Anyone else no longer testing WITHOUT symptoms?

[Throwawayy]

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.

At the moment I'm testing daily because dh is positive. I usually test twice a week for work, I don't want to be responsible for spreading Covid if I can help it.

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

Because after doing a test every day for the past 5 days I have a sore, burning nose every day! I'm not rough with the swab, but I did mine over 2 hours ago and it still hurts!

I'll do them when necessary but not just for the sake of it.

I test regularly as asymptomatic transmission is what is driving this latest surge and I really want us to be able to get on top of it so life can return. Also we have several vulnerable members of extended family and I would never g forgive myself for passing it on. A close relative tested positive on Xmas Eve ( confirmed by PCR) with zero symptoms, good job she did as otherwise she would have had her clinically extremely vulnerable parent for Cmas .

I think this as I believe that all illnesses carry a risk - flu kills many every year, we are promoting a fear which is contributing to huge mental health issues (even though I do believe some of this is fulled by social media) amongst teenager and young adults. Life carries risk - we are destroying lives and sucking the enjoyment out of life. Our obsession with covid is in my view disproportionate.

That said - I have followed the government regulation and guidelines, as we live in democracy as I believe morally we should do so, but I disagree with them and should the chance arise I would vote against regulations

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

Just thought that needed highlighting.

And all this ‘I wouldn’t want to pass it on to CV family’ what about strangers in shops? Do they not matter? People on buses? People in pubs/clubs/theatres?

Wonder why these venues may have to be shut?

I've only ever tested when we have been a bit unwell.

I did test without symptoms yesterday because my dad asked before we went for dinner. He hasn't cared previously and I don't think he will care again now. I think it was just the whole Christmas thing and the news telling people to test beforehand.

We test twice a week as I work in a school and DS is a pupil.

Just as well we did as DS was completely asymptomatic with a positive LFT in October. PCR confirmed it. He got a cough about 4-5 days into his isolation.

I was achy for a couple of hours the day after his LFT. My PCR that day came back negative but a LFT the following day showed positive. Confirmed with another PCR test that day. Other than that all I had was tiredness and a cough (again about 4 days into my isolation).

DH was the last to succumb - LFT two days after ours was positive following two PCR tests as close contact of us. His PCR test following the LFT was positive to confirm it.

He got no symptoms during the whole of isolation.

So we'd have been continuing at school and work for at least five days had it not been for the regular testing. As DH travels for his work, he'd have potentially infected a lot of people.

We'll keep it up. BTW we didn't stop testing with LFT for the 90 days after isolation finished. They've all been negative and gave us a bench mark. If we get another positive before the 90 days are up, it's a new, asymptomatic Covid positive.

I have to show a negative lateral flow before I'm allowed into work. We also tested before visiting an elderly relative just before Christmas. I wouldn't want to risk being asymptomatic and passing it on to them.

I test twice a week for work. Last day in the office was Wednesday, haven't tested since then. If we have a new year's eve gathering I'll do one then, but otherwise I won't until I go back to work. I don't have elderly relatives, none of the people I've spent time with over the last couple of days have elderly relatives, so I CBA now. DP has never tested but he works on his own.

It’s PCRs that can test positive for 90dats not LFTs. That’s why they say you can do my isolate for 7 days if you get two negative LFTs . Honestly I do worry about peoples comprehension skills so many people seem to misunderstand the basics . Do they just not read the guidance and rely on snatches of incomplete information from social media

Sorry about the typos obviously I mean reduce isolation after 2 negative LFTs and days not dats

When you read threads like this it’s no wonder we have further restrictions hanging over us and key NHS services unable to function.

I test twice a week, and extra if I'm meeting with a large group of people (but not if I'm just going to the supermarket or something, the twice weekly ones cover me for things like that).

It's sensible. It catches cases before you get symptoms. It saves lives. Saying you're not doing it for some unfathomable reason is a bit silly. It takes less than two minutes to do the test.

@Svara

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.

But those 3 main symptoms aren't the same for this new variant. I just got over covid and was sneezing with runny nose and fatigue plus body aches.

I have never tested without symptoms and I've never tested my kids without symptom's. I have only tested to go into hospital for elective procedures.

I don't really understand all the testing unless you're visiting someone vulnerable or need to to travel/hospital etc.

In fairness @Peaseblossum22 when we were about to come out of isolation I rang 119 about testing with LFT after having Covid.

Our school nurse had said carry on but on various places I'd read (this was October before the LFT every day was launched), that both PCR and LFT shouldn't be done. So I rang 119...'no you don't do a LFT or a PCR test for 90 days following Covid' I was told. So I said 'but our school nurse said we should do a LFT twice a week'. 'Oh, well if your nurse says so then you should'. So if 119 (who are the advice line) were getting confused there's no hope for us mere mortals.

As I said, we carried on as the first one before we went back to school/work was negative so it made sense to me to carry on testing. Our friends, whose son also got Covid, haven't done a LFT since as 119 told them not to!

I have to test twice a week due to work.

@HariboBrenshnio

I have never tested without symptoms and I've never tested my kids without symptom's. I have only tested to go into hospital for elective procedures.

I don't really understand all the testing unless you're visiting someone vulnerable or need to to travel/hospital etc.

Have you not read about or seen the news about Omicron and how easily it is transmitted?

Compulsory for work, twice weekly.

We've all just tested here as my mum is visiting later, wouldn't bother otherwise. We are all negative. Won't do another until return to work on the 4th.

@Waxonwaxoff0

I stopped in August when I had Covid as the advice then was not to do LFTs for 90 days after. Never bothered starting again, if I get symptoms I'll do a PCR but I'm not using LFTs any more.

That's interesting. Have heard of advice to not do PCR within 90 days as they are more sensitive . But not LFT. They are meant to be quite good in checking if you have enough of the virus to actually be contagious , hence new rules to test at end of 7 day isolation .

I don't really understand all the testing unless you're visiting someone vulnerable or need to to travel/hospital etc.

So you know all the school staff and their families do you? Prepared to send in an asthmatic child to school because ‘I don’t meet elderly relatives?’

I’m testing myself and my dcs before we see elderly grandparents every time. It happens to be about twice a week.
It’s free and fairly easy. I’m not so happy about the plastic but it gives me and the DGPs a measure of reassurance and I’m grateful for that

I'm not testing right now, because I'm not mixing with anyone outside the house, but I generally test twice a week because I work in a public facing job. I really, really want to avoid another lockdown, and testing, isolating and wearing a mask are the main things I can do to help prevent more stringent rules.

@shinynewapple21 yes, I believe the guidance has changed since I had Covid. This was previously the advice