Page 10 | To think no one is testing for Covid anymore?

TwoTimesShoeShop · 2024-04-24T21:29:35+00:00

A work colleague has just messaged our team WhatsApp in a bit of a rant as they've got Covid. They are blaming it on someone who came into the office earlier this week with a blatant heavy cold thing. Colleague with cold is saying that they don't think it's Covid, but haven't tested and don't plan to, and that Covid colleague could have got it from anywhere. It's now going into an argument about testing - a couple of people are still testing any time they get cold symptoms, but most are saying they won't bother. Covid colleague says we all need to test now as we were all in on Monday together for a meeting. AIBU to think no one is testing anymore, and it's not necessary?

WoshPank · 25/04/2024 13:09

Puzzledandpissedoff · 25/04/2024 13:07

I agree, but would add that for me it was always up to the individual to assess their own risk and make whatever arrangements they deemed necessary

For me there's a major ideological issue with the sort of powers the government awarded themselves, borne out by the level of deceit which came to light. Worse still, god forbid we're ever faced with a virus with a genuinely huge mortality rate, because after what went before we'd be stuffed

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I've had the exact same thought re a worse one. A lot of cards were played during this pandemic that can't be played again for a while, maybe not ever. And it remains to be seen how many boats Partygate burnt, in terms of public trust.

MorningSunshineSparkles · 25/04/2024 13:10

I’ve not tested since lockdown lifted in 2021. Threw away all of my tests, what’s the point? Not known anyone to have it in the last two years and wouldn’t even consider testing if I had symptoms of a cold.

TheCatIsInCharge · 25/04/2024 13:10

ThisKookyBlueSnake · 24/04/2024 22:34

I still test. I like to know what I've got.

You won't know what you've got if it's negative.

Cattyisbatty · 25/04/2024 13:12

i tested last year when i suddenly spiked a high temp. I didn’t want to give it to a family member at the time. I was very positive!!
I suppose I just want to know f I have covid or a cold esp if symptoms are odd or if I am in contact with a vulnerable person.
I would wfh with mild covid, we stay at home with it and not bring it to work.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 25/04/2024 13:17

WoshPank · 25/04/2024 13:09

I've had the exact same thought re a worse one. A lot of cards were played during this pandemic that can't be played again for a while, maybe not ever. And it remains to be seen how many boats Partygate burnt, in terms of public trust.

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TBH I wasn't over-bothered about Partygate, basically because it's only what I expected, but doubtless with a "worse virus" there'd be the same voices shrieking about what everybody else has GOT to do on pain of being called a granny killer and worse

Silly, perhaps, but the one which will always stay with me is Hancock's remark about enabling Dido's useless Test and Trace with the insensate £37 billion allocated ... "I'll put the cherry on Dido's cake"
Even leaving aside its infantile nature it just said so much

LlynTegid · 25/04/2024 13:19

I think some people are testing, not many though. I would support any company that insists on it.

honeyandfizz · 25/04/2024 13:20

Kandalama · 25/04/2024 00:01

This may be the company policy and I’m not surprised as that what the UK Govn are telling people.
However
Given your work with the elderly do you think your companies policy is responsible.

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This is also my NHS employers policy. Even if you do test and it is positive you are expected to go into work with a mask on. Do I agree with it? No but they are works rules so what can we do?

WoshPank · 25/04/2024 13:33

Puzzledandpissedoff · 25/04/2024 13:17

TBH I wasn't over-bothered about Partygate, basically because it's only what I expected, but doubtless with a "worse virus" there'd be the same voices shrieking about what everybody else has GOT to do on pain of being called a granny killer and worse

Silly, perhaps, but the one which will always stay with me is Hancock's remark about enabling Dido's useless Test and Trace with the insensate £37 billion allocated ... "I'll put the cherry on Dido's cake"
Even leaving aside its infantile nature it just said so much

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Matt Hancock is gross in general.

Willyoujustbequiet · 25/04/2024 13:46

x2boys · 25/04/2024 12:37

And what if people have to go to work ?
It's also incredibly selfish expecting people to not go to work and lose money etc because they have covid .

