To think no one is testing for Covid anymore?

[TwoTimesShoeShop]

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?

I was actually talking post lock down - not relating to just covid. There was a general agreement that it was no use to anyone someone coming in sick and infecting everyone with flu or even a nasty cold. People were happy to call in sick and stay at home. I think covid had a lot of opposite reactions because people were being told to stay home rather than by choice. My main issue is the govt not reminding the public that there are vulnerable people around who need shielding and if you think you have covid you should test before going out in close contact with others Information means they have the option at least, people have largely forgotten these people exist because the govt narrative is everyone is over covid.

I didn't see anything like that around me. Not doubting that it was your experience, but you can't assume it was representative. Once restrictions had finished, the COL crisis kicked in pretty quickly so the issue of losing wages became even more pressing. Lots of people I know with in person roles were pressured to work a lot in 2022-3, as places wanted to make up for lost time, catch up on backlogs etc.

It's fair enough to want things from the government, but I remain sceptical that they're capable of facilitating any behavioural change at the moment. People have to want to voluntarily restrict their lives. The evidence of that willingness isn't there.

I agree I may have been in a conscientious bubble post covid. It did just seem for a few months people were more tolerant and appreciative of each other, for a short while at least. Post lockdown syndrome of sorts.

The want to isolate isn't there partly because of framing, to my mind. The gov is framing the lack of workers as scroungers wanting benefits rather than realistically explaining that it is partly MH and partly long-covid that have caused the increase in unemployment. I don't blame them, because it is largely their fault both spiralled so badly. If they were more down to earth and practical they'd be doing more to actually help the situation, rather than blaming some magical employable dosser who lives the life of riley on PIP through choice.

Genuine Q for people still testing: so you have cold-like symptoms, you test: negative. What do you do then? Is it just covid that you want to identify vs all the other virus/microbes and if yes why?

IMO covid is now classed as a ‘cold-like illness’ and I don’t test as there is no point knowing it is this virus and not any of the many other ones.

The colleague with the cold however shouldn't have gone in even if it was just a cold
Most people would lose their jobs if they didn’t went to work every time they had a cold. You can’t expect people to put their job in jeopardy to protect others.
Requiring people to wear a mask when they have a cold could be reasonable though, as they do in Asia.

I don’t judge people for testing / not testing but I do judge people who go into work while unwell to this extent (heavy cold)

It’s a shame that your colleague felt like they couldn’t call in sick. Says a lot about your workplace…

OP said it was a heavy cold. Not just a cold

In no reality is covid just like a cold. Even if you just recognise the fact you are x4 more likely to have a clot in the 6 months after having covid and the millions of people off with long covid, you must be able to see it is more serious than a cold?

DH runs a business, and employees still phone in sick declaring they have "tested positive". It's the gift that keeps on giving, it seems.

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

God knows, because if you're feeling poorly you don't need some silly test to tell you to keep away from the vulnerable - you just need common sense

And for those who don't have any, a test's going to make no difference at all

Yeah, I’m surprised people seem to think they’re difficult to come by. Even Home Bargains sells them.

I only ever tested because my work told us to when we went into office (which was on a rota basis). I tested positive in Dec 21 and had yo isolate for 10 days but that was last time I remember testing.

My company doesn’t have a WFH if you test positive policy anymore.

Why?
This is ridiculous!
Until someone says ‘Covid has gone, come back out of hiding?!’ It’s such a waste of your life!!

I always assume no one fancies being ill with covid/flu/cold so when I'm ill I keep myself to myself.

Easy to say if you aren't a single mother with cancer, for example 🙄
Is it really that hard to see why other people might want to live?

Yeah. Go out and get your life destroyed by Covid for ever. It’s also a waste of a life having brain fog, crippling fatigue or even be dead.

Hardly anyone tests for covid anymore. Don’t need to test if you work for the nhs either, unless you predominantly care for the cev.

I haven't tested since 2021. I think your colleagues who are still testing are insane.

I and many other don't have an immune system following chemotherapy or due to immunosuppressive medication.
What don't you understand about that?
I've had 6 covid vaccines and not one of them has given me any antibodies. I was too ill to have the last 2 boosters but they wouldn't have worked anyway.

I wonder if some people will ever get past the fear. I have scored full house on my covid bingo card on this thread.

It’s really sad.

I just can't conceive of any framing that would make the public inclined to listen to Sunak and co on the issue. He's about as well respected as herpes.

They're all incompetent and most of them spent months refusing to do anything about Boris repeatedly lying to the Commons about his lockdown breaches. If they try and tell anyone what they ought to be doing now, they'll be laughed out. Rightly so.

Your use of the term practical is right, I think. We need structural change, like better sick pay. Not words.

Would be interesting to know what costs the government more.

Sick pay for covid absence or loss of revenue through so many people with Long Covid.

Short termism at its finest. They had millions to spunk on dodgy contracts and piss poor, structurally unfair laws. But proper sick pay, nah, can't have that one. The peasants might get too used to it!

But if you are unwell, you wouldn’t meet up with vulnerable people anyway, would only not meet up it it was covid? So, what is the point of testing?