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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:
user1487194234 · 13/09/2020 09:46

They do need to get the testing system sorted out,its not like they haven't had plenty of time.

People should follow the rules,but its so difficult for people who don't get paid.
Not everyone is at home on full pay,I am not sure people really understand what it is like to have reduced/no income for months.

CaptainBrickbeard · 13/09/2020 09:48

This government’s strategy is not to manage the spread of the virus. It’s to manage the blame for the spread of the virus.

They don’t need to invest in a proper test and trace system. They can hand a nice lucrative contract to their friends as usual and ignore the fact that it’s a shambles so long as they deflect the blame. Their divide and conquer strategy served them well over Brexit and it’s working even better now - people feel angrier at rule breakers/rule enforcers than they do at Leavers/Remainers.

It’s perfect for the government. People’s ire is at ‘those people getting tests when they don’t need it’ like it was at ‘selfish stockpilers’ in the supermarkets in March. Next it will be at those who are forced to choose between paying their rent and bills or self isolating - they’ll be vilified as the irresponsible super spreaders by taking their germs to work and school when they can’t get tested.

And of course, there will be lots of vitriol directed at reports of others breaking the rule of six and the exponential growth can be neatly blamed on them.

Schools have been given impossible guidance that makes no sense but when outbreaks occur in schools, this enables the govt again to blame it on teachers for not following the rules. Schools cannot win. Everyone is already pretty well primed to hate teachers anyway so they’re an easy target.

So long as everyone is angry at each other, the blame doesn’t stick where it actually belongs. Johnson’s government will not bother to work and invest in controlling the pandemic. Their sole priority is to avoid being blamed for the disaster.

I think unfortunately that their strategy is working.

Squidsister · 13/09/2020 09:49

@justanotherneighinparadise

It’s unworkable without availability for regular testing and quick results. If every teacher in my child’s school gets a cold, can’t test and then isolates for 14 days the school will shut. Same for workplaces and hospitals. What a total fucking shit show.
Exactly that. I work in school and we are so understaffed anyway. If I have to isolate for 14 days every time one of the DCs gets a cold then who does my job? My role isn’t one that agency staff could do.

I can’t believe that nobody in charge of school reopening predicted this ....

Stinkyguineapig · 13/09/2020 09:50

*They do need to get the testing system sorted out,its not like they haven't had plenty of time.

People should follow the rules,but its so difficult for people who don't get paid.
Not everyone is at home on full pay,I am not sure people really understand what it is like to have reduced/no income for months.*

A lot of MN seem to be able to wfh, earn a fortune and have a years salary in savings. IRL many people have jobs that cant be done from home and couldnt realistically take up to 14 days off (potentially multiple times) without consequences

mrshoho · 13/09/2020 09:51

We were assured that returning to work and school would work because effective and efficient testing would take place and reduce the time people would need to isolate. The testing cannot keep up with demand so the government is tricking us to blame each other. The blame should be directed at the government.

OpenlyGayExOlympicFencer · 13/09/2020 09:51

@OpheliasCrayon

But what are people on zero hours contracts , or anyone who needs any amount of money ie most people... supposed to do in this situation. It's not right ...but it's unworkable. The test and trace isn't fit for purpose .. people will be going to work when ill!
They will. Of course they will.

For those who usually earn money to live on but cannot do so from home, there is a cost to isolating. That cost will be met by someone, be it the employee's own savings, the employer, the state or some other source, or the isolation will not happen. Those are the only possibilities.

Squidsister · 13/09/2020 09:51

CaptainBrickbeard very well said.

MJMG2015 · 13/09/2020 09:52

@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.

Why not?

You'll get paid & you're risking other people's health.

The testing situation is rubbish for lots of people, you just need to be persistent & try various times if the day or even just drive to a testing station.

You really should not go into an educational setting when you could be passing it on to a lot of people!

Shamrocksunshine · 13/09/2020 09:54

@CaptainBrickbeard

Agreed. It’s working too, this thread is evidence of that.

The blame lies at the governments “world beating” system. But yet here we are.... blaming everybody else.

MJMG2015 · 13/09/2020 09:55

@ParisianLady

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

Why??

If you can write posts on MN, you can try to get a test online. Jesus wept.

Squidsister · 13/09/2020 09:57

MJMG2015 Because Shamrocksunshine has already explained that she is on a temporary contract and cannot afford to lose her job. She works alone in an office and not with children.

Parker231 · 13/09/2020 09:57

People should follow the rules but if they don’t get paid they won’t if they can’t get tested quickly.

needaMNnamegenerator · 13/09/2020 09:58

@mrshoho

We were assured that returning to work and school would work because effective and efficient testing would take place and reduce the time people would need to isolate. The testing cannot keep up with demand so the government is tricking us to blame each other. The blame should be directed at the government.
This.
roadsurvey · 13/09/2020 09:58

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.

