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Original poster

Has anyone else never taken a Covid test?

91 replies

Comvit · 28/04/2022 16:44

I've never taken a Covid test. There are quite a few people around me - friends and family - who've also never taken one, or have taken one at a particular time for holidays and whatnot.

So I didn't think it was that unusual to have never taken a test. But a friend I met up with today was absolutely beside herself with shock that I've never tested.

Has anyone else never tested? Is it really that unusual to have never taken a Covid test?

OP posts:
biggreenhouse · 28/04/2022 17:19

@Oblomov22 no? not sure where you live but it's been pretty clear for me with all the " test twice a week" "seeing family or friends? take a test" "going to an event? test before you go"

ElenaSt · 28/04/2022 17:22

No of course not! I would never take a test and no one in our family or circle of friends has either.

hepaticanobilis · 28/04/2022 17:29

It was government guidance for quite some time to test twice a week (this is why free LFTs were so readily available!) so yes, I think it's unusual when people say they've never taken one.

I've not had symptoms either but tested before some appointments, Christmas parties, a charity meeting and other such occasions when I knew I'd be in close contact with other people indoors.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Covid-19
signsofsafety · 28/04/2022 17:32

I've never had one neither have my children or parents, we never had symptoms.

SeemsSoUnfair · 28/04/2022 17:39

The point of taking the tests, especially when you were visiting people you loved, was to protect them if you picked up covid along the way.

If you choose not to protect the people you loved then that is up to you, but not sure why your are surprised your friend was shocked that you didn't take easy steps to protect those around you.

It is not unusual, there have been many people with the same attitude.

ButtockUp · 28/04/2022 17:56

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

MrsDThomas · 28/04/2022 18:01

No. No need. Neved had symptoms.

Work asked us (4 in the office out of over 600 staff local government) and we refused. What was the point? It was never forced. There’s a load of flow tests sitting on the shelf. God knows how many are stocked elsewhere.

masks are still to be worn. Again what the fuck for? Just us, most still WFH for some reason.

i can go on holiday, pub, shop with out one yet i need a mask to go to the next room room for a piss.

Wundermust4 · 28/04/2022 18:03

Employer requested that I returned to work last June, which I did. Previously I was working from home due to the workplace being closed due to covid restrictions.

I've taken one test at a covid centre & it was negative

Meanwhile, some other people were testing twice a day !

There was never a Government rule to test frequently

Abraxan · 28/04/2022 18:03

It would be unusual among by friends as many of us work in education or jobs which deal with vulnerable clients, so used them fairly regularly at one point and also come into close contact with covid a fair bit.

DH has taken them a number of times as has to visit vulnerable clients at times. Care homes and hospices have required testing before going in, and some of his clients still request one (provided by them) before he comes in to take instructions. He's also been in contact with covid a few times.

DD again has taken a number as had a lot of close contact, plus was supposed to do them regularly when her university course went back for in person lectures.

I'm classed as vulnerable to covid so we still have free tests and still test if we have symptoms. I need to know as soon as possible so I can access antiviral medication within the first few days. I teach so have had close contact with covid a lot, once I was able to return to in person teaching, after lockdowns.

Covid made me fairly poorly inc a hospital admission the first time. So its good for me to test, and for dh and dd to test if they have symptoms/close contact.

megletthesecond · 28/04/2022 18:06

That's really odd.
Everyone I know has done loads of LFT's. Quite a few people have caught covid before it was developed.
I'm still testing every week as I have loads of boxes.

signsofsafety · 28/04/2022 18:07

SeemsSoUnfair · 28/04/2022 17:39

The point of taking the tests, especially when you were visiting people you loved, was to protect them if you picked up covid along the way.

If you choose not to protect the people you loved then that is up to you, but not sure why your are surprised your friend was shocked that you didn't take easy steps to protect those around you.

It is not unusual, there have been many people with the same attitude.

Such loaded language on these threads.

I visited my parents, they maybe don't feel they needed protecting from me or anything else and had their own ideas and free will.

Pugfostermum · 28/04/2022 18:08

Only ever for the 2 holidays I took when they were required for travel.
didn’t see the point otherwise.

