To ask if you think there are people not bothering to get tested for covid

[Fedupofcovid78]

When they have symptoms and therefore not isolating.

I don’t know anyone who is ignoring symptoms completely, but lots who are using LFT instead of PCRs for symptoms that could be but probably aren’t Covid.

For example, I get 9+ migraines in a normal month, plus the joy of hay fever at the moment. I am LFTing more often than usual whilst my hay fever is playing up, but other than that continuing as normal.

@Suzi888

A lot of positive cases aren’t bothering to isolate. They claim their £500, take time off work and enjoy spending their free money!

What £500?!? That is only available for people on a very limited range of benefits for very low income. Many many people don't get this. I can work from home and still get paid, but for many people 10 days lost income would be disastrous. I can't blame them for not testing.

Yes, I think numbers are dropping in part because people are testing at home and not reporting because of the chaos caused by official testing.

I would feel the same, if a friend named me as a close contact I would be angry at them too due to my financial circumstances and would think they are not a friend at all

I’d rather lose a friend who was angry at being named a contact than conceal it from T&T and potentially endanger others. There’s a reason isolation is needed.

You’d be surprised. @caughtinanet
@NothingIsWrong
Depends where you live and what your financial circumstances are.

The scheme is very generous in Wales and getting sick pay from your job isn’t a regular occurrence- certainly not at a rate exceeding £500 net per week!
If someone works 4 hours a week and will lose income, they get £500.

@Suzi888

You’d be surprised. *@caughtinanet* *@NothingIsWrong* Depends where you live and what your financial circumstances are.

The scheme is very generous in Wales and getting sick pay from your job isn’t a regular occurrence- certainly not at a rate exceeding £500 net per week!
If someone works 4 hours a week and will lose income, they get £500.

I think most posters are in England so assume that if you don't say otherwise you are too

Getting the £500 and sunbathing for 10 days in not a thing in England that I've heard of anyone being able to do.

@Devondonkey

When we were all in lockdown, you basically didn’t miss much by isolating, apart from work. Now people have plans, and don’t want to compromise them after months of crap.

This 100%. Most people I know are choosing not to test and just lying low/keeping their mouths shut if they have symptoms or a positive lft. The population has finally grasped that testing will not mean freedom but more oppression and lockdowns, plus 96% of isolating people are negative and we've had the vaccine. If you choose not to your call.

plus 96% of isolating people are negative and we've had the vaccine. If you choose not to your call

Is that a scientific statistic @Turkishangora ? Which journal was it published in? Anecdotally this has been the experience ar my DCs school and I'd be interested in reading the studies

I was testing all the time, as was everyone in my workplace. Most of us have isolated 4/5/6 times since Christmas.

I'm not doing it anymore no matter what. I cannot afford to live in sick pay, I have family to feed and bills to pay.

I think there will be a lot fewer children getting tested over the summer holidays without them needed a negative result to go to school with symptoms. My ds has a temp and cough at the moment, I definitely could have just carried on thinking it was a cold. I got him tested and it isn't covid, but I can see why people might not bother, especially if they have done it many times without a positive result.

Not one for publishing journal links etc on here. However DH does a LOT of research into this and from other reputable sources (senior healthcare/research) this appears to be the case. I suppose it's amongst people who choose to test. A lot of people won't as they don't want to ruin their and their family and friends summer. DS was isolating during the last week of school, we did the isolation but no testing. We were all asymptomatic so no need.

Absolutely loads. Anecdotally the number of school bubbles that closed etc, was much higher this week than at any other point since schools first closed, makes me think overall numbers are much much larger than the official figures, but plenty aren’t testing.

Il be honest, probably get flamed but hey. I test 2 x a week normally (lft) I didn't test this week as DD had a big day on Friday and I just couldn't spoil it. She has been through enough, as have we all. No symptoms BTW

We've been told we don't have to continue testing regularly during the summer holidays (education).

I know we've had a few positive LFT with no symptoms at all with positive PCR following (we are all vaccinated).

