Why isn't it headline news that no tests are available?

[Froginaboginasmock]

Surely this is incredibly important - Govt said over and over we couldn't return to school/work without Test and Trace - and it's already broken down.

No tests whatsoever available now in my area, scores of others on MN reporting the same. Checked the Guardian live, BBC - nothing. Why isn't this being reported? It doesn't seem to be restricted tests, having no travel etc anymore: it's no tests.

Sorry should have said, we have a Bath postcode.

We'd been trying all night and this morning. Every other time we typed in the initial details then had to select from drive in or walk in neither of which had tests options. I came out of it, tried again and that time a third option of home kit came up. I then typed in more details and was able to request a home kit. About 10 minutes later I got a confirmation email.

When I spoke to 119 they had said if you are filling out for a child, pretend you are the child filling it out even when it asks who is filling out the request. We did that the successful time so I don't know whether that's what made the difference, rather than filling in my details and then my sons.

Because they can control the media, so you get to see what our overlords decree & no more.

Never more evident when a prominent Tory muppet managed to keep their DCs antics & labour affiliation out of the tabloids, even when the story low key broke. I'm glad for the DC, they can't help who their parents are, but it stinks to high heaven that our press are no longer free, that's if anyone us were daft enough to believe we still have free press at all.

@Bubbletrouble43

I'm getting an unsolicited test sent to me as have been contacted to take part in a study by imperial college. Anyone else? Seems they've underestimated how many they need?

I’ll give you a tenner for that test

There is a job advert out to recruit a PR Manager for T&T. Let's face it, they need one, but who foots the bill?

Friend who works with the actual test processing has said the capacity for processing tests doesn't match tests available or needed. Like all NHS services, they've been cut to the bone & were already expected to perform miracles, but now that's massively increased, they blame testing for holidays as putting the extra pressure on the system that's breaking its back

I've tried since Friday night to get a test for DS & DH, tried online (none available) and tried ringing (cuts off with a "too busy try again later)

That’s why they’re having to be sent abroad. And why that’s causing so many delays and tests having to be voided.

It seems odd to be sending out thousands of unsolicited tests to volunteers ( I don't need one, I'm practically a sahm these days and my minimal work is still on zoom atm) whilst people awaiting tests to return to essential work cannot get them. In fact I'd call it stupid.

I was a bit shocked that the test and trace people seem to have narrowed the window of infection.

My DH got a call last week from his hairdresser, who's tested positive. He was told by the trace team that he only had to notify people he'd been in contact with for 48 hours before symptoms appeared. My DH saw him the day before that (both wearing masks throughout) and his hairdresser only contacted him as a courtesy.

Luckily DH is symptom free, but he can't get a test! He's not isolating for 14 days based on that little contact, but it seems a bit suspicious that test and trace are downplaying the amount of asymptomatic infection time at the sane time we as a country have less access to tests...

Same in my area. Ds has cold with slight cough, nephew has confirmed case in his school bubble. We cant get a test

Same here, no tests anywhere to be had regardless of whether we offer to get to a testing station by driving, walking, cycling or dancing...I gather all the tests have been sent to another part of the county where there has been an outbreak. I saw a BBC News headline last week that said the testing system had "fallen over." It certainly has here.

@Bubbletrouble43 no, the national testing program is extremely important. If you've been asked to take part, please do.

@QuizzlyBear

I was a bit shocked that the test and trace people seem to have narrowed the window of infection.

My DH got a call last week from his hairdresser, who's tested positive. He was told by the trace team that he only had to notify people he'd been in contact with for 48 hours before symptoms appeared. My DH saw him the day before that (both wearing masks throughout) and his hairdresser only contacted him as a courtesy.

Luckily DH is symptom free, but he can't get a test! He's not isolating for 14 days based on that little contact, but it seems a bit suspicious that test and trace are downplaying the amount of asymptomatic infection time at the sane time we as a country have less access to tests...

