I just got home from LabCorp where I had to have blood work done routine.
There was several people waiting in the lobby when I got there some with a mask some without. I had one on. The lady in front of me was on oxygen and DID HAVE ON A MASK..she checked in on the machine that you have to touch to choose your answers.
She turned around and said loudly i am sorry it took so long and i said no worries. I checked in cleaned my hands with the sanitizer and went to have a seat. The lady in her 60s i would say went to the desk and said...I am here to see if i am still positive for covid-19.
That her doctor sent her there for the swab test. Which they dont do!!
The personel freaked! Immediately took all of those in the lobby to separate rooms. The one who had waited on her took my blood. The other nurse was on the phone inquiring what should be done and the situation. I am a nervous wreck!!!! I am PISSED OFF. SHE WAS SENT THERE BY HER DOCTOR!! 9 SIGNS ON THE DOOR SAY DO NOT ENTER IF YOU HAVE BEEN EXPOSED. I AM SO MAD I DONT KNOW WHAT TO DO!!
DO I SELF QUARANTINE?
I have a unbelievable schedule.
I dont know what to do...please advice?!
Written by
Autumn822
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Unbelievable isn't it, how could that woman have been so stupid and inconsiderate to others waiting in that area! I'm sorry you've been put through this worry. Honestly I could swear for you!!
I had a slightly similar worry a few weeks ago, I went to a large supermarket, so touched the trolley, all the items I'd bought and because it was a large amount of money had to put in my pin number to pay. Immediately after doing that, I felt a hair in my mouth - put my fingers in and took it out. I could not believe my stupidity! I can only tell you that I've lived to tell the tale - with no virus symptoms. Chances are you will be ok too. Will keep my fingers crossed for you.
Yep, virtual trolley as what you add on-line orders to but, also you push a physical trolley round a supermarket, sounds like you would call that a 'mall'
Never heard a cart (the proper term 😋) called a trolley. I have a friend in the southern part of the US and she called them buggies.
I don't know if people say supermarket anymore around here. It is the grocery store or mall. We have Walmart supercenters which are Walmarts that also have groceries.
Mall is a US word for a - shopping precinct or shopping center You will know that coming from the states, Al Bundy for example worked in a Mall. A trolly online is simple the basket icon top right of a page like Amazon, you put your goods is before checkout. We have a Walmart named in the UK as ASDA - Oh and a physical Trolley is a metal cart to take in Supermarket (STORE) to hold your goods before check out..
She was loud and obnoxious. To the nurse. She said she just had open heart surgery. The nurses were discussing how she could have had heart surgery if she tested positive my guess is she tested positive after the heart surgery!!
I had two teeth extracted this past Monday and I could not even wait in the lobby at the dentist office I had to wait outside do my paperwork outside and immediately go outside as soon as my extractions were over!!
Hi Autumn822, I completely understand your annoyance and fear. Goodness only knows what the woman was thinking of, but I'm pretty sure no doctor would have sent her there for covid-19 testing. She may have been confused.
On to the aftermath. The truthful answer is that now you should quarantine for 14 days. And herein lies the problem with getting back to anything approaching near normality. Because these random path-crossings are going to occur again and again with the infected. It's all well and good having track and trace in place, but how many times will we be informed we've been in contact with covid-19 victims and how many times will employers swallow another 14 day isolation period.
It't too late to prevent the possible infection of yourself now. The contact's happened. And the rule is that you now isolate.
In doing that you could prevent someone else from becoming infected. A grandmother, a heavily pregnant woman, someone with serious underlying conditions. So it's a moral dilemma and I'm so sorry you have to make that call. But for you and for many of us, we may have it in future, time and time again.
I called up there and I asked what the deal was with that lady..positive or not ..their reply was we can't give out that information.
I said someone needs to let me know what I need to do and so the supervisor is supposed to call me back , we will see. I asked them why they weren't taking more precautions I just got the runaround
The outlets all over the place such as Screwfix are very safe compared to many others. I had to complain to Lidl whose operative was controlling ingoing and outgoing shoppers. The only thing was he was leaning on the only doorpost and was about 2 feet six from all going in and leaving. He had no mask on which I blame the government for.
This is disgusting it’s clear everywhere you go and even more so at a doctors office there are a million signs saying do not go in !I’m sorry but I have to say this how thick can you get.!its as if covid is nothing people aren’t even taking it seriously any more and this thing will go on and on till people do .im going to blame the lady not the doctor cause she should have questioned it if the doctor said that .ridiculous!