Fluffymule · 28/04/2022 18:16

No. I was tested once when I went into hospital for surgery last summer but have never taken a test myself at home. Never needed to. Never had any symptoms.

Have had all 3 jabs so I'm not a 'covid denier' or whatever it is people call refuseniks, I've just never had reason to home test.

I know a number of people who have also never taken a test. If you've never had symptoms or gone to a place/event that has a negative test requirement why would you?

Daisycat76 · 28/04/2022 18:17

I've probably tested hundreds of times, but I work in a special school and we are encouraged to test daily for the safety of the children. It's become such a regular part of life for me now, I can't imagine having never tested throughout the whole pandemic.
I had covid in January but wasn't particularly ill - without testing I wouldn't have realised and could have spread it to loads of people. I'm surprised you've never taken a test - haven't you ever been in contact with someone who tested positive?

Wundermust4 · 28/04/2022 18:19

The only people that I know who were requested to test frequently by their employer, worked in schools or hospitals

Pumperthepumper · 28/04/2022 18:21

MrsDThomas · 28/04/2022 18:01

No. No need. Neved had symptoms.

Work asked us (4 in the office out of over 600 staff local government) and we refused. What was the point? It was never forced. There’s a load of flow tests sitting on the shelf. God knows how many are stocked elsewhere.

masks are still to be worn. Again what the fuck for? Just us, most still WFH for some reason.

i can go on holiday, pub, shop with out one yet i need a mask to go to the next room room for a piss.

The point of testing was to stop the spread.

Pumperthepumper · 28/04/2022 18:22

Fluffymule · 28/04/2022 18:16

No. I was tested once when I went into hospital for surgery last summer but have never taken a test myself at home. Never needed to. Never had any symptoms.

Have had all 3 jabs so I'm not a 'covid denier' or whatever it is people call refuseniks, I've just never had reason to home test.

I know a number of people who have also never taken a test. If you've never had symptoms or gone to a place/event that has a negative test requirement why would you?

In case you were asymptomatic.

Costacoffeeplease · 28/04/2022 18:23

Neither my husband or I have ever taken a test, and to our knowledge, we haven’t had covid either, unless it was completely asymptomatic and we didn’t pass it on to anyone else.

Pumperthepumper · 28/04/2022 18:24

Costacoffeeplease · 28/04/2022 18:23

Neither my husband or I have ever taken a test, and to our knowledge, we haven’t had covid either, unless it was completely asymptomatic and we didn’t pass it on to anyone else.

How do you know you didn’t pass it on?

User7493268965 · 28/04/2022 18:28

I haven't, no DC, no vulnerable relatives and retired, DH has once for an event.

Prestel · 28/04/2022 18:29

It was government guidance for quite some time to test twice a week (this is why free LFTs were so readily available!)

Was it? I have to admit I was never aware of this. It can't have been publicised very well.

I did a few PCRs when I had symptoms, the last time positive, but the only LFTs I did was in the (vain) hope to finish isolation early. I never went anywhere that required one. Not all work places required them and not everyone works anyway so I'm more surprised by posters who thought everyone was doing them constantly than I am to find some people never did any at all.

Costacoffeeplease · 28/04/2022 18:30

I’m disabled and virtually housebound. I see very few people and none of them have had it either. In fact, I know very few people who have had it.

RoaryMouth · 28/04/2022 18:31

People saying they have never had symptoms or went to any events so why test? Because LFTs were designed and used at first to find asymptomatic cases and to therefore help stem the spread of COVID.
So you've never tested because you didn't agree that testing could help protect others, or you didn't understand the guidance, or you had no contact with other people. Or just didn't want to?
I find it odd. I don't know of anyone who hasn't tested at all.

Wundermust4 · 28/04/2022 18:32

I never saw any Government advise to test twice any Government website for 2 years

The only Government requirement to test was if travelling abroad

Pumperthepumper · 28/04/2022 18:33

Costacoffeeplease · 28/04/2022 18:30

I’m disabled and virtually housebound. I see very few people and none of them have had it either. In fact, I know very few people who have had it.

Well, that makes sense if you see very few people and you know none of them had it. Most people I know have had it. I was totally asymptomatic.