Help reassure me I’m doing the right thing

[Enlightenme1]

Haven’t LFTed yet but am pretty sure I have the dreaded Omicron. Presenting over the two days as an extremely mild cold with slight running nose and occasional sneezing.

Of course once I’ve tested positive it means I’m locked down until 2022 and my family’s post Christmas and NYE plans cancelled. That’s if we’re not all locked down shortly anyway.

We have not left the house since Christmas Eve which is why I have not seen the point in ruining Christmas and testing until now.

For of you that are more pragmatic about these things, please help reassure me that it is worth sacrificing what my family has left of the end of an otherwise shitty year for what is essentially a mild cold.

Of course I will abide by all the rules to protect the clinically vulnerable, the NHS and the unvaccinated, but I also can’t be alone in really starting to question who and what we should really be putting first, and how much more any of us can realistically take if we end up in this same situation next year.

You might just have a cold. Take a test.

I’ve got similar symptoms but it’s not omicron. Take a test.

What plans do you have between Christmas and New Years?

I'm finding your use of "worth it" a little odd.

Regardless of whether it's a cold or Covid, are you happy to make someone else feel the way you do right now?

Leaving out the possibility that someone else might be vulnerable or have worse symptoms than you, do you feel like it's ok to give someone exactly the same symptoms you have, if you have the choice in the matter?

Over the last month or so, I've been convinced that every member of my household has Omicron due to these symptoms.

Not one positive LFT or PCR between us and we've done LOTS.

Just get tested then go from there.

If you were abiding by the rules to protect the CEV, CV and NHS then why dither over taking a test? Either you take a test and find out the answer (possibly saving your NYE plans) or you don’t take a test and isolate for 10 days in order to protect people and your NYE plans are screwed anyway.

It may be cold you don't know if it's even Covid, take a test and see.

You should test for the sake of others who you might see and infect and who might not have mild symptoms.

@Enlightenme1

Haven’t LFTed yet but am pretty sure I have the dreaded Omicron. Presenting over the two days as an extremely mild cold with slight running nose and occasional sneezing.

Of course once I’ve tested positive it means I’m locked down until 2022 and my family’s post Christmas and NYE plans cancelled. That’s if we’re not all locked down shortly anyway.

We have not left the house since Christmas Eve which is why I have not seen the point in ruining Christmas and testing until now.

For of you that are more pragmatic about these things, please help reassure me that it is worth sacrificing what my family has left of the end of an otherwise shitty year for what is essentially a mild cold.

Of course I will abide by all the rules to protect the clinically vulnerable, the NHS and the unvaccinated, but I also can’t be alone in really starting to question who and what we should really be putting first, and how much more any of us can realistically take if we end up in this same situation next year.

@Enlightenme1

Haven’t LFTed yet but am pretty sure I have the dreaded Omicron. Presenting over the two days as an extremely mild cold with slight running nose and occasional sneezing.

Of course once I’ve tested positive it means I’m locked down until 2022 and my family’s post Christmas and NYE plans cancelled. That’s if we’re not all locked down shortly anyway. - WHY OF COURSE?

We have not left the house since Christmas Eve which is why I have not seen the point in ruining Christmas and testing until now. - GETTING TESTED WOULDNT HAVE CHANGED ANYTHING AND AT LEAST YOU WOULD HAVE KNOWN FOR ANSWERING A DOOR!

For of you that are more pragmatic about these things, please help reassure me that it is worth sacrificing what my family has left of the end of an otherwise shitty year for what is essentially a mild cold.

Of course I will abide by all the rules to protect the clinically vulnerable, the NHS and the unvaccinated, but I also can’t be alone in really starting to question who and what we should really be putting first, and how much more any of us can realistically take if we end up in this same situation next year. - WEL YOU HAVENT FOLLOWED THE RULES SO FAR HAVE YOU?

totally unbelieveable no wonder this virus is spreading with these sort of comments,

You will get slated but I agree testing seems like a waste of time with the way things are going. If you are happy to leave the house I would say you need assume you will be coming into contact with someone positive so what difference does it make if that person knows or not.

In my opinion the healthy need to stop testing and the vulnerable need to stay home for a few months until we have enough antivirals and a better vaccine for them

We won’t be in the same situation next year. Vaccines and natural immunity from really high levels of Omicron will see to that. I really think this is the last hurdle!

@Ohchristmastreeohchristmastree

We won’t be in the same situation next year. Vaccines and natural immunity from really high levels of Omicron will see to that. I really think this is the last hurdle!

In the same way our high levels of delta for months have given natural immunity to omicron?

I’ve been pretty certain I’ve had covid about 10 times but I’ve never tested positive!

In my opinion the healthy need to stop testing and the vulnerable need to stay home for a few months until we have enough antivirals and a better vaccine for them

Thank God the vulnerable never need to access doctors, dentists, have carers come in, go earn a living or go to the shops! Yup, they can just stay home for a few months whilst the rest of us crack on.

Seriously, haven't we learned by now that if you let a disease spread in the population then inevitably that includes the most vulnerable.

