I called 111 tonight, what a waste of time. They asked my 18 year old daughter symptoms, I said dry cough and tight chest. They asked if she had been to Italy or been in close contact with anyone a known case, I said no, outcome was we couldn’t take her to the local test centre as she doesn’t meet the criteria, I challenged this and said ’so are people only qualifying for testing if been to Italy or related/in close contact with known cases?’ Yes she said. So I said well ‘why is this being called a pandemic? It doesn’t mean now that you can only have it if been to Italy, it’s in the UK now so it can spread here and be passed on. Am I wrong?’ She said ‘I understand but at this time she is at no risk and just monitor her, if her chest gets worse ring us back’. I said ‘I have a health condition, as does my husband putting us higher risk I think it’s terrible our daughter can’t be tested. Why tell us to keep washing our hands to protect ourselves yet you’re saying people cant catch it within the UK and warrant testing only if been out of the country!!’ that’s basically what they’re saying.
Trying to reassure myself that this is a good thing she may not even have it and her dry tickly cough and tight chest is just her mild asthma flaring for whatever reason, it’s been a while since it has, I’m not convinced. She went to Liverpool in the last 2 weeks twice where there are cases that’s why I’m worried. My anxiety is having a party with fear incase she has it and there’s nothing I can do to reassure myself, not even go to the drive in test centre we have locally according to 111 as she doesn’t meet the criteria. I’ve had bad anxiety since yesterday about this virus and I don’t know how to reassure myself as kids get it mild or carry it and even though I’ve health issues they won’t let her be checked. Useless! Wish I could feel reassured.