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Original poster

Friend might have covid but won’t test because she doesn’t want to isolate.

155 replies

LemonViolets · 17/02/2022 15:49

What can I say to convince her she has to test?
Or, can I/should I report her if she refuses.

My friend has two teenage DC’, which is probably how she caught it, one of them pretty much her entire group of friend tested positive last week, but her LFT was negative.
Although, friend has said several times before that she doesn’t think her DD takes the LFT properly, so I don’t know how true the negative test is.

For the last couple of days friend has been complaining about feeling rough and says he has a head cold, I told her she should test but she said they only have a couple of LFT left so she doesn’t want to waste them on what is probably just a cold.
Today we spoke on the phone and she was coughing quite a bit with a chesty sounding cough and she sounded really horse, I told her again to take a LFT but she said she can’t, and after a bit of prodding she admitted if she tests positive she won’t be able to work (cash in hand second job so no ability to claim anything and she really needs the money) and she won’t be able to go and stay with her boyfriend while her kids go away for half term next week.
She said she’d rather wait until she had worked this weekend and traveled to her boyfriends house and then test next week if she still feels rotten.

I can understand how disappointing having to change plans is, but I think putting people on the trains she will be travelling on and the people she would be working for over the weekend at a potential risk is not worth it.
and does she really want to potentially expose her boyfriend.
She said no but she doesn’t know if she has covid, so she’ll just wait and see next week.

I think she is being really short sighted and selfish but I don’t know what to say to make her see.

I also don’t know if I should report her if she does continue with her plans regardless.

What would you do?

OP posts:
zafferana · 17/02/2022 15:51

I would do nothing OP. Self isolation for a positive Covid test ends on 24th Feb anyway, and that is just a week away. TBH, I'd just mind your own business.

StopFeckingFaffing · 17/02/2022 15:52

Report her to who exactly?

If she works with very vulnerable people then you could threaten to tell her employer but otherwise I would just leave her too it

Akire · 17/02/2022 15:53

You can’t do anything really unless she works in care home where it’s putting other lives at risk. Soon this be norm and if you can’t afford be off sick you can just spread it all around Confused

MichelleScarn · 17/02/2022 15:53

My friend has two teenage DC’, which is probably how she caught it, one of them pretty much her entire group of friend tested positive last week, but her LFT was negative.

So has she 'caught it' or do you just think she has? Who's lft was negative and who do you plan on reporting to?

Mrsjayy · 17/02/2022 15:55

Who are you going to report her to ? I mean she is being a bit silly and selfish but there is no requirement to take LFT if she doesn't want to.

Aquamarine1029 · 17/02/2022 15:57

Mind your own business, that's what you do.

Babadook76 · 17/02/2022 15:58

I’ve been in this situation a few times. I’d rather not test and just crack on with my life. No ones escaping being exposed to Covid.

Yuckypretty · 17/02/2022 16:01

What are you going to do in a couple of weeks time when no one has to self isolate?

Wreath21 · 17/02/2022 16:03

Beak out. You're not the covid police and no one loves a grass.

GirlInACountrySong · 17/02/2022 16:05

Haha report?? Really?

ShallWeTalkAboutBruno · 17/02/2022 16:07

I certainly wouldn’t ‘report’ a friend, no. And who do you think you could report her to? There isn’t a dedicated covid police.

Original poster
LemonViolets · 17/02/2022 16:08

Isolating is the law, the police advise reporting breaches of covid restrictions, or they do in our area at least.

I wouldn’t want to get her in trouble, but I think if one of our local PC’s came and explained the rules to her she might take it a bit more seriously.

MichelleScarn
So has she 'caught it' or do you just think she has? Who's lft was negative and who do you plan on reporting to?

Even she thinks there’s a possibility she has it,
it’s highly likely she caught it from her teenager who was in close contact at school for days with a group of friends who one by one pretty much all tested positive.
Her DD’s LFTs were negative, but friend doesn’t think she does the tests ‘properly’, so it probably can’t be relied upon as being accurate.

