To ask if you still test for Covid?

[thebestcestmoi]

This has been on my mind now that the general cough/cold season is upon us.

What do you do if you are having Covid-type symptoms eg cough and temp?

Do you own/pay for LF tests? How often and sparingly do you use them?

It just feels a bit strange this year with no clear guidance...

God no. Mind you, I never really tested when we were supposed to. I'm certainly not paying for tests now.

Same.

I test when I see my vulnerable parents and if I have symptoms. The latter partly out of curiosity, but also to not knowingly expose others and too keep track of the likelyhood of some natural immunity.

I test occasionally if I'm going to be in an enclosed space with a particularly vulnerable person. Last time I nearly didn't as I knew I was fine but it was positive. So I stayed away from people until it was negative, as, with no symptoms, I didn't know how long I'd 'had' it.

OTOH, I wouldn't test if I felt unwell as in that case I would avoid people as I did before Covid. I don't want to spread illness about.

But I don't need guidance. It just seems like common sense and courtesy.

Yes, I had Covid last week. Tested due to having symptoms.
Didn't go near anyone, didn't go in any shops etc. I wfh so no problem there.

Unfortunately it isn’t just like any kind other illness! 🙄

Dc have both had colds. I didn't test initially with Dd but did with ds because we were about to see my mum who's vulnerable.

The problem is there are many who are vulnerable, not just old people!

I would test if I had symptoms - but not, for example, at the firsts sign of a sore throat as I get these often and then they go away the next day. I didn't have any loss of taste when I had covid in the summer so I certainly wouldn't be waiting for that symptom .

I tested recently as I was visiting a friend who has a very unwell daughter and they have been extremely careful.

I may start testing again before visiting my mum in her care home - they don't ask for it any longer and I had stopped but given increased germs around and about as we head into winter it seems sensible .

We haven’t tested lately. We all had it last Xmas and got tested at a centre. I took my youngest to get tested during the year but they made me do it and I’m not confident I do it properly. That was negative. School have said the rule is if you test and positive off school for a week. If you don’t test they can go to school as long as no fever. (USA). We’ve all been sick the past couple of weeks but haven’t tested. Dc off school a week with fever, the one of them with D&v. I’m sick now but WFH and don’t really see anyone much.

No. Never again. I've taken enough tests for a lifetime.

@NatalieIsFreezing so you are going to test for the rest of your life as covid is here forever and there will always be vulnerable people?

I tested this morning as I thought the cat might need the vet and I've been in close contact with someone who later tested positive. I don't test as a rule though.

Yes we do test when we get symptoms, two out of the four of us tested positive recently and we stayed home. I just buy a stack of tests from our local chemist (£3 each) so we've always got supplies. But once we've tested positive we don't test again, just follow the quarantine advice.

I still test because I have a friend who has cancer and would be horrified if I passed anything on to her.

I test when I have symptoms as I’m vulnerable and got a letter saying I was eligible for treatment if I tested positive. I haven’t yet!

I have some tests left and we will test if have symptoms but once they run out I won't buy any more.

If we are poorly we stay at home.

It never will. So you're testing forever then?

Still testing if we feel very unwell (fever) or have a very Covidy symptom like loss of taste and smell - in fact I tested last night because I had that. Turned out to just be blocked sinuses, as I suspected. I'm fortunate enough to be able to afford to buy tests.

I test because I'm curious - I want to know what illness I have. It's interesting. If there were a test for flu or noro I would have those too, just to see. And also, of course, to avoid infecting people. If I knew I was positive I wouldn't go out in public indoors unless I really had to (and would then wear an N95 mask). We're not supposed to go to work with Covid or a bad cold/cough.

No testing here.

Common sense approach - if you're not well, limit social contact until you feel better.

I would only test if i was expecting to be in a situation with highly vulnerable people - hospital or care home etc.

I have 1 box left from the free ones, i haven't needed to test since DC had a night in hospital in june and we both tested beforehand

Work expects us to test twicw a week, plus if we develop symptoms. I don't pay - nhs

No routine testing but we have it now and have tested. It’s much easier to organise remote work with a positive result and I’m also staying away from older parents / PILs till negative and cancelled my massage because I know the therapist also works with cancer patients.
we’ve all had it twice now and it’s never been super mild - always a lot worse than a cold.

Yes , everyone I know is still testing and I have 4 friends at the moment with it and they're quite poorly.

Yes, I test if I feel I have symptoms of a serious cold.

I've had a flu shot and fourth covid shot, but still wear a mask in shops, church, etc.

The reason to test is the people I work with, and also so that I can get the antiviral medicine that's been developed. I know people who have long covid and it has comprehensively changed their lives for the worse.