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Original poster

Anyone else no longer testing WITHOUT symptoms?

223 replies

Throwawayy · 26/12/2021 10:42

I know I'll get the typical "so selfish how COULD you" type posts but is anyone else no longer testing when they have no symptoms?

I've had PCRs a few times with colds and things this year and have done LFTs too. I've ran out though now and I don't intend on getting more right now and will go for a PCR if I have symptoms.

If someone I was meeting asked, I'd do one. But other than that I feel like no longer testing when I feel fine.

OP posts:
PupInAPram · 26/12/2021 11:02

School asks us to test twice a week. I'm enjoying the holiday from this tbh.

Birkenshock · 26/12/2021 11:02

Tested me and my 3 kids on Christmas Eve at 5pm. None of us had symptoms but it seemed sensible to test before planned Christmas mixing.

Two kids had positive LFTs. Both completely asymptomatic. Had to dash to tesco to but Christmas dinner at 5pm Christmas Eve, because we could no longer have dinner with family, and are now isolating. Slightly wish we hadn't tested tbh, because yesterday felt a bit flat and sad, but I know it's the sensible thing to do.

PineappleMojito · 26/12/2021 11:03

I test for work as I work in person with clients 3 days a week and if I am going to meet someone vulnerable. Other than that, no.

TulipsGarden · 26/12/2021 11:04

Yes, we test before seeing friends and family. Both wfh so no need to test more often than that.

It's just good manners, no-one wants to infect someone else and make them ill, plus they'd have to isolate. We all have young kids so maybe more keen to avoid it if possible.

BluebellsGreenbells · 26/12/2021 11:05

Twice a week for work

I had Covid totally asymptomatic - which the stats show are one in three people.

Wonder how this is spreading so quickly? I mean it’s free and hardly difficult is it?

Wellbythebloodyhell · 26/12/2021 11:06

I have to test twice weekly for work but if I didn't have to do that then no I wouldn't be testing without symptoms

Lockdownbear · 26/12/2021 11:06

@Blubells

Seems a lot of people on here think you should whenever you leave the house

Really? Can you imagine how many tests that would involve if every UK citizen tested themselves esch time they leave their house?!

To be fair it's what certain politicians are asking for, and school kids are meant to test twice a week.

The environmental impact or the amount all these tests are costing doesn't seem to matter. Like many other things covid is trumping everything.

massiveblob · 26/12/2021 11:08

We test if meeting people indoors, going to office or feel unwell in anyway. DC was unwell & positive but reassured that rest of us weren't snd we stayed that way.

Momentsmatter · 26/12/2021 11:08

I only test when I have symptoms, would if someone asked or going to see someone vulnerable.

I don't go out too much though at the minute, wear my mask and only had covid a couple of months ago so am less likely to get it at the moment.

BluebellsGreenbells · 26/12/2021 11:08

The cost is cheaper than one person in hospital for weeks.

School children ar e meant to tear but they don’t - some pre RA don’t even know where to get tests judging my FB feed, or even how to do them! FIL did his first ever test Christmas Eve! These tests are working if people use them properly.

generalh · 26/12/2021 11:09

I do when I am in work but haven't since Thursday.i have some tests with us which we will use before we visit relatives tomorrow but otherwise no.

Svara · 26/12/2021 11:09

No, I will get a PCR if I have one of the three main symptoms or am otherwise directed to. Think there should be more limits placed on free tests tbh, so many people on here admit to using LFTs daily when already isolating! Such waste and it is taxpayers paying for them as well.

delilahbucket · 26/12/2021 11:09

I'm not. Any "test every five minutes" MNers want to pay me and my staff for having a week minimum off work because if I'm not there no one else is? Then I might change my mind.

Mammma91 · 26/12/2021 11:13

I had a positive PCR on Christmas eve with absolutely no symptoms at all. Feel fine. Dp on the other hand (also positive) feels like death warmed up. I will be most definitely be doing regular lateral flows in the future.

thepeopleversuswork · 26/12/2021 11:13

I test without symptoms whenever I meet people or go into my office (I WFH so often go 2-3 weeks without seeing another adult other than my partner). At the moment. When the numbers were low at the start of the summer I wasn’t. But I am in London where apparently 1 in 20 people have Omicron at the moment so it seems the sensible and respectful thing to do.

