When the death rate is so low why are people so desperate to get tested?

[Barearseloverofthigh]

Why is everyone so stressed about covid when its hardly killing anyone anymore? Just over 700 deaths were attributed to it in the last 9 weeks. We'd expect 80,000+ deaths in this same period pre covid so it's a tiny percentage of people who are dying from this. I don't understand this panic or motivation to get tested. What am i missing?

I suppose my question should now be - When the death rate is so low, why is the Gov so desperate to fck with all our lives?*

There are also the long term health repercussions for some of those who survive. Also right now so much of the virus is still unknown.

If you are able to work from home, self isolate and let school children and key workers take a test.

I do agree with you but I think it is a big ask for some people to stay in their house and not even go for a walk, as well as rely upon receiving grocery deliveries, for a fortnight.

Kitten peak, what makes you think that, where are you getting the information from that 'too many' people are getting unnecessary tests? Why do you think there's been a massive increase in testing in September? Possibly because of schools so lots of people who absolutely need a test if they have symptoms.

How many people can realistically stay at home for 2 weeks? Completely at home too, no popping to the shops or anything?

It’s impossible to get a test! DS Has high temp AND Cough... I spent an entire day online yesterday on that darn website.. I can’t imagine anyone putting themselves through that ‘just in case’. Who has the time for that. I still didn’t get a test so we are all in isolation for 14 days. All desperate to get back to work and school. I’m still trying for a test.

If he is positive, then it will be running rife in his school. But hey ho. I’ve tried to do my side of the bargain.

To be able to go back to work?
Obviously surely?

@NoSquirrels

I don't understand this panic or motivation to get tested. What am i missing?

Motivation - to not have to isolate an entire family inside for 14 days, so that everyone misses school and work, even if they're well.

No test = stay inside for 14 days.

Doesn't that motivate you, OP?

Because I won’t get paid if I’m isolating without a test. I WOULD get paid if I had a positive test but if I have a negative test I can return to work.

Most of the illnesses generally out there have case numbers kept low at any one time due to existing immunity in the population, or vaccination. We haven't got either of those for covid, and we're still a long way off getting them, so the number of people who could all end up ill at the same time if we let it spread is unmanageably high. So just letting it spread isn't an option, because it's a new virus, regardless of what the death rate is. It's not all about the death rate, it's about managing the illnesses too.

The death rate is low because the world has taken drastic methods to reduce the spread. We still need to be worried as it's clear that there will continue to be deaths and long term health implications from it, it is not yet fully understood, and there is little treatment.

I'm surprised you need that explaining tbh.

I'm getting stressed at my lack of nhs care. Im supposed to see a gp once a month, they have not even bothered to call since lockdown they just sign repeat prescriptions.
Im also supposed to be a nurse specialist every 2 weeks. I've had about 3 calls.

The longer the situation carries on for the longer til i get the appointments i need.

Torvean32

That sounds awful. So many peoples livelihoods ruined and health put at risk

I think the schools are asking for it when the child have any symptoms.

Too many people just want tests because they "want to know if they have it". Pathetic.

Where are you getting this from?

Who wants to sit refreshing the website for days just to “find out if they have it”? The people who most want to find out in my experience are those stuck at home isolating with symptoms.

I think the schools are asking for it when the child have any symptoms.

What’s wrong with that? If a child has covid symptoms, they need a negative test before they come back to school.

So your children can go to school and you can go to work.

Testing makes no sense to me.
Min the beginning, we were told that it takes two weeks for symptoms to show and that tests would only give a positive result IF you had symptoms. Has this changed? If not, then all this testing is pointless UNLESS you have symptoms and you still have to isolate for 14 days?!

I’m so confused!

@WildAboutMyPlanet people only need to be tested if they’re got symptoms. If you’re a contact of a positive test, you’ve got to isolate for two weeks.

Because the children have gone back to school so it's cold season.

I have caught a minor cold from my son with a bit of a cough.

Am I:

A) irrational to even think of getting a test because I don't meet the criteria

Or

B) irresponsible to not know for sure whether we have covid and continue as normal

Or

C) selfish for not basically resigning myself to spending the next few months in isolation while the inevitable bugs go round the Nursery?

Different people on Mumsnet will answer differently. I'm going with A.

"I suppose my question should now be - When the death rate is so low, why is the Gov so desperate to f*ck with all our lives?"

Well (and this is just my guess) I suppose maybe they would like the death rate to stay low. You know, so we don't have Drs and nurses dying on their own wards again.

If not, then all this testing is pointless UNLESS you have symptoms and you still have to isolate for 14 days?!

Well yes, you have to have symptoms.
Right now I have an awful barking cough and a slight temp, sinus blocked etc.

Now I have 2 of the main symptoms, so I booked a test. Kept my kids off school for 2 days waiting for results.
Turns out it's just a cold so kids can go back to school and not lose 2 more weeks of education and I can go back to work when I feel better. Hopefully a few days

So no. Testing isn't useless

It's interesting the government are pushing the blame to the people taking unnecessary tests. There's no exit poll asking "are you a) symptomatic, b) a time wasting chancer with a swabbing fetish and an hour to kill sitting in your car with all the windows up calling a procession of people on displayed mobile numbers whilst they stand right in front of you.

Cos my kid wont be allowed back to school???
And they'll miss 2 weeks.
Same with work, if you follow the rules you will need to take 2 weeks off

I do know of family a couple of months ago who have ordered home tests for the whole family "just to see" none of them were showing any symptoms i can only assume they lied about symptoms for the tests to be sent out. They all carried on abour their daily business going to work , dc playing out with friends etc whilst the results came back so there was definitely no concern that a positive result was a possibility.
There are definitely some people who just love to get involved with the drama of it all unfortunately

@Greysparkles you misunderstand me, I am not saying testing in general is pointless, but aren’t lots of people going for tests with no symptoms? That is what I have been led to believe? I might be wrong, as I say I’m confused!

Tests become data. Data will reveal vulnerabilities (age/ethnicity) and hotspots etc.
Why wouldn't that be useful for public health?

Plus if the Government know people who don't qualify for a test are being tested then they must also know there is a fault with the system.

Fix the damn system.