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@poopscoop I got the same grey plastic envelop as @martinhutch
It has given me massive boost in confidence having this line of treatment available and seems a great way of protecting the likes of us while the rest of the world hopefully try to return back to normal. Fair play to the people who put this program in place and for securing the antiviral drugs.
#immunecompromisedtrackworld
Well, the inevitable has happened, myself and mum were exposed on Sunday.
I've dug out the letter that came with my pack now. My advice would be to chase it up on 119, say your mum is in the most vulnerable group (presumably she was told to shield earlier in the pandemic?) and ask them to send you a test.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/treatments-for-coronavirus/
With my glass half full, the past 2 years have given us widespread use of PCR and LFT as diagnostic tests, multiple new vaccine technologies and use of close to real time data through the ONS and Zoe studies to track disease.
We've got low and middle income countries building capacity for their own manufacture so that they're not dependant on more developed countries. That's going to be useful not just for SARS-CoV-2 but for the malaria vaccines that are coming on line.
We've got antivirals that work and much more of an understanding of why they work.
Hopefully, we can build on this to reduce the impact of infectious disease across the world.
Hopefully, we can build on this to reduce the impact of infectious disease across the world.
This is the "benefit" of this pandemic we should now be chasing. The UK should be a key and motivated player. Forward to a new normal where we are better prepared, rather than simply back to the old normal when we clearly were not well prepared. It feels very much as if we're being led into "please forget any of this happened, or could happen again" phase instead here in the UK, justified by a poor understanding/explanation of the economic impact of public health measures.
@Poopscoop for your partner to be negative on LFT she must have had a relatively low viral load that morning, possibly not enough to be infectious. Opinions vary about whether there's window when you're infectious but negative of LFT. Illustration from the BBC:
Even where somebody is infectious, not all their contacts will catch it. Best wishes.
I fear the majority will be back to post Covid habits before the end of the year.
I've noticed a lot more people no longer washing their hands after going to the loo and ignoring the copious amounts of hand sanitizer that's still around everywhere. Spitting is also on the up again too.
Thanks for the info and advice guys.
Update here. Mum starting to sneeze a fair amount, "not feeling very well" etc. though temp is ok.
Ive LF tested us both, negative at the moment.
Called GP regarding her being clinically vulnerable and access to anti virals. They confirm she is "red flagged" and say to call 119 to enquire if she can get the "PCR/ anti viral" pack...
Called 119. They basically don't know anything and say to call my local hospital...
Local hospital don't know anything but put me through to their pharmacy but they don't know anything...
Basically, a clear route to access anti viral drugs (if needed) simply isn't there.
poopscoop - I really hope you can get what you need.
Basically, a clear route to access anti viral drugs (if needed) simply isn’t there.
Get test, enrol on PANORAMIC study? Evens that she will be given molnupiravir. Not ideal, I will admit. Dosing should ideally be within three days of symptom onset.
https://panotrial.uk/Participant/Eligibility/Step1_Inclusion.aspx?xy=95027880
Removal of testing for contact with the vulnerable is not a good idea, in fact, I’d like to see testing for more respiratory viruses, perhaps on a single test.
Numbers increasing here in WA
Daily tabloid scaremongering
"oh my god, cases have jumped / doubled argh!!!!"
Cases increasing exactly the same way it's done everywhere else, at the same kind of rate.
600 cases yesterday
5 in hospital
I have around 4 weeks left in Oz - three weeks at work, a week to tie up loose ends, then we're off to Dubai / UK / Spain / France / Holland / Germany / Croatia / Italy. Back to Oz in 6 months when all this palaver will have settled down..... (Wearing a large hat of optimism!)
9 pcr tests for us between 8.00 and 13.00. At its peak we were doing 280 in the same period.
Looks like Boris HAS got Covid done. 😉
One of our regulars comes in for three tests a week as he volunteers at a crae home. He doesn't know this is going to pan out for him now.
We have a site contract with Waverley Council until 23rd June and I suspect if SERCO aren't open and running up to then they will have to return some of the money supplied up front. As long as we are open the company is getting paid and I suspect getting money back from the council will be hard work. Going to be fascinating to see how long they drag it out for...
Weird times as I joined in early June '21 expecting it to run for three months at the most.
I tested positive on LF just now. Mum tested negative for the mo.
Is there any possible way to step back, and have someone else step in for a few days?
^^ Unfortunately not a hope I'm afraid.
That's what I feared. Are you in contact with any carers organisations? There must me many people going through this right now (and many more over the duration of the pandemic), they might have advice, or at least understand what you're going through.
About as prepared as I can be to be honest mate.
Just a tightrope to walk as mum needs interaction what with the dementia etc plus doing eye drops/ food and that.
Taking every precaution I can other than the one I want to do most... which is being able to stay well away from her.
Good luck. Thinking of you both.
https://twitter.com/IpsosUK/status/1496776180288086017
While you can understand that a proportion of people say they are likely to do these things when positive because they simply do not have another option (see above), it's still not an encouraging poll.
But it does suggest that many would stay away from vulnerable people, and public spaces such as public transport, if testing positive. Which suggests that if testing continued, many people would use tests to prevent infecting strangers and those known to be vulnerable. And the work questions are a bit of a red herring… because without financial support and the right approach of your boss, it could well not be a choice at all.
I’d walk outside now, somewhere empty, if I was infected.
Thanks Kelvin and everyone else for the continued info and kind thoughts.
Mum still testing negative today.
So likely the expose on Sunday missed her. That means it's all on me now. Not a guilt trip I relish if I bugger it up.
@Kimbers, apologies, only just reading back in the thread and hope you and yours are doing ok too.
Thanks poopscoop, Im free now, tested negative 2 days in a row, just a cough & snotty nose for me this time.
