Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Anyone else no longer testing WITHOUT symptoms?

223 replies

Throwawayy · 26/12/2021 10:42

I know I'll get the typical "so selfish how COULD you" type posts but is anyone else no longer testing when they have no symptoms?

I've had PCRs a few times with colds and things this year and have done LFTs too. I've ran out though now and I don't intend on getting more right now and will go for a PCR if I have symptoms.

If someone I was meeting asked, I'd do one. But other than that I feel like no longer testing when I feel fine.

OP posts:
shinynewapple21 · 26/12/2021 12:16

@Potatodrivers

I've only ever tested when we have been a bit unwell.

I did test without symptoms yesterday because my dad asked before we went for dinner. He hasn't cared previously and I don't think he will care again now. I think it was just the whole Christmas thing and the news telling people to test beforehand.

He may have asked you to test because of the high level of cases rather than because it's Christmas. We asked our adult DS and his partner to test before our Christmas meet up yesterday. We've not asked him to do this before this week either, but given the high case numbers and that he's out socialising a lot it seems a sensible thing to do at the moment . As a courtesy we tested too. Until very recently I would only test before visiting my mum or anyone else I knew to be vulnerable.

HoldUppppp · 26/12/2021 12:21

I just lie and say I test should anyone seem worried but I'd only test if I was actually poorly

Parker231 · 26/12/2021 12:23

@HoldUppppp

I just lie and say I test should anyone seem worried but I'd only test if I was actually poorly
I despair!
Svara · 26/12/2021 12:23

But those 3 main symptoms aren't the same for this new variant. I just got over covid and was sneezing with runny nose and fatigue plus body aches.
Tbh I haven't been unwell in 21 months so it hasn't come up. Though, I wouldn't be eligible for a PCR if I had other symptoms.

Bollocks2Covid · 26/12/2021 12:34

Most of the people I know with Covid at the moment are presenting with cold symptoms not the traditional Covid symptoms we’ve had drummed into us. If you are unwell you need a PCR.

Springhere · 26/12/2021 12:39

I test twice weekly for work (a school) and before seeing vulnerable relatives. I don't find it a hassle at all.

lorca · 26/12/2021 12:43

I have never tested.

I worked throughout 2020 in a private clinic, seeing upwards of 30 patients a day. Never had any symptoms (and in those days, no testing either)
I've recently worked the past few months in a supermarket, never tested, no symptoms.

I know 4 people who've had Covid, all mildly.

I'm in London.

vickyc90 · 26/12/2021 12:53

We've come to a new balance test before seeing vulnerable grandparents not testing any other time unless we have to. Seems like a massive waste of plastic if you are avoiding the vulnerable. I would rather not test and not see them than miss everything if we are asymptomatic. If we keep calm ride the exit wave there will Be plenty of time at Easter to catch up once this has passed.

Wish Borris would shield the vulnerable so more people think like us

Parker231 · 26/12/2021 12:54

@lorca

I have never tested.

I worked throughout 2020 in a private clinic, seeing upwards of 30 patients a day. Never had any symptoms (and in those days, no testing either)
I've recently worked the past few months in a supermarket, never tested, no symptoms.

I know 4 people who've had Covid, all mildly.

I'm in London.

Why haven’t you regularly tested as you are spending time with the general public? You could be asymptomatic and passing it onto many others.
UnsuitableHat · 26/12/2021 12:59

I’d slacked off a bit on testing but have done it most days over Christmas due to meeting people & mixing.

Original poster
Throwawayy · 26/12/2021 13:02

It isn't hard to understand yet people are still getting it wrong

No it isn't hard to understand. I'm not finding it difficult. I know what LFTs are for.

What I'm saying is if I have symptoms I'll do a PCR as I'm supposed to. But I'm done with the LFTs.

OP posts:
Twiglets1 · 26/12/2021 13:03

I work in a school and got fed up doing flow tests all the time when most pupils don’t bother and their parents don’t make them. Now I just do it at the start of term and lots of other staff have quietly told me they do the same thing now

lorca · 26/12/2021 13:04

Parker231 - because I wasn't required to.

Because I wouldn't get paid if I don't go to work.
Because in the early days of all this, I was the only one in the clinic - everyone else was furloughed.

