You have got to be kidding me!!!

[Hellin301]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55760467

People who test positive getting £500 to self isolate. All that will do is encourage the idiots in society to spread the disease just to get the money.

What are the government thinking

Such a vast amount of money

@Meowthra

So if I get someone I know who has Covid to take the test for me I can get 500 quid. It’s seriously flawed!!

It’s incredibly common to be required to present photo ID in all sorts of contexts. That knocks that flaw on the head instantly.

@Watchingbehindmyhands

You are living in la-la land

You know that there are people living on low incomes through 0 hour contracts who, if they don't work for a couple of weeks, genuinely face issues making decisions between eating and putting the heating on. Such people are the ones who ultimately end up spreading things because they give it one more day before testing or think there is a chance they have it but because of mild symptoms don't bother testing in case they are positive.

If you don't need to worry about where your next meal is coming from then you're lucky. But I can assure you there are people out there having to make difficult choices. Guarenteeing a payment for a positive test means that people won't have to make such difficult choices because they know they can put food in front of their children and keep the heating on.

I agree with you here, but isn’t there already a means tested scheme for this in place?

www.gov.uk/government/publications/test-and-trace-support-payment-scheme-claiming-financial-support/claiming-financial-support-under-the-test-and-trace-support-payment-scheme

This new scheme hints at universal payment I think.

@ThatDamnKrampus

It is to help the lowest earners in society who otherwise may still risk working whilst infected. People who wouldn’t get paid. People who are on zero hours contracts. It is actually a good idea. A sensible idea (possibly one of the only ones the government have had!).

Anyone who thinks it is a ludicrous idea is obviously well off and wouldn’t struggle to put food on the table, pay their rent, keep gas and electric metres running whilst isolating.

Perhaps. But it will be abused. Both by idiots at 'covid parties' And by those who see a 'quick easy way' to £500. Those latter will not just be people who need the money! And some of those who claim their £500 for 'passing Covid' will indeed pass it on (herd immunity, I know...) but also become more ill, thus costing the NHS and us all a great deal more, £ & otherwise. Plus it's open to abuse (friend takes test etc) So, I think it's a terrible idea for those reasons, sadly.

Forgive the inconvenient question, but how are they going to enforce it so that folk don't just pocket the money and carry on regardless?

It's insane but I doubt very much it will happen.

I said exactly the same to my dh. Absolutely stupid idea to make it something for all. By all means, offer it to those who would lose earnings but why to those who are already wfh or on benefits so don’t need to leave the house? Can’t get my head around it.

Absolutely pointless. Less than 20% of people are isolating when they know they have coronavirus.

@Puzzledandpissedoff

Forgive the inconvenient question, but how are they going to enforce it so that folk don't just pocket the money and carry on regardless?

Very good point!

Maybe they could use the police who are currently enforcing a totally non-existent 'rule' that you cannot travel a short distance for exercise (e.g. to access an open space) - oh no, actually that is what the Guidance expressly allows. Who knew it was actually allowed? - Not the police, that's for sure.
There are plenty of police resources that could be better used. But enforcing quarantine and face coverings is hard work.

@leopardspotsdotdotdot about 70% of applications are being turned down, for various reasons.

Less than 20% of people are isolating when they know they have coronavirus

I hadn't heard this - any chance of a link/source?

If it's true then the whole idea's even more ridiculous than I thought

@ThatDamnKrampus

It is to help the lowest earners in society who otherwise may still risk working whilst infected. People who wouldn’t get paid. People who are on zero hours contracts. It is actually a good idea. A sensible idea (possibly one of the only ones the government have had!).

Anyone who thinks it is a ludicrous idea is obviously well off and wouldn’t struggle to put food on the table, pay their rent, keep gas and electric metres running whilst isolating.

This. It is known that the care homes with the worst infection rates were the ones who did not offer good sick pay and used a lot of agency workers. Unsurprisingly, people on low wages, and only get paid for the hours they work, were still going to work with symptoms. As otherwise t they could not afford food, heating, rent and other such luxuries.

Plus as mentioned, the only way to check that the test was taken by the person claiming the money is for the person to have a PCR test at a proper test site. I doubt the testing capacity for this is available right now, especially the government changed policy to increased use of lateral flow tests at home - these can't be verified. Imagine hitting the jackpot and being positive and being able to do 100 lateral flow tests for all your friends and family with a cut of the £500 in return?

Unsurprisingly, people on low wages, and only get paid for the hours they work, were still going to work with symptoms

We know that, coldsunnydays, but what I was asking was what's to stop them doing it anyway?

I'm a cleaner. We get paid if our venue shuts due to covid but we don't get sick pay if we are I'll with it. We have mortgages and bills to pay it would help

@Puzzledandpissedoff

Less than 20% of people are isolating when they know they have coronavirus

I hadn't heard this - any chance of a link/source?

If it's true then the whole idea's even more ridiculous than I thought

Surely it’s an argument in favour of it? There would be far less point if compliance was high.

@Puzzledandpissedoff

Unsurprisingly, people on low wages, and only get paid for the hours they work, were still going to work with symptoms

We know that, coldsunnydays, but what I was asking was what's to stop them doing it anyway?

It appears to have worked in other countries from what I can make out.

We have done pretty much shittest in the world on this. So why there is such outrage that we would, finally, start to do some of the things that people in other countries have done and which are more successful that us, is beyond me.

And to answer your question directly, because most people don't want to spread a disease, but are constrained by poverty, and if they are paid to stay at home, would. Most of us would rather not go to work if we could afford not to, after all.

It’s not happening, just another floated idea that’s been dismissed

If ever there was a time to read the fucking thread this is it. It's NOT HAPPENING.

@stablefeet

If ever there was a time to read the fucking thread this is it. It's NOT HAPPENING.

Tg for that!

It was the usual air time bollocks because there’s not much to say except launch on stuff like this

Only issue is you may get people thinking well I could have been paid not isolating now

My thoughts entirely. But maybe that’s the plan for that herd immunity that was their first plan...

It was only an idea and will come to nothing.

Absolutely ridiculous to give £500 to people who will be paid as normal either because they can WFH or because their employer offers full occupational sick-pay for Covid19 events.

I agree with giving £500 to anyone who would lose their wage altogether or only receive SSP for days absent, or those self-employed who would be unable to earn anything during that period.

^ and I say that as someone who can WFH and would get full sick pay if too ill with Covid to work at all.

There would be far less point if compliance was high

There would, yes, but it's compliance I was thinking of - especially if that figure of 20% already not isolating with a positive test is accurate

And yes, I've seen that it's just a suggestion, but so were numerous other idiotic ideas which have since been introduced