What happens when there are no more lateral flow tests?

[ARicher22]

Pretty much as the title says...

Me and DD are supposed to both test before she attends nursery, as part of nursery policy.
Some family members have covid, though I don't think we are close contacts as havnt seen them for a few days before they tested positive, but we can't test so have no idea if we are spreading it.
I care for an elderly family member so try to be a little cautious with covid anyway.

There are no lateral flow tests anywhere near me, I've been visiting pharmacy's for a few days trying, I check the gov site regular but no luck.

Is it just supposed to be business as normal as I don't know if I have covid or not as I have no way of finding out?

AIBU - Stop what you are doing!! Act as if covid positive
YANBU- carry on as usual, you don't know you have covid

I work in pharmacist. We had lft tests delivered yesterday, lasted 45 minutes before out of stock,.. This was first delivery in a week. I know a few including myself got some on gov website check random times

I have FINALLY managed to get a box posted out on the gov site!! And a box sent to another family member who's been struggling so problem solved (sort of, assuming they arrive soonish) for a week or so!

P.S thankyou to the posters which suggest trying at 4.30.. they were available

@Badgerloco

I just ordered some on gov site to pick up from the chemist on Tuesday. None were available for home delivery though. Do you not have any friends that have any spare. We had boxes at one point as DS was sent home with loads from high school.

Unfortunately the code doesn't actually allocated you a box, so try and get there as early as possible as I reckon supplies will soon run out.

I’m having the same problem and have been trying for 2 days. I’m positive so DS’s school will want him to test and I’ll need to do LF’s on day 6 and 7 but we cannot get any. It’s all well and good telling people to go on as normal but in reality it’ll mean people having to stay off work and school.

You can order them online.

Ridiculous policy. I wouldn't be testing my 3 year old 3 mornings a week before nursery if I had no reason to think he had been exposed. I test twice a week and feel that's enough.

i know a family of 7 that have stock pilled all of november and December
they got them from 2 different school and 2 separate colleges where apparently they were available in a giant box at reception and its help your self so they did

they are that paranoid they are doing 2 per person a day morning and night

no one is vulnerable, most have had 3 jabs, well i know the adults have(2 adults,17,16,15,12 10)
hey are not isolating or shielding just going about on their daily business just testing on wakening and just before bed

its because of households like this that supply has gone

its because of households like this that supply has gone

No, its not.

The supply is gone because the government issued guidance telling people to increase testing but didn't increase capacity in the testing supply chain. They have literally told people to take regular lateral flow tests before visiting friends, going to crowded places, going shopping, visiting anyone vulnerable, going to the pub, going to a show/panto, going clubbing, going to concerts, going to Christmas parties, going to appointments, and so on - essentially telling people that if they're going out anywhere, they should test. That's on top of the twice weekly LFT they recommend everyone over the age of 11 does and LFTs people need to do as part of their employment and LFTs done by close contacts.

@TAKESNOSHITSHIRLEY

i know a family of 7 that have stock pilled all of november and December they got them from 2 different school and 2 separate colleges where apparently they were available in a giant box at reception and its help your self so they did

they are that paranoid they are doing 2 per person a day morning and night

no one is vulnerable, most have had 3 jabs, well i know the adults have(2 adults,17,16,15,12 10)
hey are not isolating or shielding just going about on their daily business just testing on wakening and just before bed

its because of households like this that supply has gone

I don't doubt that this sort of nonsense exists! These were the same people that bought a 100 toilet rolls at the beginning of the pandemic and still have some left!

Idiots.

Are the lateral flow tests reliable though. My friend did 3 in a week, all negative, even though she felt poorly. Did a PCR and was positive.

When did you have contact with your positive family members and how much? The incubation is around five days, but can take up to ten days.

"Are the lateral flow tests reliable though. My friend did 3 in a week, all negative, even though she felt poorly. Did a PCR and was positive."

They are fully reliable. But it could have been that she didn't have enough viral load in her system to test positive earlier.
Which is why we were asked to test regularly.

It was around 4 days before they tested positive when we last saw them as we saw them all on the same day. We went for a walk in the morning and buffeting in the afternoon, so spent quite a lot of time with them and some of it in quite a close contact setting.

Some one on fb kindly gave me two tests which means DD can possibly go to nursery at least one day, hopefully the other tests are delivered by the end of the week.. though I do agree with posters saying the nursery policy is a bit OTT so maybe I ought to apply common sense on their behalf and reduce the number of lfts until they are more readily available (not to mention the environmental impact of using 8 tests a week )

I'd lie. I've done covid tests on my 4 year old and it was carnage I wouldn't even both with the 1 year old. If they were really bad I wouldn't send them in

Well DD has some sort of sickness bug anyway so can't attend nursery for 48 hours minimum so that's solved my LFT dilemma

We haven't got any and can't get any until at least tomorrow when the chemists are open but they probably won't have any in stock...

We're begging, borrowing and stealing odd ones from friends and neighbours but won't be able to do any before work/college/school tomorrow. I'm sure we won't be the only ones 🤷‍♀️

Tried to get Lateral Flow Tests today. None available on the NHS website and my chemist has run out (I had a code). Government's approach to this is a shambles. The sooner Boris goes the better.

I was concerned about this as we were down to the last few tests and mumsnet posters keep saying there are no tests, went online and was able to book delivery. Tests arrived 3 days later. Maybe just try again to book some for delivery.

@Xmasiscancelledagain

Go for a PCR. Not rocket science.

PCRs are for when you have symptoms