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?

Ah but you dont understand, people have had enough of Covid now, its all over!

Tbh I’m fine for others to have my stock, I can’t see that would be an issue for anyone.

[quote alltheapples]@RedToothBrush maybe I should just not visit my friend with cancer at all then? Or not give her lifts to her hospital appointments so the NHS has to provide transport? Or not visit my father in his rented council house and help him with various things like changing lightbulbs and paying the bills? Then when he falls because he tries to do it himself or gets his bills cut off, it will cost the NHS and Social Services far more to sort things out?

This is what is the matter with the Tories. They have zero understanding of how much informal care goes on and the great cost to the state if we all just walked away. All for the sake of a few free tests.

Everything is inter connected.[/quote]
You say it yourself. Everything is interconnected.

If there is a problem and everything skyrockets again, you doing an lft isnt going to make a blind bit of difference really.

You are still putting someone at risk even if you do an lft. Just less at risk. Cases being low whilst immunity is high and no lfts paradoxically may be no more risky than having lfts and a very high case rate.

I genuinely think we could go on forever arguing over when is the right time to end free testing.

And its not 'free testing'. Its free at point of order. The tests are costing the nhs money.
Taxpayers money.

Someone else will argue that they think the money is better spent clearing the back log of cancer referrals thats the problem.

Testing healthy under 10s regularly just for school? No. I do think its just prolonging anxieties for many.

The useage of these things has got out of control. The government has been too successful with it in many senses!

We can't test what will happen in a lab. We can only do it in a real world setting.

If we don't do it now, it will be into the autumn and thats a far worst time.

@MarshaBradyo I don't know, I have 6 boxes. The teenagers visit my father at the moment as well, I will reduce that to save on tests as to be honest they are not bothered about visiting at all.

@RedToothBrush You just keep repeating yourself. I have acknowledge that there is still risk. I am reducing the risk, not eliminating it. That is the best I can do. Simply because I cant eliminate risk does not mean I should not try and reduce it.
And no one on this thread has talked about testing healthy kids to go to school. That is a total strawman. Everyone has talked about testing to visit very vulnerable family including in care homes or hospices. You may not think they should do anything to try and protect their loved ones, lots of people on this thread disagree.

And until I see Whitty on the TV saying yes we don't need to test anymore in any circumstance, then I will carry on testing before visiting vulnerable people.

No, I haven’t bothered ordering any since they stopped using the flow fast ones. I can’t stand the old school throat swab ones.

[quote xxxsuper]@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. [/quote]
Apologies, I thought you was referring to people in general.

There are always some fuckers stockpiling aren’t there? It’s a lot of energy used up in hunting down stock that I just don’t have to spare.

No. I won't be doing tests and I definitely am not stockpiling them ffs.

@GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing

There are always some fuckers stockpiling aren’t there? It’s a lot of energy used up in hunting down stock that I just don’t have to spare.

Yes, and elderly people like my grandmother won't be on the ball with checking the website at various times of day to get hold of a box. She only orders a box when she has a couple of tests left as she isn't grabby.

I have enough here for a few weeks. I have to test twice a week for work (NHS) and always test before I see my parents. If I don't get free for work then I will buy them to test before I see my parents.

@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.

If I stockpile - and I will unless I get some reassurance from the govt. in the next few days - it will be solely so I can visit my DM in her care home.

No never used them or needed to.

[quote alltheapples]@RedToothBrush You just keep repeating yourself. I have acknowledge that there is still risk. I am reducing the risk, not eliminating it. That is the best I can do. Simply because I cant eliminate risk does not mean I should not try and reduce it.
And no one on this thread has talked about testing healthy kids to go to school. That is a total strawman. Everyone has talked about testing to visit very vulnerable family including in care homes or hospices. You may not think they should do anything to try and protect their loved ones, lots of people on this thread disagree.[/quote]
Erm.

Why am i not allowed to repeat myself and you are? Just so we get this straight.

Why is it not ok for me to disagree with you but its ok for you to disagree with me?!

Why are what you prioritise more important than what anyone else might priortise?

Seriously?!

Newsflash:
I DO NOT HAVE TO AGREE WITH YOU AND I AM ALLOWED TO STRESS THIS AS MANY TIMES AS I SEE FIT WITHOUT YOUR PRIOR APPROVAL.

I don't think there is ever going to be an agreement on this. I don't necessarily agree with how / when the government are doing it.

However i do recognise its got to be done sometime and there are political issues that cant be avoided. Johnson cant renew restrictions. The Tory backbenchers wont allow more money to be kept pumping in. This isnt just Tory MPs saying this though. Its MPs under pressure from constituents and being conscious of other issues and other pressures to the vulnerable.

I am not necessarily in this camp myself. But i can see that its untenable to continue much longer. Because I'm a realist.

So why not now? The argument about high immunity is a good one.

I don't think that mass testing is something that is economically sustainable. We either phase it out more slowly, or go cold turkey.

I think some people who don't have 'a good excuse' to test have become almost dependent on them. People have formed habits with them. Its not necessarily healthy either.

I don't know what is a better solution but I also think you are expecting something thats politically impossible too.

There has to be a certain amount of public consensus over maintaining restrictions. Lfts being available to all but in a situation where a certain % of people just stop testing isnt necessarily better than just ending the free testing. With the former people can think its 'safer' than it is. With the latter the default becomes more to be cautious in other ways. It offsets one against the other.

Public compliance is at a level where, especially with omicron, we have to consider whether its really as effective and worthwhile as many think it is.

I'd argue we have passed that point now.

I don't deny it sucks for many. Lots of other things suck for others and have done through out the pandemic.

Its about balance. And i think the balance has tipped. I don't like how it feels but I can also see how we need to have a shift in mindset at some point and live with this. Or die with this.

Preservation of life isn't restricted just to covid. Thats my bottom line here.

Covid isn't over. It won't ever be. The risk of that severe variant will remain indefinitely now. Thats not changing this year. Or next year. Or the year after. And so on.

@RedToothBrush So we shouldn't test before visiting very vulnerable relatives or friends?

@Svara why is that my fault? Surely it is the governments fault and partially yours for not suggesting she get in some extra ones now?

We have about 8 boxes put by for when we visit in-laws and parents and that's enough. Anymore and they'd probably go out of date as because of distance,only visit every 3 months or so.

No
I'm usually v prudent with money but may get via work and if needs be I can buy them. I won't mind shelling out if seeing someone vulnerable

[quote alltheapples]@Svara why is that my fault? Surely it is the governments fault and partially yours for not suggesting she get in some extra ones now?[/quote]
It's the fault of the people panic ordering who already have tests. She will likely order another if she can but likely just one more. She doesn't believe in stockpiling at other's expense.

I'm in Scotland so still need them.

BUT I just got a box delivered and they are the throat and nose ones, not had those type for months, just nose. Wonder if they are having a clear out

I have loads in the house. Supposed to test 3 times a week for work and i don’t. Whatever for? Its just us in the office.

There are loafs in work too. Just sitting there.

@Peasandcabbage

I'm in Scotland so still need them.

BUT I just got a box delivered and they are the throat and nose ones, not had those type for months, just nose. Wonder if they are having a clear out

We have been getting there for about 6 weeks now. Also Scotland.

@xxxsuper that's interesting. My PIL live next door and cannot work Internet, both had a close contact so needed some last week, and they got nose ones....

I have had a 4th vaccination, so I guess I might still be eligible for free ones. In any event won't stockpile.

No, but I hope that CV people will still be given them if they choose to shield/be as careful as possible. That will allow people to visit them and provide help/care.