Not testing isn't fair given the measures they are talking about

[NeverTalksToStrangers]

I have since Friday evening had a bit of a temperature that comes and goes. Highest has been 38.1. Seems worse in afternoon than evening, oddly. I haven't been taking any painkillers as I feel ok, bar feeling I have a temp and having a bit of a dry throat. I was definitely hoarser than normal on weds/ thurs but not sore as such.

The govt advice suggests this probably is covid-19, but they won't test me. My kids have had lingering coughs and cold symptoms since Jan, but I've noticed them coughing more etc. I'm not self-isolating in one room, but haven't left the house this weekend and will keep the kids off all week as they aren't in until thurs anyway (NI and st patricks on Tues).

My mum looks after them normally in the afternoons. She is 77, as is my dad who has significant health issues. They will go nuts if they can't see their grandkids for 4 months. Surely, it would be better to test people now, so that when they recover they can help out with those who are self-isolating??

I know there have been a few cases of people catching it again, but the numbers are tiny. Maybe I would be one of those people as my symptoms are so mild? I'm almost praying for a cough at this stage so I could be more sure.

I agree with you - it would be useful to know if you actually have it or not. Like you I have a fever but not a cough. But I would like to confidently know that I have had it. I can only assume that testing everyone uses up too much laboratory time / resources.

I had the same situation in 2009 - I had swine flu (in all probability) and had no test and no one gave a shite. I think swine flu was less dangerous than corona.

I also had swine flu in 2009 (undiagnosed). I was on maternity leave and at that stage lived 40 mins away from my parents. I got my dh and ds (who was about 8 months old) to move in with them for a week. Neither of them caught it.

The following year they both got sick before there was talk of a 2nd swine flu outbreak and ds ended up in hospital with bronchialitis. I was newly pregnant with ds2 but was totally fine, and so looking back, I think it was meant to be.

Not testing is realistic because we don't have the high throughput facilities to do mass testing anyway and certainly not without significant false positive results.

All countries are woefully unprepared for bio warfare of any kind on the mass population and its showing.

I dont see any point in testing live bodies save for those who actually MUST be hospitalised. The primary actions are taking steps to prevent infection and to limit transmission. This involves effective hygiene measures and very importantly, social distancing and limiting of movement. This is even important for those not infected. So those foos cramming supermarkets are putting themselves at risk of infection as they are in close proximity to many others, in a sealed box, with air con running to recirculate any virus in the air.