Are you stocking up on lateral flow tests?

[alltheapples]

I wondered now that the government are ending free tests if anyone else is stocking up on free tests?

Also we know this is coming out the existing health budget.

Stockpiling for the worried well is at the expense of those actually sick.

No, the last couple I've gotten are the NHS ones that are throat and nasal swabs and I hate them. Would rather pay for the Flow Flex or Orient Gen if that's an option.

At the minute everyone has the same ability to request a packet every 3 days or get them from a pharmacy or their DCs school.

Even those of us who have committed the apparently cardinal sin of having a few boxes ( think we have 4) are hardly stockpiling.

The pandemic has taught me that having a social conscience generally has negative implications for my family and bank balance. I'll get a few more boxes whilst they're free thanks.

No but have you seen how much Boots are charging?!! I hope my partner who is 80+ will get them free but I've not seen that officially stated yet. It's a mistake by government to withdraw them as people won't know if they are infectious.

No. We have one pack and don’t have to test routinely. I would only test I’d visiting my elderly parents or another vulnerable person.

I have a box, I haven’t used any and if we no longer have to isolate then surely there’s no need for many to be using them? Obviously if you’re vulnerable etc that’s different but if I get symptoms I will just stay at home (I’m retired so rarely going anywhere anyway!)

Yes I could pay for them. But everything is going up in price. Our total household income is 40k, so no we are not poor, but with bills, NI, and food going up I do notice money is tighter.

But if you can afford to pay, you should. There will be people who things are not just tighter for, they really can not afford them.

And I resent paying for them when rich people have had such large handouts e.g. not paying tax on house buying for so long.

Two wrongs don’t make a right. And you won’t be getting your own back on the government or rich people. The only people that will suffer will be poor people who need to test. They either don’t test or they’ll potentially be forced to buy less food or not heat their house or pay their rent/mortgage.

Yes I've order a couple of extra boxes ive been collecting them for my family and my parents inparticular my dad who has terminal cancer you only get 7 in a box not many especially as a family of 5 alone and then for expenses family members.

@alltheapples

And Svara we do not even provide free tests to the vulnerable from the 1st of April.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51943612 Free lateral flow tests (LFTs)will no longer be available in England from 1 April, except to the over-75s and people over the age of 12 who have weakened immune systems. BBC are saying they will be free to over 75s, who are the most vulnerable. Age is by far the biggest factor in vulnerability isn't it?

@RedToothBrush

Also we know this is coming out the existing health budget.

Stockpiling for the worried well is at the expense of those actually sick.

Everyone who has talked about stockpiling on this thread is doing so to protect very vulnerable people. Might be worth reading a thread before commenting?

My husband caught Covid and he had a full ten days of isolating, lying in bed doing no childcare or cooking or anything. I’m still waiting for my turn! Gutted that I haven’t tested positive yet. If I can’t test then I’ll never know if I have Covid and I’ll never get my turn to isolate.

I think they should also be free to those who are classed as low income for NHS purposes though.

@Svara I posted a link to another article that has Johnson quoting they do not yet know who will qualify for free tests. I do not know who is right since the government website does not yet say.

@DefaultParent

Alot of vulnerable people have reduced earning potential due to their disabilities. I am not one of those people. But surely that's not difficult to understand?

I wasn't aware I demonstrated a lack of understanding to everyone's situation based on suggesting OP pay. In fact I didn't even mention other people, I commented that if OP need is so great, why can't they pay. OP does not want to pay because OP feels they should be free. There was no mention of income being a factor.

I've not known anyone bothering to get a PCR recently to confirm they've got covid. What's the point if lat flow is positive? Anyway either way I won't bother anymore if I don't have to.

I think they should also be free to those who are classed as low income for NHS purposes though.

I agree. Just because you’re over 75, doesn’t mean you can’t afford to buy them. Some of the most well off people I know are 75+.

@rookiemere

At the minute everyone has the same ability to request a packet every 3 days or get them from a pharmacy or their DCs school.

Even those of us who have committed the apparently cardinal sin of having a few boxes ( think we have 4) are hardly stockpiling.

The pandemic has taught me that having a social conscience generally has negative implications for my family and bank balance. I'll get a few more boxes whilst they're free thanks.

I totally agree with this. And funny how those criticising stockpiling make up imaginary numbers, when in reality everyone actually stockpiling are talking about modest numbers.

It reminds me of well off people on MN criticising those who only kept a few days food normally in the house for stockpiling by buying much more, before revealing they routinely kept at least a month's worth of food in their own house in normal times.

No.

Never intend to test again. Am frankly over the whole thing now.

If nobody is testing and nobody is isolating then the only people who need tests are those who are ECV or may need antivirals quickly and only then if they have had a positive test. If they go on a bus, or visit shops than they are going to come into contact with viruses - and anyone one of those could be deadly. They fact you can test for Covid doesn’t mean it will pick up all the other possibilities does it?

Everyone who stockpiles has a justification whether it be tests, petrol or food - otherwise the huge increase in demand wouldn’t happen.

I’m glad to see the back of them though so someone will be getting those ones instead.

@YukoandHiro

No OP, that wasn't the change but you weren't the only one to misunderstand. Anyone who is asymptomatic doesn't have to follow up a positive LFT with a PCR to confirm the result. If you're having symptoms, right now you're still supposed to get a PCR. But given that from tomorrow you don't need to isolate even if you have it, I imagine nobody is going to get a PCR anymore unless instructed by an employer or school.

Oh, yes I had misunderstood it. I had thought a lateral flow positive for whatever reason meant no PCR.

Yes, I've been getting extras and will continue to whilst they're free. I guess it is stockpiling.

@BluebellsGreenbells

If nobody is testing and nobody is isolating then the only people who need tests are those who are ECV or may need antivirals quickly and only then if they have had a positive test. If they go on a bus, or visit shops than they are going to come into contact with viruses - and anyone one of those could be deadly. They fact you can test for Covid doesn’t mean it will pick up all the other possibilities does it?

Agree that testing doesn't protect many CEV people. A relative has previously been hospitalised with a cold, a LFT is only useful for Covid.

when in reality everyone actually stockpiling are talking about modest numbers

If you haven’t got very many what will you do when you run out?

@BluebellsGreenbells ecv are not entitled to free tests. I am ecv as is DP, my father and a friend. It has been suggested that only 100,000 people of the over 3 million ecv will be entitled to free tests.