If you are in quarantine at the moment ...

[UntamedWisteria]

... for travel reasons, has anyone official checked up on you?

Thanks MRex I'm well aware of that.

However we are in an area where there is ample spare testing capacity.

Would you prefer it if my DS and his pals, who have just returned from partying heavily in one of the very high risk area which inexplicably has not been added to England's quarantine list, although it has to England and Wales', go out into the local community where we currently have a very low infection rate and spread Covid?

We know exactly what we are doing, thanks. If the government can't organise this properly then we will do what's right.

3000 new cases today, by the way.

Scotland not England

If your son had any sense of responsibility, he would not be "partying heavily in one of the very high risk area" in the middle of a pandemic. He would also not abuse government testing capacity by lying about having symptoms; taxpayers are paying for his poor judgement. If he wanted to be responsible he would be distancing as much as possible for a few weeks and keepong an eye out for symptoms. You're becoming rude because you know it's not actually the correct course of action when you can see there is a shortage of tests. Just change the plan.

My boyfriend has just completed day 14, no contact from anyone regarding his quarantine, no checks when he landed in the UK to see if he had even filled in the forms online.

Used public transport to his airbnb, then after a few days used public transport to come home to the flat.

@UntamedWisteria you do realise theres a widely publicised 2 week incubation period with covid. So a test if your son has just got back wouldnt show positive until 2 weeks after he caught it. So if her caught covid in the last few days of his holiday testing now is pointless...

@IndiaMay Yes, DS is following the alternative strategy being promoted by the airport sector at the moment and under consideration from the government - two tests, a week apart.

There is not an "alternative strategy" and those debates are about countries on the quarantine list. Your arrogance is misplaced because you are not taking into account the wider picture - that people can be infectious up to 14 days and that there aren't enough tests. Stop making up your own rules, follow the rules set out for the country and just campaign to your MP if you don't like it.

MREx There was no indication that where my DS was was at any higher risk of Covid than anywhere else when he left. It wasn't on the quarantine list then, and it isn't now.

Do you know how shitty it's been for 18-year-olds this year? Most of them are already dealing with deep disappointment over their Uni choice because of the government's gross mis management of the A level situation. Or facing a future with little prospect of a job.

If anyone needed a holiday, they did. They have followed all the rules. And staying at home for 2 weeks when you have Uni to get ready for just isn't an option.

This is absolutely the sensible course of action - and there is every sign that it's one the government will soon be implementing itself.

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2020/09/05/exclusive-airport-testing-reduces-rates-infections-better-quarantine/

MRex I've tried to be polite in all my posts to you, please don't call me arrogant.

We have come to this decision because we believe it is the best and safest course of action. I cannot tell DS to stay at home for 2 weeks when it's not legally required.

We are doing this in order to keep other people safe.

You may disagree with our strategy but it's done with the best on intentions.

If Covid tests were privately available near us we'd be more than happy to pay for DS to have them.

And yes, I am in regular contact with My MP (I'm a professional lobbyist) Thanks for the advice though.

Do you think that if the kids in Plymouth had stayed at home and got tested there would have been a different outcome there?

Just finished my quarantine yesterday. No checks.

"I'm a professional lobbyist"
Ah, it all makes sense now.

@UntamedWisteria - do you want to explain to this poster why your son should lie to use the government tests so her son can't get a test, despite you having been told again and again that there is not limitless capacity? www.mumsnet.com/Talk/coronavirus/4015598-Can-t-get-a-test-for-6-days-how-is-this-system-practical

Finished my quarantine. Not a scooby from anyone.

We have quarantined for the full time - it was rubbish. No-one checked on us but we did it anyway, just because we are natural rule followers. I would say that people's perceptions of what is happening in different countries are very varied. France was very relaxed and we didn't feel massively 'safe' there (it was lovely though and we were very careful!). I just don't think it is possible to generalise about what is happening in different countries (including the UK) at the momet. The approach just seems to be one of trying to get the balance right, which most places are trying to achieve.

@KristaK

We have quarantined for the full time - it was rubbish. No-one checked on us but we did it anyway, just because we are natural rule followers. I would say that people's perceptions of what is happening in different countries are very varied. France was very relaxed and we didn't feel massively 'safe' there (it was lovely though and we were very careful!). I just don't think it is possible to generalise about what is happening in different countries (including the UK) at the momet. The approach just seems to be one of trying to get the balance right, which most places are trying to achieve.

yes! perceptions vary so much. DD has just got back from Rome (it's an incredible time to visit if anyone feels like it!). She feels it was much more relaxed than here (SE England) - less mask wearing generally (mostly worn in shops & on the metro but nobody wearing them just walking around like you see here), no social distancing in queues etc, tables packed together in restaurants.

Yes that was the same for us - I didn't mind at all but I find it really weird when I see lots of stuff about how crap we are here at following any guidelines as it seems to be a universal problem! Also, I think that on holiday (if you want to!) it is possible to make very 'sensible' choices easily because it is a bubble, without the pressure that comes from getting to work, doing a weekly shop, managing public transport, pressure from friends and family to get together etc. I often think that it is all about perspective. :-)