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Related: Lockdown Learning, discuss home schooling during lockdown.
Covid
Seriously questioning current testing rationale
OldQueen1969 · 14/03/2020 18:13
Ok, am going to post a real life scenario that has developed today in relation to people close to me - not living in my house but still local family.
Last night Person A developed a really bad cough, high temperature and symtoms supposedly consistent with the CV19. This morning, they were no better, in fact so poorly that they were moved to ring 111. Person B, their DP has a condition that makes them at greater risk of complications if they do catch the virus.
Following instructions, person A got themselves as instructed to the testing waiting area set up in our local hospitals car park, and was taken in by staff for assessment. An X-ray has shown a severe chest infection, but not bad enough to be admitted - the area inside had bays crammed full of people. Very strong antibiotics were prescribed, plus steroids and person A was told to go back to their car wearing a mask, and go home. When they asked about being tested they were told that only people ill enough to be admitted were being tested. So we do not know if this is, or is not, the virus.
Being responsible types, persons A and B are self-isolating in their home for at least seven days while monitoring progress of treatment and seeing if person B develops symptoms. They have the space, fortunately, to separate from each other to a large degree, and also keep the two pre-teen children in the house out of harms way. We are rallying round to make sure they have everything they need because it seems like madness to assume that without a test result it definitely isn't CV19.
These people are not well off. An added layer of anxiety is that UC, which Person A claims, will only be adjusted sympathetically if a formal diagnosis is given - which it can't be if no test is done. This is by no means being referenced in a grabby way, but to illustrate the knock on effect of the way this virus is being handled. Person B has had their freelance work cancelled this week due to CV19 fears.
I think we have all had an inkling that this would become a problem of massive proportions, but having it so very close to home really does show how disorganised and unhelpful the current testing regime is.
Aside from general opinions, does anyone have any idea how a "normal" flu virus / chest infection can be differentiated from CV19 without testing?
Obviously if person A massively deteriorates despite treatment, they will seek appropriate medical help again. But I can't see any value in the current approach to testing - people who have been close to A&B in the last week are now on high alert for symptoms, and wondering about their own necessity to self isolate as a precaution - which will affect, potentially, jobs and caring responsibilities. Should we or should we not isolate? My instinct and social responsibility bone says yes, my logic says no because it might not be - I'm going round and round in circles with this.
Just do the fucking tests already in these circumstances surely?????
Aria20 · 14/03/2020 19:17
Yep! I understand they can't test everyone.... but it's clearly rife in the communities now and we'll never have an accurate idea of numbers without testing! My husband and 2 of my 3 children have been ill flu symptoms, high temp and coughs, my husband struggling to breathe he also has an underlying health condition. Couldn't get through to 111 so rang GP last wed who obv didn't want him turning up there so prescribed antibiotics incase it's a chest infection. We've been in since last weekend with the exception of me collecting the medication- I have no symptoms so far.... but I'm carer for my mum who is on chemo and disabled and my Nan who is 85 and recovering from surgery so both very high risk for CV so I'm having to not go and help them for the time being incase I'm carrying the virus! If my husband had been tested negative we could have assumed just a normal virus. Incidentally we've all had flu jabs and were told it's been very good this year 
mrbob · 14/03/2020 19:18
THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH TESTS. Yes this is not great. In an ideal world people would be tested. There are any number of stories where tests are really helpful. But welcome to a different way of doing things where we can’t do the ideal, we have to do what will keep the NHS in any way capable of functioning which is to know which patients in hospital need to be isolated and which don’t
alittlecloudfloatinginthesky · 14/03/2020 19:22
I agree with you.
I can see why they might be limiting tests to only those who are being admitted, they are doing so many tests already there must come a point when they simply cant keep up with the number of tests needed, and get results within a reasonable timescale. Prioritising the most unwell makes sense.
How can the government make sensible choices about what to do if they don't know how many people are infected though? They're just going to guess?
