At what point do you think isolating for 10 days will be scrapped?

[hopingforabrighterfuture2021]

Obviously not at the moment. But do you think it’s likely that at some point, the government will stop the legal requirement to self isolate if you have confirmed Covid? Along with that, I guess that would also mean the phasing out of testing if symptomatic?

Personally I don’t think it will happen in 2021, but eventually I’m sure it will?

It’s an interesting debate for sure.

I agree that for many reasons, financial and otherwise, many people have simply stopped testing, especially if they have mild symptoms.

Mass testing simply can’t continue for ever- where is the money going to come from? I went to get my PCR done the other day and the mobile test Centre was deserted. Four or five members of staff and just me and a bit later one other family. This was London by the way so not somewhere rural! It may have been a quiet spell but still.

I agree that testing would go, particularly LFT as a matter of course which many workplaces and schools are still insisting on.

Also at the moment, the law is if confirmed positive you have to SI for 10 days, but many employers are not happy about that (understandably!) when many people have mild symptoms.

Very difficult balance but I agree there’s no way this system will continue indefinitely.

What’s also less than helpful is people being called selfish for following the new rules- so letting members of the household who are under 18.5 years or double jabbed go to school/work if a member of their household has tested positive but THEIR PCR has come back negative. So many people are being made to feel bad about this, and schools are also in a huge quandary, do these authorise absence for otherwise well children in this situation or not? And will it differ from LA to LA? So difficult.

Germany is stopping in October.

I think it will stop in the UK around November. Time to let things settle down after the English schools are back and before it impacts Christmas.

There will be pressure to stop testing. Because it’s expensive and the capacity won’t be able to cope.

However that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea to stop testing. If you for example had covid and then had to go into hospital it’s important for staff to know. It’s important to have fairly accurate data to plan and treat. This is true of all illness where we are still concerned about the transmission.

@Lockdownbear

Germany is stopping in October.

I think it will stop in the UK around November. Time to let things settle down after the English schools are back and before it impacts Christmas.

Germany is stopping free rapid testing as people are using it as an alternative to the vaccine to access large events.

They're not stopping testing for symptomatic people

@Summerofcontent I'll stand corrected!

@Sunseeker100

Denmark will stop all COVID measures on Friday inc testing, as they allow their emergency phase to end (not extend) as have a number of other countries. Hopefully we won't be far behind. They are at 71% vacation if it's of any interest.

that's interesting - I knew they were dropping restrictions but I thought testing was still in place. Have you got any info on this? I can't find any English-language info on dropping testing but my Danish is, erm, minimal.

@Mommybunny

I would not be surprised if we got to a point where your vaccination status will determine how long your isolation period is.

The big problem with this would be that those that are unvaccinated are, in the main, those who distrust the Government and who aren't willing to comply with their pleas to get vaccinated, and those who heed public health messages the least.

Are that group really going to test for Covid - a disease they don't even believe is worth being vaccinated against - knowing that, if they test positive, they'll have "test & trace" on their backs for 10 days when everyone only needs to isolate for less.

It's one of those cases where something may make sense scientifically, but would be completely pointless due to people's behaviour.

@Dghgcotcitc

Would assume it would stay forever to be honest!

Of course it won't.

@Sunseeker100

Denmark will stop all COVID measures on Friday inc testing, as they allow their emergency phase to end (not extend) as have a number of other countries. Hopefully we won't be far behind. They are at 71% vacation if it's of any interest.

Interesting, that is soon

Will they test in hospital? Wondering if variant information is still important and if they test and analyse some cases still

We are about to head into winter, wouldn't it be better to drop things after winter?.

JUst err on the side of caution to get through winter first. K

I mean it's all very well getting casual and gung ho about covid but what's the point when your stuck in an ambulance trying to access a and e mid winter?

It has to stop at some point, and this is probably a pipe dream but I'd like to see a shift in attitude generally towards it being the standard to stay at home if you're symptomatic with anything contagious, backed up by more robust and sympathetic employment and school policies. As witnessed in another thread today the attitude of 'you must go to work unless your head is fully detached from your body' is bullshit.

I'm currently waiting for a PCR result as I've got 2 symptoms. I'm certain it's just a cold or sinus infection but it's perfectly fine for me to take my spluttery sniffly self to work tomorrow if I test negative for covid, despite the fact I'll likely pass it around to colleagues? It seems ridiculous.

