Please only get a covid test if you have covid symptoms.

[Bluewavescrashing]

Only 3 symptoms indicate the need for covid testing.
Persistent or continuous dry cough
Fever
Loss of taste and / or smell.

If you have a cold, you do not need a covid test.
If you have a sore throat - no test.
Vomiting or stomach pain - no test.
Carry on going to work, kids to school or nursery as long as you are well enough to do so.

Please don't waste tests which are on short supply.

Meanwhile, the only (Two) people I know who have had a positive Covid result took a test because a recent contact had a confirmed case - one had a bit of a cold and one had slight tummy upset. So excuse me if I ignore you OP. I have a cold and haven’t had a test but I would if I develop a sore throat. I’m sure that was one of the original three Symptoms which has now been swapped out for loss of taste and smell.

That’s a load of rubbish! MOST (but not all colds) include a high temperature in young children, like mine, so even though I know it’s a cold she HAAS to have a test because she had a high temperature...due to a cold, but cannot go back to school until she has a test....for her cold.

I’m not panicking, but cold symptoms like fever or continuous cough that you have to be tested for just happen to be the same styptoms of Covid. So yes....you do have to be tested for a cold really!

I plan to write to my MP today and ask him to urge the government to urgently revise the testing policy so that it reflects the reality. Because my reaction when faced with a dangerous policy that ignores the evidence is to challenge it, not to encourage others to mindlessly follow it. I would encourage others to also contact their MPs about this issue.

I spent yesterday arguing with dds school about this.

She’s got a bit of a cold. Just a drippy nose. No cough. No temp.

They called me to pick her up and told me to get her tested. There is no need (and I’ve had the test before I had my c section last month, Dd would lose her shit, I’m not testing her for a sniffly nose).

We ended at a standoff yesterday. I said fine then, I’ll keep her off for two week. They said that wasn’t acceptable and that I needed to get her a test. She’s not displaying the symptoms needed for a test (and has woken up this morning with the stuffy nose gone).

The head will call me Monday apparently. It’s a joke.

@NellNorth

What if you’re self employed? No sick pay, no compensation? My husband has been out of work for months because lockdown killed his business. He has work now, and we have debts to pay, as well as four children to feed. He would go for a test rather than self isolate. We have no saving left. He works or we go hungry and lose our home.

If he has symptoms then yes he should get a test rather than isolate. If he doesnt have one of the three symptoms, he doesnt need to do either.

I had 3 DC off school yesterday. 2 had sore throats & one had a mild temperature of 37.6. I wasn't going to book a test as their symptoms didn't fit the main 3. However, I spoke to our GP about something unrelated & she told me to get all 3 tested. Apparently cases are increasing in our area (South West) & she's seeing children test positive without temperatures or coughs. For her, it's the sore throat that's the issue. We had them all tested this morning but I wouldn't have done if she hadn't have said to. (I was waiting for a proper temperature to develop)

Meanwhile, the only (Two) people I know who have had a positive Covid result took a test because a recent contact had a confirmed case - one had a bit of a cold and one had slight tummy upset.

Two is not a sample size the government would be working with.

Incidentally, it is possible to have other ailments at the same time. Your friend could have had asymptomatic covid and also a slight tummy upset which was unrelated. Upset tummy is rare as an actual covid symptom.

What symptoms do other countries add? (For adults or children)

I find it interesting that there is so much overlap between people who think it's correct to ignore official guidance on testing because they think it's illogical and wrong and people who are furious that anyone would consider meeting in a group of six even if those people think that the government position on this is illogical and wrong and that's why they're ignoring it. You either think that people should use their own common sense - even if you don't agree with the conclusion they reach - or you think they should follow the rules even if they personally think they're incorrect. You can't have it both ways (I can ignore the guidelines on testing because I know better but you should follow all guidance or you're a selfish idiot)

@Redcups64

That’s a load of rubbish! MOST (but not all colds) include a high temperature in young children, like mine, so even though I know it’s a cold she HAAS to have a test because she had a high temperature...due to a cold, but cannot go back to school until she has a test....for her cold.

I’m not panicking, but cold symptoms like fever or continuous cough that you have to be tested for just happen to be the same styptoms of Covid. So yes....you do have to be tested for a cold really!

You do NOT know a cold from covid.

They are trying to train spaniels to detect it by smell but regular parents can not be trained to do it, ever.

People say 'i know it's a cold'. They know nothing, they are not even capable of understanding covid after six months of nonstop media coverage about how we can't tell covid from a cold.

I agree - however my nursery won't let my two add return to nursery until they have both got negative results.

I have explained until I am blue in the face that a cold is not a symptom

We are being charged full rate while trying to get a test , and then waiting for results

@Hardbackwriter

I follow the guidance in both.

