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Covid

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Original poster

How exactly will essential worker testing work?

36 replies

TheOtherSideOfTheMountain · 23/04/2020 20:46

So from tomorrow, essential workers who show symptoms, and their families, are eligible for testing.

The idea apparently being that if they test negative, all is good and they can return to work not self isolate.

But surely this doesn't help the issue of them still being around people on a daily basis who could be infecting them?

I get the testing is a great thing for essential workers who are already in the workplace and never self isolated at all. My concern is the companies which currently have staff working from home, yet fall into the eligible criteria for testing. And now use this as basis to insist they all come back to the physical premises if tested negative....thereby exposing them all to each other on an ongoing basis?

OP posts:

Idancedonday38 · 23/04/2020 20:49

I wonder how many you can have a test?
If say you are unwell repeatedly, even if it turns out it is flu or some other virus each time, can we still request a test if symptoms fit?

Sparklingbrook · 23/04/2020 20:51

My main concern would be driving miles for this test while feeling unwell.

DrMadelineMaxwell · 23/04/2020 20:53

Only one test centre in Wales, despite them opening one 10 miles down the road at the start, then quickly closing it again when they changed their policy. It's as far South as you can possibly get. No other centres. And none anywhere near the border to England near us either. So we will have to be one of the ones sent the postal tests.

KnobwithaK · 23/04/2020 20:55

I'm a key worker, have a cough, and have been offered a test.

I don't drive so would have to get an Uber to the test center which is an hour away. Obviously if I do have it it's a danger to the driver, and if I don't then being in a car with a random guy for 2 hours is a danger to me. Also, my understanding is that there's a 25% false negative so if I tell me I'm clear I still won't know

I'm not taking up the offer.

Namechanger20183110 · 23/04/2020 20:55

This is going to be another one of those UK Government specials where it sounds positive and revolutionary on paper, but in practice, will be a complete and utter fail. And then at the end of the month when Matt Hancock gets grilled on why we've not hit 100,000 tests per day, he will say "er well, there's been low demand, we have been trying"

Hadenoughfornow · 23/04/2020 21:03

We have a test centre less than 5 min away. We are not in a big city.

I am really pleased about this. We are eligible as a family to be tested. It just means that DH doesn't need to stay at home for 14 days if negative. I don't know how many times it can be used. We've not had to self isolate yet. But if the kids were younger we may have been constantly self isolating.

supercatlady · 23/04/2020 21:07

If you have symptoms you have to self isolate for 7 days, and other members of the household for 14. This means people who can’t work from home are out of action, possibly because of a non related virus. So, they have the test and could be back to work in 2 days.

So a support workers child has a fever. Without testing that means 14 days self isolating. Child is tested and if it’s negative parent can get back to work.
It’s not about people who can work from home being made to come in. It’s still the case if you can work from home you should.

Original poster

TheOtherSideOfTheMountain · 23/04/2020 21:19

@supercatlady yes, completely agree...but unfortunately I know of at least 4 companies of people I'm friends with, all eligible for this in some way e.g. supply chain or customer support etc....which have so far had essential workers continuing their jobs from home, now sent out memos saying everyone will be tested and coming back to the building if negative. So it's wide open to abuse from companies who never wanted their staff working from home to begin with.

OP posts:

CeeJay81 · 23/04/2020 21:21

They are sending home tests to key workers. You don't have to travel to a testing centre. If I got symptoms I'd tell my boss and head office would arrange to get a home test kit to me.

Hadenoughfornow · 23/04/2020 21:23

OP that doesn't make sense at all.

So you are basically saying they are working from home at the moment.

But if they have a negative CV test they go back to office?

I can understand if with a positive test once better but not this

yomellamoHelly · 23/04/2020 21:24

Still think it doesn't mean much. One of my ds had two tests. One negative. One postive. Clear as mud....

Teenhelpplease · 23/04/2020 21:24

Who will be eligible for the tests? Obviously NHS, then I guess police and fire service. What about teachers, delivery drivers and supermarket workers?

Hadenoughfornow · 23/04/2020 21:29

Yes its quite a list

www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-52401398

KnobwithaK · 23/04/2020 21:33

@CeeJay81 I don't think that is the case. Certainly at my work (very large public sector organisation) there's been no mention of it. In any case I don't think it would be possible to "do it yourself" with the current tests - the swabs have to go right to the back of your nose . My brother had one and described it as "torture".

MKmummy123 · 23/04/2020 21:37

I could be wrong if there has been an update I haven’t seen but I was under the impression that tests were only available to those who are showing symptoms. I don’t think companies can just ask for all their workers to be tested so they can get them back to the office, key workers or not.
Also, I don’t think the tests are good enough to pick it up if say you had already been exposed but had not yet started showing symptoms. Therefore it wouldn’t really work for this purpose anyway.

CeeJay81 · 23/04/2020 21:43

Sorry I am new to mumsnet and don't know how to tag people. Maybe not all key workers are getting home tests then. The supermarket I work for are doing it this way though. I had an email about it just before it was announced on the daily briefing.

WhoWants2Know · 23/04/2020 21:50

So if an essential worker is working, begins to show symptoms and then tests positive, what is the impact on the workplace?

Today a local bank closed because an employee tested positive. It's due to be deep cleaned, but I suppose the other employees need to be tested before it can safely reopened.

I can see that it will be beneficial in the longer term, but in the short term I think it could be chaotic in some places.

ifonly4 · 23/04/2020 21:51

Yes, I think it's if you have symptoms. Under both of my jobs I'll be entitled to a test. Chances are I'd need a few days off work I wasn't well, but if I tested negative, at least my family don't to isolate so can work, shop, get food for my elderly Mum

MinesaBottle · 23/04/2020 21:53

From what I understand you need to be showing symptoms. You also need to do the test within the first five days of symptoms for the most accuracy. I’m not sure how it’ll work though as you could just say you had symptoms to get a home test.

Over the last week tests have been accessed via employers so you’d have to tell your manager you were having symptoms. This should hopefully get more people tested but I can’t help feeling it’s all just a desperate attempt to hit the 100k target. The method of testing and how to access one has changed three times within a week!

Sparklingbrook · 23/04/2020 22:07

It took me a while to realise it was for if you were symptomatic I was getting confused with a test to see if you had had it previously.

gingajewel · 23/04/2020 23:08

@sparklingbrook me too!

Meredithgrey1 · 23/04/2020 23:39

But surely this doesn't help the issue of them still being around people on a daily basis who could be infecting them?

No, but to me it doesn’t really sound like it’s aiming to help the individuals, just get them back to work if they test negative.

Italianmeringuebuttercream · 24/04/2020 10:25

I work in a school and my ds came in with me this week (we're on a rota) on weds he became ill - headache, high temp and upset stomach. I'm trying to get the test from the gov.uk website. I was able to get all the way to the end when a message said theres a problem please call our help line. I've been in a queue for an hour so far....

TabbyMumz · 24/04/2020 11:19

"KnobwithaK

I'm a key worker, have a cough, and have been offered a test. I don't drive so would have to get an Uber to the test center which is an hour away. Obviously if I do have it it's a danger to the driver, and if I don't then being in a car with a random guy for 2 hours is a danger to me."

You cant take an uber. You can only be driven by someone in your household.

TabbyMumz · 24/04/2020 11:21

"But surely this doesn't help the issue of them still being around people on a daily basis who could be infecting them?"

No, but someone has to do the job if they are a key worker.

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