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Original poster

People are just going to not bother getting tested

279 replies

MNnicknameforCVthreads · 13/09/2020 08:04

If they can’t get a test, surely people will think sod it and not bother.

I’m so angry with the government for not sorting their act out. It’s about time they were held accountable. In any other profession they’d have been sacked a long time ago for utter incompetence.

This is before you take into account all the people who can’t afford to self isolate.

If government want people to do this they need to pay them full pay.

AIBU?

OP posts:
OpheliasCrayon · 13/09/2020 08:05

I think this is exactly what will happen

OpenlyGayExOlympicFencer · 13/09/2020 08:05

Correct.

justanotherneighinparadise · 13/09/2020 08:06

True. People will also lie about symptoms to prevent having to self isolate.

Thirtyrock39 · 13/09/2020 08:06

And if you are able to get a test it's often taking over two days for results to come back if not more which is more time off work and school

OpheliasCrayon · 13/09/2020 08:07

And moreover I wouldn't blame anyone if they did
The government haven't made it possible for people to get tests if they need one. They don't come back quick enough. People aren't paid enough if they can't work... I wouldn't blame anyone for doing this because the government have created an impossible and untenable situation.
I'm not saying people should do it and willingly spread illnesses but.... If you need the money and there's no one to help out and create a workable system.... Then I accept people will not do as they're supposed to

Shamrocksunshine · 13/09/2020 08:08

I’ve been ill for days with all the symptoms. I’ve tried for three days straight to get a test, I’ve given up now. I’m feeling brighter today so I’ll be back at work (education) tomorrow.

I’m not self isolating when I have no idea if I have it or not.

Cuppaand2biscuits · 13/09/2020 08:08

I agree, we've had a colleague go for testing this week and the results took 4 and a half days to be returned.
I fear that will put people off testing or getting children tested as they are having to isolate so long just waiting for results. There symptoms might have gone on day 2 but they have to stay at home until results are back.
Also if those results come back positive it's 4 days where their contacts haven't been isolating but carrying on as normal.

roadsurvey · 13/09/2020 08:10

@Shamrocksunshine

I’ve been ill for days with all the symptoms. I’ve tried for three days straight to get a test, I’ve given up now. I’m feeling brighter today so I’ll be back at work (education) tomorrow.

I’m not self isolating when I have no idea if I have it or not.

What part of having all the symptoms makes you think you can just go back to work Angry

Snailsetssail · 13/09/2020 08:11

Correct.

Hmmph · 13/09/2020 08:13

Correct. If their child has a temp 37.9 people will weigh up their options:
(1) Admit their child has a temp, inform the school, all the family isolates (no work or school), try but be unable to get a test, all have to isolate for 14 days (assuming no one else gets symptoms)
or
(2) give the child some Calpol and send them to school and go to work, justifying it to themselves as ‘it’s probably just a cold’.

HelloDulling · 13/09/2020 08:14

Also if those results come back positive it's 4 days where their contacts haven't been isolating but carrying on as normal.

Their contacts should start isolating as soon as the person showed symptoms, not wait for the results to come back.

Shamrocksunshine · 13/09/2020 08:14

@roadsurvey

I’m feeling better now. It COULD just be a cold. If I had had a test, and it came back positive, I can assure you I would be self isolating. If there is no testing capacity would it be reasonable for me to be off work with every single cold I had?

Of course not. Get in the real world.

middleager · 13/09/2020 08:14

I would say you were correct. I would not bother, however, I have DC in gcse years and can't afford 2 weeks off for 'just' a cold, so would need a test.

BUT...I might get private tests (for DC only) if need be. This is a luxury not afforded to many. We are on 'average' UK salaries though so the price a couple of a couple of tests is still a big expense.

If I factor in time lost from work, travel (some have had 4 hour journeys) etc then I might do this. Only might.

HelloDulling · 13/09/2020 08:15

@Shamrocksunshine

I’ve been ill for days with all the symptoms. I’ve tried for three days straight to get a test, I’ve given up now. I’m feeling brighter today so I’ll be back at work (education) tomorrow.

I’m not self isolating when I have no idea if I have it or not.

Which symptoms gave you had?
mrshoho · 13/09/2020 08:17

Yes and it is happening. Worryingly I also suspect the availability of tests in various areas may be being manipulated and not just down to a crap online system.

