the figures are always lower on the weekend, and then they jump up again by Tuesday. So I would expect lower rates tomorrow and then an increase on tuesday when the figures have caught up.

Well, we shall see.

I have never seen a thread where OP has had to re-explain herself so many times

I’m meant to be running an event on 23rd (totally ridiculous I know, but the client is insisting, assuming it doesn’t legally get cancelled) and we’ve just been told all staff/crew have to PCR beforehand. Lots of staff now pulling out as they don’t want to PCR before Christmas.

@RedMozzieYellowMozzie

Where can you log please?

I know people who have had lateral flows the whole family but haven't done pcrs because they are doing the right thing and isolating their 10 days. I don't know anyone who would carry on with a positive lft that's ridiculous. And kids don't have symptoms so how did the pp know her daughter didn't have COVID after she finished her runny nose symptoms!!! It's ridiculous that but the not going for PCR is quite common

In the non-mumsnet real world I know a lot of people absolutely avoiding testing. Not even so much because its Christmas but because we've just done a massively long term of constant tests and everyone is at the point of fed up.