I saw someone mention chicken pox above; that's not a mandatory legal isolation period is it, as far as I know? It would obviously be a dick move to take your chicken pox infected kid to the supermarket, but not illegal?

Will they test in hospital? Wondering if variant information is still important and if they test and analyse some cases still

I'd imagine that most places will still test in hospital, so they know what's wrong with the patient and to treat appropriately.
The only time I've ever been tested for flu is in hospital and I'm sure that's the way covid will go too.

The number of tests being used in the community and the benefit must be weighted up against the costs.

April 2022....?

@ImInStealthMode - it’s not a legal requirement no, it’s just guidance. Same with the 48 hour rule for a stomach bug. It’s just chicken pox is obviously physically very obvious & so most people stick to it. I know plenty of parents who have lied about the last time their kid was sick. Who would know. You can lie about covid testing too to be fair. Schools & nursery’s cannot legally ask for proof of test outcome. So you could say you’ve tested your child & it was negative. Hopefully most people aren’t but some probably are!

@ShaneTheThird hopefully you've been told about the isolation support payment which you apply for through your local council. It's £500 and aimed at helping those on a low income.

I think spring next year. We are starting to see signs for example if you are double jabbed or under 18 and are a close contact or in the same household as someone who has tested positive you are only recommended to get a test and it is not mandatory. This to me suggests the government are happy for less people to test/isoloate and i can omly see testing reduce. I also think people are less inclined to get tested as well.

@Jumanji89

I think spring next year. We are starting to see signs for example if you are double jabbed or under 18 and are a close contact or in the same household as someone who has tested positive you are only recommended to get a test and it is not mandatory. This to me suggests the government are happy for less people to test/isoloate and i can omly see testing reduce. I also think people are less inclined to get tested as well.

Should also apply to previously infected people.

Agree with PP people will stop testing, they'll stay home a few days until feeling better and carry on. Unless you're completely financially stable then there's literally no incentive to keep testing and isolating and losing money.

What’s also less than helpful is people being called selfish for following the new rules- so letting members of the household who are under 18.5 years or double jabbed go to school/work if a member of their household has tested positive but THEIR PCR has come back negative. So many people are being made to feel bad about this,

Agree with both of these. So many of MN simply unable to comprehend that for a large proportion of people, 10 (or more - in terms of isolating if multiple family members are ill) days isolation means not working which means no income.

All the posts saying "most people would use common sense" or its "selfish and stupid" for people to go out to work when they themselves are not unwell but a household member is. I think some people assume almost everyone is able to wfh except the Ocado staff who will bring their shopping

This is a new concept. Often I have stayed in by default with a sick child but if I needed to pop out somewhere (and child was not alone) then I would. No other infectious illnesses (that I know of) require the entire household to isolate.

Re Denmark, according to John Hopkins University, 73% of Denmark's population is fully vaccinated compared to 65% in the UK. I wonder whether Denmark is mass vaccinating secondary school students.

I'm currently waiting for a PCR result as I've got 2 symptoms. I'm certain it's just a cold or sinus infection but it's perfectly fine for me to take my spluttery sniffly self to work tomorrow if I test negative for covid, despite the fact I'll likely pass it around to colleagues? It seems ridiculous.

It's mad! I started feeling really rough whilst at work. It turned out to be covid but I didn't get any tell tale symptoms until the following day. I was in denial and was telling my colleagues it probably wasn't covid but possibly flu. No one gave a flying fuck about potentially being infected with flu. 🤣

A lot probably aren't testing anyway, I'm retired and probably wouldn't bother, a lot of people test because of their workplace or school.

We will know much more about vaccine efficacy after this winter, and we all know its going to be a nasty winter.
So why not simply wait until we get through winter.
I think if they tried to relax anymore there would be huge outcry

Possibly some level of isolation will be required even if the time is shortened.

There are still other illnesses we have that require isolation - for example chicken pox.

It really shouldn't be necessary for it to be compulsory. I'd like to think that the majority would just stay out of contact if they knwo or suspect they have it. Like chicken pox. The best majority of people will stay indoors while they know they're contagious.

The problem with this one is what you do with colds. I'm waiting on a PCR test atm. (Very sore throat, bad headache, bit of a cough). It is probably just a cold and I'll get several this winter, am I really supposed to have 3/4 days off and cancel all social things and appointments every time?