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Original poster

How do you feel about testing/isolation ending?

488 replies

Usernumber5253747293 · 19/02/2022 20:16

If it happens ^

I was speaking to a relative earlier and I was saying how glad I will be when and if all the isolation and testing rules end. It's not that I don't take covid seriously, because we really have. I spent nearly 2 years being so anxious about getting to catching it and being fine!! I know not everyone gets away with it's so mildly but my experience of covid wasn't too bad at all!

Anyway, both dc have sen. Isolation periods have been hard (Dd has had covid twice) m, holding down to test them has been hard, waiting for test results etc. I can't bloody wait to feel like I don't have to anymore. We all had covid in December. The isolation period was hell, far worse than the actual illness. My dc were climbing the walls! Dc had barely any symptoms really and found the isolation hard.

Of course if dc were ill I'd keep them off until better as I would have before covid. I've always kept my kids away from people when germy.

My relative is moaning about all the rules ending and how it will spread it! Which is ironic as they were very poorly last month with covid symptoms and didn't test or isolate but that's another story 😅

I just feel people should use their common sense. If you feel ill, stay home. If you have to go out when ill don't go too close to people, wash your hands and practise good respiratory hygiene!

It's a good thing right? Surely I'm not the only one waiting ever so patiently for any announcement over it 😅

OP posts:
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5
PlanetNormal · 21/02/2022 17:01

Fantastic news. Absolutely the right thing to do, and the right time to do it.

Well said Boris. 👏👏👏

Florelei · 21/02/2022 17:06

I want to know about nhs and care workers. Surely it cannot be allowed for a covid positive person to go into a care home amongst the most vulnerable

Mumofsend · 21/02/2022 17:20

On a really selfish, individual level for my family I'm glad as the isolations and testing cause us specifically more harm than covid has.

However, I don't necessarily think it's the best thing for the country as a whole and I'm not sure I agree with it, even if it does make my own life better

GirlInACountrySong · 21/02/2022 17:20

@Florelei

I want to know about nhs and care workers. Surely it cannot be allowed for a covid positive person to go into a care home amongst the most vulnerable

They wear a mask!

freckles20 · 21/02/2022 17:32

@Mumofsend

On a really selfish, individual level for my family I'm glad as the isolations and testing cause us specifically more harm than covid has.

However, I don't necessarily think it's the best thing for the country as a whole and I'm not sure I agree with it, even if it does make my own life better

Sorry to hear that @Mumofsend. The difficulties caused and exacerbated by lockdown on so many people is a huge issue. These difficulties are very real and people vulnerable to isolation measures should not take a backseat to the needs of the CEV.
Florelei · 21/02/2022 17:32

And @GirlInACountrySong I also think the requirement to wear a mask in hospital, care and pharmacy settings is being removed.

However, haven’t we been repeatedly told on here that masks don’t work? This doesn’t sit right with me at all.

I mean not a few months back we were SACKING people for not being vaccinated despite them having to test negative every few days now we are in a situation where people think it’s ok for someone with covid to care for a very vulnerable person if they wear a mask? That doesn’t make sense to me.

niclw · 21/02/2022 17:37

I'm worried. As a single parent with no one other than my 70 year old parents to care for my DS if something happened to me I am concerned. I am a secondary schoolteacher and in my school as soon as masks were removed our COVID numbers skyrocketed. Since then 10% of both the student and staff body have been positive with COVID at any one time. We went back to masks and numbers dropped again (only 8 off in total), back off again and numbers at 10% again. We got parents who when the initial rules were in place tested positive but sent their children to school despite a 14 day isolation rule saying they should stay home. With everything being dropped, most will be sensible but for some there is no chance of them staying home. And before anyone accuses me of being a snowflake teacher please remember my concern is for my son being left alone. He is only 3 years old. I'm on the verge of quitting teaching anyway as I've done 17 years and want a change of scene. I was going to wait until my sone starts school. I'm now seriously considering handing my resignation in on Monday morning and leaving at Easter. My son W ill be safer not having me mixing with 1000 students a day.

0pheliaBaIIs · 21/02/2022 17:38

@PlanetNormal

Fantastic news. Absolutely the right thing to do, and the right time to do it.

Well said Boris. 👏👏👏

What are your views on CEV people not having access to LFTs?
MrsTrumpton · 21/02/2022 17:51

I'm pleased, but also conflicted. I had Covid recently and was quite ill for the first few days but then quickly recovered – but I was still testing positive on day 10. The idea that I could nip to the shops sans mask on those days where I was still infectious and potentially infect a CEV person makes me feel a bit sick. It's been so drummed into us that we need to protect the vulnerable that now it feels like we're doing a complete 180 on it.