Its gone around my work again, really is impressive how good it is at going round
signed up to give blood to government for antibody testing, I had to give 600ul witha finger prick, which was hard at first, but then made a right mess!
Interesting to know how specific their antibody test is- whether they can infer what variants you have been exposed to
Bit of a hectic few days here. Wife and daughter tested positive Tuesday when we were completing on a house and moving on Thursday. Removal company said won’t move you (fair enough), purchaser said you have to be out. Luckily we were only moving a mile and I’ve been negative (lft and pcrs) with so symptoms - so managed to get it sorted in the end and we’re in the new house but not the stress free move I was hoping for. Who new a Skoda Fabia made such a good removal van!
I find it so surprising I haven’t got it (yet) but have heard similar. Still avoiding people, shops etc. as much as possible as very conscious I could become positive any minute
Hope you are doing ok Poopscoop, and all others positive.
There seemed to be more mask wearing around Aldershot yesterday. I think people are a bit worried about who might be out there with them.
@poopscoop. If you need any food or supplies dropping in, I’m just down the bottom of Bluebell Hill, so please let me know.
Good to hear Kimbers.👍
Sounds like a bit out a nightmare with the house move ferrals but glad you are sorted now, thanks for the kind thoughts too.
@tenfoot Massively kind of you my friend but glad to say that between online ordering and my son (I knew the cost of those driving lessons, car insurance, car would pay off one day...) we are sorted on that front. Once again though, so kind of you to offer. Genuinely.
Have managed to get two boxes of LFT at last. If you’re running low, I can send you some Poopscoop.
I've just been pinged by the app after a close contact on Tuesday. Presumably when I was at a concert with my 80 year old mum.
So I'll be sticking the swab up my nose when I get home tonight.
I went to Manchester city centre yesterday and couldn't wait to get the hell outta there, almost everyone maskless, zero social distancing, it seems like people are getting closer than pre-covid days and invading the personal space of strangers, shop assistants popping up right next to me like the suit you sir characters from the fast show asking if I need any help, yeah, i thought, could you stand back so you're not breathing down my neck or accidentally spitting in my face, ie eff off.
It was stressful trying to keep at least some distance but nobody else seemed to give a toss, and I couldn't help but notice the jam packed buses going by with a lot of bare faces, you'd think covid was over, so unfortunately I'm predicting another spike, amazed I haven't caught it, touch wood.
@poopscoop no worries. Let me know if anything changes and all the best to you and your mum. Fingers crossed she remains well.
Negative so far.....🤞
Robo89- having travelled regularly to Manchester over the last 2 years it’s always been shockingly bad in the city centre.
Kelvin and tenfoot, thanks so much guys. Luckily we are ok for LT tests too which is a relief.
@MoreCashThanDash
Good to hear you are negative so far mate your mum too. After exposure I tested positive almost exactly 3 days after on a LT. A negative the day before.
@poopscoop - seems to be 3-4 days post exposure is the window for testing positive at the moment, so hoping I'm going to come through that - got some important blood tests on Monday I don't want to miss.
Rather complicated by a normal cold going round the household this week - all negative but a little snuffly.
Sorry for my random interruption of the male bonding between poopscoop n Kelvin and a few others, I thought you'd finished, I did wait, my previous post seems a bit out of place and inappropriate now.
Edit: the male bonding bit is meant light heartedly, not extracting the urine, well maybe a drop 😊
Your post was fine. Any city centre will have areas that are back to full on in your face mingling. I went to a few places in MCR that were just falling distance from the most busy places, yet had loads of space, super high ceilings, and plenty of personal distance, if you want that. Track and Cloudwater, and then Escape to Freight Island (for Pomona and random food). All just behind Piccadilly station.
Was thinking the vaccine was doing its job, negative this morning but started feeling a bit washed out so did another just now and the faintest of lines came up. Not really surprising with both others in my household positive.
Lol, that's ok robo.
Good luck with the blood tests MCTD.👍
Sorry to hear that ferrals. My first 2 days after testing positive I had almost no symptoms but I've felt like I've got a moderate cold since.
The occasional explosive sneeze is a worry as although I'm wearing a mask I'm sure it would push out air at the sides of it. Was just about to do mum's eye drops last night when one came one, sprinted out into the hall just in time... I'd have been only a foot away from mum's face off is sneezed, not good.
The other issue is a tickly/ phlegmy cough. Don't actually feel bad in myself though.
My partner doesn't live with us and I caught it from unfortunately last Sunday has finally started feeling a bit better today. By all accounts the same symptoms but a worse cough and feeling pretty fatigued unlike me.
Mum still testing negative.
That’s how my wife’s been, heavy cold, tickly cough and fatigued. She is starting to feel better now, after three days of feeling pretty rank.
Daughter had 18hrs of being poorly and now running around wanting to see her friends
Mum still testing negative.
That's good to hear
Been thinking about England’s removal of isolation period - is this coming at the worst possible time? Most people were boosted in a rush around Christmas, it the suggestion was the booster would last around 2 months (I.e till about now); so Boris is cutting isolation and testing just as protection wanes?
Hope we don’t end up with another big wave that requires more restrictions (though I guess without testing we won’t know). Even here in Wales where restrictions are higher there seems a lot around
I'm wondering if a second booster might on the cards, I had my booster back on Sept 21st.
Just been told that ALL test centres including ours will be shut at the end of March.
Going to be fun going to see folk in care homes, visiting doctors and hospitals and dealing with schools and nursery groups if your child has a temperature.
Seriously! That is crazy - is this a UK wide decision or just England?
I’ve been floored by it the last couple of days, basically sleeping the entire time and feeling faint doing much more.