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?

This might explain things.
For the first time I've developed symptoms. Was surprised when the Zoe app didn't suggest a test. Perhaps it's because of a shortage.

Coincidentally I was wondering about tests on another thread yesterday. Someone was surprised London's cases remained low (considering the mass protests, busy airport, etc). It's possible more immunity there but even then it's estimated only about 15% of the population. I wonder how many tests are taking place. Low number of tests = low number of cases...

They really need to sort out the home testing. Lots of people can't drive, and others might feel too ill to drive.

@ChickenwingChickenwing

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.

Oh sorry, I can be a bit liberal with my perhaps!

I associate 'agenda' with political slurs. Too much time on twitter?

Do you have to input all your details in the website each time to check for a test?

@PastelPompoms

Do you have to input all your details in the website each time to check for a test?

I think it was name, dob and postcode in order to check availability. Once I'd checked drive in site availability and then requested postal tests I was asked for extra details like phone number, email and NI number.

This is the 2nd test for DD as they lost the first one!! Sent postal test back yesterday. Royal Mail tracking shows it was delivered this morning. Still no text. Any ideas how long it takes??

This morning the testing site doesn't seem to be responding at all.

There are literally 3 mobile units offering testing with no appointment and no symptoms near me

Why are they testing asymptomatic when other people can’t get a test?!

Are you in an are of increased or high number of cases Vino. That would probably explain it. The best way of getting transmission back down and under control in those areas is to find as many of the cases as possible, including the asymptomatic ones.

That's largely true for all areas, which is why testing as much as possible is the best way to ease as many restrictions as possible. However, if there is limited processing capacity, it may be better to focus it where it is most needed and hope the low level areas don't kick off in the mean time.

Why are the government so successful in getting people to blame each other instead of looking upwards at the huge fucking failures of the government?

World beating test and trace. Yeah right, and it's not our fault, it's the lack of planning, of policies, it's the inept implementations of crap strategies and SNAFUs in the way this government have reacted throughout this situation. (See also, schools and education).

Don't blame Janet next door whose DD was sent home for nursery for coughing and being bunged up all morning, Janet thinks it's just a cold but nursery are saying DD won't be allowed back until she has a negative test, the woolly guidelines say to get her tested and 90% of MN call her irresponsible not to get tested. (Janet then can't get a test within 50 miles and three days, also not her fault).

Janet now can't go to work, she is a teacher. The knock on effects cause lots and lots of people inconvenience. They blame Janet. The government rub their hands (and send Matt Hancock out to also blame Janet).

It's a fucking mess. I've eventually managed to get a home test for 8 yr old DD who has temp and cough. Email said it was sent out at 1am this morning, but warns that even if we do the test and send it straight back results are taking 4 days. So even if she is feeling better by the weekend, we could be waiting for the - hopefully negative - result till this time next week. And then how long before the next time...

@FrolickingLemon

It's a fucking mess. I've eventually managed to get a home test for 8 yr old DD who has temp and cough. Email said it was sent out at 1am this morning, but warns that even if we do the test and send it straight back results are taking 4 days. So even if she is feeling better by the weekend, we could be waiting for the - hopefully negative - result till this time next week. And then how long before the next time...

Good luck getting results! We are still waiting!!!

Dd has 2 of the symptoms.. no home tests available and nearest drive in is on the other side of the pennies. Got both kids off school .. and this could happen 5 times between now and xmas

Friend in Lincolnshire had to drive to Edinburgh yesterday for a Covid test.

I've just come back from a test centre with my dd. I looked online, tried to book a test slot at the walk-in centre, had no luck, tried the drive through, no luck. Kept getting a message saying no test centres. Went on fb and dounle checked, as our County has 7 testing sites across it, so I thought there must be somewhere to get tested. I had seen on here about trying to turn up to the test centre, so thats what we did. There was a short queue but nothing major, got the test, did it in the mobile unit, now registered. Dd started coughing yesterday, school want a negative result before her or her siblings can go back. In one respect were lucky that were in an area of intervention, so plenty of choice for a test, but unable to book on the website.
While waiting, I heard a member of staff discussing with a member of the public that they need symptoms for a test. The man wouldn't accept that he needed symptoms. Eventually he walked away. Hopefully results will be back so all children can return to school on Monday, if result is negative

Update from me... after a couple of hours refreshing the site some closer test sites popped up and we are booked in for 1.30 today.

We're trying to get a test for DS who has 2/3 symptoms. The website shows three places with slots available but when I click on them, there are no slots available .
There's a big warning saying 'some sites are for 18 and over only' and I am wondering if this is why there's no slots but can't find any way of checking this. It's been a fun day...

@Bromeliads I understand that the appointments are released in batches.. so keep trying.... it took 3 hours of refreshing every 15 mins or so when I did it, but then there were a few

@Bromeliads I have the same problem with my 2 year old. I have called 119 but no availability and suggested to try every hour. I am trying from 7 o'clock.

@Kitcat47 I’m a day behind you: did you hear yet?

Thank you both. I will keep trying!!

This is not a sensible or reasonable system is it? People will just give up and not get tests.

@RicStar I agree, I certainly feel like giving up.

I am quietly cursing myself for having taken DS's temperature at all...

Gingenius @Kitcat47
have you had any results yet ?
we posted back To them on Friday, we are still waiting, have rung twice and both times said they have received them and have escalated it

Anyone knows if they put new tests at certain times. I try every hour since early morning with no success. At one point the centre appeared 40 miles away and still could not book it as no times were available to my household.