I have cold symptoms but no temperature or cough, lft negative should I pcr?

[MacNTosh]

I’ve got a sore throat, runny nose, tired, sneezing a little I feel ill, but not absolutely dreadful. If covid didn’t exist I’d say it’s just a cold. The symptoms for a pcr are high temperature, cough and loss of smell none of which I have so do you think I’m right in just monitoring my temperature and not testing. I spent Christmas Day with an elderly relative, but will stay away from now on. We’ve all been boosted.

Yes

Yes

Yes

See above, that exactly what I have. I’m on day 4 of isolation.

Not according to GPs - attached is what has been put together.

those are my symptoms exactly. I got my positive pcr result this morning.

@WhatsitWiggle Your graphic is out of date. I've attached the current one, which suggests people with cold symptoms should be tested.

So every time I get a headache I'm supposed to test? I'd be having a PCR a couple of times a week some weeks!

I’ve just PCRd on the same basis. I’d put cold hard cash on it being negative but that’s where we are at.

@CorrBlimeyGG my graphic was posted on my local GP hub facebook page last week!

I've got same symptoms minus the tiredness, started last night. Two negative LFTs but I've just had a PCR this morning.

Thoroughly hacked off about my nice plans and the fact I know I'm doing the right thing isn't helping currently.

I would use a little common sense. If I’d been in contact with Covid, to busy places etc I would go and do a PCR.

Have you done a lateral flow?

I have a headache, sore eyes, snotty and swollen throat but not sore. I haven't tested but daughter was negative on Tuesday with same virus.

@corrblimeygg managed to find the source of your graphic on egplearning which states it's "unofficial" guidance. Which is part of the confusion I feel - the Zoe Covid study clearly shows Delta and Omicron main symptoms are less likely to be fever and cough, but the NHS are not changing their position.

Personally, I wouldn't PCR test for cold symptoms but if I had a severe headache, any muscle aches and severe fatigue along with it, I would. Otherwise LFT and sensible precautions ie staying away from busy indoor environments and vulnerable people, until I felt better.

The official advice on Covid symptoms is ridiculously out of date. If you have cold symptoms at present, there's a very significant chance of it being Covid. (I think I even read somewhere it's as high as 50/50.) In your situation I would do a PCR test.

Thanks everyone, I agree it’s really not very clear, add brain fog to the list and it’s impossible!

I feel the same as you, really bad sore throat, cold symptoms, no temperature or cough, negative LFTs. You can’t do a PCR anyway as the booking process won’t let you if you don’t have a cough, high temperature or loss of taste and smell.

I had a scratchy throat, cold symptoms and said I would put money on it not being covid. My LFT was negative but my PCR was positive.

Have you done a lateral flow?

My covid symptoms were very cold like. It was detected on a lft before the symptoms started though... I was testing daily as close contact though.

If you feel like you need to do a pcr, do one. They don't check what symptoms you have. Just lie and say you have one of the main three.

The government need to update their measly list of symptoms. Many people have it without any of them.

I don't think you need to as you don't have any of the official symptoms and a negative lateral flow so I would say don't waste the resources as it's unlikely to be. Obviously if you develop any official symptoms then do.

I think no.

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

So every time I get a headache I'm supposed to test? I'd be having a PCR a couple of times a week some weeks!

I had a migraine the other day (I’m a migraine sufferer).. Plan was if I still felt unwell the next day I’d get tested but I felt fine.

@RedSnail

I feel the same as you, really bad sore throat, cold symptoms, no temperature or cough, negative LFTs. You can’t do a PCR anyway as the booking process won’t let you if you don’t have a cough, high temperature or loss of taste and smell.

I lied to get a PCR in August as I had none of those symptoms, good thing I did as I did indeed have Covid. It needs updating. Lesser of 2 evils in my opinion.

DH had a positive pcr this morning after being tested on Christmas Eve, having a cough and cold he couldn’t shake, despite a full week of negative lateral flows. We’ve all been for pcrs today too. None of our lateral flows are showing positives either, and dhs are still negative! So thankful he felt off colour yesterday afternoon and we didn’t pop by to see his family as planned. I’ve spent all day in bed after waking up freezing cold but with a fever. Totally expecting my pcr to be positive too.