No tests available

[theskyispurple]

Sigh sigh sigh

Been invited via Zoe app to have a test as I reported a 'certain set of symptoms'... not the ones given that you need to isolate for.
Go online last night - no home test kits available. Nearest testing centre 140 miles away.
Try again this morning: no home tests kits available, nearest test centre 20 miles away.
Call them : advice to keep trying as they are really busy.

That's it.

What's going on? Are we short on supply? Short of staff? How can this shit show be happening?

Invited by Zoe app too for non main symptom

100 miles to drive through but managed to get home kit, just delivered ... by Amazon, is this a new thing? Not heard of their involvement before, I guess they have distribution network but still feels odd

Have to post to Glasgow from SW, surely there is a lab nearer, hey ho let's see how quick results are

I've had DC tested for temperatures twice since school started back. Both did temp then other symptoms... Both negative.

Have had positive results in neighbouring school, same year group as DC.

I'm checking temps every day after the time DC1 had a temp of 40 while acting normal if slightly quiet for her (ie not bouncing around like a crazy thing, but had just finished a day at preschool so not unusual to be tired) that I only picked up because we check temps before going to vaccine appointments!

It's because people are getting a test for every sniffle, sore throat, headache. Going to visit relatives, get a test to "check" you're safe. People are lying by saying they have one of the main symptoms so then people who actually DO arent able to access a test. Its panic buying all over again!

Totally agree

Use common sense and only test if appropriate

Cold symptoms do not need a test and neither does a normal cough!

No home tests available and ‘nearest’ test centre was Aberdeen or Dundee - I live in the South of England!! Called 119 and same information - eventually got a drive through test about 20 miles away.

Its because whenever anyone in mumsnet says they have a sniffle or a broken leg or cracked fingernail or bruised knee the hoards come out shouting GET A COVID TEST.

[quote TheSmallAssassin]@EDSGFC A lot of your symptoms are in one of the 6 clusters that have been identified by the Zoe symptom study,

covid.joinzoe.com/post/covid-clusters[/quote]
I know. I did report them on the Zoe app but they haven't contacted me and my GP explicitly said that I didn't need to isolate or consider Covid as a possible diagnosis. I'm outside of the testing window now anyway but I've isolated all week anyway.

It just seems very difficult to navigate through this especially when you can't arrange testing.

@PuppyMonkey

GP advised to see how you go and don’t isolate?

That’s good then.

My gp has said the same to me when I've mentioned sore throat, cough, head ache. The Zoe app has never suggested a test either.

@lexloofah

Invited by Zoe app too for non main symptom

100 miles to drive through but managed to get home kit, just delivered ... by Amazon, is this a new thing? Not heard of their involvement before, I guess they have distribution network but still feels odd

Have to post to Glasgow from SW, surely there is a lab nearer, hey ho let's see how quick results are

We got some tests way back in the spring and amazon delivered them but a nice chap in full ppe collected them, they didn't have the designated post boxes then.

nearest test centre 20 miles away
sorry whats the problem?

It's due to the amount of school children being tested. There was an increase of 37500 in Scotland around 40 were positive.
Also i think people get tested as they dont want to self isolate. They want a negative result so they can go out.

I dont think it's right that schools/work can make ppl stay off with just a cough when cold season is here. The NHS will be funding unnecessary tests. It's already in the news that fast tracking of tests will be in hot spot areas and care homes.

Yes, they are short of capacity. Schools were issued guidance from PHE yesterday to basically remind parents of when they can book tests as they are concerned about capacity.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/letter-from-phe-and-nhs-test-and-trace-to-school-and-college-leaders?utm_source=0bfd7edd-ae2a-4b7d-9d18-506077d1a61d&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

Stop blaming responsible citizens of this country for the fact we don't have enough tests because the government is useless.

The symptoms to get tested for are temp, new continuous cough, loss of taste/smell.

It isn't an individual's fault that the cause of those symptoms is indistinguishable. That's the whole point.

Testing is falling apart because instead of a) putting it in NHS hands it is being run by someone with a background in mobile phones and b) schools have reopened spreading every other bug so demand is correctly high.

