How do you feel about testing/isolation ending?

[Usernumber5253747293]

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 😅

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

It's the money thing. If you're self-employed or don't get sick pay, how can you really?

But @Scarby9 that seems hugely wrong to deny you and them the opportunity to spend time together over an illness that are presumably fully vaccinated against. I'm not trying to be goady but surely that is no way to live?

I'm a bit confused. What's the rules for carers with regards to testing? Can carers go to work with covid and not wear a mask?

@Tuilpmouse for some people
Not sure how effective but it means me
Testing ASAP
Sending off the PCR
Getting a positive PCR ASAP
Ringing 119/my GP/consultant to try and get a callback
A HCP calls you back to decide if you're suitable
Then you go to wherever the treatment is available whether it's anti viral/antibodies
I'm guessing at this point I might not be unwell so also have to take the time off work to do all this before I get unwell

Where for instance now, I get a chest infection. I open my drawer at home and take out rescue antibiotics and take them. Done

@Wizzbangfizz

But *@Scarby9* that seems hugely wrong to deny you and them the opportunity to spend time together over an illness that are presumably fully vaccinated against. I'm not trying to be goady but surely that is no way to live?

If you're immunosuppressed, being fully vaccinated doesn't mean you're protected. Not saying that's the case with Scarby's parents, but don't make the assumption that vaccines work for everyone.

Covid has long ceased to be the monster it was in March 2020. We have vaccinations to prevent and medication to treat. Life has to get back to normal.

It's interesting that the Downing St briefing is only on Channel 4 (of the mainstream channels), not on BBC1,2 or ITV. Whilst I'm in favour of dropping the restrictions I find it very surprising that the briefing explaining what's happening isn't more
Important than the One Show or Emmerdale.

Unless I'm mistaken and it's not live and it was earlier?

@Juno22

It's interesting that the Downing St briefing is only on Channel 4 (of the mainstream channels), not on BBC1,2 or ITV. Whilst I'm in favour of dropping the restrictions I find it very surprising that the briefing explaining what's happening isn't more Important than the One Show or Emmerdale.

Unless I'm mistaken and it's not live and it was earlier?

It is live, I'm watching it on BBC news channel, also surprised it's not on BBC 1 and the One Show on 2

@Benjispruce5

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.

I agree without testing we will never know if a more lethal variant develops until we se a large number of deaths, at which point the genie really is out of the bottle and it's too late.

This is probably a stupid question but if they remove testing for most people, how will they know when any new variants develop, will it take people being hospitalised for them to find this out now?

@Scianel

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

It's the money thing. If you're self-employed or don't get sick pay, how can you really?

This has been the case for self employed people throughout the pandemic. The so called 'measures' that were introduced to give sick pay to the self employed were a complete nonsense as the criteria for acceptance was incredibly tight and only a minuscule percentage of people fit the criteria.

@DarlingCoffee I believe surveillance will carry on. Since the stat of the pandemic there have been random tests sent out to gauge the level of infection. My colleague’s family received a pack.

I have mixed feelings about it. From some of the things people are saying on here and Twitter, it sounds like some are almost revelling in the fact they can now go and spread covid around on public transport and in the office. I had hoped the pandemic would mark a shift in our attitudes towards being out and about when ill in general - even the PM mentioned in that press conference how other European countries have a different attitude towards being off sick.

My job is permanently WFH but for the part of our business that is office/warehouse based, my workplace has announced today people with covid will not be allowed to come into work and free LFTs will always be provided. This makes a lot of sense because an outbreak would really damage the business and cost a lot more than some LFTs and sick pay. A lot of my friends are self-employed and a few have had covid and actually been way too ill to work and lost a big chunk of their monthly income as a result, so it's not as simple saying isolation has been costing a lot to business and causing a problem for the self-employed. The more covid there is in circulation, the more likely people are to catch it and feel actually pretty ill for a week.

What other illnesses do you legally have to self isolate for in the UK? Really curious and can't seem to find out.

I think they're making a big mistake. Too many people won't take reasonable precautions or stay home if they have symptoms - either because they don't want to, or can't afford to. The restrictions we had left were minimal - stay home if you test positive - that was it really. And I think that was entirely reasonable. Now testing is going too how we we know anyway? I think this pandemic has shown you can't rely on enough people using common sense. People are getting repeatedly ill, some badly, a jumbo jet load of people dying most days. That's not 'normal'. My advice? Buy some really good masks and wear them, donate a HEPA filter to your kids school if you can afford it and start doing the Zoe app every day because we need some way to keep track of cases. Take care everyone.

