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.

I only recently started getting LFTs delivered if I’m honest - because I have to take one when the midwife comes (but not if I go to her ). Had a PCR once when I had to go to hospital for a procedure. That’s it really. Chosen to do low risk stuff instead - I’m mainly outside with the kids anyway and don’t have any vulnerable people in my life. Haven’t been ill/had symptoms to require a PCR, although DS2 has twice.

@bloodywhitecat

Haven't left the house in a week but still testing every 48 hours.

Why? If you haven't left the house for 7 days how do you think you are going to catch Covid. Now that's a total waste of time and LFTs.

Have to test 3x a week and 1 pcr test a week for work. When on annual leave I don't test, but test before I go back to work.

@HoldUppppp

I just lie and say I test should anyone seem worried but I'd only test if I was actually poorly

Disgusting.

@NeverForgetYourDreams because DH has terminal cancer and we have the world and his wife coming in to help me care for him and to say their goodbyes.

I've never done a test nor needed to do one ever.
I would be happier to if there were a spit test. I am not sure I would be happy to stick something up my nose.

@Xenia

There are spit tests, I use them on my kids, but you have to pay for them. Most European countries use them on kids as the PCR tests

I had covid despite being fully jabbed, frontline NHS worker. PCR was positive from day 2, lateral flow was negative even an hour before I went for a PCR. I just knew I had it.

I test to conform for job purposes but do i trust a lateral flow result? Hell no!

[quote bloodywhitecat]@NeverForgetYourDreams because DH has terminal cancer and we have the world and his wife coming in to help me care for him and to say their goodbyes.[/quote]
Fair enough but from your short post that wasn't evident

@Xenia

I've never done a test nor needed to do one ever. I would be happier to if there were a spit test. I am not sure I would be happy to stick something up my nose.

I get a nosebleed most times (my kids do too) which means the sample is technically unusable anyway. So damned if you do damned if you don’t really! Spit tests/lollipop tests seem a much better option especially for kids. Bit late now though 😄

I don't test. Why would I test. No symptoms ever, so no tests. I took 2 x PCR when travelled.

@Oblomov21

People test to protect others as 1/3 of people don’t have symptoms!

I only test if there's a reason, which having a low risk lifestyle with most social contact outdoors is not often.

My past week has been pretty quiet as everything wound down for Christmas. Yesterday afternoon my throat began to prickle and I did a LFT yesterday evening. Clear. Did two this morning. Test A which was an older throat/ nose had a faint line. Test B from a new different kit, clear. I have today gone and queued up for an hour in another county to get a PCR as there was no testing avaliable in my county.q

Had my social arrangements been different, a test yesterday morning would not have prevented me from spreading and I'd have been falsely reassured in the evening when the prickle developed. Test B would have shown negative this morning if I hadn't picked up Test A first.

Constant testing is a false sense of security and there's plenty of other "minor" illnesses out there that are potentially harmful to more vulnerable people.

I suspect that my most likely contact was a night of food shopping on the 23rd and I haven't had any external contacts beyond my household since.

I would hope everyone as a minimum has tested recently with visiting crowded supermarkets and having family from different households visiting.

I’m amazed that people don’t understand that you should be doing LFT regardless. These are for when you don’t have symptoms.
No wonder another set of restrictions are hanging over us this NY.

How long is this going to go on for though? I'm not testing forever. I've only done it this week as I was a contact and, to be honest, I'd rather isolate for 10 days than have to to an LFT every day.

Never test if symptomless. The world doesnt need more single use plastic junk from unnecessary PPE.

@dementedma

Never test if symptomless. The world doesnt need more single use plastic junk from unnecessary PPE.

The world doesn’t need anymore Covid cases - a far greater impact on world than LFT’s.

My dh came down temp day before Xmas eve. Lateral flow positive, rest house negstive. We all went PCR Xmas eve. My 9 year old positive completely asymptomatic. I’m positive got a tickly throat. If it hadn’t been for my dh and temp we would have been Christmas mixing with lots family. Expect numbers of new cases over next few weeks will shoot right up

I've never tested without symptoms.

And never tested positive either.

I test LFT twice a week - takes seconds. Not that difficult and why wouldn’t I if it might prevent asymptotic spreading? What is hard about ITE- genuinely don’t get it?

I PCR when symptomatic - and include a wider spectrum that ‘classic covid’ . Basically the Zoe advice. My understanding is that LFT are not terribly useful once symptomatic.

I deleted the Zoe app as it would be sending me for PCRs every day as I have most of the symptoms it seems to look out for!

Do you isolate every time you take a PCR for the wider spectrum of symptoms @IggysPop?

If I could do a spit test I would be more likely to test regularly.

Haven't left the house in a week but still testing every 48 hours

Why?

The world doesn’t need anymore Covid cases - a far greater impact on world than LFTs

no, the plastic is much greater long-term impact

You wouldn't think that a couple of years ago single use plastics were the work of the devil.

I only started doing LFTs a few weeks ago and I'm horrified at the amount of completely unnecessary plastic packaging. Why isn't the stick of the swab made of cardboard? Why is everything in individual packaging? Why not one pack for each day with everything in a sealed paper bag?

I'm horrified at the amount of completely unnecessary plastic packaging. Why isn't the stick of the swab made of cardboard? Why is everything in individual packaging? Why not one pack for each day with everything in a sealed paper bag?

I agree. The long term impact of all this plastic might become a much bigger problem than Covid itself.

Test before seeing others. DS is positive but completely asymptomatic. Tested before seeing relatives. It helps slow the spread.