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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 08:29

@Shamrocksunshine

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.

Whilst you shouldn't be in work - I'm sure you know you shouldn't be - I do understand.

If you can't get tests (and I know it's impossible. I couldn't get one at all for my kids but their symptoms went fortunately)... Then what are you supposed to do??????

You should be able to isolate, get a test, it come back within 24 hours and return to work if negative... That to me is a world beating test and trace system... As it goes ...... Like everything else...it's shit

MrsHookey · 13/09/2020 08:29

I cannot get a test for love nor money. The website says there are no test centres available. I have 5 around us but none are available.

whatsleep · 13/09/2020 08:30

@Shamrocksunshine if you work in a school your school should have a small supply of tests for this very reason. If your school knows you are off because you were symptomatic (Which I’m sure they do if you’ve tried for days to get a test) they shouldn’t even allow you back without a negative result.

Parker231 · 13/09/2020 08:31

Employers aren’t going to let employees be off work for days waiting on a test availability every time one of their DC’s has a sniffle or cough. They’ll never be in work

SleeplessWB · 13/09/2020 08:31

It is ridiculous. I have a cough, can't get a test so have to stay at home for days waiting meaning disruption to my students at school, other staff having to cover for me (and not knowing if it is actually spreading at school as no tests), my dc off school....

RedToothBrush · 13/09/2020 08:31

There is no testing centre in the borough my parents live in. For a population of 100,000. In the north west. Despite it being one of all 14 places where footfall has returned to pre covid levels.

The number of cases there has skyrocketed this week.

It will go under lockdown restrictions within the next 10 days (i think possibly as early as mid week) and the area will become one of the new hot spots with how things are progressing and how lax the authorities have been because theyve been too busy concerntrating on Greater Manchester.

Its so far flying under everyone's radar and not on the government watch list yet.

Its not a good state of affairs.

Just hoping my Dad doesn't get it.

FippertyGibbett · 13/09/2020 08:32

I saw somewhere that they’re using test kits to test people who are well, just to see how much of the population has it.
Yet people with symptoms can’t get a test !!
Absolutely ridiculous.

grey12 · 13/09/2020 08:34

That is already happening!!!

DD got the flu (we don't think it is coronavirus, neither does the GP) and it's passing through the family now. We really wanted to do test so we could inform her school and also I'm pregnant (!!!). There is NO WAY we'll be able to get a test... it's disgraceful.....

Shamrocksunshine · 13/09/2020 08:35

@whatsleep

I do not work in a school, and my manager wouldn’t give a shit (unfortunately) Infact I think I got this from her....!!!

Snailsetssail · 13/09/2020 08:36

@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.

Only their household would isolate before a positive test result. Contacts are not traced until after the positive result, which with the current state of things could take a week to come!
Spudlet · 13/09/2020 08:36

I've been trying to get a test for ds since Thursday night. He has a cold... I'm 99% sure of it. I think we all had covid in February. But he is coughing and if you take an 'episode' of coughing as the odd cough, he's doing that more than three times a day so he should probably be tested to be sure. I started trying again at 6.20am - nothing still.

I now don't know what to do. Do I send him to school tomorrow or not? He's got no temperature, no changes to taste or smell, and the sort of mild cough you get with a cold... if we all have to self-isolate, he's going to miss his entire transition period into reception, and he has ASD - he needs that easing in time.

I'm so, so angry about this, I feel sick with it.

grey12 · 13/09/2020 08:36

@Shamrocksunshine you should stay at home for 7 days. You shouldn't go to a school before that

AllTheWhoresOfMalta · 13/09/2020 08:38

The testing system is a shambles and here in the real world our bosses aren’t going to let us isolate for days at a time on full pay every time one of our small children brings home a cold this winter.

More tests with faster turnaround times and available via schools and workplaces are what is needed.

Shamrocksunshine · 13/09/2020 08:41

Leaving the thread now as I’ll end up repeating myself. I work in education (but not directly in a school).

I have tried to get tested.....
I will not be off work for every heavy cold I get, without access to tests. This is not acceptable....not in the real world.