I wasn’t sure if that info was necessary but added it because I thought it explained how highly likely the chance of exposure was.

OP posts:
MichelleScarn · 17/02/2022 16:10

Isolating is the law, the police advise reporting breaches of covid restrictions, or they do in our area at least are you in the UK?

Cas112 · 17/02/2022 16:11

I would just mind my own business and not be in her company if i was worried about catching it

siestalady · 17/02/2022 16:11

@LemonViolets

Isolating is the law, the police advise reporting breaches of covid restrictions, or they do in our area at least.

I wouldn’t want to get her in trouble, but I think if one of our local PC’s came and explained the rules to her she might take it a bit more seriously.

MichelleScarn
So has she 'caught it' or do you just think she has? Who's lft was negative and who do you plan on reporting to?

Even she thinks there’s a possibility she has it,
it’s highly likely she caught it from her teenager who was in close contact at school for days with a group of friends who one by one pretty much all tested positive.
Her DD’s LFTs were negative, but friend doesn’t think she does the tests ‘properly’, so it probably can’t be relied upon as being accurate.

I wasn’t sure if that info was necessary but added it because I thought it explained how highly likely the chance of exposure was.

You think the local PC is going to come out and tell someone who possibly has covid what the rules are?? Really??

This has to be a joke?!

Chloemol · 17/02/2022 16:14

I would leave her to it

But would also be stepping back from the friendship as it’s obvious she is only prepared to put herself first, happy to pass covid on if she does have it and unable to following existing rules

Can’t be bothered with people like them any more

LouLou198 · 17/02/2022 16:14

Leave her to it, it's not really any of your business. What do you think will happen in a few weeks time when isolation ends and they charge £30 for a box of lateral flow tests? Nobody will be testing then.

FairyCakeWings · 17/02/2022 16:16

Covid I’d just a cold now, she’s right not to put herself in financial jeopardy because of a cold. Maybe if you’re that determined she should take a test, you could offer to pay her the wage that she will lose, and offer to have her teenagers for a week when she’s recovered so she can still have the time she was looking forward to?

Quite a few people I know have had a chesty cough recently and felt rough, we’ve all tested more than once and none of us have covid. Other viruses and infections still exist alongside covid.

Mind your own business.

stayathomer · 17/02/2022 16:17

I’ve been in this situation a few times. I’d rather not test and just crack on with my life. No ones escaping being exposed to Covid.
No, but she can limit the people she passes it to, so if she doesn't go on a train some people, in parts vulnerable person, might escape it. It's different if you're asymptomatic, she has a cough so has an idea she may possibly be positive. The work thing isn't great, but I don't get paid for sick days either and understand the panic of 2 weeks off if she has no back up. As for people saying it all ends on the 24th, are you really not going to use any judgement at all from that date on? You wouldn't avoid an elderly relative on the 25th if you had for example fatigue, a headache and a cough?!

ShallWeTalkAboutBruno · 17/02/2022 16:18

I wouldn’t want to get her in trouble, but I think if one of our local PC’s came and explained the rules to her she might take it a bit more seriously

Grin
containsnuts · 17/02/2022 16:19

She knows the guidance and you've done all you can to encourage her to get tested. Just avoid her for 5 days and try not to think about it anymore.

Mrsjayy · 17/02/2022 16:21

Yes local PO have time to knock on doors! Are you taking the pics?

GeneLovesJezebel · 17/02/2022 16:21

If she has symptoms she needs a PCR, it she’s not the only one not testing.
I’d avoid her for 10 days and leave it at that.

Mrsjayy · 17/02/2022 16:23

@Mrsjayy

Yes local PO have time to knock on doors! Are you taking the pics?
Piss !
Ratherdogsthanpeople · 17/02/2022 16:24

Where I live there is no testing or self isolation anymore. If you’re sick you stay at home, and when you feel well enough you go to work. Easy.

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