You are supposed to be self isolating NOW Angry

*If there is no testing capacity would it be reasonable for me to be off work with every single cold I had?
*
This is not a relevant factor. What matter is now. Not and potential future illness. You have had ALL the Covid symptoms ffs. You should absolutely not be going to work.

Of course not. Get in the real world.

I would rather not when people like you are risking my lifeAngry

DrunkOnEther · 13/09/2020 09:58

I honestly think it’s the website that’s the problem. I’ve been on it this morning. It’ll show me a test centre 50 miles away with 300 appointments. I refresh and it says no test sites. Refresh a couple more times and still no test sites. Refresh again and that site 50 miles away pops up again still with 298 appointments.
So it seems to me this is an IT issue. But let’s be honest, when has any public sector IT system actually worked properly?

MaxNormal · 13/09/2020 09:59

Trackandtrace I can understand why this upsets you but realistically people can't afford not to work. The people to be angry with are the government for not having a decent testing system in place and not adequately compensating peoolr for taking time off, not people who need to keep paying their bills.

ParisianLady · 13/09/2020 10:02

@MJMG2015 because I just have a cold. I do not have a temp, or a cough or a loss of taste or smell.

I had a sore throat, a runny nose and felt a bit tired. Standard cold.

I started the process to book a test and it kept telling me the system was very busy and to only book one if I had a main symptom. I don't have one, so I didn't.

Cam2020 · 13/09/2020 10:02

Trackandtrace I can understand why this upsets you but realistically people can't afford not to work. The people to be angry with are the government for not having a decent testing system in place and not adequately compensating peoolr for taking time off, not people who need to keep paying their bills.

Absolutely.

justanotherneighinparadise · 13/09/2020 10:02

@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.

You are supposed to be self isolating NOW Angry

*If there is no testing capacity would it be reasonable for me to be off work with every single cold I had?
*
This is not a relevant factor. What matter is now. Not and potential future illness. You have had ALL the Covid symptoms ffs. You should absolutely not be going to work.

Of course not. Get in the real world.

I would rather not when people like you are risking my lifeAngry

I understand you’re feeling really stressed but the country will fall down completely if everyone that has a cold goes into isolation alongside their family for 14 days. It’s not going to happen.
yevans · 13/09/2020 10:04

@roadsurvey she can't get a test, won't be paid to be off and if she can't afford that, may lose her job and livelihood if she isolates. Surely that's risking her life?

Obviously for those who can afford to and won't have repercussions then they definitely should isolate if they can't get hold of a test. But asking those who may end up losing jobs if they isolate to is just as damaging to society. Homelessness is on the rise as are deaths due to homelessness. Covid isn't the only thing taking people's lives here.

AmelieTaylor · 13/09/2020 10:06

[quote grey12]@Shamrocksunshine you should stay at home for 7 days. You shouldn't go to a school before that[/quote]
10 Days. It has been 10 days for quite a while now. Not sure why this message isn't getting through?

I think we need to go back to evening briefings, even if only 2-3 pw.

Shamrocksunshine · 13/09/2020 10:08

@roadsurvey

I understand your frustrations but honestly it’s misguided.

I have tried my best to gain a test and do the right thing. I have been unable to do so. So this leaves me with two choices. Self isolate from work with no proof of having Covid, and then potentially losing my job (my job is temp and quite unstable).

Or carry on and go to work, with the safe knowledge the second option means my kids will get fed this month.

I have chosen the second option.

IF I had had a positive corona test and I was able to show management my job would be safe and of course that would have been the optimal outcome here. The world beating system has not allowed this.

Parker231 · 13/09/2020 10:09

Some posters are very ignorant to the real world. Not everyone will be getting paid if they stay at home if they or their family get a sniffle or cough. Going to work will be more important to them.

BigSpringy · 13/09/2020 10:12

This government’s strategy is not to manage the spread of the virus. It’s to manage the blame for the spread of the virus.

Totally agree. If mn is representative of the public then they are winning. Right from the start every c-19 thread has involved some people clambering back on their high horses to pick apart something someone else is doing rather than look at the root cause of WHY people are behaving like they are and what action the government has taken (or failed to take) to push them that way.

Tbf to the gov they have been open about using nudge psychology. They just failed to highlight they have been nudging us into blaming each other.

rutabellsum · 13/09/2020 10:16

Excuse my ignorance, but if I want to get tested what options do I have? Where do I go? Call the GP? Someone mentioned ordering a test by post, from where? Is this a legit and "approved" testing kit by the health authority? And if yes, why they don't just send a kit to anyone that ask for it? So confused and stop following news as so fed up with covid.