To wonder what the point in surge testing is

[User566666]

These been a handful of cases in my small area of 2500 house only some postcodes being tested within the area. I would it’s highly unlikely I’ve come across these people.

It's to find the asymptomatic cases that our test and trace system doesn't.

Detected cases can be just the tip of the iceberg. Generally when they surge test they find more.

To spread it about a bit more

No seriously. It is important but does seem badly disorganised sometimes. There may be method in their madness though. Some scientific reason etc

It seemed to work when we had surge testing in Woking a while ago for the South Afrian variant. Cases were high for a while as these were picked up quickly, but then they went back down. Finding cases will stop it being transmitted to others, if found early enough.

I wonder if you live near me? They are surge testing a new housing estate for the next 3 days - however, since the estate doesn't have any schools, shops, doctors or dentist surgeries anyone who lives there has been out mixing with the rest of the town so likely its already spread beyond the few postcodes they're testing. Not really sure it's going to make much difference

Asymptomatic people spread the virus. The tests will detect asymptomatic cases and (a) stop that person from spreading it any further and (b) hopefully identify people that they might have already infected and get them to isolate before they even become infectious. It only works if people are basically civic-minded and considerate of others though. The system is flawed because of self-centredness.

A 'handful of cases' in an area of 2500 houses .... that's enough to really kick off a spread beyond your estate. As others have said, surge testing aims to find those who are asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic.
Even if you haven't come across those people, they will have been in supermarkets, the children in schools, at work, on public transport - all of which increases the likelihood of spreading outside your area too.

Fashionablylate1999 Sounds like it. Yes the nearest doctors is about a mile ditto supermarkets. Meaning people have to leave the estate. I’ve also heard they are only doing part of the estate which again is odd as people’s children go to the parks and people walk around the area.