Sydneysider trolled over Covid diagnosis after testing negative on a rapid antigen test
An Aussie struggling with a cough and constant headache repeatedly tested negative on Covid and influenza tests – leaving them wondering exactly what illness they might’ve come down with.
But just hours after they took to social media to suggest there was ‘a mystery illness going through Sydney‘, they tested positive for Covid.
‘A lot of people around me [including me] have been experiencing feeling very, very cold, dry cough and headache,’ the Sydneysider wrote on Reddit.
‘I’ve tested negative to influenza and Covid-19.
‘Anyone else experiencing the same? Know what it is? Anything to share to help enlighten me and others?’
Before Sydneysiders could have a chance to worry about the next illness set to plague the country, the user updated the post – revealing it was a Covid diagnosis after all.
‘Just did another RAT test and it has come back positive for Covid-19,’ the update read.
‘Please let this be a reminder not to ignore your mildest symptoms and just do a RAT test.’
A ‘mystery illness’ set tongues wagging on social media after a commenter complained of having Covid symptoms, yet got negative test results for the disease
The ‘mystery’ was solved after the Sydneysider finally got a positive RAT reading for Covid (pictured)
Social media users got a kick out of the ‘mystery illness’ gag on Reddit calling it the ‘least twisty plot twist’ they had ever seen.
Another piped up and said the symptoms sounded familiar.
‘That sounds exactly like what I have, which is Covid,’ the commenter joked.
The person’s post comes as Aussies realise how much of an unreliable punt some rapid antigen tests (RATs) are in diagnosing Covid-19.
Western Sydney mum Allie found out all about it after she tested positive to Covid earlier this year, prompting her family to do home tests to check their status.
Two of her kids returned positive tests but her husband and younger son continued to test negative.
Her symptomatic husband – who did have Covid but his virus was not picked up by the RATs – ended up going to work after his boss insisted he go in, despite his symptoms.
The boss was then infected with the disease.
Allie’s husband developed symptoms and did actually have Covid despite the RATs not picking up his illness
Allie said her partner finally got a PCR positive result, which made her upset the boss insisted he come into the office with the symptoms.
‘He tested positive because he’d made my husband go to the office, so I think that shows RATs are rubbish,’ Allie told ABC.
Her son also continued to attend kindergarten before finally testing positive to Covid via a PCR.
Doctors have cautioned those with symptoms to not rely on negative rapid antigen tests and urged Aussies to get an accurate PCR test if the RATs come up negative.
The quick RATs came to Australia as a much-needed alternative in 2021, saving people from having to stand in long queues to get tested and wait days in isolation to get a result back.
The long lines have been less common recently, with the government still providing free PCR tests throughout the state.
Australia reported 47,419 Covid cases and 78 deaths on Thursday, and there were 4,512 people in hospital, an increase of 35.
Australia passed the grim milestone of 10,000 deaths related to Covid earlier this month.
Some Aussies said they are finding it tough getting accurate readings from RAT tests (pictured)