I don't think the testing criteria is illogical, I think it is designed to limit the numbers tested. That is therefore logical, and wrong imo

I haven't read the thread but totally agree with the OP. We seem to be heading back to a point where people with symptoms can't access the tests.

The impact of this is that people are potentially exposed to the infection over a longer period meaning it spreads further.

I'm someone who caught it early on and didn't get tested because I knew I didn't need to be in hospital but who's life has changed massively because of ongoing symptoms. Not having a formal diagnosis also has a knock on effect with wider understanding because my (along with many other people's) details won't feature in research or reporting because it wasn't confirmed. There are many people also saying that because they weren't able to access a test they haven't been taken seriously and haven't had any follow up support.

OP you seem to be a bit behind so perhaps you shouldn't be instructing people on when they should or should not be tested in such a high handed way.

" The research highlighted that children display a different range of symptoms compared to the overall adult population. The top five symptoms in school aged children who test positive for COVID are; fatigue (55%) headache (53%), fever (49%), sore throat (38%) and loss of appetite (35%). This was different compared to the App’s data on adults; fatigue (87%), headache (72%), loss of smell (60%), persistent cough (54%) and sore throat (49%)"

From here:

covid.joinzoe.com/post/back-to-school

@roadsurvey

But for 'Outer Mongolia' you should have written the 'World Health Organisation'. They have about 5 further symptoms on their Coronavirus list.

I could have said anything. It really makes no difference, but using WHO is a great example of what I am saying. We are being asked to test if we have any of the 3 symptoms. We are not being asked to look at the WHO list and decide based on that.

Which is fine, but on a point if pedantry perhaps we should then talk about being eligible for a covid test in the UK rather than needing one.

Not having one of the symptoms isn’t a sign that you don’t need a test just that you shouldn’t get one because we don’t have the capacity to cope.

@Bluewavescrashing genuine question - do you know what nurseries and preschools do if your child goes in with a new cough? would they send them home ? I am thinking of getting a test done solely because I am worried that preschool will send daughter home as she has a new cough, but I know and the doctors has told me she has got a cold and a viral wheeze which requires an inhaler as and when. I don't think it's fair to reopen schools and get children's hopes up about attending, and then keep them home just because the government can't get their act together. If preschool won't send my child home just coz she's got a new (chesty) cough and a cold then I won't have to worry about testing 😣

So different to Australia, I dont know what to think.

Our state borders are shut. Our international borders shut even harder - we arent allowed to leave.

Our advice is to get tested for the mildest symptoms. Children are literally excluded for a sniffle.

Not sure about anything anymore.

If you don’t know a cold from Covid....then why is there outrage of people ‘taking’ tests for colds when apparently....that’s now wrong and you don’t need to do that.

You can’t have it both ways.

Moan about taking dwindling stock of tests just for a cold

Moan that you don’t know Covid from a cold so have to be tested...

I personally think the OP is wrong and shouldn’t be berating people for getting tests. Common cold symptoms are similar to Covid, there is nothing you can do to change that fact!

@KitKatastrophe - I know, I’m aware that the tummy upset could have been completely unrelated. My point is that they ‘shouldn’t’ have had tests with those symptoms but were carriers - we should be doing as much testing as possible. The government have been throwing around 500,000 - 1,000,000 a day, but they are struggling to provide less than that. As a PP posted we can all see that the WHO are listing different symptoms. Why is anybody surprised that people are taking up tests?

No. Not having the capacity to cope with a very predictable upsurge in the need for tests is another reason for this govt to be sacked.

People needing tests but not being able to get them us exactly what we should be talking about.

personally think the OP is wrong and shouldn’t be berating people for getting tests. Common cold symptoms are similar to Covid, there is nothing you can do to change that fact!

But if they don't include any of the 3 symptoms then people should not be getting tested. Our government is very specific about that.

The cough overlap for Autumn colds is what is putting pressure on an under resourced system. So often the two go hand-in-hand in the first few weeks back at school and the coughing can be continuous.
Parents are stuck between a rock and a hard place - many of us cannot afford minimum three days off for testing let alone ten for self-isolating. Schools are still under pressure to maintain attendance and chase absence.
Covid symptoms proven not to be coronavirus - hence children with negatives allowed back - will nonetheless spread the Autumn cough-colds, meaning more children needing testing.
The whole thing is a shit show but no, I do not have any other solution. Common sense judgements not going to help if testing mandatory for one symptom alone.

I find it interesting that there is so much overlap between people who think it's correct to ignore official guidance on testing because they think it's illogical and wrong and people who are furious that anyone would consider meeting in a group of six

YES!

My daughter had a phelm filled cough this morning and hasn’t cough for 3hrs- that’s not a dry persistent cough

“Not having one of the symptoms isn’t a sign that you don’t need a test just that you shouldn’t get one because we don’t have the capacity to cope.”

Hahah, great summary of the situation!