Stop overusing lateral flow tests!

[musicalfrog]

How many posts on this forum say "ooh I tested twice yesterday", or "ooh I'm waiting for a pcr result but still taking a lateral flow every day"...

Have some fucking thought for the expense to the taxpayer of all these tests, and the poor folk who are struggling to get a supply of tests to keep their loved ones safe while you fritter them away without a second thought.

You DON'T need to take more than one test a day, you DON'T need to keep testing while waiting a pcr result (you should be isolating) and you DON'T need to be testing every day unless you're a close contact.

Over consumption is killing this planet, these are prime examples.

I couldn't get LFTS at any local pharmacy in the run up to Christmas. And the online ordering service said they were unavailable to deliver until I managed to order some on Boxing Day.

@CiaoForDiNiaoSaur

If you yourself can't get tests, I doubt you have tried ordering off the NHS online. I've ordered twice in the last week and each time they were available.

Good for you. I've been trying everyday for 3 days. Today was the first time they were available.

It's hit and miss. They were clearly available on the 27th as that's when I placed an order.

Are you just talking to people in England?
In Wales we are told to do it pretty much whenever we go out
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/dec/09/wales-asks-people-to-flow-before-you-go-to-stop-omicron-spread

The poor won’t be testing madly anyway as people not on a nice safe salary can’t afford to be off work self isolating

'The poor' have a right to be safe too you know. Just because you don't earn a decent salary doesn't mean you won't get really ill if you catch it or others you spread it to others.

- im seeing loads of people easily in retirement age wanting the bloody things
And why shouldn't we? We have elderly parents, children, grandchildren we want to visit safely.. Many are main caters for grandchildren so their parents can work. We volunteer with good causes that brings us into contact with lots of people. And god forbid we might want to socialise with friends, some of whom are CEV.

Honestly this views on MN become more disgusting by the day.

The reason for the shortage is the change in rules @musicalfrog

The isolation period is reduced to 7 days. It may even go down to 5. (this is for anyone with a pos PCR.) If there are 4 people in a family and one tests positive they all need to do daily LF tests. That's 21 tests in 7 days. 3 boxes.

This is to try to keep the country working- in terms of transport, deliveries and hospital staff.

There may be some people abusing the advice, but maybe that is slightly better than ignoring the advice?

The issue is over supply, not so much using them wrongly.

Are you just talking to people in England?
In Wales we are told to do it pretty much whenever we go out

Yes, but this doesn’t preclude you from also using your common sense.

If people can’t get home tests does it suddenly become morally okay not to take daily tests or should asymptomatic people stay indoors and panic?
Just wondering because according to some we are to believe that we are “putting people in hospital/killing people” if we don’t do these tests every day. I’m not sure how much I need to worry to receive my “good girl” treat.

Totally agree with you OP.

I myself feel a bit antsy that we're down to our last 2 tests (which I'm saving for NYE).

Couldn't you order more online? I haven't been able to get them every time but by logging on different days and at different times of day, and making sure other adults in the family do the same, running out has not been a problem.

@ChristmasyFairy yes I tried and got this message. Local pharmacies are empty too, and have been since well before Christmas.

All I'm trying to do is protect vulnerable members of my extended family and also we have to use public transport in the next few days. Family of 4 and only 4 tests left. We will just have to take some risks I'm afraid, despite always having tried to do the right thing.

@2irishmums2be

But there is people negative in the morning and positive in the evening?

This was me. Negative at 11am, strong positive at 4pm

@musicalfrog

Have you tried to ask on a local FB page?

@OnceuponaRainbow18 it may come to that! Thank you.

I’ve had two major surgeries in the last month and I’ve never taken a LFT in my life. I had PCR tests at the hospital and self-isolated for three days.

[quote musicalfrog]@ChristmasyFairy yes I tried and got this message. Local pharmacies are empty too, and have been since well before Christmas.

All I'm trying to do is protect vulnerable members of my extended family and also we have to use public transport in the next few days. Family of 4 and only 4 tests left. We will just have to take some risks I'm afraid, despite always having tried to do the right thing.[/quote]
But your family will not be protecting themselves by doing a LFT before using public transport.

They will only be protecting other people!

And I fully get where you are. My DP has Stage 4 cancer and needs to use trains to London for appts. The concern is not that he has Covid but that he might pick it up.

We get anyone coming to see us to use LFT.

I have a box of 7. Could probably make a pretty penny selling them

Same here, couple of boxes and a PCR test. As you say, must be worth a few quid.

Have I misunderstood? You mean you don't want to visit family who are CV without doing a test?

So- can they not get a test and you all test on arrival OR they can post the tests to you?

Or ask your neighbours if they have any?

Do you use facebook? Here, they were giving them out at local village halls and the like a few days ago.

@SundayTeatime

I’ve had two major surgeries in the last month and I’ve never taken a LFT in my life. I had PCR tests at the hospital and self-isolated for three days.

Doesn't make you a bigger person. Anxiety is a thing. And I don't want to risk not having this surgery

Hi musicalfrog I got the same message the week before Christmas, tried again in the early morning a couple of days later and got a box sent. Good luck.

I agree that it is shockingly wasteful. Perhaps do one if you are going somewhere where you will encounter a lot of people, or if you are visiting a vulnerable person, but otherwise it is just a waste of resources. I haven't tested once since I had covid (still within 90 days) and it is bloody liberating. I am looking forward to the day that mass testing stops completely.

Anyway, you could easily give someone a different, potentially dangerous, winter bug for which we don't regularly test, some of which do not have a vaccine. Nobody ever seems to consider that.

I ordered some online while reading this thread with no problems.

@musicalfrog with the NHS site you have to keep trying all day and at all times. If you try perhaps late at night or early morning that may help.
Don't just log in once and then give up for the day.

I can understand that you don't want to do a long journey on a train without doing a test BUT you do realise that if you did pick it up on a train you would not be showing symptoms enough to register on a test for a few days? The incubation period can be up to 2 weeks, but usually it's 5.

Can't the family you want to visit get tests for you?

*But your family will not be protecting themselves by doing a LFT before using public transport.

They will only be protecting other people!*

Right @ChristmasyFairy!!

I love how it's now being assumed I only care about my own family.

I'll do what I want thanks. I am the taxpayer and my last concern is the cost of LFTs compared to the damage done by constant lockdowns etc

AllThingsServeTheBeam I don't understand, If you are due for surgery the hospital will give you guidance on what to do. You don't need test daily as far as I know. You will need to do a test before admission and isolate for a few days beforehand. You should have this is writing. have you?