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.

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?

The point is why you think your family are more deserving than others

This is like the posts on ‘so many people were out in a non essential place (whilst I was also out in said place)’ from early on in the pandemic.

OMG yes

"I went jogging today & the park was packed, don't people know we are in a pandemic"

🙄

I think it's time we all stop judging people for the way they deal with covid 🤷‍♀️ The only actions we can control are our own. (FYI I'm also pissed of with people hoarding tests as I work in social care and there aren't enough tests for staff or visitors). The anger and judgements hurt only ourselves.

@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?

You and everyone else.

You can't get a lateral flow test. We get it. Nor can lots of other people who are also having to make changes to plans and and rethink and face disappointment and frustration. A new rapid spreading variant triggered the rise in demand, supply chain has not yet caught up. If we are not restricting peoples' movements then test demand will escalate.

Now how exactly is dozens of divisive posts, venting your spleen at people in the same boat going to help you? All you are doing is amplifying shortage panic and potentially make things worse.

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.

You don't need LFTs to go on public transport

My Dh hasn't tested positive on a LFT and was asymptotic. It was only because Dd tested positive on her work PCR that we realised. I'm reluctant to rely on them now. I'm the only person in a house of 5 who is still negative.

This thread is batshit, the OP is angry at others for using LFTs unnecessarily because she can't get some to use to take a bus ride

Another legacy of Spaffer's Johnson's Operation Moonshot of throwing huge amounts of money (with the tests all made in China ) up the wall. They are probably as much a piece of covid hygiene theatre as they are a useful diagnostic tool at a rumoured 8 quid per test or around 50 quid a box!

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Moonshot

www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/lateral-flow-tests-covid-cost-20937588

Logically the shortage is likely due to the high increase in cases & the rule change that allows self isolation to end early after 2 lft tests.

@snapsieplopp

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

agree with that

Did the budget for LFTs get included in the £37billion given to Test & Trace?

You don't need LFTs to go on public transport

But only a selfish twunt would take their family on public transport without testing if they can.

I don’t need an LFT before going to visit my relatives in the care home, but I’m going to do it.

Another legacy of Spaffer's Johnson's Operation Moonshot of throwing huge amounts of money (with the tests all made in China ) up the wall.

Yes, yes, spending money on testing whether people have covid is such a waste of time.

I take it you’re all for more restrictions, then?

I have had 3 different test kits in my time, I wonder what the gov does with the old ones when they change

I have to LFT before going to work. Every shift. Sometimes that’s 7 per week. We’ve had a huge wave of covid hitting our workforce and are currently running at 40% capacity of staff. We need to detect it as early as possible, but certainly can’t expect everyone to have a weekly PCR, so LFTs it is. Yes it’s a lot of waste, but we cannot afford to close after last year, so we have to do something. However, I am currently out of tests and can’t get more, whereas someone I know has 8 boxes of tests and no need to use them 🙃.

I’m also a close contact at the moment so should be daily LFT for 4 more days.

You take care of you OP, and try not to worry so much about what others are doing eh? This pandemic really has brought out the worst in people. 🙄

It’s people doing multiple tests a day that bothers me as wasteful.

I know of multiple people who tested positive on their first, so did another, just to check, then daily thereafter. Zero point in any between the first positive and the day 6 test.

But only a selfish twunt would take their family on public transport without testing if they can.

The guidance is to test before a guide home visit, they are not required for public transport.

Of course if the OP wants to test for that reason then far enough but I don't see how she can judge others & class their need as less then hers.

care home not guide home!

But only a selfish twunt would take their family on public transport without testing if they can.

Don’t be ridiculous. I travel by public transport most days and am CEV. I don’t take a LFT just because I’m on public transport. Everyone travels by public transport where I live. I only have had a PCR test done by the hospital before my operations - and I went to those on public transport too.

Does public transport not count as a crowded indoor place then? I'll be honest, haven't used it for a while. Maybe it's not so crowded.

Care home guidance

"visitors should receive a negative lateral flow test result and report it on the day of their visit, either by conducting the test at home or when they arrive at the care home – essential care givers need to follow the additional testing arrangements outlined below "

@musicalfrog depends, the buses I've taken the last few week are pretty empty

@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.

Dead right. All this plastic is going to end up in landfill and in the sea, and they all have to be paid for. People see these test kits as "free" so are wasting them and stock-piling them because they are wasteful, greedy and selfish.

They are too thick to realise that their own children and grandchildren will reap the aftermath.

@musicalfrog here is the travel guidance

www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers

That's helpful @snapsieplopp thank you. I'll stand down on the public transport issue then.