Are we still testing for Covid? AIBU not to?

[Shameus]

Started feeling a bit crap at work on Thursday. Morning. By Thursday night I felt like I had a head cold. Yesterday started with a really sore mouth - as if my mouth and throat was full of ulcers, bit of a cough. Headache.
This morning I have no sense of taste or smell. I know this can happen to a degree with a cold but It’s not just a lessened sense, it’s gone completely. My coffee tastes like hot water.

Are we still testing for Covid?? I’ve seen that you can get lateral flow tests from boots but would you bother?

YABU - don’t be spreading your Covid germs
YANBU - treat it like a cold

Treat it like a cold.

I don't know why people are still testing. Stay at home until you feel better like you would have done pre covid if you were feeling poorly.

Depends wether you need to for waiting or not. I am only testing if I'm symptomatic, as I'm a nurse.

I haven't got tests any more, not sure where to get them.

I would treat it like flu. I would rest properly, drink fluids and stay away from people as much as possible.

I'm in Scotland and do a lot of testing for work reasons still.

2 weeks ago I started with the same, no smell or taste. 12 tests later all still negative.

Been to the docs and got antibiotics and steroid nasal spray, starting to feel better now but still no smell. I managed to taste vinegar yesterday 🙌🏻

There is an awful Rsv bug going round.

Hope you feel better

Treat it as the cold or flu. I dont know anyone who is still testing (even know nhs staff who are not testing). Imo (which is unpopular) we need to learn to live with it just like the common cold and flu. Unfortunately a lot off people died from covid related issues but they also did when the cold fist came about (which is also a strain of covid).

If you can call in sick to work or offer to wfh but if you are unable to ( I know times are hard) then call in 1st if you can explain that you are happy to work however you require to be away from people of possible as you don't wish to pass you illness on. If they advise that you will have to take a sick day just advise I am well enough to work if you are unwilling to allow me then I expect to be fully paid they soon change their mind.

Just male sure if you do go into work to clean before and after you have used anything and keep washing your hands etc.

Luckily I’m not due back at work until Thursday. Funny how last time I got Covid was during my annual leave too 🤦‍♀️ I’m yet to have a Covid related sick day 😂

Nobody is testing for Covid. People who say they have Covid are probably just trying to scam a few days off work. Just treat it like a cold because, even if it is Covid, we all now know that it is not a serious illness.

@Hbh17 what absolute bollocks! 😂

OP it obviously depends on your situation - no need to test if you WFH and you’re not going to see anyone, but of course you should still be cautious if you’re likely to be in a situation where you’d spread it to colleagues etc, or if you’re visiting someone vulnerable. It’s basic human decency!

Everyone I know is testing still .

There are some people who are still testing, but it's evidently less prevalent than it was, and that's even in the context of a great many people not testing even when the system was still there and free.

In your shoes I'd just stay at home until I felt better, though might be curious enough to do an LFT if I had one lying around. Which I don't and it sounds like nor do you.

I personally do test and will stay away from people for a few days. I’m fortunate I can work from home though

In my place you could get your AL back and have it treated as sick if you’re sick when you’re due to take AL. Covid is still exempt from sickness triggers at my place for 10 days so I’m sure many would do this, then take the AL another time

We're still testing regularly, but only because we have an elderly person with stage 4 cancer in our lives who we visit most days.

I dont think most people think it’s necessary to test any more. I only tested my last minor illness because I still have free LFTs leftover. There’s no way I’d have bought one.

DD’s college were sending LFTs home with her by the box full last year. She has Tourette’s and getting her to do a test was nigh on impossible, so we ended up accumulating a drawer full.

We did take a test if we had a cold or felt grotty (mainly out of curiosity), but we’ve now run out. We’re seeing my super vulnerable SiL over Christmas so I’ve saved a few tests for then but I’m not planning on buying any more

I think people should test and if positive stay away from others. Employers shouldn't be expecting staff in either.
I recently tested positive and was due to go on a 3 hour train journey, then a funeral a couple of days later and do the return train journey. I didn't go and got my train tickets refunded no problem.
I'd tested negative the previous two days so had I not tested that morning I could have potentially infected a lot of people which would have been irresponsible.

That's a very sweeping statement. When I had an unpleasant virus recently I tested (negative) and others I know would do the same. I wasn't fit to go out for several days anyway. My hairdresser lives with an immunosuppressed partner and has a very frail elderly father she visits every day and still tests twice a week.

Wfh if possible.
there’s a nasty virus going around atm, not COVID but still nasty and I wouldn’t want to pass that on!
most people don’t bother to test but it is more about being mindful of others …
hope you feel better soon

We did test recently, only because us and everyone around us came down with this horrendous virus/ bug/ fluey/ cold thing and felt awful.

No one I know who came down with it who tested got a positive test. So we still don’t know what it was, but it was awful and some still haven’t recovered.

We still had some tests leftover so I did test us out of curiosity more than anything. We couldn’t have left the house even if we wanted to.

If it was a mild cough/ cold then I don’t test but we do change/ cancel plans, and stay out of peoples way as much as possible.

Yabu - still testing if symptomatic and before seeing vulnerable people here

I only test because I know if I'm positive I'm not allowed into work and can work from home 😊

I don’t know anyone still testing. I haven’t for ages and had kind of forgotten about it to be honest, I certainly wouldn’t pay for tests anyway. There’s bigger things going on in the world.

I read that the new variants don't show on the tests being sold as easily. Although my husband tested positive on the old style lft nhs used to send out. We have a few boxes still.

This has become such a
"Don't Ask Don't Tell"
issue, hasn't it?!

I still encounter (IRL) people who are outraged at anyone who didn't test or who didn't isolate after a +test, and people (like me) who never worried if we caught it anyway and thought it was all rather OTT response.

Do what you're happy with in yourself, OP. That may be tempered by how people you will see for sure, how they would feel if you hadn't tested & you were +covid.