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]

Nice to see all the lockdown lovers against it .

You lot might enjoy prolonging this but some of us are hoping this allows us to finally turn a corner and have a better winter than last year. I want the kids at school and the NHS to be able to get on top of regular treatment again.

Can almost guarantee that those at want this wfh or get paid if they are off sick

@EffOrf

Can almost guarantee that those at want this wfh or get paid if they are off sick

No , I’ve isolated a couple of times and I hate it . But what I’d hate more is passing Covid onto to someone else especially someone vulnerable.

My main issue with regular testing, covid passports etc is (as many others have said) how hard that is for people who can't afford to isolate. Both DH and I only get ssp if we isolate, believe me the fear of taking a test is real when you know that a positive result means that months wages won't even cover the mortgage and utilities, let alone food or general life costs.

This has been a huge problem from day one of this pandemic. The amount of money this government has wasted but they couldn't put something in place to ensure everyone could afford to isolate? The £500 is only for people on certain benefits and you have to jump through hoops to get it even if you do qualify for it. It's just not good good enough.

And now it looks like soon you won't be able to go anywhere or do anything fun without a negative test result on your covid passport. So, those who are too young to have a vaccine and can't afford to risk testing will not be able to enjoy a bit of leisure time. You know, those people that have already sacrificed so much this past year for little to no personal gain will be missing out yet again. But hey, those that are over 40 or financially comfortable will be able to do what they like so no worries yeah

@megletthesecond

Nice to see all the lockdown lovers against it .

You lot might enjoy prolonging this but some of us are hoping this allows us to finally turn a corner and have a better winter than last year. I want the kids at school and the NHS to be able to get on top of regular treatment again.

No, I’m not a lockdown lover and I will not be testing myself

These tests will do the opposite of what you want, More cases will mean more cancelled appointments and more restrictions, as they’ll be expecting an increase in hospitalisation so therefore to “protect the NHS” they’ll need to keep cancelling routine stuff in case all these false positive rapid test victims start needing hospital treatment .

I've been vaccinated, surely if someone doesn't want to catch it then they can get the vaccine as well

It’s not that simple though is it? I really want the vaccine but I’m under 50 so can’t get it unless I lie about being an unpaid carer. I’m 49 so I know that I’m possibly weeks away, but people under 40 are months off.

I’m guessing that the majority of the adult working population haven’t been done yet.

No , I’ve isolated a couple of times and I hate it . But what I’d hate more is passing Covid onto to someone else especially someone vulnerable.

That's why the vulnerable are being vaccinated. Aren't they?

They're pointless without some means of verification - of you just drip the testing chemical directly on to the test strip, the result comes back negative. So unless the test is somehow witnessed or the strips sent off for occasional retesting to see if there is human material present as well, then anyone can simply submit a negative result online. In fact all you have to do is enter a false result, you don't even have to photograph the negative test at present. Pointless.

Still listening to Sky News Live.

One point - if you don't get test kits through school or work, you can pick them up from test centres.

Another - there is enough funding for all the tests they'll need - they did deals and bought them months ago.

@ChardonnaysPetDragon

No , I’ve isolated a couple of times and I hate it . But what I’d hate more is passing Covid onto to someone else especially someone vulnerable.

That's why the vulnerable are being vaccinated. Aren't they?

You can still catch Covid or pass it on after vaccinated.

You can still catch Covid or pass it on after vaccinated

I know that. What I'm saying is that the vulnerable have been vaccinated.

@CovidPostingName

They're pointless without some means of verification - of you just drip the testing chemical directly on to the test strip, the result comes back negative. So unless the test is somehow witnessed or the strips sent off for occasional retesting to see if there is human material present as well, then anyone can simply submit a negative result online. In fact all you have to do is enter a false result, you don't even have to photograph the negative test at present. Pointless.

What’s the point going to all that effort to lie . It’s best you don’t do them then . For those that are keen to stop the spread they will do them and that’s what counts .

This is like a weird and game of Simon says

If you get a positive test result don’t you have to have a PCR test to confirm it? If that is negative you don’t have to isolate.

I sometimes have to go into schools, so I always take LFT before I go in. DS is doing them for school

@ChardonnaysPetDragon

You can still catch Covid or pass it on after vaccinated

I know that. What I'm saying is that the vulnerable have been vaccinated.

What’s your point? You can still catch it if you have been vaccinated so why would I want to pass it on regardless of being vaccinated or not they could still get ill .

So only people who make the effort / are able to deal with the logistics of getting to test centres can be monitored in terms of numbers complying and doing the tests, aside from those with work / school access.

We're being "offered" this wonderful opportunity, but if you don't take it up, once again, we have a country divided with those who can't / won't do this consistently, and those who can and have easier access to tests. And it will be all our own fault if we don't play nicely.

Never the poor hapless government, oh dearie me no.....

If you get a positive test result don’t you have to have a PCR test to confirm it? If that is negative you don’t have to isolate.

yes, but you have to isolate in the interim.

*pathetic. If you can still get and pass on this virus even with a vaccine what's the point of it? Kafkafuckingesque

What’s your point?
You can still catch it if you have been vaccinated so why would I want to pass it on regardless of being vaccinated or not they could still get ill

What the point of vaccinating then? The way you are presenting it surely seems like a pointless exercise.

I'm not doing it. They are pretty inaccurate unless done properly. Dd1 was tested twice at Bristol Uni at Xmas and there was an absolute miniscule number of cases picked up. This was when cases were high and rocketing. Dd tested herself on returning a week ago from Uni and is testing today, prior to work experience tomorrow. There's value in that. There's value in the testing of hospital staff and teachers, as I'm sure the tests are being performed properly. But school students and parents testing themselves is probably of negligible value. I don't even see how the results could be used for data analysis, due to the sheer inaccuracy.

We are tested twice a week at work and we have been since testing first started and Covid still managed to get into the home and every single resident and member of staff caught it. Personally I think the tests are a waste of time. You could test negative one day and be positive the next and not know and you’ve already spread it.

Once people have been vaccinated even if they do catch it and pass it on they won’t get ill. It will be like a cold. If the person they pass it on to has been vaccinated they will also only have cold like symptoms.

Vaccination is the key. Once everyone is getting cold like symptoms why the heck do we need to test twice weekly for colds?

Also the evidence shows that vaccines do reduce transmission.

@megletthesecond

Nice to see all the lockdown lovers against it .

You lot might enjoy prolonging this but some of us are hoping this allows us to finally turn a corner and have a better winter than last year. I want the kids at school and the NHS to be able to get on top of regular treatment again.

You seriously think this is the way out after a year of this bull shit? It's the lockdown lovers that want mass testing, more tests more positives more restrictions. I've also heard anal swabs are more accurate maybe we should implement them?

Don’t the tests show invalid result if you have done them wrong.

Also PCR test results seem to come back quite quickly now don’t they, so not like you will be isolating for a week whilst waiting for a test result

[quote MistressoftheDarkSide]From the BMJ:

www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/uk-government-must-urgently-rethink-lateral-flow-test-roll-out-warn-experts/[/quote]
Interesting article. So there we have it medical professors saying it’s a bad idea and causes harm.

I’d also love to know who in the govt/cronies have shares in the companies making the kits. Someone is getting very rich from this.