I dont think it's right that schools/work can make ppl stay off with just a cough when cold season is here.

Not only is it right, but it is the responsible thing for people and businesses to encourage. There's a crossover between the symptoms of Covid and other cold/flu like illnesses. The only definitive way to tell the difference between is by getting tested.

If we're going to restrict who gets tested because our world beating system can't cope with the demand, then people will have to be responsible enough to self-isolate when ill.

I have a feeling this message isn't going to sink in until PHE end up shutting businesses down for periods of time or they end up with large numbers of staff off because the first couple of people didn't have the 'symptoms' of Covid.

[quote Kitcat47]@yarncakes

Me DH DD had a test Monday as DD wasn't well had a sore throat cough. Me and DD got our results 6 oclock next morning.DD hasn't had hers. We have phoned 3 times only to be told they can't find it. Now she has to have another. Me and DH have had to be off work. Hers will properly be negative but as she was at drama boot camp last week I thought I better get her tested.[/quote]
Why were you all tested?

I thought it was only the person with symptoms who got tested.

If that is negative then you can all go back to normal.

Been invited via Zoe app to have a test as I reported a 'certain set of symptoms'... not the ones given that you need to isolate for.
Go online last night - no home test kits available

What's going on?

People are testing when they have a 'certain set of symptoms' rather than 1/2/3 from the actual specified list.

@ZombieFan

nearest test centre 20 miles away sorry whats the problem?

Do you realise not everyone drives? Our local test centre is within 15 miles but my options are

£15 in a taxi there £15 back
3 buses to get there (no cost though)
Ask a friend to take me

And that's just my nearest centre, and assuming they do have slots I either spend (to me) a large sum of money or risk infecting others, if there are no home kits available.

It's worth remembering not everyone is privileged enough to have their own car and/or can drive (and I am epileptic so not allowed to drive before anyone suggests learning for situations like these as Mners like to helpfully advise Nice irony is that I have a fucking licence but not allowed to drive atm)

*The symptoms to get tested for are temp, new continuous cough, loss of taste/smell.

It isn't an individual's fault that the cause of those symptoms is indistinguishable. That's the whole point.*
No but it is an individuals fault if they're getting tested when they dont have any of those symptoms, as so many on here are advocating.

@ZombieFan

nearest test centre 20 miles away sorry whats the problem?

If you dont drive/ have access to a car how are you supposed to get there?

Cant get public transport or ask for a lift on the off chance that you DO have covid (otherwise why would you be going for a test). So do you think OP should walk a 40 mile round trip for a test?

I've just been asked to test by the Zoe app as I have symptoms from their list but not any of the main three. Nearest drive in centre is 42 miles away, so 84 mile round trip, or wait 48 hours for a postal test to be delivered and then you can't post it back on a Sunday so I'm not likely to get results back until middle of next week. I'm outside of the 5 days from start of symptoms now anyway so don't even know if it will work.

@KitKatastrophe

*The symptoms to get tested for are temp, new continuous cough, loss of taste/smell.

It isn't an individual's fault that the cause of those symptoms is indistinguishable. That's the whole point.*
No but it is an individuals fault if they're getting tested when they dont have any of those symptoms, as so many on here are advocating.

The problem is that a lot of people don't have the three main symptoms so drs are telling you to get tested with pretty much any viral symptoms because they want to rule it out.

The problem is that a lot of people don't have the three main symptoms so drs are telling you to get tested with pretty much any viral symptoms because they want to rule it out.

This isn't the case though. The Zoe app is a research app, it's not doctors telling people to go for tests, it's researchers who obviously recommend people to go for tests because it suits their agenda

'suits their agenda' FFS

They are funded by the government and the NHS.

Info here covid.joinzoe.com/about

If they didn't advise people with symptoms got tested, how would we learn which symptoms should be prioritised for testing?

What on earth would the agenda be anyway?

Sure that epidemiologist has some Machiavellian masterplan.

I didn't mean agenda in a negative way. What I mean is the Zoe app is research. The NHS advice is if you have 1/3 symptoms. Of course the Zoe app will be asking people to test with other symptoms, that's how we find out more.