Who's done with routinely testing?

[LifesTooShortYOLO]

A lot of people I've spoken to lately have all said they are done with doing lateral flows twice a week and aren't testing anymore as life needs to get back to normal we can't test for ever.
I have to agree...
Last week we did a random lateral flow on DS 5 as we were aware the school had lots of kids with Covid and it came up positive. He is completely asymptomatic and we wouldn't have know he had it if we hadn't of tested.
It got me thinking, who are the mugs here the people testing and 'looking for something' that otherwise wouldn't be aware was there or the people who are not testing so long as they feel well and carrying on with their life. Ignorance is bliss they say.
I can bet a lot of parents aren't testing their kids at school if they appear well and I can't blame them.
So honestly, if you don't work in healthcare and have to test for your job are you routinely still testing with lateral flows if you feel well??

Genuinely, yes. Not everyday, but I know two different teachers who did that - different schools, about five years apart? One was pregnant, had terrible morning sickness. Her argument was "I'm throwing up every forty fucking minutes, I'm not going home". The other was at start of an a level class (who were already behind) and wasn't willing to let them miss an hour's teaching. She went home after that lesson was finished.

@Twiglets1

Preach to someone else. I work in a school and about 50% of pupils say they don’t do flow tests so that’s on their parents isn’t it or as you might say on mumsnet dear parents

@Twiglets1

Call it preaching if you like, I prefer 'pointing out the fucking obvious to those that should know better & do better'. Have some respect for you co-workers.

FGS

Only test if legally required to do so

@JugglingJanuary my colleagues are equally getting sick of testing twice a week and many have admitted they don’t any longer. Schools have been treated with contempt by the government from the start of Covid and now 2 years on, we’ve had enough.

Almost all of my DD’s class have had it now. Most people I know have had it. Who exactly is being “protected” by forcing otherwise well people to isolate for up to ten days?!

@Siameasy

Almost all of my DD’s class have had it now. Most people I know have had it. Who exactly is being “protected” by forcing otherwise well people to isolate for up to ten days?!

More than that, it’s about who’s “left behind” by not testing and isolating.

There’s a prevailing assumption that the CV are left behind.

But that’s not right. They also are better off by having a quick peak and ramp down, far more so than drawing out high numbers.

The only circumstance that would be the wrong conclusion is if we were already close to low numbers. But that’s long been not the case.

Seems the government is finally getting that point — whether inadvertently or because of good scientific advice. Either way, I’m happy to see sense prevailing for a change.

Almost all of my DD’s class have had it now. Most people I know have had it. Who exactly is being “protected” by forcing otherwise well people to isolate for up to ten days?!

And even those who haven't had it will probably catch it anyway. Omicron is very very transmissible.

As long as the health system is coping it's much better to get over this wave quickly rather than draw it out with continuous isolations.

@Siameasy

Almost all of my DD’s class have had it now. Most people I know have had it. Who exactly is being “protected” by forcing otherwise well people to isolate for up to ten days?!

@Siameasy - yes but now we are on our second and third infections.

We decided to stop at work after Christmas

The testing protocols where I live keep changing, but at the moment they are saying not to test unless you have symptoms, as it's not effective.

I am actually pretty doubtful at this point if testing with symptoms is effective as covid is just everywhere at the moment, as we are near what is likely our omicron peak, everyone who is going out is being exposed in any case.

Nonetheless people are freaking about about test access, as in, when a site opens up with them available to the public, they are swamped with people demanding them, and there have even been some scuffles! . My own feeling is that for many it's now more like an amulet - it is something they do to feel in control.

I'm done with it. Don't have any lateral flows in the house and don't plan on getting any. Probably wouldn't even PCR with symptoms now either tbh unless they were very obviously Covid (and I'm only saying that because it's what people want to hear tbh). None of this PCR because I've got a runny nose, PCR because I've had an upset tummy or because I've coughed a few times.

None of this PCR because I've got a runny nose, PCR because I've had an upset tummy or because I've coughed a few times.

As someone with a permanently blocked and runny nose, chronic cough and regular dodgy stomach I've never had a PCR for those symptoms as I'd need one most days!

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

None of this PCR because I've got a runny nose, PCR because I've had an upset tummy or because I've coughed a few times.

As someone with a permanently blocked and runny nose, chronic cough and regular dodgy stomach I've never had a PCR for those symptoms as I'd need one most days!

I've seen it said on here!

There was one thread where a woman's work was saying she should have a PCR because she'd had an upset tummy the day before. No other symptoms, no Covid symtpoms at all and posters were saying (quite a lot of them too) that ABSOLUTELY she needed to have a PCR.

World's gone mad.

Ridiculous! I’m not testing every time I have my normal issues! I remember being told on here that I should stay indoors until my cough has gone as I might frighten people. I’ve had it over 10 years…

I’m sure some people enjoy having a bloody PCR!

Stopped after Xmas and was only doing every so often prior to that. I have no intention of testing for anything other than needing to for travel now.