AIBU covid test public transport ethics.

[Rachellow]

This is purely hypothetical but may not be in the near future. I'm a teacher so if I get symptoms that's me, 30 kids and 2 TAs off for 2 weeks self isolating until I get a negative test. We've been told that we can get a speedier test at several hospitals. The trouble is I don't drive, neither does any of my housemates. I live over 2 hrs walking distance from any hospital which isn't going to be overly achievable if I've got symptoms . So the only way to get there is bus or taxi but it doesn't seem ethical or legal to get public transport knowingly having symptoms.
But if I don't get a test I then have to gravely inconvenience 32 people plus their families and my 6 housemates for 2 weeks when I might not even have COVID in the first place! Tbh I'm quite prone to a winter cough (not a smoker) and my class are 6 so hygiene is a running battle but we'll have to treat any bouts of coughing as COVID. What am I realistically supposed to do??

They can post them out to you and return via a courier!

Of course you can't get public transport, you would need to wait for a postal test. I also don't drive and live an hour away from the nearest test centre, we waited 6 days for test to arrive and results for ds, was shi t but it is what it is.

Also, they all have to isolate when you have a positive test, not just if you have symptoms.

Are you sure the quicker tests at hospitals are not for hospital staff only. Ours was. Do they could get people back to work quicker.

As others have said, were you not aware that you could get a home test?
Also, the class and TA's wouldn't need to isolate until you had a positive test.

Can you not get a postal test? That's what my midwife and nurse friends have done.

Guessing you’re not aware that home tests exist?

You absolutely cannot get public transportation if you’re symptomatic. You either walk to a walk in test centre, or you walk to a priority post box to post your completed home test. If neither of these options are available, a courier will visit your home to collect your completed home test.

Also it’s hypocritical of you to be worried about “gravely inconveniencing 32 people” but not to pay a 2nd thought to the people you may infect en route to the hospital.

You just have to do a postal test, will take a couple of more days but still less than 14.

OP are you unaware that you can get a test posted to you and you just post it back?

Most people I know who have been tested have done it that way...

Surely your class with only have to isolate if you test positive not if you have symptoms.

I couldn't get a postal test.

The government site constantly said that none were available.

I feel for you .

Also it is area dependent on how long your results take to return, rather than postal being slow compared to in person. I live in London, went to a drive in test centre in July and had a postal home test this month. Both results arrived within 24 hours.

You would need to get a home test

You absolutely can’t take public transport to get tested! Surely that’s obvious?

@Flamingopants

Surely your class with only have to isolate if you test positive not if you have symptoms.

Not necessarily.

DD's class were sent home to self-isolate because one student had possible symptoms. They tested negative so everyone was allowed back the following day, but took 5 days to get the test results.

Apparently because 2 other classes in the year group (16 classes in her year) had confirmed positives the advice from PHE was for everyone to self-isolate just in case if there was someone with symptoms.

(Week later there was a confirmed case so they were all out for 14 days). Feel like a yo-yo and DD has spent as much time at home as she has in school.

Is this a joke?