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

Nadhim Zawhawi on Sky News has just said they are not stopping lateral flow tests being free.

@Violetparis

Nadhim Zawhawi on Sky News has just said they are not stopping lateral flow tests being free.

Hilarious

The reality is they have no clue what to do next!

@Violetparis

Nadhim Zawhawi on Sky News has just said they are not stopping lateral flow tests being free.

I saw this too .Thank god . Having to keep my home warm enough at the moment is expensive without the added expense of tests .

@RoyalFamilyFan

It means we cant test before meeting up with vulnerable people.

You can but you would have to pay for them.

A virus doesn't become endemic because we stop testing for it. It's a bit like the blind monkey - see no evil. The evil is still there.

Nadhim Zawhawi on Sky News has just said they are not stopping lateral flow tests being free.

This is not the same as them being freely available for anyone who wanted them (which is how it has been)
They might only say they are available for certain professions, or in certain circumstances

personally can't wait for all this craziness to end, fearing it never will because so many people like authoritarianism & cotton wool why don't they all move to China then
Well said - so many on here are loving the madness.

I often wonder why we voted to be governed by Johnson and co. This thread explains it. The lack of empathy, community mindedness and just sheer selfishness on display here tells me why.

err no , why would we ? got screens up anyway , do you reckon supermarket workers and all retail staff are required to seriously
shop work is not exactly working in a hospital
i should think its a pretty good bet that most stores in high streets have staff that not only arent required to test , but dont anyway

I work in retail and everyone I work with tests twice a week, maybe we actually care about our colleagues and customers?

Answering stupid questions from the general public is part of retail. I used to work for a supermarket and we would have 2 months every November/December of customers asking/phoning/coming in specially for a certain product, even travelling for miles. Every year. None of use moaned half as much as you.

personally can't wait for all this craziness to end, fearing it never will because so many people like authoritarianism & cotton wool why don't they all move to China then

Lovely.

@AndAnotherNewOne

Some people would be pleased if all the CEV caught it and died, from reading some posts here.

Selfish fuckers.

But the stats don’t show that Omicron is killing off the vaccinated vulnerable and elderly. A lot of my friends’ elderly parents have had it over Christmas and it’s been like a cold. The vaccines are highly effective in preventing hospitalisation and death even for those who are cev.

Like a lot of things in the NHS that are 'free' to get I think they get abused.

Certainly on here you see people doing multiple a day, also frequently after a positive PCR. If people had to pay then I honestly think that would stop the waste and would be the next step in moving to living with it because if it was really needed then they would provide them (through work, schools etc) and the rest of us would then have to think carefully about when to use one.

@Violetparis

Nadhim Zawhawi on Sky News has just said they are not stopping lateral flow tests being free.

So that means we'll be charged for them soon. (If previous government denials are anything to go by.)

@Stuffin

Like a lot of things in the NHS that are 'free' to get I think they get abused.

Certainly on here you see people doing multiple a day, also frequently after a positive PCR. If people had to pay then I honestly think that would stop the waste and would be the next step in moving to living with it because if it was really needed then they would provide them (through work, schools etc) and the rest of us would then have to think carefully about when to use one.

I agree @Stuffin. It got ridiculous over Christmas with people testing obsessively, particularly when they were trying to get out of isolation early.

This thread is funny, some people are clearly pining for 2020. Hope those of you that are struggling to move on are prepared to avoid contact with other humans for the rest of your lives when testing is no longer accessible.

Can someone go through the thread and count the number of times the word 'selfish' has been used?

not free in France either, €5.20 for one boxed test at our pharmacy.
Having seen how my family in UK use them at such high rates for every social encounter I’m not surprised at the billions spent.

The tests are not free in many countries.

Perhaps the view is that by being free they are actually overused - some people testing unnecessarily?

And it's certainly better for the environment.

@RoyalFamilyFan

In Australia they get free pcr tests for symptoms. We cant get PCR tests now.

This is such bullshit. The nhs website is currently showing availability in all regions and home tests available.

Like a lot of things in the NHS that are 'free' to get I think they get abused.

This.

@HailAdrian

Can someone go through the thread and count the number of times the word 'selfish' has been used?

😂 I’ve lost count!

I agree@Stuffin. It got ridiculous over Christmas with people testing obsessively, particularly when they were trying to get out of isolation early.

We've had covid over new year. We saw a relative who tested positive when we were with them (on 28th) and as close contacts decided not to meet with friends or go to busy places because we knew there was a chance we would get it. We tested every day and 3 out of 4 of us tested positive on 31st. We have been testing every day since day 6 because DH is SE and has missed several days of work. And my kids have had a crap and boring Xmas holiday and the one who hasn't got covid has just had to stay in by default.

@LilyPond2

And if they're planning to continue with testing for secondary school children, how are they going to make sure families don't simply stockpile tests for occasions when they think it would be useful?

I doubt they will worry about this very much.

@RoyalFamilyFan

Okay I am ordering and stockpiling

That is a really selfish thing to do.

Their still worried about it because dh has a pcr on standby. Only he’s allowed to use it & a clinician rings you within 24 hrs if it’s positive.

He’s CEV and there’s no guarantee he made antibodies so I’m waiting for Evushield to get approved. He can’t do an antibody test due to thinners contraindicating him.