Perhaps we should abandon testing.

[Dustballs]

If hundreds, maybe thousands, of us are asymptomatic and spreading Covid unknowingly - is there any point in trying to control this?

If we could it would be worth it. But we can’t can we.

What?

Testing and tracing is the only way we have of controlling the virus.

Do you not understand that?

nooooooooooooo

We can't control it the way we would like to.

But we need as much information as possible to plan around it. This will save lives and help society continue as best as it can.We need for example to know where to have mini lockdowns to curb the spread.

I do understand that. But we’re not managing it are we? Do you think we ever will?

This makes no logical sense.

Are you on glue?

@TheLovleyChebbyMcGee

Are you on glue?

You can test for that.

Well given that I've just discovered from a headteacher that schools are not allowed to ask for proof of tests or results so parents can lie about getting kids tested or what might be causing symptoms then I agree, what's the fucking point?!

@TheLovleyChebbyMcGee

Are you on glue?

When will this finally just die

We have kids in both secondary and primary here who came in coughing, got sent home, came back still coughing untested.

It’s a nonsense.

People who’ve tested positive are still going about their daily lives if they still feel well.

The whole thing’s a waste of time.

I agree it would be worth doing if done properly. But that’s not happening. Is it?

@AnneLovesGilbert agree

Where are the people who test positive then still go about their daily lives if they feel well?!?

People who have tested positive should be at home and isolated. otherwise they can get LARGE fines - report them

I agree testing is not happening properly, but if you give up on testing you end up with the situation in the USA where people are getting ill and dying and no one knows what is going on.

Getting testing to work fast and often is the only way we have of getting on top of this virus.

We need more testing not less. Random testing in schools to find asymptomatic cases, routine testing of school staff, anyone who has been in contact should be able to test. Repeatedly if necessary. Testing is the only way out of this.
Sadly we have an incompetent government who have failed at every turn to deliver anything g like a coherent, effective test and trace system.

Maybe not abandon testing just yet as we are still gathering data, but maybe we will just need to accept that we will not be able to control this.

It is possible to be an asymptomatic carrier of a number of viruses, including many that cause flu. Also of other viruses that cause the common cold (rhinoviruses and coronaviruses). Covid 19 is far from unique there, just much more publicised. An asymptomatic carrier is often still a spreader though. Most will probably not get tested though, as they will have no symptoms that would prompt them to get one. Therefore, we will not be able to control this, or even know how widespread it really is unless we regularly test all 60 million or more of the UK population. That is just not likely to happen.

We need more testing not less. Random testing in schools to find asymptomatic cases, routine testing of school staff, anyone who has been in contact should be able to test. Repeatedly if necessary. Testing is the only way out of this.
Sadly we have an incompetent government who have failed at every turn to deliver anything g like a coherent, effective test and trace system.

This will only work if people have to prove their results and are held accountable but while schools aren't allowed to ask parents can do whatever they like. Maybe there should be some automatic referral system from schools / businesses and until someone is tested they can't return for 14 days.

Other countries have managed to control it through effective test track trace isolate strategies.
Not sure why it’s beyond us TBH.

www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/09/k-overlooked-variable-driving-pandemic/616548/

This article suggests that the way we’re doing tracking/testing is flawed. And that certain countries that have a handle on it took a different approach. It’s a very interesting position

Maybe there should be some automatic referral system from schools / businesses and until someone is tested they can't return for 14 days.

Maybe ... I think definitely. I wonder whether Germany and Italy insist on this? I bet they do.

I've thought for months that they should be ramping up testing to the point were we all get tested regularly so that we can actually get a handle on things
Then it turned out they had stopped ramping up capacity to the point where not even those with symptoms could get tested and i despaired. Still do. Especially the demonising of people for getting tested. We should be encouraging people to get tested. How else will we stop it. We failed to test in march. This time we should not be back in the same position.