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.

@Northernsoullover interestingly the PHA in NI are advising all asymptomatic contacts to be tested on day 0 and day 7 as part of some kind of a pilot scheme, they’re still being told to isolate for 14 days regardless or results although I’ve heard of a good few people misunderstanding and going back to normal after a negative swab!

The Covid Zoe app today has an article that children present with different symptoms from adults:

covid.joinzoe.com/post/back-to-school?mc_cid=bd6f59275b&mc_eid=0a4ca818fa

The 3 official symptoms do not cover a rash in children - which was DGD’s only symptom!

I think they went through a stage of encouraging people to get tested no matter what the symptoms. Once I recorded on the Zoe App I didn’t feel quite right - just a mild headache. Then later that day they emailed me suggesting I get a test.

I am guessing but presumably they need people to test with different groups of symptoms?

I'm really sorry to say yabu but actually it's gps referring people to be tested and now schools too. A lot of people have to go by what they are told (also agree with people above who say not all symptoms are covered there, sore throats and lethargy should definitely be in there)

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

“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%)”. Thought this might be useful

Also for kids gastrointestinal symptoms and skin rashes. www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3484

“ Half of the children testing positive reported no symptoms, but for those that did the commonest were fever (21 of 68, 31%); gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhoea, vomiting, and abdominal cramps (13 of 68, 19%); and headache (12 of 68, 18%).”

Your system will be better if you can test “exposed” people with no symptoms to prevent asymptomatic spread.

We're getting randomly tested regularly at work here in Germany. Work is with vulnerable people so obviously extra important not to expose them.

Loads of people have Covid symptoms and can't get a test.

The government is restricting the number of tests available to keep infection levels seemingly low.

Zoe app told me to get tested yesterday and I don’t have any of the classic symptoms.
I got an email and it said they want people without the key symptoms to be tested.

Having spent an entire day online in a vain attempt to get a test for Ds who has symptoms (high temp and cough).. we are in a lowish incidence area, I conclude that tests are being deliberately rationed. There is something clearly wrong with the testing system that gov won’t admit to. No surprise there.

I’m fed up hearing that folk are getting tests when they don’t need them.

You’d want to be a masochist Of the highest order to repeatedly entire your details to get a test you don’t need.

You need to get a test the first 5 days of symptoms. If Ds is positive, then by the time a result comes out, contact tracing is pointless.

THERE ARE NO TESTS AVAILABLE

OP yes for now, people should only get a test for the 3 main symptoms but the guidance clearly states "a new, continuous cough" and says nothing about it bring dry / wet/ phlegmy or otherwise.

Anyone going to work or school with any kind of cough will be told to go home and get tested asap.

People "diagnosing" at home might be risking hundreds of kids being off school for weeks and it's just not worth it.

Anecdata from Mumsnet doesn't mean that loads of people testing without symptoms is the main cause of a shortage. How can the government know how many people are lying about having symptoms on the booking site.

It is far more likely that the spike in demand is respiratory viruses at schools and workers going back to the office with overlapping symptoms and the "worried well" are yet another convenient scapegoat just like teachers not SD during coffee breaks, care homes not following procedures etc.

@YouJustDoYou

THERE ARE NO TESTS AVAILABLE

I find this really worrying. I'm thinking of taking my kids out of school until tests are available!

We were promised test track and trace

I find this really worrying. I'm thinking of taking my kids out of school until tests are available

I've been refreshing the page non stop since 2.30pm yesterday, and was up in the night for a few hours doing it. Had a good sob too, because I had to turn down a full day of work today (im zero hours bank worker for a nursery chain) and Will probably have to turn down hundreds of pounds worth of work because there are no tests available to get me out of this with my kids. Their education has come to a halt , our jobs have come to a halt. I feel like I'm shaking apart, how will I get money?