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 think it's hugely irresponsible.

I tested myself last November, because I had plenty of kits leftover - I was positive for Covid.

I had to stay off work for 9 days, until I was able to produce two consecutive daily negative tests - which I did.

9 days off work for me has been pretty catastrophic financially. I haven't caught up on my bills yet, and I don't know when I even will.
I'm already paid less than NMW (in real time). I'm on a zero hour contract, so I don't get paid when I'm off. And, it's hard to catch up with getting my hours after taking time off sick.

I completely understand the ethics, but I'm financially destitute if I take time off.

I still test if I'm feeling really awful, but if I feel OK, I wouldn't do a test. I think people stopped testing regularly when the tests stopped being free.

Yes, we test for cold symptoms in our household. We have medically fragile family member.

i also work somewhere that doesn’t allow people onsite if they have cold symptoms.

I would be furious with a coworker for not only coming to work sick, but for not even bothering to test. Also for not wearing a mask if they did come out with something contagious.

people should be considerate of others and take precautions.

I don’t care enough about testing to actively search for and buy the tests. Most people aren’t testing unless they have a medical need to. It’s back to normal for those without.

I'd still test if I had obvious symptoms because I don't want to inflict it on other vulnerable people. It was difficult to access antivirals when my breathing got scary so I'd want to try to find out as soon as I could.

Nah. If I feel crap I work from home and otherwise get
on with my life.

haven’t thought about covid testing for ages actually. What a fucked up period that was.

Hugely grateful for this heads up @Eze have just booked my dh s appointment as we weren’t informed by the GP

Yeah I mean this is the reality that many people refuse to acknowledge isn’t it.

You can buy tests on Amazon.

I work with vulnerable people so test if I'm suspicious of symptoms. Good job I did as I tested positive this week.

Vulnerable people can die of Covid. I know of one, they died to soon because of catching Covid. It's nothing for us to test to protect those who need protecting.

👏👏👏👏

all the clinically vulnerable people still testing and asking others to test - wouldn’t any other viral illness that you can’t test for be just as bad. Mad now as it was then.

Viral illnesses that go around the uk are
Covid,
flu and
norovus.

Generally the elderly are the ones that die from a bad bout of the flu and they get a vaccine.
Norovirus can be dealt with by taking those salt/sugar sachets if you’ve had it a few days.
Covid is the real killer and causes long term health problems in all ages.

DD does as she works with very clinically vulnerable people. Getting Covid for them could kill them.

@Bustelo

very true. I must stop opening there threads as some people are never going to understand and just parrot dumb crap.

I test if I am going into the office as two of my colleagues have lost close family to Covid and I know they worry. Otherwise not.

There’s no requirement to test now.

I can’t work from home and so unless I physically can’t get to work in I go - same as always
this is what ‘learning to live with it ‘ looks like

No not testing. If I feel well enough (which I did whenever I’ve had covid before but due to rules had to stay home) then I’ve got to go to work/am going to take my children out and not isolate for days. If I knew I was seeing someone vulnerable then I would be more cautious.
But generally day to day I would carry on as normal. If I felt unwell then I would stay home (same as any other illness if I felt unwell).

I work in early childhood, my service is still big on us testing and masking up when sick. We take little ones from 6 weeks old, so not worth the risk. Even before covid times, we took precautions again influenza (we have a heavy Asian population so mask wearing wasn't/isn't looked down upon).

I tested asymptomatically before visiting a friends newborn last week.

Also test if have a cold that feels Covid-y (have had it 4x and know the difference!) as ex DP is clinically vulnerable so need to know to isolate from him if he comes over to see DS. Test DS on the same basis.

would definitely use tests for suspected flu etc if they existed. It’s not that I think Covid is the only important illness - but it’s the only one tests are easily available for.

I don't test normally, however if I'm under the weather and due to meet someone that I know has a suppressed immune system (best friend does) I would just cancel until I'm feeling better rather than risk it. I wouldn't steer clear of daily life now though but would be more mindful of keeping a distance from people as much as possible if I'm coughing and sneezing etc in shops just in case someone around me is in high risk category. It's definitely not the norm to test now.

People are struggling financially, buying tests is way down the list of priorities for many especially given the cost of them.

That's just such a blac and white answer. Real life, though, isn't black and white.

Not everyone can wfh (including some office workers)
Not all employers have a great sick pay package, meaning people will go to work ill as they can't afford to be off.
Some might be worried about facing disciplinary meetings if been off sick previously.

And that's just a few reasons as to why people go into work when they are under the weather. It's such a luxury to be able to view it as antisocial.

Yes, that's a very privileged take.

In answer to the OP, some people are still testing if they have a particular reason. But clearly not the norm now. Especially as the free stashes that got built up have probably expired by now, if not used up.

I don't have access to free tests, so certainly wouldn't be paying for any because a colleague told me I had to. I think not!

It's really tedious when people trot out the oh, people who don't test are SO selfish/are covid deniers/don't care if the KILL someone lines. It simply isn't true.

If I'm ill I stay away from people, just like before.
If I see someone in a mask in shops etc I'll give them extra space.
if I was visiting someone vulnerable I would test.

Like it or not, covid is now "just another virus." It has a different risk to other viruses (just as they differ to each other) but it does not require the testing regime that was prevalent when tests were free. All it requires is common sense when dealing with illness.

No, it’s not selfish not to test. It’s selfish to think that everyone else should be spending money (which lots don’t have), on tests and then stay inside and cancel plans when covid won’t affect them much if at all. People vulnerable to covid should be the ones taking precautions themselves if they want.