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I didn't mention anyone not going to.work or losing money.

It's selfish to expose people to a potential deadly disease without at least letting them have an informed choice to be around you.

It's ridiculous to compare a day's pay to a life.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 25/04/2024 13:51

ICantThinkofAnythingClever · 25/04/2024 12:35

The ONS released their latest survey of Long Covid prevalence in the UK today. Over 2 million people are affected, or 3.3% of the population in England and Scotland. This is higher than the figures reported around same time last year (2.9%) and suggests Long Covid numbers will continue to grow even in this "mild Omicron" phase. I don't know if I can put the link here but you can find the report on the ONS website. Over 70% of those affected had it for more than a year, which suggests Long Covid is a long-term or potentially even permanent disability. Over 74% of those affected, or over 1.5 million people, said the condition affects their day-to-day life. Similar studies in other countries have shown even worse figures.

A basic math calculation shows that about 1 in every 31 people in England and Scotland have Long Covid now. This is not a low figure. It means the condition is common and widespread. While post-viral disease exists with other viruses in circulation, it is more common and severe with Covid by a wide margin.

Rationally, testing and taking some precautions (e.g. wearing a FPP2/FFP3 mask in crowds or on public transport) is logical behaviour, as it is low-cost and high-reward. Why wouldn't you want to take some steps towards avoiding disability for you and others? Nobody is saying we need to be locked down again, but testing, putting on a mask on an airplane or at the doctor's office is not difficult or harmful in any way for most people.

All public health crises were minimised at the beginning. AIDS was supposedly something only gay men could get. People used to believe smoking is good for your health. The doctor who discovered the importance of hand washing died in a mental asylum after being rejected and bullied by his entire professional field. I think Long Covid is a serious public health crisis and people who are taking it seriously are not stuck in 2020- all the contrary, they are early. Just because a majority is pretending the problem has gone away it doesn't mean they are correct.

Another thing worth mentioning is that once you are disabled, society will try to throw you on the trash heap and Rishi Sunak will write speeches about how useless you are. Those who bullied you to be "normal" and not worried about Covid like a weirdo will not take care of you. So be smart, take care of yourself.

Yep.

It will only become clear how much damage it’s done/doing in a few years. It’s being minimised at the moment.

NHS workers with Long Covid are sueing the governmemt. I guess teachers will be next after ‘kids aren’t infectious’ and classroom are safe.

x2boys · 25/04/2024 13:52

Willyoujustbequiet · 25/04/2024 13:46

I didn't mention anyone not going to.work or losing money.

It's selfish to expose people to a potential deadly disease without at least letting them have an informed choice to be around you.

It's ridiculous to compare a day's pay to a life.

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We have moved on from four years ago nobody is expected to test anymore even NHS staff if you want to test go right ahead but you can't expect others to test and neither should you be calling them selfish for not abiding by your rules ,sympton free covid is still a thing so lots of popple might not even know they have it.
It is what it is now

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 25/04/2024 13:55

It is what it is now

Yeah, causing increased long covid meaning less revenue from taxes, more PiP and increased pressure on hospitals.

Sureaseggs44 · 25/04/2024 13:57

We do at work and home as we have colleagues and relatives with lowered immune systems so it’s sensible . My daughter had it recently and was very poorly . Like very bad flu , so good job she tested and cancelled visit as my OH is on immune suppressant drugs .

Abbimae · 25/04/2024 14:02

Covid has not gone, there is more data than ever that is does indeed (as predicted) cause serious long term issues to some, maybe a lot, who are infected. Why does it bother you if someone wants to test? I’d be pissed off if someone gave me a multi organ damage causing disease, sorry to burst the Covid trolls bubble.

Sureaseggs44 · 25/04/2024 14:02

MorningSunshineSparkles · 25/04/2024 13:10

I’ve not tested since lockdown lifted in 2021. Threw away all of my tests, what’s the point? Not known anyone to have it in the last two years and wouldn’t even consider testing if I had symptoms of a cold.