Take no Chances get tested and self Quarantine. I’d be MAD as HELL too. I’m always hearing do not just show up. Her doctor should have known BETTER!!! She should have went to the ER??? You say you have a difficult schedule, where do you live? I live in California, there are testing locations where I can just show up. I got tested about 3 weeks ago, Not charge. (Negative) At leading You we’re wearing a Mask. Please let me know how it goes? 🙏
Maybe? But you won’t know if you don’t Try? Have you at least spoken with a doctor? Well if you start feeling sick go to the ER. Remember Not everyone is going to experience the same symptoms? 🙏
I’m so sorry that happened to you, dr.should know better. There’s nothing you can do now, but if you get sick, then go get tested, tell them you were really close to a person who had the virus. If she didn’t cough or anything on you, or you weren’t near her long. I don’t really think you will get sick❤️
Wow. My first thought was that this was a prank. However, this may or may not be the case, people were put at risk. If you were far enough away from her and the exposure time to her was minimal, the chances of catching Covid19 would be low.
Who knows, maybe she was confused at went to the wrong clinic/area etc. I very much doubt a doctor would send her to a clinic that was carrying out pre-arranged duties. People get things wrong unfortunately. I would certainly escalate this case, ask for the complaints procedure, you may find it online. But echoing what everyone else has said, as you are unclear as to whether this person was in fact negative or positive, you would have to assume that she was positive, and follow the guidance around that. It's better to be safe than sorry. Make sure you monitor yourself very closely. What's another 14 days after all. You probably won't even notice. Keep us posted of any updates. Stay safe and take care.
That is horrendous! I had to go for blood tests at my surgery on Thursday and it was completely opposite to what you experienced. The receptionist who phoned me to make the appointment said I wasn’t to go if I had any of the symptoms of COVID19, which she ran through, and not to arrive early as the waiting room wasn’t in operation. I was to ring the doorbell and somebody would come to let me in. I did this and a receptionist in mask, visor and gloves came and asked my name, let me in and told me to use the sanitising gel. The nurse was ready for me to do the bloods and was dressed the same way. She said there was 20 mins between each patient and the chair I sat on and all the surfaces in the room, door handle etc were all sanitised before the next patient. She saw me out asking me to sanitize my hands again before leaving, then locked the door behind me. I was impressed. So yes, I think Lab Corp are largely to blame because they aren’t taking enough precautions.
I wonder if the woman’s doctor did tell her to go in. Sounds unlikely. She’s maybe misunderstood or was just saying that.
Can you take advice from the COVID helpline? I’m so sorry you’ve gone through that dreadful experience and can understand your anxiety. We’d all be the same. However I’m praying that as both she and you were wearing masks you won’t have been infected. But take advice to be certain of what to do. Hugs. 🤗😘
I have to go to my surgery for my routine INR blood test. I have been told to wait in the car park phone the surgery and the nurse will come out and do the test in the car.
That’s a great idea and perhaps even better, although a bit crammed for using syringes and numerous vials as in my case for Lupus (6 tests are usually performed at the one time), and would be uncomfortable if it is raining. Our surgery is in a village and doesn’t have a car park, just on street parking. So I thought they did really well. 👍🏻
It is exactly this sort of ignorance/lack of concern that makes me afraid to leave the house. Here in Spain some cafes can open outdoor terraces, but we saw one or two doing it early, if they either ignored the rules or didn't know them how do we trust them on the strict hygiene rules.? The beaches are closed but we can see and hear jetskis, which means someones on the beach - and, of course, first day its one then as others see them 'getting away with it' it increases.
It seems only the simplest and strictest of rules get through - and even then not to everyone.
I am sorry this happened to you and understand your fears. As others have said you are unlikely to have been infected as you and she were wearing masks and you hand sanitized. But you need to self isolate. After all you don't want to do to someone else what this silly woman has done to you do you?
Some people are clueless and for this very reason (among other reasons) health care establishments need to take precautions to practice social distancing and to protect their patients and staff (CDC requirements). When we go to urgent care, before entering the building, there is a staff member sitting outside (wearing gloves and a mask). You are asked specific health questions and the reason for your visit. Most of the questions are Covid-19 related.
The Lab Corp office by me is small and only one staff member. I'm curious now how they are handling taking precautions. Hmmmm ...
Even my dog's vet treats this more seriously. You wait in your car. Call vet. Vet tech get's your pet. Then get's payment. Comes back to your car and gives you pet and receipt. I put disinfectant cleaner in a spray bottle in my car. I wipe down everything I could possibly touch when I get in. Stupid counties near me have opened dining establishments. News showed a picture of a man eating a hamburger with one glove on. That's ridiculous too. I'm happy to isolate at home and go out only when necessary. Supervisor at LabCorp would have had walking paper's when I was finished. My entire employment history is in HR. I used to hire and fire employees. I would have said "I hope your resume is updated" just to put the fear of God in him/her. Stay well. 🌺🌷💐
I got a call from the Supervisor of this labcorp. We had a long discussion where she preceded to tell me beacuse they were a walk in clinic..no appt needed that they didnt have a way to monitor who comes and gos! I Told her OFF!! This needs to be ESCALATED.