Parker231 · 26/12/2021 11:13

There needs to be more testing not less. Hospital care is now at knife edge due to the numbers of staff off work with Covid. Planned surgery and out patient appointments are being cancelled. Testing can hugely help reduce transmission for both asymptomatic and symptomatic cases.

giggly · 26/12/2021 11:13

@guineapigs

I don't really need to test without symptoms as I am sahm. I do test if some of us in family has symptoms but so far I have avoided covid.
So no one in your household goes to school/ nursery/ work/ shops? You see no one outside of your home/ family? This people is why it is estimated that 1 in 20 people in London were +ve last week.
LifesABotch · 26/12/2021 11:13

LFT devices are meant for asymptomatic testing, to catch asymptomatic, infectious people and (in theory) alert them and stop them from mixing with others and spreading the virus... PCR when you have symptoms. If this is still not clear, then the communication by the gov and NHS has not done its job! No wonder omicron is everywhere Confused

TurkeyRoastvBubbleandSqueek · 26/12/2021 11:16

I have only tested once, and that was with a pcr test as I had some symptoms - it was negative. I hardly ever go out, and if I do I wear disposable gloves, and am double masked, I am CEV, and where possible I keep 2 metres away from everyone in supermarkets (the only enclosed places I go to except for restaurants BO - Before Omicron), however most people don't kep their distance from me!
I am of course tripple jabbed at the moment.

spudjulia · 26/12/2021 11:21

Test twice a week as a key worker and every day for the last 3 ish weeks as I'd been a close contact almost every day (job with no PPE and no social distancing) and that's the new advice in lieu of isolating yourself.

YukoandHiro · 26/12/2021 11:22

The whole point of LFTs is to catch asymptomatic cases and prevent those people accidentally spreading it widely.

I'm so frustrated by this thread. It's the reason we're in this mess.

The government has been clear for almost a year now that any family with children in school or with someone working outside the home should be testing twice a week. I haven't been doing it that often tbh but have always tested before meeting anyone not from my household.

It's hardly difficult, and if everyone did it we probably wouldn't be in a situation where more restrictions were necessary.

Chloemol · 26/12/2021 11:23

I will continue with LFT whenever family meet up, and when I go to work meetings even if no symptoms, if asymptomatic you can still pass it in

It’s my bit towards getting to the end of this, doesn’t take long, and who wouldn’t you?

As it is a family member tested positive yesterday so that family didn’t meet up with my elderly mother or CV sister, no symptoms

Alwayswonderedwhy · 26/12/2021 11:24

We're testing over Christmas before having guests or visiting others as I don't want to be responsible for messaging anyone's Christmas up by having to isolate.
After Christmas we'll go back to just testing if we have symptoms.

EmilyEmmabob · 26/12/2021 11:26

@YukoandHiro

The whole point of LFTs is to catch asymptomatic cases and prevent those people accidentally spreading it widely.

I'm so frustrated by this thread. It's the reason we're in this mess.

The government has been clear for almost a year now that any family with children in school or with someone working outside the home should be testing twice a week. I haven't been doing it that often tbh but have always tested before meeting anyone not from my household.

It's hardly difficult, and if everyone did it we probably wouldn't be in a situation where more restrictions were necessary.

This! With (Christmas) bells on!

It isn't hard to understand yet people are still getting it wrong.

Waxonwaxoff0 · 26/12/2021 11:27

@LifesABotch

LFT devices are meant for asymptomatic testing, to catch asymptomatic, infectious people and (in theory) alert them and stop them from mixing with others and spreading the virus... PCR when you have symptoms. If this is still not clear, then the communication by the gov and NHS has not done its job! No wonder omicron is everywhere Confused
It's everywhere because it's a contagious virus. Considering tests don't show positive until a few days after contracting Covid, people will have been out spreading it anyway before they knew they had it.