This is going to be so disruptive..

[Shiningstar84]

Stating the obvious I know.
I'm a teacher who has been back to work for 3 weeks. I've come down with a heavy cold which means I can't go in to work. I've lost my sense of smell and taste and have a cough too- I always have these symptoms with a cold. Yes it could be covid but I'd be hugely shocked.
Anyway, I need to get a test, but I can't get one and now have to stay at home remote teaching until I can get one. It's a nightmare . I teach post-compulsory education and they'll have A-levels next summer. I feel like such a fraud being at home and not in work doing my job properly :( I wish we knew more to clearly differentiate between a heavy cold and covid.
Anyway that's my little rant done for the day.

Yep we are at home because DS has his normal back to school cold and cough!

Clearly need to have a "stock" of tests for networkers, can you contact you union to mobilize for this, for the reasons you clearly state.

Have you been able to get a test?

I'm not sure it would help me get one in time! My college have 10 tests there but I can't physically go on site to get one. It's a nightmare.

Get someone to drop one round?!

As it's hugely in there interests to get a result quickly?

It’s a joke OP the state of testing. My nephews school didn’t even open due to a teacher testing positive the day before it was due to open- kids home for a further 2 wks. If they could test all the teachers the school could open a lot quicker.

My sister just rang me not knowing what to do and is in the same boat. Cant get hold of a doctor, rang the drive in test centre and told not to come, she works with vunerable adults and is beside herself.

It's a bloody farce. How could the government not forsee that more people (i.e teachers, kids etc) would need tests come September. My students have been amazing, I will say. However, I feel awful not being there!!
Sadly as I live over an hour from work no-one could drop one around. I'm resigned that I'm off for the rest of the week but teaching from home is so much harder and not as effective obviously.
Feel really sorry for those in the situation as you've mentioned working with vulnerable adults- it's a complete disgrace!

I thought it was not advised to get a test for a cold?

I have have had the same issue, whole household have came down with a cold. Took me two days going on the government website every half hour trying and I eventually managed to get into a test centre three miles from my home. They do become available it shown 89 slots available at the centre local. but within half hour all the slots had gone as my friend also tried booking a slot due to her daughter having symptoms and they were gone.

@wouldbegood Believe me I don't want to but some of the symptoms are similar. I have a cough and have lost my sense of smell and taste. My college understandably don't want to take the risk even though there's a tiny chance.

@misskick Interesting- I've tried over 10 times today I would say. I'll keep trying

@Shiningstar84 oh, no! That is a pain. I hope you get one ASAP and feel better.

Honestly I tried so many times, I phoned 119 also, you just have to keep trying and trying on the site. Very stressful I know as each time you have to re add all your info. But I booked it last night around 8.30 the slots became available in my area and by 11.30 this morning we were being tested. So fingers crossed you get one soon!

Thanks @misskick
What makes this worse is that I did eventually get a test (booked last night) for today at 11am. I drove there and the only road down to the site was closed for maintenance!!! I tried to get in via another entrance which meant an hour detour and it was closed that side too. I could have cried. I'll try again tonight as it seems a good time.

Should have tested all teachers before we came back to school.

Should have made available a shed load of tests because it was fucking obvious that things were going to kick off as soon as kids went back. Despite what half the folk on mumsnet say about children not transmitting covid.

@ohthegoats and also I teach 16-19 year old - definitely not children. The government have made no mention of this and now we know 17-21 are spreading it lots too. Meanwhile university lectures are remote. It makes no sense that I'm in a class of 25 16-19year olds 4times a day. Less than a metre from me to them and no distancing between them- just in their class 'bubbles' which get burst as soon as they step outside and meet friends.
It's a nightmare-and going to get so much worse! We need more tests now!

Can you not order a home test to be delivered ? Are they not doing them anymore ?

I checked the website just after 8am this morning and there were some tests for home testing available

Availability of home tests depends on where you are. Many are reporting that option does now show up for them.

Out of 500000 teachers you would expect 250 to have it every week. 1/2000
Thats without the kids having it too.
Also rvrn if people quarantine i think only 97% of cases appear in 14d so that in 30 people out of every million if they are somewhere with rates of say 1/1000.