I had a couple of days of very mild cold symptoms. Then a few days of feeling absolutely rubbish. I did the right thing and tested, which means I have been stuck in the house since Monday. Not much fun but it is what it is. I.e. the right thing to do. I love how people question the rules once they might actually have to put themselves out.

By the way, I am one of ‘the vulnerable’. Will you make up the deficit of the tax I won’t be able to pay if I am told to stay at home so you can still do what you please? Will you do the community work and volunteering that I do instead? Will you take my children to their school, extra curricular activities and medical appointments?

@Motorina

In my opinion the healthy need to stop testing and the vulnerable need to stay home for a few months until we have enough antivirals and a better vaccine for them

Thank God the vulnerable never need to access doctors, dentists, have carers come in, go earn a living or go to the shops! Yup, they can just stay home for a few months whilst the rest of us crack on.

Seriously, haven't we learned by now that if you let a disease spread in the population then inevitably that includes the most vulnerable.

Honestly, no none of us have seen physically seen doctor or dentist in 3 years, because unless it's an emergency A&E situation we have a give it a few days and see how you feel. It's served us well and my husband for who it was a new concept hasn't had as many viral bugs since letting himself get better without panicking.

With so much information online and virtual appointments I can't see this changing anytime soon. Recently had to get some cream for a skin infection on DS rang at 8:30, phone call back at 11, photos submitted cream ready to collect by 11:30. Loads of our friends have had similar experiences and have no desire to go back to face to face appointments.

Furlough should come back for the CV and CEV (including their households). Judging by how much I have spent online today 😬 I don't think we ever need to go shopping again! Normally I'm a big Xmas shopper but went once this year and don't think I will go at all next year.

Honestly I think life has massively changed for the vulnerable as this isn't going away it's never going to be as safe as it was for them.

I started mild cold symptoms yesterday evening and have just come back from having a PCR done. You can do LFT on day 6 and 7 now and be released from isolation if they're negative, so I've worked that to 31st Dec for me.

I know I'm doing the correct and responsible thing but thoroughly cheesed off that my lovely plans for the next few days are dependent on the speed of PCR results.

@vickyc90

You will get slated but I agree testing seems like a waste of time with the way things are going. If you are happy to leave the house I would say you need assume you will be coming into contact with someone positive so what difference does it make if that person knows or not.

In my opinion the healthy need to stop testing and the vulnerable need to stay home for a few months until we have enough antivirals and a better vaccine for them

But she's sick, so she needs to test!! It's just so selfish. Honestly.

I'm 21 weeks pregnant and struggling with covid! If people were selfish, then maybe I wouldn't of got it! Honestly why do people not care anymore about others

CV people did not get any money to stay at home. What are you talking about? Your ignorance is astounding.

I'm not quite sure what the uncertainty is.

You take a test to establish if you have Covid or a cold. That's all there is to it.

It’s a great idea though. Me and my husband, both higher rate tax payers, should stop working and instead be paid by the government because I’m vulnerable. Maths clearly not your strong point.

@vickyc90 - I am delighted that you and your family have not needed to seek face to face medical care.

I'm a bit baffled why you would assume that's equally true for everyone else. Particularly for the clinically vulnerable who, by definition, have higher medical needs than those who aren't.

The OP at this point has two choices. Assume they have covid and isolate for ten days from onset of symptoms. Test, and find out, and isolate or not accordingly.

To just crack on as normal, potentially spreading who-knows-what to others, is hugely irresponsible.

I don't understand, you say you will abide by the rules to protect the vulnerable, so all you're achieving by not testing is potentially spending the rest of christmas inside when you don't have to.

Surely it's better to take a test so that if you're negative then you aren't isolating unnecessarily?

I will test because even though I don’t have any of the listed symptoms, they have said a cold is likely to be Covid now. Plus, our plans involve mixing with other households. I’m was just in a bit of despair of it all when I posted and wanted to understand if others feel the same, and equally get a reminder why it is all so important.

I have also LTFed regularly including Xmas Eve but that was before I got my cold. But I have followed the rules as far as I understand them.

@SergeiL

It’s a great idea though. Me and my husband, both higher rate tax payers, should stop working and instead be paid by the government because I’m vulnerable. Maths clearly not your strong point.

Work from home, if you can't pass on that higher paying job to someone who can go in and do it. You could live separately from your husband for a few months, remember all the doctors and nurses living in caravans to protect loved ones. BTW your not unique us and most of our friends pay the higher rate or an expensive accountant!

It's simple you think we should change to accommodate you but I think you should change to accommodate us. Someone has to make the sacrifices it's a debate on who that is. If we could stay at home, test, isolate etc to achieve COVID zero then yes fair enough I could take the restrictions but it's painfully obvious we can't do that it's too mild for the majority. We need a new strategy just look at Australia and New Zealand. It could become seasonal and the vulnerable may be confined to their homes most winters.

A few days ago I suggested sending the army door to door for mandatory vaccination. Low and behold sadly it's not mandatory but vaccine teams are set to go door to door. I would imagine by this time next year we will be paying for PCRs and LF if we want them.