I’ve been blogging daily for 64 days now. Almost every one of those days I’ve included a link to the COVID Symptom Study App. Discussing testing became a topic a few weeks ago when I reported a headache and a bit of light-headedness to the App and they asked me to take a test for the purposes of their research. I wasn’t able to source one – no car. Seemingly not registered on the government’s credit check agency. So I was frustrated.

Last week I had a 36-hour ‘bug’. Sore throat and tiredness which resolved as swiftly as it started (using a variety of lotions and potions!). A commenter suggested all aboard Arenadare ‘should’ be ‘staying at home’. I disagreed. Neither Kim nor I had symptoms of COVID-19. Today I read a couple of updates from the daily UK Government email which kind of confirmed that opinion.

Stay At Home Guidance

The three most common ‘symptoms’, according to the government on 18th May, that indicate COVID-19 and need self-isolating are the recent onset of any of the following:

• a new continuous cough
• a high temperature
• a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia) – thank goodness they’ve finally listened to Profesor Spector!

We had none of those at any time.

They go on to say that for most people, coronavirus (COVID-19) will be a mild illness. However, if you have any of the symptoms above, they continue to say “… you should self-isolate at home.” Their other instructions are:

• “if you have coronavirus (COVID-19) symptoms:
  • do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital
  • you do not need to contact 111 to tell them you’re staying at home
  • testing for coronavirus (COVID-19) is not needed if you’re staying at home”

So how do they (and we!) know how many cases in the UK there really are? You’re supposed to just die away, and not tell anyone? Hmmm, interesting …

Incredibly, in the SAME email update, is a separate article which directly contradicts the above:

• “Anyone experiencing a new, continuous cough; high temperature; and now also a loss of or change in your normal sense of smell or taste can book a test by visiting www.nhs.uk/coronavirus
• 21,000 contact tracers in England now recruited

The government announced that ” …anyone with symptoms of coronavirus is now eligible to book a test, ahead of the rollout of the test and trace service.” Go to this link https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/ and read all about it.

Goodness. They don’t seem to know their whatsis from their elbow! Heaven help us all …

News On Nantwich

On a far lighter note, Kim and I went for a late afternoon walk into Nantwich today. Primarily for our daily exercise – which we rarely achieve! Anyway, we enjoyed lots of loveliness that I’ll share tomorrow. It’s too late now to include in this post and I still have the tea to cook! I’ll just include a photo of our newest boating buddies, Duncan and Elaine, who we got to know a little better this evening …

We’ve checked into the Symptom App feeling ‘perfectly normal’ again today. Take care everyone.