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Original poster

Why arent the majority of students NOT getting a test

42 replies

Bathroom12345 · 03/12/2020 15:59

I am staggered that students are bleating that they are not going to have a test before going home and effectively mix with elderly relatives I have a DS who is having a test next week. There is a student on SKY NEWS saying that he doesnt want to isolate hence he wont take the test and 50% of his friends wont either.

I think mass testing is a great idea and yet its offered and the students the one element of the population who I thought would take it without question are saying - nah - cannot be bothered!

Have I missed something here.

OP posts:
OpheliasCrayon · 03/12/2020 16:00

Why would you test with no symptoms?

CaptainMyCaptain · 03/12/2020 16:00

I agree with you. I thought they would jump at the chance.

Original poster
Bathroom12345 · 03/12/2020 16:01

To protect their family and elderly relatives.

OP posts:
CaptainMyCaptain · 03/12/2020 16:01

@OpheliasCrayon

Why would you test with no symptoms?
Because you could be asymptomatic. My husband is front line NHS and is now testing himself twice a week.
orangejuicer · 03/12/2020 16:02

Hang on, one student isn't the majority. That's not the story I'm hearing and I work in HE. (And yes I'm aware I'm just one person).

Original poster
Bathroom12345 · 03/12/2020 16:02

Shame on them. I know they might not particularly like this current government but going home without a test will not stick it to Boris!

OP posts:
emmathedilemma · 03/12/2020 16:03

@OpheliasCrayon

Why would you test with no symptoms?
Have a read of this! 770 positive cases and only 78 symptomatic! www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-54394199
LIZS · 03/12/2020 16:04

Dd tested positive two months ago so could show positive again from that -retest not advised within 90 days. Maybe others feel similar as it has been so prevalent that they could have been asymptomatic.

Original poster
Bathroom12345 · 03/12/2020 16:04

BBC said it was 3/10 students

I only caught the last part of the news item but then it followed on later with the student on SKY. He particularly said it was 50/50 with his friends

OP posts:
emmathedilemma · 03/12/2020 16:04

One student interviewed on TV and 50% of his mates is hardly a representative sample of the UK student population!! Hmm

Enb76 · 03/12/2020 16:05

Why would you test with no symptoms?

There are people who don't think they are ill who are, in fact, ill.

Why arent the majority of students NOT getting a test
Original poster
Bathroom12345 · 03/12/2020 16:05

Thing is the only people to potentially lose out on this it THEIR relatives. My DM who is on her own at late 80's is coming to us for a few days. Why wouldnt her grandson get a test?

OP posts:
OpheliasCrayon · 03/12/2020 16:05

I'm lost. You can't test without symptoms so why do you want them to lie ?

emmathedilemma · 03/12/2020 16:06

So 3/10 students not getting it? Then that's hardly a majority and you need to factor in all the students who already live "at home" and have been doing through this term. Likewise, international students may not be travelling "home" for the holidays and hence no need for a test.

GCAcademic · 03/12/2020 16:06

I asked my group of 10 students yesterday and they were all getting tested. I wonder if it varies according the university.

Original poster
Bathroom12345 · 03/12/2020 16:07

Ok, I have just asked my DS who is at a large uni. He says there is some apathy in having it. He thinks its about 50/50 too rather than 3/10 but either stats are not good.

OP posts:
Figmentofmyimagination · 03/12/2020 16:07

Maybe they have isolated for 2 weeks instead. They may be concerned about false positives. It is voluntary after all.

LIZS · 03/12/2020 16:08

@OpheliasCrayon

I'm lost. You can't test without symptoms so why do you want them to lie ?
It is asymptomatic testing using lateral flow.
Dinnafashyersel · 03/12/2020 16:08

Staying put so no need for a test. No point getting a test if at risk of getting infected travelling. Travelling from relatively lower prevalence areas and more likely to be infected by relatives than the other way round. Some would rather quarantine than risk mixing with vulnerable relatives even with a test.

Original poster
Bathroom12345 · 03/12/2020 16:08

3/10 certianly isnt the majority! Its a very low take up.

I can understand people not wanting to take a test if they were working on a zero hours contract or other work related reasons (I dont agree with them) but as a student. Why on earth wouldnt you have it?

OP posts:
OrganTransplant123 · 03/12/2020 16:08

At my university we were told they were expecting a 30% uptake for student testing.

ApolloandDaphne · 03/12/2020 16:14

@OpheliasCrayon

I'm lost. You can't test without symptoms so why do you want them to lie ?
These tests are for students not showing symptoms. They are not the usual swab type, they are the rapid response ones. If the test they are having come back positive then they have to go for a normal test. They are doing this to allow students to go home safety for the holiday period. Our uni has tested 1000 students since the weekend and none have been positive which is brilliant!
CaptainMyCaptain · 03/12/2020 16:16

@OpheliasCrayon

I'm lost. You can't test without symptoms so why do you want them to lie ?
Students are being offered tests so they are safe to go home without spreading it. Some of them, evidently, would rather rosk infecting their families than have to isolate if they are positive.
CaptainMyCaptain · 03/12/2020 16:18

@Figmentofmyimagination

Maybe they have isolated for 2 weeks instead. They may be concerned about false positives. It is voluntary after all.
If you test positive on the lateral flow test you have to take the full test. There's unlikely to be a false positive twice.
GCAcademic · 03/12/2020 16:19

@OpheliasCrayon

I'm lost. You can't test without symptoms so why do you want them to lie ?
All students are being advised to get tested before travelling home. Universities are running the testing stations.