The uncertainty wont help with the general public making choices to isolate themselves or not either, as you point out, and the public can generally be relied upon to be idiots.
HonestlyItsFine · 14/03/2020 19:24
I saw something on the news about how scientists have developed a self testing kit which they hope to make available to the public. As long as people don't stockpile them "just in case", people should be able to self test if they do make it public. But I think they would be more helpful in hospitals- so they know who to isolate.
iVampire · 14/03/2020 19:27
Link about the home testing lit please?
My understanding was the it can only be find at present by PCR, which is most definitely is not a DIY!
purple12 · 14/03/2020 19:32
Story about the home testing being developed
www.channel4.com/news/rapid-coronavirus-testing-kit-developed-slashing-results-time-for-covid-19-diagnosis
Barracker · 14/03/2020 19:35
PatchworkElmer · 14/03/2020 19:38
There must be a way to take random samples of populations to at least estimate the true numbers (if they’re not already doing it).
I am a bit cynical about why the government have stopped testing en masse, unless in hospital. It’ll make our figures look much better than other countries, which is probably misleading. Long term, it’ll also add very little to our understanding of how the disease spread etc- which is obviously important.
defthand · 14/03/2020 19:38
The test cost the government £5. It’s ridiculous that one wouldn’t be administered. They are clearly obsessed with keeping the numbers down over stopping spread.
Butterer · 14/03/2020 19:39
This reply has been deleted
Message withdrawn at poster's request.
Doingthingsdifferently · 14/03/2020 19:40
What I really don't understand in all this is how the CEO of BT (who has confirmed he has only light symptoms) has been able to be tested - can you get tested privately?
lentenwonder · 14/03/2020 19:44
Surely if you’ve got a chest infection, antibiotics etc that’s ok your medical record and can be submitted to benefits? I’d be flagging that up to my MP as a loophole.
lentenwonder · 14/03/2020 19:44
I understand why they aren’t testing a lot of people now, but they can’t base claims on the test if you can’t get the test!
katmarie · 14/03/2020 19:45
You can get tested privately, I read a story about a Harley St clinic charging more than £300 per tesr.
Jobseeker19 · 14/03/2020 19:45
There should be enough tests though. This is not good enough. There has been plenty of time to prepare.
AnneLovesGilbert · 14/03/2020 19:45
What an awful situation for that family. They’re lucky to have your support and I wish them well.
It’s incomprehensible they’re taking this approach. Stinks of trying to keep the numbers down though it’s odd they then dropped in the up to 10000 probably have it, makes no sense at all.
GabriellaMontez · 14/03/2020 19:46
Similarly amazon are extending sick leave. But only if you've tested positive for corona... but you cant get tested.
lentenwonder · 14/03/2020 20:01
I imagine them saying they thought the numbers were higher was supposed to be somewhat reassuring - that we are already coping with higher numbers than the measured cases.
My family all have a stinking cough, lethargy, temperature etc - i’d like to know if we have it as it will help us make future decisions but I can see that the government is preparing for overrun hospitals so testing people that aren’t sick enough can’t be a priority.
BeuatifulHorrorStory · 15/03/2020 12:16
Surely testing people would be beneficial in the long run? If I knew I had it I a) would be a lot less anxious for myself and b) be able to volunteer to help people, knowing my chances of passing it on to them were slimmer than others chances.
Hopefully they develop a self test. I would pay for it for peace of mind, as I suspect many would.
lentenwonder · 15/03/2020 12:52
I would too - i bet you will be able to buy self test kits by the by eventually. Worrying that it seems to be like norovirus in that you can get it multiple times though
iVampire · 15/03/2020 14:55
What we actually need is the rapid development if a serological test
At present we only have a PCR test which shows if the virus is currently present. They have to be run in a lab, with appropriate handling, because samples which prove positive are themselves an infection hazard.
A serological test would show if you have had it and formed an immune response. Developing that test is one of the top scientific priorities, as the chief scientists said in last weeks press conference.
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