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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:
User7493268965 · 28/04/2022 18:34

I think that schoolchildren tested twice a week or were advised to but I don't know any schoolchildren personally.

User7493268965 · 28/04/2022 18:40

I guess testing was more usual on here because of the nature of the site and a lot of parents using it so would be skewed towards testing.

Veol · 28/04/2022 18:51

There are a lot of testing martyrs on this thread!😂 I know someone who went too far in the opposite direction and tested 3 times a day for a while.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

SeemsSoUnfair · 28/04/2022 18:53

signsofsafety · 28/04/2022 18:07

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.

They wouldn't have needed protecting from you, they would have needed protecting from the virus.

We tried to protect my mum and my brother did when he was asymptomatic and tested positive on a LFT before a visit. She was ok until she mixed with others (for medical reasons) and caught it there. Perhaps if others had taken the tests the particular line of transmission that led to her before she has the benefit of being fully vaccinated would have been severed.

Peoples language is loaded for good reason, it is an emotive subject that many feel strongly about. The op asked a question, people are allowed to respond to the op with their thoughts on the subject without the thread police.

EasterDecorations · 28/04/2022 18:58

I'm not aware of anyone I know not having done any, probably because most people I know have school age children so were doing them twice a week for a long time. I have worked outside the home throughout and so has DH both our workplaces encouraged us to use them, we've used them before visiting elderly relatives and I've been doing them this week due to cold symptoms. Done a few for the Zoe app as well.

Useranon1 · 28/04/2022 19:05

For those claim to not know they were supposed to be testing, why did you think anyone in the public could get LFTs online and in pharmacies?

Hbh17 · 28/04/2022 19:11

No, never. Not been required to for work. Been in the office throughout, out and about whenever allowed, on Tubes, in theatres etc. Also none of our friends are paranoid, so nobody has ever asked me to do it.

Abraxan · 28/04/2022 19:20

Veol · 28/04/2022 18:51

There are a lot of testing martyrs on this thread!😂 I know someone who went too far in the opposite direction and tested 3 times a day for a while.

Not a martyr. just someone who was hospitalised due to covid and now have a life long health condition and daily medication as a result of a complication from that infection.

Fluffymule · 28/04/2022 19:25

Useranon1 · 28/04/2022 19:05

For those claim to not know they were supposed to be testing, why did you think anyone in the public could get LFTs online and in pharmacies?

I was aware that the GP had the option to test up to twice a week via 'free' home testing but not that it was mandated or something we were 'supposed' to be doing en masse continuously.

My understanding was that people were encouraged to test when they felt their activities warranted it (visiting vulnerable people for example) or where it was a requirement set by the venue (school, employer for example).

I followed the legal directions to a tee - observed lockdown, wore a mask where required and I had the jabs when offered. However I never met any of the location requirements, or had any symptoms, so never had any need to test.

I don't know anyone who tested to go to a supermarket, or the local shops for example - although they would have worn a mask and observed social distancing.

Veol · 28/04/2022 19:51

Abraxan · 28/04/2022 19:20

Not a martyr. just someone who was hospitalised due to covid and now have a life long health condition and daily medication as a result of a complication from that infection.

Sorry that you had it badly. Virtually everyone I know has tested constantly , including me, and most people in my line of work have had covid at least once. I have had it twice. Testing made no difference. It is a very contagious illness.

Kezzie200 · 28/04/2022 19:59

No PCR but lots of LFTs. My DM has cancer so I'm currently testing before I see her.

Lesperance · 28/04/2022 19:59

signsofsafety · 28/04/2022 18:07

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.

This doesn't make sense to me. I visited my parents. I took a test, because I didn't want to give covid to them, because who wants to give covid to anybody? What have ideas and free will got to do with it?

abblie · 28/04/2022 20:01

Me either and blessed not to have had covid and I have a busy life lol

5zeds · 28/04/2022 20:04

If the busy life involves meeting lots of people you probably have had it and we’re lucky enough to be symptom free. Was there a lot of covid in the people you were in contact with?

Fantina · 28/04/2022 20:13

I’ve only ever had one lateral flow test too, OP, and I know others the same. I do have some boxes which I would use if I ever had symptoms. My mind also boggles at the impact on the environment of all this plastic waste produced so I think it is right that they aren’t free for everyone anymore. I’ve had all my vaccinations so I’m not a Covid denier.

Bigcap · 28/04/2022 20:24

I’ve never taken one. Never had any symptoms. I am self employed & can’t earn money if I had to spend 10 days indoors for something that isn’t even making me unwell - so I figured than unless I was actually too ill to work, I wouldn’t test & find out. Bring totally shafted financially for the best part of 18 months by not being able to work, I really couldn’t afford to take any more time off.
All well & good for those of you who get sick pay, less good for those of us who don’t.

PumpkinsandKittens · 28/04/2022 20:32

Nope never taken a LFT or PCR and neither have my kids

HeArInGhandsgirl11 · 28/04/2022 20:36

I think that's weird tbf

JoeMaplin · 28/04/2022 20:39

I’d be pretty shocked if someone had never taken one. In fact I’m pretty shocked so many here are saying they haven’t! I have to test twice a week for work, government guidelines were for everyone to test twice a week for ages. I’m extremely vulnerable, you’d never know to look at me. I work and have children at school. I was very poorly when I had covid even after 5 jabs and got the preventative anti viral treatment. I can’t believe so many people have been so blase about other peoples health! We know so many people are completely asymptomatic, I personally know lots.

Skyeheather · 28/04/2022 20:49

I haven't and we have never tested DC either.

miltonj · 28/04/2022 20:52

I've had to do them a couple of times to fly. And before I gave birth. And on a few occasions when someone I'm visiting has asked me for example. But no, I never got into routine twice weekly testing and only know a few people who did that.

teenagetantrums · 28/04/2022 20:57

I have to test for work. But my DP who works in a supermarket has never tested. Never had symptoms so no need to.

tabulahrasa · 28/04/2022 21:03

I don’t understand how anyone can have missed the message that we were supposed to be testing twice a week tbh, it was everywhere - they ran a full press campaign, then there were tv and internet ads for months as well.

I mean, I understand not actually doing it if you weren’t mixing with people - my mum has only done the odd test here and there because she wasn’t going anywhere.

But it was hard to miss that you were supposed to be.

buzzwoodyandjessie · 28/04/2022 21:11

I hadn't up until February this year when I started a new job and was required to test twice a week.

mum11970 · 28/04/2022 21:14

I hadn’t taken an LFT until last December, never had a PCR. Think I’ve taken about 3 LFTs in total.