Benjispruce5 · 21/02/2022 17:54

As far as I can see it’s only the legal requirement that is being lifted. We are still advised to stay home if we have or suspect we have Covid. I think it’s a bit premature. What’s the rush?

AskingforaBaskin · 21/02/2022 17:56

@Benjispruce5

As far as I can see it’s only the legal requirement that is being lifted. We are still advised to stay home if we have or suspect we have Covid. I think it’s a bit premature. What’s the rush?
Everyone's broke.
containsnuts · 21/02/2022 17:56

He says they are working with retailers to ensure LFTs will be available to purchase. It seems the emphasis has shifted from saving billions in taxpayer's money to generating billions in company profits.

MarshaBradyo · 21/02/2022 17:57

I’m relieved to hear re saving taxpayers’ money

It’s going to be bad as it is.

Coconut49 · 21/02/2022 18:00

I'm delighted. Excess deaths are below average for time of year. It has weakened to basically a cold. Yes, vulnerable people may become very ill with it but they may also become ill if they get any other virus or normal cold. It is not something we need to waste money on now. If the world had never had Covid, and suddenly Omicron arrived, nobody would have known about it at all because the hospitalisation and death figures would not be a concern. It now needs to be relegated to just another 'cold' like virus amongst the huge number of viruses that circulate all of the time, especially in the winter. I would definitely be more concerned about getting flu.

Benjispruce5 · 21/02/2022 18:06

It’s such an about turn. I really hope this gamble pays off because if another variant crops up because of uncurtailed spread, stating all the restrictions up again will be harder.

nether · 21/02/2022 18:10

Yes, vulnerable people may become very ill with it but they may also become ill if they get any other virus or normal cold

This is not true.

Other treatments are much more readily available for the other diseases you mention. And they are typically in much lower circulation than covid (still is, even though falling).

Covid is not just like a cold, even though the current variant usually does not require hospitalisation for most

VikingOnTheFridge · 21/02/2022 18:26

Isolation requirements going is a good thing, though that was inevitably happening next month anyway. But I'd prefer to see provision made for ECV people who need them to be able to keep free LFT access. It's one thing the state not subsidising people who feel the need to do them before they go to Tesco, quite another when people have complex conditions.

Tuilpmouse · 21/02/2022 18:26

@nether

Yes, vulnerable people may become very ill with it but they may also become ill if they get any other virus or normal cold

This is not true.

Other treatments are much more readily available for the other diseases you mention. And they are typically in much lower circulation than covid (still is, even though falling).

Covid is not just like a cold, even though the current variant usually does not require hospitalisation for most

Aren't treatments for Covid very available for those who are very vulnerable?... certainly as available non-Covid treatments.
Tuilpmouse · 21/02/2022 18:28

@VikingOnTheFridge

Isolation requirements going is a good thing, though that was inevitably happening next month anyway. But I'd prefer to see provision made for ECV people who need them to be able to keep free LFT access. It's one thing the state not subsidising people who feel the need to do them before they go to Tesco, quite another when people have complex conditions.
Are they being withdrawn for everyone, including the CEV? If that's so, I can't get on board with that, and will write to my MP if that's the case.
AndAsIfByMagic · 21/02/2022 18:29

The advice, after Thursday, is for those infected to isolate for 5 days. This in order to protect others.

How many here will take that advice, now it is no longer compulsory?

It's the right thing to do but it seems some here have no intention of protecting others.

GirlInACountrySong · 21/02/2022 18:31

i wont be isolating unless i'm fully paid

VikingOnTheFridge · 21/02/2022 18:32

Are they being withdrawn for everyone, including the CEV? If that's so, I can't get on board with that, and will write to my MP if that's the case

Some symptomatic people who are elderly or vulnerable, but the details are still being thrashed out. I didnt see anything about asymptomatic at all.

poshme · 21/02/2022 18:35

France stopped providing free tests in October (I think) you have to pay about €30 for an LFT.

VikingOnTheFridge · 21/02/2022 18:38

@AndAsIfByMagic

The advice, after Thursday, is for those infected to isolate for 5 days. This in order to protect others.

How many here will take that advice, now it is no longer compulsory?

It's the right thing to do but it seems some here have no intention of protecting others.

Isolating when you have covid requires access to testing. Many of us won't have that much longer.
Scarby9 · 21/02/2022 18:39

I have just been contacted by Track and Trace (or whatever they are called) as a close contact for a friend I met for lunch on Saturday.

This is the first time I have been traced, and we have only met indoors about 6 times since September 2020.

The text says I should be careful over contact with vulnerable people, ie. my parents who I am supposed to be going to stay with tomorrow for a few days.

I know that, from Thursday, every time they go out they could legitimately meet people with actual Covid, who will no longer have to isolate, but I just can't justify going to visit them.

We have worked so hard to protect them, and they have limited their lives so much. I can't imagine ever being relaxed about this again.