Are we still testing for Covid? AIBU not to?

130 replies

Shameus · 19/11/2022 06:22

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

OP posts:

GlitteryUnicornSparkles · 19/11/2022 20:47

I work in care, our guidelines are to test only if you have symptoms as you are still required by my employer to stay off until you have two consecutive negative tests but since symptoms vary I test if I feel a bit off but I don’t think many of the general public will be testing since covid tests are no longer free and isolating is no longer required either way. So unless you need to for work or really just want to know then I probably wouldn’t bother.

MrsSkylerWhite · 19/11/2022 21:11

hbh17
”. Just treat it like a cold because, even if it is Covid, we all now know that it is not a serious illness.“

What a disgusting thing to say. many thousands died. Shame on you.

AlwaysLatte · 19/11/2022 23:36

we ran out and paid £17 for 10, is that average?
That's a good price. I bought 8 recently, at £3 each (local chemist). May I ask where you got yours?

Overthebow · 20/11/2022 08:11

FuckeryOmbudsman · 19/11/2022 20:09

The guidelines I meant aren't about testing.#

They're about the need for symptomatic people (including those who have not tested) to keep away from other people.

Because it's a major threat to the highly vulnerable, but also shit for anyone. Because people can't afford yet more time off, or have the inclination to risk long covid. But when you are unlucky and have a symptomatic respiratory illness, you need to keep away from people - avoid indoors contact, wear a mask, warn others and keep away from highly vulnerable people.

And I'm not joking about the strain the 'twindemic' - or even tripledemic - is already putting on health services in other countries. We might still have the chance to take the edge off it here, but only if people want to avoid stress on NHS (I suspect the government wants the exact opposite, and is therefore pushing the rhetoric of individual responsibility, when it really should know how inimical that is to public health)

To be honest I’m not going to keep away from everyone every time me or my toddler gets a cold. That would mean every couple of weeks in winter as she picks up colds all the time from nursery then I get it a few days later. That isn’t feasible and would mean keeping her inside every couple of weeks which really isn’t fair or good for her development, which masks and the covid lockdowns didn’t help. Many people aren’t going to be testing anymore either, people cant afford to have time off work after missing so much the last couple of years, and with the cost of living crisis can’t afford sick pay or to buy tests which aren’t free anymore.

At this stage it’s up to the vulnerable to protect themselves, we’ve done a huge amount as a society since the start of covid and people can’t be asked to keep doing so. The vulnerable need to accept that if they go out they will come across covid, and wear appropriate masks and limit interactions if they are worried about it.

SirMingeALot · 20/11/2022 09:41

I think it depends what's meant by respiratory symptoms really. Me and mine will all stay in if too ill to do so, but a snotty nose? I have one on and off all winter so that won't be happening. Couldn't realistically, even if I wanted it to.

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