Parker231 · 13/09/2020 08:18

If the testing system isn’t available and too slow, people will carry on going to work. Unless you can guarantee full salary every time you may have symptoms, people will have to go to work.

ParisianLady · 13/09/2020 08:18

I was asked to take a test based on my symptoms on the Zoe app.

I'm pretty sure it's a cold. I would have taken a test but given that everyone is struggling to get one I didn't even attempt it.

So yes, lack of testing put me off even trying

WellyElly · 13/09/2020 08:21

Yes, agreed. And also if you are self employed (and didn't get any help from the government at all because you have a new business, then you will be feeling the financial pressure to return to work. Can't get a test/ can't afford to wait a ridiculous amount of time for the results to come back.

Shamrocksunshine · 13/09/2020 08:22

I do not need to name my symptoms. I think we all know what they are. The simple fact of the matter is, I had them, and I tried (very hard) to get a test for three days straight. Lord knows how many times I refreshed the page. I rang up (to no avail)... I was told to NOT drive to my local testing centre.

If I had access to a test and it came back positive then I would be absolutely self isolating.

So I will be back in work tomorrow. I am not coughing now, if I was, I wouldn’t go in. It would be embarrassing going in coughing everywhere. I understand people’s anger on this, but seriously if you can’t get access to tests, people will not self isolate. Direct your anger and frustrations at our inadequate government. People can’t simply be off work for every heavy cold/sore throat/slight cough without access to tests.

I am willing to test as often as absolutely necessary but it would be nice if I had the choice.

MandosHatHair · 13/09/2020 08:22

Before they invest any more money in stupid schemes like Covid marshalls or dine out to help out, the government need to get testing right. My DS has come down with what is obviously a cold but because it's come with a cough I'm trying to do the right thing and get him tested before sending him to pre-school. It's taken two days but I have managed to order a postal test, God knows when it's going to turn up or when we will get the results by which time he'll miss his first week at least. I also have to keep my older child off school and luckily my husband can work from home.

I can't see a family who lives paycheck to paycheck going through all that and losing valuable pay just because a preschooler has the sniffles.

More same day tests are essential for getting people to comply with the rules.

Thirtyrock39 · 13/09/2020 08:23

The private ones still can take 48 hours for results - that's the ones I've seen when I googled

GinWithRosie · 13/09/2020 08:24

Agree...it's frustrating! I had symptoms for three days (teacher...started feeling ropey last Friday) and I have been filling in the Zoe symptom app daily. I filled out my symptoms on there and within hours had an email 'inviting' me to get tested...it was quite specific in the instructions.

I tried for three full days...unable to get anything. No home kits, no appointments within 400 miles available (I was offered one for the Sunday morning, 9.30am, almost 400 miles from my home...which is crazy!) I couldn't go to that...it was already 4pm on Saturday by this point so a drive up and an overnight stay was out of the question (even if I had been feeling well enough to do that, which I wasn't!) I kept trying for a closer appointment or home kit...no luck at all.

By Monday though I felt well. Still home though as per the rules 🤷‍♀️

Nellodee · 13/09/2020 08:26

Runny noses, headaches, sore throats and all the usual symptoms of “just a cold” can all be symptoms of covid. The reason they are not on the symptoms checker is not that they are not often seen with COVID, but that they are seen so very often without it, they do not act as such a good screening test add the other symptoms. However, having them absolutely does not mean that you then couldn’t possibly have COVID.

FinnyStory · 13/09/2020 08:26

@HelloDulling

Also if those results come back positive it's 4 days where their contacts haven't been isolating but carrying on as normal.

Their contacts should start isolating as soon as the person showed symptoms, not wait for the results to come back.

No, they don't.

Only the "infected" person and their household isolates until and unless there is a positive test. Not other contacts.

Part of the problem (IMHO Grin) is that people are enjoying the drama of going for a test and waiting on results, which means that people with cold symptoms are clogging up the system. That, plus schools and workplaces asking people to take unecessary tests and for some, getting a few days off work while they wait for results. There's a lot of unnecessary testing being done.

For example a colleague has a child with a mild cold, colleague knows it's a mild cold, nursery won't have child until tested. Colleague booked tests for entire household...all negative.

Nellodee · 13/09/2020 08:27

As the other symptoms, not add.

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