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?

If you think the economy is doing well without them then carry on. I can see more and more being signed off sick with long covid and related complications and the govt pretending it's a personal choice. This isn't about financial choices it is about having healthy people who can contribute to the economy in the first place. The tories have done a number on health as it is.

I have elderly frail parents ,if I had any kind of virus I wouldn't visit them ,not just covid.

TBH I don't think it would be within the government's power to have a general public who were mostly willing to test and isolate, four years into the pandemic. Adherence to isolation was always pretty patchy, even at the height of covid when free tests were everywhere. People just weren't having it any more.

Part of this is the appalling sick pay situation. There were always people who weren't able to isolate when positive because they didn't have the money, even when they were committing a crime if they didn't. So the government could've helped in that respect.

But when it comes to people voluntarily accepting restrictions on their lives, which is what they're doing if they test and stay at home, willingness to do that isn't something a government can impose. People have to want to do it.

We test if we think we have symptoms more than a regular cold e.g loss of taste, or feeing much worse than normal. So do many of my colleagues and friends. We then isolate as best we can and wear a mask on public transport if we must use it. Our work are happy and prefer us to work from home if we are positive.

You could have a little cough though , think it's a cold and go visit them. Anyway as I said I'd like to know if I have it or not. My purchase of a test doesn't really affect you does it? I'm not using your money. And I've not told you you have to test.

I don’t. I am CEV without taking my cancer into consideration. Like any other virus though I would stay home if I was ill. Rarely in the oncology department so you see anyone with a mask either - patient or staff.

Lovely to find a like-mind on Mumsnet - was not expecting that!

Good point. If people still feel they want or need to test, that's their business. As long as the person isn't seeking to dictate what others do, nobody else should be interfering. Test if you want, don't test. Not up to anyone else. We need to get past the idea that it's our business what choices other people are making about their bodies.

Had you had 3 vaccines before both of your Covid infections, or just the second one?

Nope, doesn't enter my head. Think I've only had two tests over the entire period.

That figure for 96 people dying of covid last week ..... I'd love to know how many of those were very old with lots of issues anyway that would have killed them ... much like the statistics that were published in the height of the pandemic to scare the shit out of everyone.

And all these people saying there are fully vaccinated but were still very unwell with covid .... what was the point ... genuine question!

And how many people died of other illnesses...

I haven't tested since March 2022, when it stopped being a requirement and when all the Covid tracking and the app was discontinued.

It’s very rare to be tested for Covid in hospitals these days, it’s not like earlier in the pandemic when everyone would be tested on admission. I’d say Covid was a major factor for all of those 96 deaths.

Is this table of figures supposed to be scary?

The deaths per 1M of the population are minute.

People die of stuff. It’s life.

COVID-19 symptoms and what to do - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people if you or your child have symptoms and either:

• have a high temperature
• do not feel well enough to go to work, school, childcare, or do your normal activities

You can go back to your normal activities when you feel better or do not have a high temperature. If your child has mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat or mild cough, and they feel well enough, they can go to school or childcare.

The figures through the whole pandemic were taken out of context. Yes a lot of people died and it was obv sad and traumatic for those involved and their families ..... but it was about 0.4% of the entire UK population.

It was never about people dying it was about not overwhelming the NHS ,that's why we had lockdowns ,we are four years into this now though and we are living with it
We have no restrictions, and nobody should be telling other,s to stay home etc now.

I think i've tested maybe 3 or 4 times all in.

I still test but that's because my mum has cancer.

Otherwise I'd just stay home if I had symptoms without testing since I can work from home.

I do think the govt is responsible for the narrative here though - if they were accepting long covid is a huge factor in the current employment situation they could reframe it to help those suffering and encourage public to be more conscious of those weaker than them. It's not a mandatory thing, but a realisation. Hiding the evidence as they are is helping no one.

I still test if I have symptoms.

My DD is immunosuppressed and my MIL is having chemotherapy.

My friend's husband died a week after his positive test last year - he was early 50's. I still believe there is a risk to vulnerable people.

Mmm, I'm just not sure about that tbh.

They don't have the moral authority after Partygate. That part is their own fault entirely, true. We're talking about a dead government walking. They can't say shit to anyone without being told to call an election.

But also, there's a limit to how much people will go along with voluntarily limiting their behaviour. There's no appetite for continuing widespread testing and isolation amongst the public, and it's not immediately obvious what person or body inspires enough trust to change that.

Is this not going back to the 2020 "well they had existing health conditions anyway"

I don't know @WoshPank - we had a halcyon time where people wouldn't go into work if they were sick out of respect for others (not just re covid), just a general acceptance this was The Right Thing To Do. It feels since the economy has had more pressure we've been encouraged to get to work whatever and that idea has gone by the wayside. It could just as easily come back.