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.

@SilverGlitterBaubles

People are illogical about this situation. PIL test twice a week for no reason to 'just because'. They test when they have not been out or seen anyone for days and think every twinge could be Covid. It's becoming an expensive reassurance tool in some cases.

It certainly is.

@Imdreamingofapeacefulxmas

I used to be extremely sceptical about lat flows but I've seen them in action in a setting with over 1000 people and they were surprisingly effective. "if I wake up with covid symptoms I will isolate and do a pcr"

I've been in a setting with hundreds of unvaccinated people and I understand that I could be an asymptotic carrier so we are asked to test twice a week.
That's the main point of them, to pick up the people who don't have symptoms and carry it and crucially... Pass it on.

I can't understand why this message has been lost?
Pcr for symptoms, lat flow for randomly picking up problems you don't know about too stop you passing it on.
I'm astounded at people still not understanding this.

Take a look at the latest guidelines. I’m ‘astounded’ you still think LF tests are just for random testing. We’ve been told they’re not.

Press release
From: UK Health Security Agency
Published 22 December 2021

Self-isolation for COVID-19 cases reduced from 10 to 7 days following negative LFD tests
From today, new guidance enables the 10-day self-isolation period for people who have tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) to be reduced to 7 days, in most cases.

People who receive negative LFD results on day 6 and day 7 of their self-isolation period – with tests taken 24 hours apart – will no longer have to self-isolate for the full 10 days. The first test must be taken no earlier than day 6 of the self-isolation period.

www.gov.uk/government/news/self-isolation-for-covid-19-cases-reduced-from-10-to-7-days-following-negative-lfd-tests

@musicalfrog

No but you are unwilling to consider any changes to your own plans.

With the greatest respect, why the FUCK should I?

My family and I have sacrificed far too much in the last two years already. It's the Christmas holidays so I'm sure you'll forgive me if we try and enjoy some of it?

That's not actually being very respectful is it?

People have to change plans all of the time.
If you are so worried about passing covid on to others in your family, one option is to change your plans.

And don't lecture me on trying to enjoy things. My DP was diagnosed with cancer Stage 4, 2 years ago. We didn't see some of our children for over a year because it was too risky for them to travel to see us (and yes, in the UK.)

You have no idea of what other people are doing to avoid catching Covid and the very hard choices being made. That includes us not seeing one of our adult children this Christmas as they have Covid and their partner may be incubating it.

Doesn't help with the supply issue but, for people whose main concern is the single use plastic waste, tests and PPE can be recycled.

Just Google LFT test recycling and there's information on how to do it.

In the real world how many people are testing twice a day?

I'd guess very few

Couldn't agree more 👏

The advice is too test before social events/activities so you can't get angry at people for following the advice v

OP you sound very angry. There is nothing to say you must test before going on public transport. You are choosing to do so, just as other people are choosing to test before doing activities.

Personally, I have very little faith in LFTs as lots of people I know have had positive LFTs followed by negative PCRs, and I've also known lots of people catch Covid at events where everyone has carefully tested themselves before attending. So I rarely use them. But others feel differently, and I think the Government messaging around this has been appalling. Many people I know are doing LFTs before every outing so that they protect their friends and family, and that's because they feel its the responsible thing to do.

I think you might need to blame the government for issuing advice on when LTFs should be used without ensuring adequate supply is available - rather than strangers on Mumsnet.

I wouldn't oppose paying for them but that would just make people stop testing.

@DockOTheBay they really aren't available in a lot of places currently (Or via post)

Ahh I didn’t realise LFT testing was the new mask wearing in terms of debate.
FFS what is wrong with people in this country. Lots of other countries manage to implement public health strategy without certain sectors of society feeling they need to bring it down.

I'm actually completely baffled by why anyone would do an LFT at all, without very, very good reason. I suppose it has become a kind of talisman for those people.

I think those are the people the OP is quite reasonably addressing, not all the people who are justifying their reasonable use of LFTs.

I agree op

All this fear and monitoring - some ripple are obsessed

Haven’t had a single test all year apart from one pcr when I actually was ill and had covid

If you have to test to realise you even have it then why the hell are we giving covid a second thought

People

I'm just frustrated with what I've been reading on here. The obsessives are putting mine and other families at risk by stockpiling and testing just because they can. Utter selfishness.

There's plenty of people not testing despite mixing, are they putting you at risk?

Imdreamingofapeacefulxmas
Massive Apologies!
I quoted you wrongly and misread your post.

My post above doesn’t make sense!

LF tests ARE to be used randomly!
We’ve been told to test regularly at work and we’re given 4 boxes to do this with over the Christmas period.

Ignore my last post!

I don't think the only issue is people over testing. I went to our local collection point on Christmas Eve to pick up a box to get us through the holiday period and the guy handing them out asked how many people lived at my address and proceeded to hand me 4, yes 4, boxes PER PERSON. I had to insist that he took some back off me as there was no way we'd need 12 boxes anytime soon.
If they are handing that many out in one go then I'm not surprised there is a shortage.

I have/had a stash as we work in NHS & education. I've given any "spare" to family & neighbours.

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"

I don’t know, how many? Have you read it once or twice? I’d be interested in the actual number.

Probably a lot fewer than the number of posts I’ve seen making out the majority of people are doing this. By my count you are the 5th person I’ve seen doing it since yesterday.

Why does the OP need them more than others?

Someone somewhere is making a hell of a lot of money and the Government is wasting tons of money.

agree with that

I've had no problems getting LFT tests online but then again I try at strange hours.
I'm tending to go on the websites in the middle of the night - I ordered some recently at 3am as I'd got up to pee & couldn't get back to sleep.
At the same time, I did a vague check on PCR availability & I would've been able to book into all of the walk-in clinics in my area that day from 8am onwards or get it sent to my home.
I wonder if it's all down to timing?
I live in quite a populated area in the South East.

If you have to test to realise you even have it then why the hell are we giving covid a second thought

Because my MIL is nearly 80.

Because my parents are in their 70s and my mum has already been hospitalised this year with a chest infection.

Because my husband works in an environment where a covid outbreak will make the news.

Because testing is the best way to limit the spread to avoid further restrictions.

Why aren’t you concerned you could pass it on to someone?

If you have to test to realise you even have it then why the hell are we giving covid a second thought

🤔