To be honest the people like me who can't afford to continue to isolate have already stopped testing and are going to work anyway even if we have symptoms. So not sure how much difference it will actually make.

Can't wait. I've only tested for one 7 day period which was a waste of time because I hadn't caught it.

Have about 7 packs of 7 tests DC kept bringing home from school knocking around at home now clogging up space.

Roll on Thursday.

@Wizzbangfizz and @OpheliaBalls
I agree it is no way to live.

My dad takes a chance each day he can, taking my mum out to a farm shop, cafe or National Trust property. I go to see them, despite working in schools.

But he is immunosuppressed, and he is the carer for my mum, and it is so hard to shift the mindset to go back to pre- March 2020.

a jumbo jet load of people dying most days.

In the UK? You clearly have no idea how many people can actually fit on a jumbo jet.

@downtonabbeyfan1234

What other illnesses do you legally have to self isolate for in the UK? Really curious and can't seem to find out.

I’m not aware of any. But there are reportable diseases, such as measles, I believe.

Its Interesting to me that everyone has jumped on the ‘no need to isolate’ bandwagon and ignoring the actual advice that is still to isolate. The legal requirement to isolate has gone but the advice is still to isolate if you have symptoms and if you are living with someone with covid then you should limit your contacts. Isolation for illness is not new and is not limited to covid and you’ll always get those who try to limit passing illness to others and those who don’t give a shit

I am glad restrictions and isolating are going. I'm in the CV category.
I do feel for those who are CEV, it must be difficult not to worry

What did CEV do about other infectious diseases eg flu etc before covid? Were they anxious about catching viruses particularly during winter or has covid been the beginning or increased those concerns? Genuine not goady question by the way

@FreakinFrankNFurter

I am glad restrictions and isolating are going. I'm in the CV category. I do feel for those who are CEV, it must be difficult not to worry

What did CEV do about other infectious diseases eg flu etc before covid? Were they anxious about catching viruses particularly during winter or has covid been the beginning or increased those concerns? Genuine not goady question by the way

Everyone keeps asking this so long post! I've had colds and was fine Chest infections, so so (I need antibiotics pretty quickly and have pneumonia before) Flu - vaccine, had it once and been fine I have a stomach of steel but my chest/throat is a week spot

But never in my life have I been told to shield, emphasised not to come in contact with anyone with covid, told to wear a mask, offered anti virals/antibody treatment etc etc etc for anything else

The issue I think some people don't see is they think immunocompromised is months/a year/whilst on treatment. Mine is lifelong. So it's trying to balance not making myself ill physically whilst not making myself ill mentally and also being able to live. I want to go to the supermarket, to a bar, to date etc etc

I have protocols for stuff, rescue antibiotics. If people are unwell at work then I work in the corridor by myself as my work has no windows to open. I don't let people visit me who are unwell. It's fucking exhausting, my mental health is shot, I'm so so tired working FT and there is no support when you're not entitled to any form of benefits. Only get free prescriptions now as my body decided to add hashimotos to my list

Can't get critical illness cover, can't get life insurance. It's great(!)

I feel like I’ve been punched even though I knew it was coming. And some of it needs to change - just not everything at once.

I have Long Covid & no one is giving me any antivirals to stop me getting this ill again and again… the vaccine didn’t get rid of it either.

I thought the total lockdowns were OTT, & the relaxation of the rules NOW is clearly politically driven rather than sensible… Just where is the middle ground?!

I haven’t worked for many months now and haven’t been paid anyway, so it’s not that I want (a pathetic amount of) sick pay either.

My family is facing a huge lifestyle change. We can’t go on with me this ill, and still go to the supermarket/ theatre or whatever - it’s too risky now. My poor kids have suffered enough.

I don’t know how to adjust our whole lives to meet this rule change. The risks have just increased so much.

There is no medication or even much investigation for the ever growing number of people with Long covid.

I’m lucky not to have a serious illness like many of those who are immunocompromised - but our quality of life is very poor - and people are just really dismissive. Im not sure what on earth to do next.

My colleague seems to have long covid

But he's used up all of his sickness so is plodding on. He won't go to the doctor to get signed off because we are SO stretched with up to 40% of our workforce off with covid/isolating. Customers still wanting 'service' and many of us about to go off with stress due to covering several jobs!

We can't win