So happy tests are to be axed

[Wizzbangfizz]

So according to reports they are going to stop handing out LFT and will be stopping mass testing - this is excellent news for both the tax payer and the environment and surely marks a clear path this whole thing becoming endemic

@DillDanding

I think it makes sense. 6.4% of the staff where I work are currently isolating due to positive tests. Not one of them has reported being ill - they all have extremely mild cold symptoms. The impact on the service has been huge.

We need to separate the masses from the clinically vulnerable now and treat them differently.

Would you also like to see yellow stars on said vulnerable? Just so you know from a far who they are.

Just because we've had one less severe variant doesn't mean that we might not be bitten by a more virulent strain shortly, particularly with world travel opening back up.

@Wizzbangfizz

Yes, but this "leak" will mark a change in policy which will be introduced shortly. Probably as part of a bid to get people back to work. It won't be overnight. So many other countries don't provide tests for free, and agree with PP that people abuse them like they do so many of the other ' free' NHS services. Some posters on here could really do with doing a stint in other countries which don't provide free healthcare.

I still don't understand and you haven't explained why you are so happy? Is it the cost? I don't get it. I live in a country where they aren't free. At least, home tests aren't free. Neither are masks. The masks are tons cheaper than you pay in the UK. 2 euros for 50. It's swings and roundabouts. I don't understand you, your personal joy at this. Explain.

Children in secondary and are tested at start of each term, i test them if they have symptoms but will do no more than that. And guidance isn't mandated 🤷‍♀️

@Elphame

Thank goodness.

We need to stop Covid paralysing society and live with it now. We are in a very different position than we were this time last year.

Why? You'll have to pay.

We are going to hit the peak very soon, a lot of cases are incidental and mild, there are s very low number if ICU cases, if another variant comes along there is a very strong likelihood that it will be milder than Omicron, the NHS is always overwhelmed in winter but more so this year because staff are having to self isolate because of Omicron and bed blockers. Number should start declining rapidly in the next couple of weeks. Things really need putting in perspectives be now there will probably be less people dying of Omicron than what normally dies with the flue.

@Chloemol

Ridiculous pandemics last 4 years approx before becoming ‘normal’ such as flu

We don’t have a jab that counters everything, more variants are on the way no doubt, especially as PCRs are not required when flying in now, they maybe just as transmissible as Omicron and look at the impact that has had with cases and the impact on lots of businesses. No tests and we may end up in a much worse position.

150,000 have died, ok some with covid, some of, but we are the worse in Europe and about 6th in the world, shameful

Actually it’s about two years throughout history.

@slashlover

from the minute i get in there i dont stop , we are short staffed as are a lot of shops now , iv got so much to do theres not enough hours in the day and so having people moaning away at me because we have run out of lateral flow tests is enough to make me blow my stack we even had someone complain how ridiculous is was we were out of them as its something we are promoting , eh i mean since when were pharmacys promoting lateral flows , we had to explain noo its a goverment incentive , we just hand them out , im fed up of being asked the same questions over and over , are you still out of them , when are they coming in , where can i get them then and finally what am i supposed to do ? all questions to which i and and everyone else working there dont know !!

Answering questions about products, including LFTs are also "what you're there for"

P.S. Worked in retail since 1996 - supermarket, discount store and charity.

lateral flows are not a product we sell , they are supplied to us to hand out , we dont know when they are coming in once they are reordered . we have no way of knowing who else has them in stock , we cant tell people what to do if they cant get one , i suspect telling them to stay in their houses for the next 3 years wouldnt go down well , we cant offer to order one online for them like we would a product we actually do sell thats out of stock in our store

we have multiple out of stock posters for them all over the place that are highly visible and yet multiple times a day we are still getting asked these same inane questions by most likely some of them people that dont even need them , just obssesed with testing themselves .
lateral flows are a goverment based incentive , not a product stores stock , staff in shops that hand them out are not there to answer a load of stupid questions about them , thats what the 119 covid helpline number is for , yet iv found as soon as i advise people ring it to get the answers to the questions
i get all the pursed lips and mumbling , as in they cant be bothered to pick up the phone
the day they arent given out free and have to be paid for cant come soon enough for me , its time to end this madness

@MarshaBradyo parents of school children, both Primary and Secondary, were asked to test regularly

Not if in primary

Parents with primary school children were advised to test twice a week. The children weren't.

@Elphame

Thank goodness.

We need to stop Covid paralysing society and live with it now. We are in a very different position than we were this time last year.

No, we are really not in that much of a diff situation. There is no ventilation in enclosed spaces (e.g. schools), no mitigation (eg. wear a mask - any mask is not proper mitigation - it is for show). We don't have a flexible system of wfh if possible - it is entirely up to the company if they make it work of not. We have no border control (this ship has sailed a long time ago, but this could have been our best chance). The NHS has not been prepped/propped to handle this. The only thing that went almost well is the vaccination. But on the other hand 12-16 yr olds can only get one vaccine. nobody under 12 has the option to be vaccinated. So why are we in a such diff situation?

If the gov had done the following things, I'd be likely to agree more:

• air filters in all schools, hospitals, gps, etc any and all enclosed spaces where lot of ppl have to gather
• mandatory proper masks (n95) with gov subsidies price
• proper ssp for those who are isolating or sick
• acknowledgement of long covid and what problems it could cause further down the line.

What gov has been doing for 2 years is:

• ignoring science
• put head in the sand and magical thinking was elevated to mastery
• downplayed the whole thing
• spent millions or billions on friends and family (and try to convince us that it is for our good and good of the country. It is not)

They are creating the perfect environment for a variant to emerge and not be detected in time.

