"Not my fault I can't get a test and not bloody isolating "just in case"!"

[ketchupthebear]

Heard this from a friend who will lose significant income self-isolating for 10 days and her partner for 14 days.

She says they have tried very hard to get tests and now nearing day 3 of symptoms.

I know rulz is rulz, but it does seem that those making the rules are not keeping up their end of the bargain.

Don't all pile on and say how selfish etc. from my own family's perspective, I agree (asthmatic DS), but on the other hand, feel the message needs to filter up to those managing test and trace that some people would "get a test" if they could, but if they cannot, they are just not going to isolate "in case".

How common do you think this is?

I've been trying to get tests for my 2 dds since last Thursday. They have got colds with a cough but school were adamant they couldn't come in. Even though they are fine in themselves bouncing on the trampoline etc!
Yesterday I nearly got a drive through test, asked to select a test centre I chose one about 10 miles away, getting somewhere now I thought, then had to pick a day, basically went right up to November 7th "no slots available " gave up fed up of clicking the button!
How is it possible for it to be booked up so far in advance??

Who would guessed that opening up the schools would have needed more tests?

I mean come on?

Are these people in government fucking morons or what?

I despair. I really despair. I mean you expect it from Johnson. The man's an idiot. But I thought Cummings was supposed to be smart?

@Newjez I'm honestly in a state of disbelief and rage at this totally preventable situation. We are nowhere near the promised maximum testing capacity yet and it's already collapsed. In the second fucking week of September?! It's going to be a long bloody winter.

I think this will be incredibly common, people will only start to worry when the symptoms develop into something more serious than the usual.
Some of us have had no income since the end of March, and will be very reluctant to stop work for a bit of a cough and a temperature, especially as many of us are used to having a cough/cold/headache for most of the winter months.
The flip side is if we do self-isolate for a fortnight, every time, the schools, hospitals and other essential services will come to a dead stop.
The issue is with tests and results, we need what we were promised.

People can't do right for doing wrong. If they didn't test and assumed it was a cold they'd be called negligent. Yet I've seen people tested negative who then get told they're test hoggers.

Personally, it scares me. I have had covid back in April, but if I have symptoms again I would still have to isolate and be tested of course, seeing as there are now a few (albeit rare) cases of people getting it twice.

I am terrified. I am self-employed, I did get the two grants but obviously they were only 80% and 70% respectively, and if I have to stop work again to isolate I don't know how I'll pay my mortgage. Perhaps the mortgage can be frozen, but I have plenty of other bills that can't.

@ketchupthebear maybe my comment was misleading - its not the academics that will give the students the infections - its far more probable that the students will mix with each other - can you honestly see them NOT socializing? Even with restrictions - & I know a smaller local Uni teaches: Social Work, Nursing, Dentist, Opticians & they have to mix with patients/customers/end users (!!) - I leave to your imagination about the potential for viral spread. Plus, of course, students doing part time work in pubs or restaurants & than at some stage the back & forth with their families. The point I was making (re BBC news this am) was that Academics with relevant expertise were helping the testing process & were no longer able to do so because it was term time

Yay, a new scapegoat.. let’s blame the Academics..

My sil has symptoms. Can't get a test and can't order a home test.
It offered her one 365 miles away.

This is now day 7. So she said she won't bother now as the 10 days will be up by time gets a slot

@BillywilliamV - I am not putting blame on Academics -nor is anyone else!
Guardian has another article which is very relevant about creeping privatization failure & our dear government
www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/15/private-labs-unable-to-process-all-covid-tests-nhs-email-reveals

@mumwon yes, that's how I understood your comment.

Concerning though, that the capacity we had was built on the goodwill of academics working extra over the hols.

Yes, of course uni students who have been out of education / work / life will now want to grab it by the horns. I don't know what the answer is, but surely all this was predicted?

how long do the home test kits last - i ordered 4 for our family last week just in case they were needed and unavailable but nowhere is there an expiry date can anyone advise

Really you ordered 5 tests “just in case”?!

@IloveJKRowling

It's ridiculous GPs don't have tests. My GP spoke to me this morning and said they can't get tests for their staff.

I am so glad my GP surgery has staff wasting time on constantly refreshing the computer page to get a test when they should be treating patients and have tests as standard at least for their own staff!

They shouldn't be at work in a GP practice if they need a test

The whole situation is completely ridiculous. You need to be tested within the first 4 days of symptoms but how can people do that if they can’t get a test! Track and trace will be completely useless for if people can’t get tested. Total balls up. Then Priti Patel on BBC breakfast today basically making out that there are tests and it’s all fine. What a train wreck that was. I didn’t like her before, like her even less now.

@linelgreen

how long do the home test kits last - i ordered 4 for our family last week just in case they were needed and unavailable but nowhere is there an expiry date can anyone advise

You’re joking, right?

@linelgreen

how long do the home test kits last - i ordered 4 for our family last week just in case they were needed and unavailable but nowhere is there an expiry date can anyone advise

Can you just order them without having symptoms? You are part of the problem then!

And the government sits, rubbing its hands as the citizens turn on each other, accepting the fact that tests are scarce and the problem is caused by neighbours and not incompetence.
DS’s girlfriend is German, she’s stunned by the mess the Tories are making.

@linelgreen

how long do the home test kits last - i ordered 4 for our family last week just in case they were needed and unavailable but nowhere is there an expiry date can anyone advise

Ah, bloody hell. Really?

It’s not like stockpiling paracetamol and Calpol (and that was selfish enough). It’s not a Brexit cupboard of baked beans.

Don’t waste precious resources.

If you’re serious, that is. Which, given current government propaganda & buck-passing of blame, I rather doubt, tbh.

I am on day 4 of waiting for a result and it took ages and a lot of stress to even get a test so if it happens again I will not be isolating if the test system is still in the shambles that it is now.

Surely the absence of the world beating test system makes it even more crucial that you should isolate. It’s the only other option we have for controlling spread.

how long do the home test kits last - i ordered 4 for our family last week just in case they were needed and unavailable but nowhere is there an expiry date can anyone advise

This is a fucking joke yes?

Might be a joke but isnt a bad idea!

@linelgreen

how long do the home test kits last - i ordered 4 for our family last week just in case they were needed and unavailable but nowhere is there an expiry date can anyone advise

I would find a way to penalty fine for this behaviour if I was in charge.

Unbelievable.

DD2 has been tested now because DH managed to get a kit. DD3 has now started to get a sore throat. DD2 started with a sore throat on Thursday, and started coughing on Saturday night, so DD3 could have a cough by Thursday, which means we'd have to start the "test quest" all over again for her.

The fact people are saying they ordered just incase is a little worrying or had a test because a contact of a contact had a positive test , or requested one because they returned from holiday took it and then felt they didnt need to isolate shows there is also a problem with how people are using the system as well and then those who need due to having symptom there is less around , so that isn't exactly helping matters

@Cattiwampus but if people are getting test that don't meet the criteria then yes its also part pf the problem as well . Yes testing should have higher capacity with being cold / flu season as well but also people need to use system correctly so that those who need them can have them not so they can sit in someones cupboard just incase

This is all such a mess. I think this is and will be what people think. I completely sympathise we need to work and kids need to learn. It scares the hell out of me though I’m a reception class teaching who is CEV and came out of shielding to return to school this month. I know some of my parents are just keeping kids home for a day or two and siding them up with calpol before returning them to me as they can’t get a test. Four year olds are incredibly honest 😔