After testing negative for COVID-19 and influenza, a guy, who had a persistent cough and headache, raised concerns that a strange illness was spreading before a test eventually came back positive.
After experiencing various flu-like symptoms, the Sydney-based Reddit member went to the online community to seek guidance regarding what was wrong with him.
The Sydneysider posted on Reddit, “A lot of people around me [including me] have been experiencing feeling very, extremely chilly, dry cough, and headache.”
I tested negative for COVID-19 and influenza.
Anyone else having the same problems? Realize what it is? Anything you can share to help me and others learn?
The user amended the post, disclosing it was actually a COVID-19 diagnosis, before users had a chance to worry about the next disease due to ravage the nation.
The report stated, “Just performed another RAT test and it has come up positive for COVID-19.”
Please take this as a reminder to get a RAT test and not to disregard even the most minor symptoms.
The “mystery disease” joke on Reddit was well received by online users, who called it the “least twisty plot twist” they had ever seen.
Someone else spoke out and noted that the symptoms were not unfamiliar.
The commentator made a joke, “That sounds just like what I have, which is Covid.”
Many families are now aware of how unreliable some fast antigen tests are for detecting COVID-19, which is why the person’s message is timely.
They are not only less accurate than PCR tests, but they also might not show a positive result until beyond day three of an infection.
Another possible cause is a user mistake.
This was discovered by Western Sydney mother Allie after she tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this year, which prompted her family to perform home testing to determine their status.
Her spouse and younger son continued to test negative while two of her children returned positive results.
Her sick spouse eventually went to work since his boss insisted he go in despite his symptoms.
He did have COVID-19, but the RATs did not detect his virus.
The sickness then spread to the boss.
According to Allie, her partner ultimately had a positive PCR result, which made her angry as the employer urged her to present with the symptoms at the office.
According to Allie, who told ABC, “He tested positive because he had forced my husband to go to the office, so I think it demonstrates RATs are terrible.”
Before ultimately testing positive to COVID-19 via a PCR, her kid continued to attend kindergarten.
A PCR test should still be performed even if the rapid antigen tests (RATs) are negative.
Doctors have advised persons with symptoms not to rely on them.
In 2021, the fast RATs were introduced to Australia as a much-needed substitute, relieving people from having to wait days in isolation for results after standing in lengthy testing lines.
The government continues to offer free PCR tests around the nation, thus the lengthy queues have become less frequent recently.
On Thursday, Australia reported 47,419 Covid cases, 78 fatalities, 4,512 hospital patients, a rise of 35, and 47,419 cases overall.
This month, the country passed the somber milestone of 10,000 Covid-related deaths.