If you live out of the UK, what's your country's Covid testing strategy?

[cathyandclare]

The UK are still doing well over 100000 tests a day, with a very low % positive but case numbers are staying fairly stable. There are fewer positive pillar 1 tests for NHS people patients and staff with a clinical need, so I assume as we've expanded testing we're picking up more and more mild and asymptomatic cases. ,But obviously I could be wrong!

We've got 1-1.5k cases a day, and a glance around Europe suggests figures in the hundreds. Are they people with a clinical need or are other countries doing 150k tests a day too?

Please tell me, how many tests your country are doing and what the criteria are for testing?

I’m in NZ. We’ve had no new cases for 29 days now.

Basically, you get a test if you have any of the symptoms and they are also doing localised testing to pick up any asymptomatic cases as well.

From what I understand from friends and family who have had tests you basically get one if you have a runny nose.

Tests are well below where they were at the peak of lockdown because in addition to no COVID-19 there are low levels of regular colds and flu.

I’m pretty certain that they are testing every new arrival into the country as well as the mandatory 14 days quarantine at a hotel.

All tests are administered by a health professional and you have to self-isolate until you get your test results and then a further 48 hours if you have had symptoms I think.

Testing data is here - www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-current-situation/covid-19-current-cases#lab

Great thanks. That data sheet is really interesting. Currently, relative to the population NZ are testing less than the UK- but obviously they tested and tracked highly effectively in the early days of the pandemic and have eliminated the virus, so are in a different position.

We seem to have got the testing set up much better now, I hope that helps us going forward.

It is definitely important with the other half of the equation being contact tracing so that close contacts of a positive case are self-isolating and are tested if necessary as soon as possible.

At some point we will have another case or cases. They will probably arrive at the border.