Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

Stop overusing lateral flow tests!

493 replies

musicalfrog · 29/12/2021 00:35

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
bordermidgebite · 30/12/2021 09:14

So if the government failed to work out that suggesting:encouraging people to test would lead to tests being needed, perhaps they could pull in someone with GCSE maths

ElftonWednesday · 30/12/2021 09:22

DH got a free pack of 20 tests from the place he got his booster. I don't see it as wasteful to actually use them regularly! I've been in very busy places throughout December, in London, have met up with family, some of whom were recently recovered from.Covid, and had someone test positive while visiting our house, so we all also have PCRs.

TabithaTittlemouse · 30/12/2021 09:33

My employee can’t get any tests. We’re running out of the boxes we had. We were testing twice weekly but I’m not sure how much longer we can all do that.
Most of the staff are off anyway with covid or as a close contact.
I’m an nhs nurse.

newchance2 · 30/12/2021 09:49

Until the government lifts all the restrictions on both everyday life and travel, people will anxiously test themselves, in order to feel some control over their own lives. It’s just a fact.

ElftonWednesday · 30/12/2021 10:13

The tests started to be in short supply just after when the government announced that negative tests would be required to get into certain venues. Well, duh.

NinaDefoe · 30/12/2021 10:30

[quote noturavgmum]@NinaDefoe that’s what I mean! Schools are supplied with so many tests but other workplaces where it is impossible to socially distance aren’t. For example in hospitality and retail. And what’s more those type of jobs tend to be zero hours where you can’t get sick pay if you do get covidSad not to say schools shouldn’t be supplied with them but what’s with the abundance of them when they are scarce for everywhere elseHmm[/quote]
I think they are prioritising schools and flooding them with tests so that they can report how ‘safe’ they are! ’We’re doing everything we can to make sure schools are safe’.
🙄

They’re not so bothered about other crowded places - the backlash won’t hurt the Government as much.
But if SCHOOLS closed again there would be a riot!

NinaDefoe · 30/12/2021 10:34

In other words, I think they’ve stocked up or stockpiled schools ready for reopening in Jan to ensure they reopen.

They have said there will continue to be mass testing in schools. Imagine the headlines if they couldn’t deliver the tests?!

This and the current testing frenzy has created a shortage!

containsnuts · 30/12/2021 11:06

I don't think Government prepared for this scenario of millions of cases, over the Christmas period with nothing but LFTs to fall back on. It's got out of control again, testing is at capacity and there's now a despirate need to make it look like this was the plan all along. I suspect we'll be told any day now not to bother testing at all.

lollipoprainbow · 30/12/2021 11:11

Totally agree with you OP, taking a lateral flow seems to be a hobby for some people !!

jgw1 · 30/12/2021 19:08

@bordermidgebite

So if the government failed to work out that suggesting:encouraging people to test would lead to tests being needed, perhaps they could pull in someone with GCSE maths
I think you have misunderstood how this government works. Boris probably hadn't told anyone what he was going to say before he opened his mouth, because probably he didn't know either, but just had a desperate need to be liked and feel popular.
OnceuponaRainbow18 · 30/12/2021 19:11

@NinaDefoe

Our school ordered them end of November for jan testing

BluebellsGreenbells · 30/12/2021 19:18

Of your company wants people to test then they need to source and pay for them.

Some companies are insisting on daily tests, yet students and staff twice weekly is adequate.

The private sector needs to step up and have a Covid policy in place for their work force and not expect to return on the government for supplies, same with any other mitigations they have for workers - whether that’s work boots or face masks, electrical testing or private health care

SilverGlitterBaubles · 30/12/2021 19:24

@NinaDefoe

In other words, I think they’ve stocked up or stockpiled schools ready for reopening in Jan to ensure they reopen.

They have said there will continue to be mass testing in schools. Imagine the headlines if they couldn’t deliver the tests?!

This and the current testing frenzy has created a shortage!

DCs have always said there are stacks of tests at school, even that when there form tutor hands them out kids just leave them lying around or some have even put them in the bin Sad
SilverGlitterBaubles · 30/12/2021 19:25

*their Blush

RockingMyFiftiesNot · 30/12/2021 19:57

DCs have always said there are stacks of tests at school, even that when there form tutor hands them out kids just leave them lying around or some have even put them in the bin

That's a shame. A friend's DS works in a primary school, staff were supposed to be testing twice weekly but they had run out of test kits the last week of term.

NinaDefoe · 30/12/2021 23:00

SilverGlitterBaubles

Yes, a fair few teenagers ditch them at the first opportunity and the testing kits don’t make it home.
Some just put them back in the boxes lining the corridors after being handed them by form tutors.

To anyone with DCs who didn’t bring a box or two back at the start of the Christmas break - Ask them what they did with it!

NinaDefoe · 30/12/2021 23:01

[quote OnceuponaRainbow18]@NinaDefoe

Our school ordered them end of November for jan testing[/quote]
Yes!

jgw1 · 31/12/2021 08:19

@NinaDefoe

SilverGlitterBaubles

Yes, a fair few teenagers ditch them at the first opportunity and the testing kits don’t make it home.
Some just put them back in the boxes lining the corridors after being handed them by form tutors.

To anyone with DCs who didn’t bring a box or two back at the start of the Christmas break - Ask them what they did with it!

It is very pleasing to hear that some teenagers have enough sense not to waste the world's resources on this.
superstar84 · 31/12/2021 08:30

Lateral flows are available to order for delivery this morning

Just managed to order a box

noturavgmum · 31/12/2021 14:49

@superstar84

Lateral flows are available to order for delivery this morning

Just managed to order a box

Not anymore😢
Watapalava · 31/12/2021 14:54

Do you not know anyone with teens? Every teen parent I know has draws full of them as they don’t want them missing school

I’ve got about 15 boxes still unopened that school keep giving out

Qwertykeys · 31/12/2021 15:42

Watapalava

Do you not know anyone with teens? Every teen parent I know has draws full of them as they don’t want them missing school

I’ve got about 15 boxes still unopened that school keep giving out

Yes it’s such a shame staff test twice a week to keep children safe but teenagers/ parents can’t keep staff safe

Watapalava · 31/12/2021 15:48

Qwerty - staff should be double, triple or even 4 x vax so no i wont test and isolate my healthy child for teachers to avoid a cold. Because thats what it is for almost everyone - for those its not they would be at similar risk of other viruses we dont isolate for

Qwertykeys · 31/12/2021 15:56

Watapalava

Qwerty - staff should be double, triple or even 4 x vax so no i wont test and isolate my healthy child for teachers to avoid a cold. Because thats what it is for almost everyone - for those its not they would be at similar risk of other viruses we dont isolate for.

Staff at my school were finding it difficult to get booked in for there booster jabs . I’m sure you must realise some staff are are vulnerable/ live with venerable partners . But hey ho as long as your teen just has cold symptoms it doesn’t matter if the school shuts because too many staff are off because your teen has spread it around .

Watapalava · 31/12/2021 16:00

Vulnerable people are really not that vulnerable once jabbed. The data confirms this. The whole point of jabs is to protect against serous disease and they've been proven to work yet vulnerable people are still not satisfied. The rest of the population shouldn't be inconvenienced because people are paranoid and cant assess risk - what are they going to do when covid legal isolation ends? Which is defo will!