All adults (in England)* to be offered twice-weekly tests

[MiaMc]

How do we think this is going to work?

Reportedly only 20% of people with symptoms are referring themselves for formal testing. So unfortunately I can’t imagine take up of this being high unless it becomes mandatory to show evidence of the result in certain situations.

Sadly, too many people seem to take the view that if something isn’t going to benefit them directly they can’t see why they should do it.

Then there will be those people who come up with excuses as to why they should be exempt. If take up isn’t high enough and people don’t do the test correctly it’s going to seem like an expensive pointless exercise.

• [Title edited by MNHQ to make it clear this relates to England only, and that tests are being offered but are not mandatory. Original title said: All adults to test themselves twice per week]

[quote MargosKaftan]@Scottishskifun - just as an aside - you are advised not to use lateral flow tests for 90s days after having covid as you can still record a false positive. (Although can't infect anyone!)[/quote]
Wow thanks didn't realise it was so long!

I need to reschedule several appointments and although past my isolation period I don't have a scoobies about how long I should leave it...... One of the appointments was the dentist so no chance of social distancing and face mask option there!

The dentists are masked including face shields. At least the one I saw last week was dressed like that and the dental nurse was the same.
Cv questions were asked over the phone (111 it was an emergency) and temp taken inside the practice.
Patients only allowed masks off whilst your mouth opened unless exempt.
Receptionists behind floor to ceiling Perspex and lockers for patients belongings.

Also had similar experience last year and I was still within the 90 day period and was seen at the end of the day. Had to hang around a couple of minutes outside whilst they were dealing with the person before me.

Hope this reassures you a bit to call and talk to them first as it might not get cancelled.

@CovidCorvid

I don’t even think people will have to find ways of saying they’re exempt. The news says testing will be “offered”, many people just won’t take up the offer.

I’m not sure I will. I don’t switch my app on, I don’t scan QR codes in shops/take aways. I’d rather not know, I don’t want to be told to isolate just because I may have briefly been in the same building on the same day as someone with covid.

Friend of mine says at her school 40% of kids aren’t doing the testing.

Parents are worried if their kid tests positive then the household has to isolate which could mean adults don’t get paid, could lose their jobs, etc.

I haven't got the app.

One year in and I've still not had a reason to do a test. Nor has DH or my parents nor my co workers bar one (who keeps having tests at the sign of a sniffle but so far always negative). Only DS has had the three back to school ones.

Anyone who doesn’t get paid for being off work is not going to do this.

@HCHY4

Anyone who doesn’t get paid for being off work is not going to do this.

This ^^

Imagine going to the GP and saying "I have no symptoms of x disease but I demand a test for it"

You'd be shown the door very quickly and accused of wasting taxpayers money. But when it comes to Covid.....anything goes

@hamstersarse

Imagine going to the GP and saying "I have no symptoms of x disease but I demand a test for it"

You'd be shown the door very quickly and accused of wasting taxpayers money. But when it comes to Covid.....anything goes

Quite! 'I have symptoms of influenza (a highly infectious respiratory virus).' 'Stay at home, rest, drink plenty of fluids and take paracetamol. Call 111 if you develop more serious symptoms.' The end.

I'm in two minds. I think it's sensible for school staff, parents and pupils to be doing this until most parents and staff are vaccinated, lots of school staff and most parents are under 50 so won't be vaccinated. Testing picked up an asymptomatic case at my daughter's school last week, so potentially prevented an outbreak.

Where people are working from home or able to socially distance there seems little point.

The bigger issue is people with symptoms not getting tested, there's clear evidence that more government support for people isolating would address this, I can't understand why they aren't doing more on it.

I'm imagining that part of the government drive on LFT is that they've bought billions of them already, which back before we knew we'd have so much success with vaccines was probably sensible. But now rather than admit they don't need them they have decided it's better to find a use for them.

@Wonderstuff - but the point is now, we are moving away from everyone WFH, there will be more socialising going on (and social distancing goes out the window), getting people used to regular testing is a good idea.

The new vaccine passports leak is that it will be proof of vaccine or a recent negative test. If everyone is testing twice a week anyway, there will be less push back from that idea.

[quote MargosKaftan]@Wonderstuff - but the point is now, we are moving away from everyone WFH, there will be more socialising going on (and social distancing goes out the window), getting people used to regular testing is a good idea.

The new vaccine passports leak is that it will be proof of vaccine or a recent negative test. If everyone is testing twice a week anyway, there will be less push back from that idea. [/quote]
It won't be one of those tests that will be needed though as they are easy to use fraudulently, it will be some expensive test like they use when you return from abroad or it will have to be done at the venue which will mean hanging around for the result

It would make more sense to educate people more about when you are infectious. My work place used to hate me in a way as I followed NHS guideance when it came to temps and a risk to others. Same with my childrens school.

I got threatened with alsorts and I would challenge them with official NHS links. Even had an employer arguing with me when I would get signed off with Pertussis because it's "only whooping cough"