I told her you are rediculous!!
You have put EVERYONE at risk. All you have to do is put someone outside the door to take temps...and ask what the heck they are there for!!!!!!!
Im even more upset now.
Said they contacted the doctor..and told them not to be sending patients over...I said did you ask when she tested positive and get details so you could verify if she is still positive after being retested at the doctors office? And do contact tracing?
Here was my answer.
We are not allowed under Hepa to inquire on a clients personal medical history. 😬
Wow, I don't wonder you are even more livid. Many people are acting stupidly but there is absolutely no excuse for so called health professionals to do so.
I am shocked this situation happened. You would have to be living in a bubble to not know where you are to go to be tested by now. I can’t imagine any Doctor sending a patient to Lab Core instead of to a testing center. I have never been there and I certainly won’t ever go there now. I would think they would have to take everyone’s name and call them if that lady tested positive. I also think they should have closed immediately and sanitized the entire office. I hope you are safe and did not get infected.
They did separate me and a few other people that were in the office they took us to the back but after I gave my blood I want to sit out in my car which was directly from the office store and I continue to allow multiple people in and out of there while she sat in there right by the door waiting for her ride.
The people that I seen go in were wearing masks I probably should have told them all but honestly I was just in shock myself.
Shocking, hope you are fine Autumn but understand your being furious. I feel like this about children playing together in the street where I live and not distancing but to end up near someone who has/has had it is beyond belief, why was she encouraged to attend a public space by a doctor, just unbelievable !
Yes, you should self isolate, but I doubt you will develop the virus. You had a mask on and you washed your hands. Hopefully you didn't touch your face. Ideally you took off and washed your clothes when you got home. Keep in touch and let us know how you are doing.
Just wanted to update everyone I have talked to my doctor my general practitioner who told me I did not need to self isolate or quarantine because the lady and I both were wearing masks and I use sanitizer when at the office.
I would be completely pissed. At one time I had all but 2 symptoms. My doctor said if I had one more he was going to send me to a drive in test site. If I worked at LabCorp, I would have asked the lady who said that to shuffle, if not run back to her car. What a good way it was to create panic. I wouldn't hesitate to call my doctor and ask what to do.
I have just returned from Chemo & again there were people near me having * chemo without Masks!! Why are we soo reluctant to make this a Must when so many countries insist it is a necessity. We are the 2nd country after the US with highest deaths, sadly.
I think that is why they have always had all those announcements at airports with men’s voices alternating with women’s voices, for those who tune out one sex. Can you get the County Health Department on their case? They are supposed to have a written plan to protect everyone, & their plan proved ineffective.
Once upon a time I worked as a nurse with coronary bypass surgery patients & recall the one who did the poorest making sense of the post operative instructions was a college professor! The absent minded professor ... Sometimes surgical patients receive instructions from doctors in training too. I am retired but can tell that my own healthcare providers are very frightened by this virus. I have been told repeatedly to go for labs & I have told them I can’t due to a sinus infection. I trust you’ll do O.K.
wow thays terrible to heat. but there are people out there that hv been exposed n are carriers n dont even know it. take 1000 milligrams of C everyday n also zinc. this will build up yr immune system.
To be honest none of us knows whether a person within our radius is infected or not, this woman stated that she had been. But you was wearing a mask and didn't linger for long also you washed your hands.
My team are support workers caring for patients discharged from hospital, usually because of routine operations or falls but at the moment obviously some have covid. The support worker wears ppe but continues to carry out their everyday lives whilst only going out when absolutely necessary. It's a shame that the rest of the world aren't doing this.... I mean how many idiots were there sunbathing on the beach... I give up.
My daughter had a similar experience when she went to the doctor regarding a none COVID-19 condition. Her doctor walks into the exam room where she was waiting to say “don’t come any closer I was just exposed to COVID-19!” She freak out too and didn’t know what to do. She quarantined and never developed symptoms. You need to quarantine and disinfect everything you were wearing take a good shower to wash off bugs. She was okay never developed any symptoms. You are probably safe but take the precautions just to be on the safe side. Praying for you 😊🙏🏻💕🌻🌷💜
That’s really bad and I would be as upset as you. From what I’ve read the current thinking is that people who are recovered and still testing positive are probably not contagious. I know probably is not good enough but it is what it is at this point. Sorry.
The ability to reply to this post has been turned off.
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
It's that same old question again =why the confusion re masks
Hi Everyone, Good News at last.