So say you have a friend with cancer or a colleague with a poorly baby , you have symptoms but you would not test ?

when my husband who is on immune suppressant drugs caught it from a colleague last Oct who came to work with symptoms and sat in meetings , my husband had to go into hospital for an infusion of anti virals and was very poorly .

Sureaseggs44 · 25/04/2024 14:03

honeyandfizz · 25/04/2024 13:20

This is also my NHS employers policy. Even if you do test and it is positive you are expected to go into work with a mask on. Do I agree with it? No but they are works rules so what can we do?

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But at least if you know you can take extra care around vunerable people and warn them as well .

Sureaseggs44 · 25/04/2024 14:06

SallyWD · 25/04/2024 12:00

Yes I do realise that, but I've seen far more people with longer lasting effects of Covid than I have for flu or colds. All the people I've mentioned have had flu and colds before and been absolutely fine. My mum frequently has colds and flu and has never been hospitalised or close to death like she was with Covid. My two friends who are still suffering with long Covid were very fit, healthy and in their 40s. I work at a university and we've had several students drop out of their courses because of long Covid. I've never seen a single student drop out because of complications relating to flu. So I do believe there's a difference.

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Of course there is a difference . The father of my colleague was in hospital for months and had blood clots in multiple organs.

x2boys · 25/04/2024 14:08

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 25/04/2024 13:55

It is what it is now

Yeah, causing increased long covid meaning less revenue from taxes, more PiP and increased pressure on hospitals.

But there are no restrictions ,and people still.have to work etc ,what's the alternative ?

Sureaseggs44 · 25/04/2024 14:08

theclimb · 25/04/2024 08:39

I don't test. Everyone should be Vaccinated now and it's nothing worse than a common cold these days

The colleague with the cold however shouldn't have gone in even if it was just a cold

Yes the virus has weakened but it can still be much nastier than a current cold even in younger people .

tigger1001 · 25/04/2024 14:09

"So say you have a friend with cancer or a colleague with a poorly baby , you have symptoms but you would not test ? "

I wouldn't want to be around either if I had symptoms, irrespective of whether it was Covid or not, so pointless doing a test for me.

But for work, unless I was ill as in needed time off work, I would have to go in irrespective of what I had so again, pointless for me to test.

x2boys · 25/04/2024 14:13

Sureaseggs44 · 25/04/2024 14:02

So say you have a friend with cancer or a colleague with a poorly baby , you have symptoms but you would not test ?

when my husband who is on immune suppressant drugs caught it from a colleague last Oct who came to work with symptoms and sat in meetings , my husband had to go into hospital for an infusion of anti virals and was very poorly .

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You know not everyone can work from home right ?
If I was ill.i wouldn't visit a friend with cancer if a colleague had a baby who was so unwell they would be vulnerable to covid and other infections ,maybe they need to isolate themselves ?
Would you expect a colleague to put their own job at risk for you?

MegsNaiceJam · 25/04/2024 14:17

We don’t test, some kits were left over but the liquid evaporated. However we are much more respectful about anyone who is CEV and if we have symptoms we limit our movements, wfh etc.

SwingTheMonkey · 25/04/2024 14:27

tigger1001 · 25/04/2024 14:09

"So say you have a friend with cancer or a colleague with a poorly baby , you have symptoms but you would not test ? "

I wouldn't want to be around either if I had symptoms, irrespective of whether it was Covid or not, so pointless doing a test for me.

But for work, unless I was ill as in needed time off work, I would have to go in irrespective of what I had so again, pointless for me to test.

I was just about to say this.

Who are these people who have symptoms of Covid, so obviously feel poorly, get a negative result and crack on with the visit anyway?

fromaytobe · 25/04/2024 14:30

People are still testing - DH did one the other day because his sniffle turned shivery and achey and he felt rotten. Negative, but he wanted to know one way or the other. Whatever it is, he's given it to me now.

LunaMay · 25/04/2024 14:37

Surely it depends on your line of work? I'm not in UK but we still test. We can technically still work in full PPE but none of us would risk our clients catching it. I only got it for the first time a few months ago and it was more than a cold for sure. took me nearly 2 weeks to feel back to normal.