@Chloemol

Ridiculous pandemics last 4 years approx before becoming ‘normal’ such as flu

We don’t have a jab that counters everything, more variants are on the way no doubt, especially as PCRs are not required when flying in now, they maybe just as transmissible as Omicron and look at the impact that has had with cases and the impact on lots of businesses. No tests and we may end up in a much worse position.

150,000 have died, ok some with covid, some of, but we are the worse in Europe and about 6th in the world, shameful

Actually if you look at the death rates per capita we're not actually doing too bad. About 30th in the world and lots of other European countries above us. It's always better to look at these kinds of figures in context

@Wizzbangfizz

Children in secondary and are tested at start of each term, i test them if they have symptoms but will do no more than that. And guidance isn't mandated 🤷‍♀️

You mentioned that you had done everything asked of you. You haven't tested yourself or your children regularly as asked to do so. Yes, it wasn't mandatory, but it was advised.

So, technically you have done some of the things asked for you, but not one of the big asks. Therefore you haven't done all that was asked of you.

Your choice obviously.
But it does mean your comment is inaccurate,

Eventually, yes. But right now they need the testing to control the spead while they work out who's at risk, to what extent, and where the transmission is happening. When they know that they can target the testing to these areas. We won't all be testing forever.

I hate the term ' bed blockers'
Years and years ago care homes were available for people that were affordable and well run by councils
Since it's been ' hived off ' it's become harder to find people places that are suitable and many do turn down the more complex cases , funding is difficult ( if not impossible) to get if you have dementia and finding carers to come to your own home isnt that easy either
People can't look after their relatives , as they did years ago either.
They are not in hospital because they want to be but because the ' system' isn't really fit for purpose and only going to get a lot worse , sadly.
I also am aware of a few people whose parents have arranged trust funds so their homes won't have to pay huge care home fees and will go to their children instead.
Whatever the rights and wrongs of that , it still creates another unfair system where the wealthiest can get away with paying for things. I know councils can look into this, but there must be a few loopholes people can use to get around things , especially if the property is in the children's names.
Who will look after our elderly is a ticking time bomb and many don't end up staying in hospital longer than they should do.

[quote RoyalFamilyFan]@bridegroomxs there are none available for delivery. I am going to have to travel to a pharmacy tomorrow to get some.[/quote]
Ok? So do that then? Why the whinging

@RaoulDufysCat

These people are the worst people in the world. The govt now is an absolute shitshow.

I am ashamed to be part of this crap.

I totally agree. The elderly and vulnerable are there to be disposed of. The poor likewise.

@treeflowercat

We're not in March 2020 any more... Outcomes for Covid have improved dramatically with vaccines and anti-virals, especially with Omicron.

They have improved, but I wouldn't say "dramatically". Outcomes would depend on who you are, your age, where you live, your medical status, the variant you catch, the care you receive (if any) - such a range of variables.

We don't test for flu every day do we? There has to come a point where this testing needs to be scaled down. I know people that have got so paranoid they are requesting daily pcr tests and their children are now neurotic!

some people are clearly pining for 2020
Like those tho reminisce about ‘the war years’ weird how some people want everyone to be under strict orders all the time.

[quote Dishhh]@treeflowercat

We're not in March 2020 any more... Outcomes for Covid have improved dramatically with vaccines and anti-virals, especially with Omicron.

They have improved, but I wouldn't say "dramatically". Outcomes would depend on who you are, your age, where you live, your medical status, the variant you catch, the care you receive (if any) - such a range of variables. [/quote]
Of course it’s dramatic. Two years ago we were seeing images of hospitals over run, shortages of oxygen, emergency hospitals. And now it’s like a bad cold. It’s a huge difference.

Am I imagining the people who are currently in hospital with COVID then?

[quote Dishhh]@treeflowercat

We're not in March 2020 any more... Outcomes for Covid have improved dramatically with vaccines and anti-virals, especially with Omicron.

They have improved, but I wouldn't say "dramatically". Outcomes would depend on who you are, your age, where you live, your medical status, the variant you catch, the care you receive (if any) - such a range of variables. [/quote]
Of course the improvements are dramatic - look at the stats! Or don’t if you prefer to wallow in your gloom.

@camperqueen54

We don't test for flu every day do we? There has to come a point where this testing needs to be scaled down. I know people that have got so paranoid they are requesting daily pcr tests and their children are now neurotic!

No we don't test for flu in the same way.

Covid is not flu.

It is really ignorant to compare the two like that.

@camperqueen54

We don't test for flu every day do we? There has to come a point where this testing needs to be scaled down. I know people that have got so paranoid they are requesting daily pcr tests and their children are now neurotic!

Flu has a death rate of less than 0.1% and not going higher than 0.5% with age. Covid has a death rate of average 1.61%, but depends on a lot of factors (more than in case of flu.)

This small fact might actually explain why we don't test for flu.

HPV, measles, poxes have similar death rate. And we have mandatory vaccines for them. Some have been eradicated.

Polio has been almost eradicated in the western world partially because it has a high death rate and partially because even if it doesn't kill you there is a high chance of severe disability.
Long covid could effect 10-30% of those infected. WE don't know yet what LC can do, but wouldn't it be better to err on the side of caution when it comes to such high probability of being left with life long effects? This is why it infuriates me to here that children are not at risk. Yes they are. And many countries/people are willing to risk their kid's lives.
Until we don't know (and it will be a while) what LC is we should not be recklessly endangering our future generations. It might be fatigue for a few months or it could turn out to trigger a multi organ, system wide set of problems that will last a lifetime to those who are kids or teens at the moment.