Lonely this Christmas after testing positive
THE day we were all looking forward to may have been and gone, but while many of us were excited to reunite with family members and spend Christmas Day eating, drinking and being merry with our loved ones – some had to throw their Christmas plans away after a last-minute positive coronavirus test.
Under Welsh Government rules, anyone with symptoms of Covid-19 should self-isolate immediately and book a PCR test as soon as possible.
People are required to self-isolate until their PCR result comes back. If it’s negative, they no longer have to self-isolate – but if it’s positive, 10 days of self-isolation awaits.
Anyone that has tested positive for Covid-19 last week or the end of the week before, therefore, was unfortunately self-isolating over the Christmas period.
Plus, if someone is not fully vaccinated and is identified as a ‘close contact’ of someone who has tested positive for Covid-19, they must isolate too (even if they don’t have symptoms).
Sadly, some people in Wales were forced to spend Christmas Day alone after testing positive for coronavirus in the run-up to the big day.
Swansea University student Seren Williams had a negative PCR test last week, but unfortunately her housemate had a positive test – so the pair and their third housemate were isolating together in their student house in Brynmill, Swansea.
Usually, the three students would return to their family homes in Llanelli, Pontardawe and Cardiff, respectively, so a ‘Covid Christmas’ would be very different to usual.
Speaking a few days ago, Seren, a student nurse, said this Christmas was going to be “strange” – but she and her housemates were determined to make the most of it.
She said: “There is three of us [in our house] and one of us tested positive, so the two of us made the decision to stay in our uni house due to having vulnerable family members at home, we were also advised to selfisolate.
“We are student nurses, we knew that we had been in contact with Covid inside our workplace (our patients) and also outside of the workplace, so the three of us went to get a PCR test, two of us were negative and one positive.
“Although we all have three vaccines and have previously had Covid before, we decided it was definitely unsafe to return home because our families are vulnerable and we would not take that risk.
“The three of us would usually be returning home to stay with our parents’ households.
“This year will be strange because it’s just the three of us. We have fortunately managed to receive food shops from friends and family so that we can have our own Christmas dinner! We leave isolation on December 28 and will all be going to see our families to celebrate Christmas with them at a later date the best that we can!”
While university student Chloe Steer was pleased to be home in Swansea for the Christmas break, a recent positive Covid-19 test meant she was spending Christmas Day alone in her room.
She said: “I received my booster jab on Friday, December 17 before driving home from university. I took a lateral flow and had my jab as a precaution because my mum has a compromised immunity so I’ve always been very careful and limited contact in the days before coming home. Since coming home I’ve been unwell and slept a lot, which I assumed was due to the booster jab. However, [on] Sunday, December 19 I woke up and couldn’t raise my head off my pillow and my whole body ached. I was crying I was in so much pain and my mother suggested doing a lateral flow as a precaution. It was positive.
“I then had a positive PCR test later that day.”
As part of the committee of her university’s cheerleading squad, Chloe had been especially careful that she and all the team members followed all government Covid-19 precautions, but unfortunately she still caught the virus.
“The past couple of weeks, as a committee member for my university’s cheer team, I have tried my utmost to protect all athletes by bringing in mask-wearing and making people do lateral flows before all training sessions,” she said. “On the bright side, the majority of the team have been able to travel home and will be able to spend Christmas with their families.”
Chloe continued: “Thankfully I’m the only one in the house that has tested positive so I’m isolating myself in my bedroom until December 29. This means I’ll be having Christmas dinner on my lap alone in my bedroom.
“I was also meant to be travelling to go to a wedding on New Year’s Eve and I’m unsure whether I can/should go or not.
“Overall I’m disappointed I won’t be able to see my family over the holidays for a second year, and I feel really guilty to have brought Covid-19 back into the home.”