I am MORE than happy to get tested as often as necessary, and isolate.

Redirect your frustrations at the piss poor testing capacity, and track and trace this country has.

BetterEatCheese · 13/09/2020 08:41

People aren't going to be honest about their contacts either if that know that person can't afford to isolate. I'm terrified of the school bubble and all families having to isolate.

We are both self employed and while I can stop, dh can't. He works alone in a workshop and if I'm being completely honest, unless it is us or him with symptoms, he's going to work

bumblingbovine49 · 13/09/2020 08:41

@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.

Whsupposedether you have a test or not, you are to self isolate for 10 days if you have the symptoms. Whilst I agree that lack of tests is a major problem, that is absolutely no excuse for ignoring clear guidelines about isolation when you show certain symptoms.
worriedandannoyed · 13/09/2020 08:41

I've been trying over 24 hours to get a test for my daughter, managed to get a postal one at 8am today so maybe that's when they're released. Hopefully will turn up soon as we're now all at home until we get the results.

Last night just after 8pm some slots were released but quite a drive away, while I looked up how far they were (don't want to take unwell daughter on a long car ride!) they'd all gone. So maybe try at 8pm.

I'm sure someone also said they're released at 10am too. I didn't want to wait that long and risk not getting one again so ordered the postal test.

Useruseruserusee · 13/09/2020 08:42

It actually makes me angry.

I teach and we sent home a child with a temperature and cough. It’s an area with high deprivation and the child’s parents are both on zero hour contracts. They can’t get a test and can’t afford not to work. The Mum has practically begged the school to take the child back but we can’t.

What could have been a two day absence with a smaller impact on the family will now drag on and mean that the family are hungry. All because the government can’t sort out testing.

OpheliasCrayon · 13/09/2020 08:43

[quote whatsleep]@Shamrocksunshine if you work in a school your school should have a small supply of tests for this very reason. If your school knows you are off because you were symptomatic (Which I’m sure they do if you’ve tried for days to get a test) they shouldn’t even allow you back without a negative result.[/quote]
"should" "supply of tests"

That's funny. As if schools have been given them by the gvmt... I've certainly not seen or heard of any

Ellsbells12 · 13/09/2020 08:43

Yep I tried every 30 mins last week as I had all the symptoms was negative but now my son has a cough and cold do I send him to school the whole thing is getting ridiculous

worriedandannoyed · 13/09/2020 08:43

Wouldn't it have been a good idea to provide schools with tests that could be given out and sent off as soon as symptoms start? Both for staff and pupils?

PuppyMonkey · 13/09/2020 08:43

Shamrock, could you really not self isolate for the full 14 days just in case? What would be the consequences for your job etc?

It might be a cold. It might not be though.Confused

Stinkyguineapig · 13/09/2020 08:44

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

Exactly this. No point talking about moon shots, vaccines and saliva tests we need massively improved facility for the tests we already have now.
I had a test at the beginning of august. Tested at lunchtime, results by 5am the next day. That was a pretty impressive turnaround, but they havent been able to keep up with demand.
I heard somewhere that 17000 test apts were unused one day.....and yet people are either not able to get a test at all, or being directed to somewhere hundreds of miles away . Other people have just turned up without an apt and said the testing place wasnt busy at all .....
Without quick and effective testing it's all going to shit. Some people will end up isolating needlessly for 14 days when they had a cold that was over in 5 days, others will be out spreading the virus because they cant access a test or cant afford time off work.

Also (different point) if for example you test positive, isolate, recover, go back to work or school....if you were contacted by t and t a few weeks later, would you have to isolate again? (I guess kids would as the bubbles work as a whole)

Ellsbells12 · 13/09/2020 08:45

@Shamrocksunshine totally agree with you

SaltyAndFresh · 13/09/2020 08:46

It's public facing workers who will face the consequences if people do give up on getting a test. I don't want to risk my life for this circus (and don't patronise me by telling me I won't die - I know it's unlikely but unless you're taking the risk yourself you have no idea).