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?

@Spaghettipie1

I agree. I work in a GP surgery, a huge proportion of my work is listening to chests to confirm that they don't need antibiotics because it is likely viral, and possibly Covid, but no PCR. Sometimes because they know it's not Covid (well I don't know it's not Covid so no idea how they do) and no they can't get a test because they need to get to work. It's soul destroying. *@DreamerSeven* you don't know it's not Covid, symptoms don't necessarily last long and it may well have been/be.

I know, I’m not the idiot who didn’t get their daughter tested!

But there were over a million tests done in the last 24 hours...

I agree OP, i certainly won't be getting a PCR test in the run up to xmas. If i feel ill, i'll stay home as i normally would for any illness.

I think you're just friends with selfish twats to be honest. Sorry but I dont know anyone that would do this. I can understand it if youre self employed and need the money but not spreading it to relatives for the sake of a few days at home

My suspicion, I guessed this would happen 3-4 days ago. I would be tempted too as we are triple vaxxed so unlikely to be positive for 10 days

@rightsideoftheroad, the ine reason why you want to do a PCR if you know LTF are positive and you are already isolating is

• if any of you get long covid then it will be registered as long covid (and you will help/support for that).

Otherwise, it will be treated as ME and believe me, the support is non existent (despite the fact the situation is the same, people not recovering after getting a virus….)

I am pretty certain there are loads of people not getting pcr tests to avoid ruining Christmas or disrupting their lives.

But even govt recommendations are ridiculous - if you live with someone who has Covid you don't need to get a pcr test just do daily lateral flow tests which are so unreliable. When my dc tested positive I took a pcr test just to be sure and despite daily negative LF tests and no symptoms I tested positive. I then got my other dc and dh to go test, again negative LF tests, no symptoms and again positive pcr. We tested again with LF and all negative.

I have a number of friends now with one child positive but relying on LF tests for the rest of the family, many of them will be spreading it. What a mess!

@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?

My dad had symptoms and didn't get tested but just isolated for 10 days. Obviously he didn't put anyone at risk but if this was covid it's a case that hasn't been counted in the statistics.

[quote Justheretoaskaquestion91]@PomegranateQueen

The fucking phone calls from test and trace when you have children is batshit. It’s not my fault the bureaucratic idiots can’t put both children under 2 who were at home with me during lockdown in the same folder/answer them at the same time. Such a stupid fucking system.[/quote]
When were your dc isolating? I heard that test and trace called all the time, but my DS (age 10) tested positive about 3 weeks ago, and we had just one phone call on the day his results came through. Weirdly, they were only interested in what school he goes to (school knew already), and I had to contact the couple of other places he had been.

Sounds about right. My boss decided even with symptoms for 4 days that he would only do lfts and not bother with a pcr because they were negative....the rest of us were annoyed because he came in on the 5th day coughing all over us but still wouldn't accept he should've done a pcr on the 1st day either way.

Sorry OP your hypothesis is flawed. We are in for some whopping numbers over the next few days.
That's my hypothesis BTW.

[quote Foolsrule]@ShirleyPhallus - that’s as may be, but it’s not what people are being told when contact tracing call…[/quote]
It is what I was told when test and trace called

How bloody selfish these people are! I have covid currently it's fucked up all the Christmas plans had but I still tested! I am symptomless only found out as I did a lateral flow before meeting friends 😭

@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're SUPPOSED to log the LFs! whether positive or not. Didn't you read the instructions?

This is definitely happening. I know at least one family who have deliberately not got PCRs knowing they probably have covid.

My DD22 had positive lft. Most of her seminar group tested positive. She isolated in her studio flat for 10 days but didn’t get pcr. I think there is a lot of under reporting.

@Lazypuppy

I agree OP, i certainly won't be getting a PCR test in the run up to xmas. If i feel ill, i'll stay home as i normally would for any illness.

@Lazypuppy If you would be isolating anyway, why wouldn’t you test? What if you become really unwell and need treatment but they don’t know what’s wrong with you because your positive PCR isn’t on record?

I am appalled at some of the posts on this thread.

Fucking hell. No wonder countries are halting the British entering their country.

I have just had Covid, my children also. It wouldn't have entered my head to not get a PCR and officially log the results.

What is happening in the UK is illustrated in part within these posts. Selfish people making up rules to suit them and them only. Yet when challenged there is always a justification - as if they are the only people in the world that matter.

What a shit show. I really am disturbed by how cavalier some people are about contracting this virus and not responding properly. Fucking assholes.

I think you just have to ask yourself what would Boris do? well, Boris shagged several other women during his marriage and fathered several children he doesn’t see, and then left his wife for one of said women. I guess that cheating is ok then since Boris did it?

Seriously all the “well x did y so that makes it ok,” statements just show people up as idiots.

Nobody should be being careful because they’re being told to be. People should be taking precautions, testing, being careful because COVID is spreading and the next person you give it to could be vulnerable and might not survive or might end up seriously ill. But hey Boris had a party so that means you take your lead from him, never mind taking some personal responsibility eh?

@Lennybenny

Sounds about right. My boss decided even with symptoms for 4 days that he would only do lfts and not bother with a pcr because they were negative....the rest of us were annoyed because he came in on the 5th day coughing all over us but still wouldn't accept he should've done a pcr on the 1st day either way.

two households I know that have positive PCRs didn’t get any positive LFT!

@AlternativePerspective

I think you just have to ask yourself what would Boris do? well, Boris shagged several other women during his marriage and fathered several children he doesn’t see, and then left his wife for one of said women. I guess that cheating is ok then since Boris did it?

Seriously all the “well x did y so that makes it ok,” statements just show people up as idiots.

Nobody should be being careful because they’re being told to be. People should be taking precautions, testing, being careful because COVID is spreading and the next person you give it to could be vulnerable and might not survive or might end up seriously ill. But hey Boris had a party so that means you take your lead from him, never mind taking some personal responsibility eh?

Exactly this! Bloody hell, it’s frightening how people are looking for excuses.

My friend has a very poorly daughter at the moment. Sickness. Temperate of 40. Lethargic, very poorly. She will not call 111 because she knows they will require a PCR. So she is refusing to get medical advice.

@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

You don't know it wasn't COVID though ,I only tested my son in July as he complained of a sore throat ,LFT was immediately positive confirmed by a PCR ,he only had mild symptoms and was fine within 48 hours ,it was still COVID though

[quote Foolsrule]@ShirleyPhallus - please stop spreading misinformation. I was told this Friday by contact tracing and a relative was told the same this morning. If you live in a house with a confirmed case, you are supposed to get a PCR.[/quote]
From the Gov website. This applies if you are vaccinated (2 doses).

Anyone aged 5 years and over who lives in the same household as someone with COVID-19 and who is not legally required to self-isolate is now strongly advised to take an LFD test every day for 7 days. If any of these LFD tests are positive they should self-isolate in order to protect other people. The public health advice for people with symptoms of, or a positive test result for COVID-19 remains the same for everyone.

@DramaLlllama

My friend has a very poorly daughter at the moment. Sickness. Temperate of 40. Lethargic, very poorly. She will not call 111 because she knows they will require a PCR. So she is refusing to get medical advice.

That is criminal behaviour