Also if I was likely to infect them, they were just as likely to infect me. But they didn't. And I didn't. As I know only 4 people who've even had Covid. (one twice)

LoannaJumley · 26/12/2021 13:04

@vickyc90

We've come to a new balance test before seeing vulnerable grandparents not testing any other time unless we have to. Seems like a massive waste of plastic if you are avoiding the vulnerable. I would rather not test and not see them than miss everything if we are asymptomatic. If we keep calm ride the exit wave there will Be plenty of time at Easter to catch up once this has passed.

Wish Borris would shield the vulnerable so more people think like us

I'm vulnerable, work full time as a key worker. Would you like me and the millions like me to stay home? You do know what would happen don't you?
nordica · 26/12/2021 13:12

I never understand people who say they are not testing as some great act of rebellion.

The people you are putting at risk most of all are those you probably also care about the most in general and spend the most time with - your family and close friends, your work colleagues, and anyone you pay for services who might not get any sick pay if they get ill like your cleaner, hairdresser and so on.

What exactly is the issue? If you test, it takes a few minutes and if it's negative, then happy days, continue as you were. If it does happen to be positive then you can ensure you don't give covid to your elderly relatives or the friend or colleague with a CEV family member.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 26/12/2021 13:46

@nordica

I never understand people who say they are not testing as some great act of rebellion.

The people you are putting at risk most of all are those you probably also care about the most in general and spend the most time with - your family and close friends, your work colleagues, and anyone you pay for services who might not get any sick pay if they get ill like your cleaner, hairdresser and so on.

What exactly is the issue? If you test, it takes a few minutes and if it's negative, then happy days, continue as you were. If it does happen to be positive then you can ensure you don't give covid to your elderly relatives or the friend or colleague with a CEV family member.

But that's not true though. Because you are likely incubating Covid before you test positive. I met friends on Wednesday for drinks, one of them does LFTs daily as she works at a hospital. She tested negative that day, but got a positive the following day. 2 other friends we were with have subsequently tested positive today. So she did pass it on despite doing daily tests. Often it is detected too late.
NeverForgetYourDreams · 26/12/2021 14:01

Have only tested when come into contact with someone with positive PCR test which has been once since the start. Which was week before last. Two colleagues both positive. I tested for 10 days all negative no symptoms. Stopped testing now.

toomuchlaundry · 26/12/2021 14:06

For those saying it is a waste of plastic and cost, just think how much extra resources have been used in hospitals etc because some people can't be bothered to test and have helped spread the virus.

Feelingoktoday · 26/12/2021 14:09

Can’t use wipes, wrapping paper with glitter on and even my vagifem is environmentally unfriendly but people are happy to use a plastic LFT everyday without symptoms. Madness it really is.

Feelingoktoday · 26/12/2021 14:11

A scientist on radio 4 said a negative LFT is valid for 20 mins only. 20 mins later you could be positive and not know as you mix with your family.

PumpkinPie2016 · 26/12/2021 14:13

I usually do 2 or 3 a week as I teach in a secondary school so lots of contacts. Had a couple of pcrs last half term as well as I had a bad cold - thankfully negative.
From finishing last Thursday, I tested daily up to and including Tue as that was MILS funeral and there were a number of older/vulnerable people attending.

I'm not being as stringent at the moment as it's school holidays and we aren't really going anywhere. I will start up again on Mon before I return to work on Tue.

MiniatureHotdog · 26/12/2021 14:16

I've only done a couple of lfts over the whole pandemic, for sports/music events where I needed to. Other than that, no. I'd only do a pcr with symptoms, which I've never had. I don't have any vulnerable friends/family though, if I did and they asked me to I would.

nordica · 26/12/2021 14:17

No one says they are foolproof or that a negative result means you are definitely not infectious. The point is to find the positives you wouldn't otherwise know about - look at all the threads on here where people tested before meeting family at Christmas and got a positive result they didn't expect and so they didn't travel to see lots of family.

Parker231 · 26/12/2021 14:22

For those saying they don’t have any vulnerable friends and family, do you never go to the supermarket , on public transport or in other crowded places where you could asymptomatically transmit Covid to other people?
The NHS and other public services are facing huge staff shortages due to so many cases. Do you want your A&E department open, your bins collected, bus to run and supermarket shelves stocked?

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 26/12/2021 14:25

Of course I want things open but I don't want a painful nose every time I want to go out somewhere! If someone can invent a swab that doesn't give me a painful nose for hours every time I use it I might be more inclined to do it! And no, I'm not exaggerating, it bloody hurts!