So with school children and education staff that could account for a huge drop in asymptomatic cases being identified.

Probably, but given up caring tbh. I’ll test if we have the main covid symptoms but not going to for just cold symptoms anymore. We’ve missed enough, unless me or DC are actually I’ll we aren’t going to isolate. In 3 weeks close contacts won’t need to isolate anyway so unless they are properly unwell no need to test

I haven't tested when I've just had a cold but I have fever and sore throat at the moment so of course I've tested.... multiple times, all negative.

Of course we all want to go on our staycations.

We’ve had to test our toddler loads but if we tested him for EVERY little cough and sniffle then we’d literally be doing daily PCR tests. He’s got allergies with enlarged tonsils (and it looks like sleep apnoea too) so he’s basically one big walking cough.

Absolutely this is the case, and I don't blame them. Fairly standard etiquette around here is -
person is obviously very unwell (Eg high temperature),
takes a LFT which is positive.
Books a PCR.
Phones round friends they have seen to let them know.
PCR is positive.
Respond creatively to the test and trace questionnaire, not dropping friends in it
Isolates at home with family
Friends watch out for symptoms and take daily lateral flow tests.

Or, don't bother with the PCR and just isolate anyway.

I had it a couple of weeks ago. Thankfully didn't actually have any close contacts outside family because was already isolating with DH, but I only lost my taste for 30 mins, and had a slight cold. No way would I have bothered testing otherwise, and only got a PCR a week into it because I thought it made sense to have it on my notes for work purposes.

DD took a PCR when she had a trace of occasional cough & "felt hot" & "achy all over".
Shocked to find out she could get no financial support while waiting for results, since she was missing work.
Results took days to come back.
3 or 4 missed work shifts.

Don't think she's keen to take a test based on such mild symptoms again.

Of course there are. Would be pretty naive to think there aren't... And not just conspiracy people. Also people who simply cannot afford to stay at home. Many reasons really

My husbands bosses husband has it. Confirmed PCR and not well. She has symptoms but won't test as she doesn't want to have anything in her nose or throat 🤨

@Mum21031608

People are sick of lockdown and restrictions.

They know if the number of cases goes up then it’s likely restrictions will be bought back again.

Therefore the logic tells them that the way to keep official cases down, and therefore prevent restrictions, is to not take a test in the first place.

Which is so ridiculously idiotic. People will go into hospital and people will die. Those are the numbers that have any real effect on wether or not we go into lockdown again.

I don't know how people can be so stupid🤷‍♀️

I was on probation for a new job prior to when the isolation rules came in in early 2020. I was enjoying the job and honestly had nothing but excellent feedback until in March, just before the lockdown my baby DD had a cough and her nursery wouldn't take her and we were advised to isolate for the 14 days. My employers were fuming and said my DD most likely had a cold and were asking me who would cover my work etc. Sadly they terminated my employment not long after and said I wasn't reliable. I was out of work for months after that.

We should all be following the rules but I can't blame those who do all they can to keep working out of necessity.

The good news for me is my new employers are fantastic but I am still bitter over my treatment in the previous job because I was following the rules to protect offed set out by the government.

Which is so ridiculously idiotic. People will go into hospital and people will die. Those are the numbers that have any real effect on wether or not we go into lockdown again. I don't know how people can be so stupid

Because they can’t see the bigger picture?

But as has been proven by this thread, there are many reasons why someone may not test based on their particular circumstances.

I’m not saying it’s right, but a lot of people are just fed up after 18 months of lockdowns and restrictions and they just want their life to get back to normal.

I’ve felt a bit rough the last few days, aching muscles, a bit of a headache, just generally feeling run down. I haven’t tested because I’m putting it down to just having a stressful time at the moment (work related) but I’m sure there are many people who would test with those symptoms, “just in case.”

I’m sure the case numbers are much higher than the ones we are given but as has been said, people have a variety of reasons for choosing not to get tested and I doubt much can change that.