The 48 hours has always been the measure.

Luckily DH is symptom free, but he can't get a test!

And he doesn’t need a bloody test. No symptoms and no contact within the TTP criteria. ffs.

Really @Feminist10101? As a household we were contacted by test and trace twice in the last two months because we'd been in contact 'within four days of people becoming symptomatic'.

Either they were over cautious then or they're less cautious now. Or crappy training, I guess...

Oh and there would be little point in only taking tests only if you're symptomatic. By then it's too late - you've spread it. The entire ethos of test and trace (until recently) was to get a test if you've been in contact with someone who's tested positive. To stop the disease.

I don't know what to do - I got onto a page where I seemed to book a test at a site near me. I did Save and Continue and then it just takes me back to the start - am I supposed to get a confirmation page!! An email??

I work in a hospital and it’s my departments job to process these samples and send out the kits to hospital wards and we have hundreds and hundreds of boxes of swabs in our stock room, you actually can’t even move in there.
So yeah, here isn’t a shortage of kits, we’ve built up a huge supply for winter.

@Feminist10101

Luckily DH is symptom free, but he can't get a test!

And he doesn’t need a bloody test. No symptoms and no contact within the TTP criteria. ffs.

I thought that the point of T&T was that if you’ve been In contact with someone who has tested positive, that you need to test or self isolate for 14 days?

Apologies for the above post, I’ve read up and that’s not the case (anymore?), you just need to social distance if you’ve been exposed but have no symptoms.

Puppy monkey we have had the same. As we have been trying on a couple of devices and finally got a slot when it took us back to the start. We now either have no appointments or we have three!
When I hit the back button it gave me a confirmation code saying it had been texted to me- no text.
I'm currently on hold to 119 to find out. Have now been in a queue for 24 minutes. Its a bloody farce.

On an aside, I've just completed a survey asking me about my confidence in the government. Umm none.

I read an article last night that said a major part of the reason people can't tests may be down to the fact the main supplier of covid tests is pissed as fuck as the government hasn't paid them since April.

www.independent.co.uk/news/health/coronavirus-tests-moonshot-hologic-government-covid-19-latest-b423136.html?utm_content=Echobox&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR2oOPCeatdVaw53F8xNb6Ku1AxKIanK_wNxzWfppMo3cQguC5lnkd1FWdo#Echobox=1599997360

DS1 (7) started coughing on Saturday, and then came down with a temperature of 38.1c. I started trying to book a test on Saturday evening, but it said there were no drive in, walk in, or home tests available. I started trying again early on Sunday morning. We live in SE London, and eventually we were offered Kettering. That then disappeared, and it went back to nothing available. Then it said 52 slots were available in Bognor Regis. Clicked on it, and it told me nothing was available. Finally by 12:30 I managed to get a home test.
I emailed my MP to complain about all of this (pointing out DH is self employed and can’t work until we know the result, and DS2 who has SEN is going to have to miss preschool, when he only just went back). He replied with “The Government is trying.”
I’m tempted to reply “You’re damn fucking right they are.”

Completely agree OP, am asking this question daily. Tests are being severely rationed at a time when positive cases are increasing massively, people have recently gone back into school and work which increases risk, and we still don’t have our works beating test and trace.
Yet the idea that we could have mass regular testing in the near future is reported as actual news as opposed to impossible and ridiculous lie that it clearly is.

@littledrummergirl

Puppy monkey we have had the same. As we have been trying on a couple of devices and finally got a slot when it took us back to the start. We now either have no appointments or we have three! When I hit the back button it gave me a confirmation code saying it had been texted to me- no text. I'm currently on hold to 119 to find out. Have now been in a queue for 24 minutes. Its a bloody farce.

On an aside, I've just completed a survey asking me about my confidence in the government. Umm none.

Oh no, I have no confirmation code or anything - do you think it might come through via text or email later?? It's a nine mile drive to the testing site, I'd rather not go all that way and then be turned away.