Would you get rapid testing done?

[Toastandtea1]

So a bit of context: I’m a private music teacher, teaching piano 1 to 1 to adults and children. Pre-lockdown I also ran toddler groups. I have had my first vaccination as I’m CEV. Due to have second jab end of April. I hold my piano lessons in my own house (obviously pre-lockdown)

During lockdowns I’ve done all my lessons via Zoom but will be resuming face to face teaching at my house at the point where we go into “Step 2” of the roadmap thing, hopefully after Easter holidays.

I’m wondering whether I should do what teachers and other essential workers are doing which is regular testing when asymptomatic? I drove past one of those rapid testing sites and it seems pretty easy to do but not sure if a) I’m eligible or b) it’s worth it??

Thoughts please!

YABU: no need to get regular testing if you’re only teaching one to one and you’ve been vaccinated.
YANBU: good idea to get regular testing.

The mass community testing sites are for anyone and everyone who wants to get tested and is asymptomatic. Just make sure if it is one of those sites.

If you develop symptoms you need to request a proper PCR test.

I was given a box of rapid test kits from my school. They're easily available I believe. I test myself every week ( as I'm in a rota) but as of tomorrow I shall be testing twice a week.

I think it good idea
I started doing the asymptomatic testing a few weeks ago. I was really scared!
But it is honestly so easy, I book via the link you choose a day and a time. At my one they do not mind if you turn up early. You wear your mask. They explain everything to you there and get you all logged on.
The people at mine are so kind and nice and I am usually in and out in about 10mins with the result texted to me before I have even walked home!
I have had 3 now all negative and it is good peace of mind really (especially as I will hopefully be visiting nursing home from next week 🤞)

Everyone is eligible for rapid testing.

We have one about half a mile from us. Anyone who lives or works in the area can get 2 tests per week. They must be asymptomatic thought.

I'm doing it at home, I wouldn't go to a test centre. Judging by how deserted our local one was earlier neither is anyone else.

DC have done well doing piano lessons via zoom. Our piano teacher is older & CEV she's going back to doing some teaching face to face, but we are going to continue doing zoom as it's working fine & I want to minimise her exposure as we can do. Do you have people you can continue to teach via zoom or do alternate F2f/zoom.?

I don't know about the LFT I suppose it might help some of your pupils if you test positive you can revert to zoom
Lessons. But knowing doesn't change your risk.

We think, but don’t know for sure that the vaccine reduces transmission. Until we know for sure then the fact you’ve had the vaccine is irrelevant. You could still catch the virus and pass it onto one of your pupils without even knowing you had it.

You can't get tests at home unless you have a school aged student living in the house. Go to the asymptomatic testing centre. It's quick and free.

You can reassure any anxious parents of your pupils - I think it would definitely be a plus point.

I think it's a good idea. I'm doing testing now at home just because of having school age children. I'd test them for their piano teacher if it made her more comfortable too. They are currently on zoom and everyone's doing their best but can't wait until it's back in real life!

In our area they are only available to critical workers at the moment - those who have to go out to work. We have to state our employer and the area of critical work we are engaged in to be eligible for a test.

@Clymene

You can't get tests at home unless you have a school aged student living in the house. Go to the asymptomatic testing centre. It's quick and free.

You can reassure any anxious parents of your pupils - I think it would definitely be a plus point.

Yes you can - if you are in a bubble with a household who has school age children.

Please, please don't think a negative on the lateral flow tests means you are definitely negative. It really shouldn't be giving you massive peace of mind.

Studies show reliability at picking positive cases up as anywhere between 3 and 50%, depending on which you look at.

If you have a lateral flow test and it says you are positive, then it's 98% certain you do have Covid asymptomatically.

If it says negative, it just means you MIGHT have it or might not.

They are good at picking up some asymptomatic cases out of a crowd eg students, workers. But they are not reliable enough on an individual basis to be able to say "I definitely don't have it."