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 😅

And I’m really not sure about the continuation of free tests for those who need them. All I know is there was a spat between Sunak and Javed yesterday and Sunak won. It’s not looking good.

@Belladonna12 I have given a reason. It's been advised by my consultant. If I test positive I have to contact the hospital immediately.

Of course you don't have to give specific details of your qualifications, and I didn't ask for them - just what field of medicine you're in, which of course you don't have to disclose either (I said if you don't mind me asking). I just wanted to know how reliable your statements/advice on autoimmune conditions was - there are so many people who claim to be experts (and to know more about individual patients' conditions than their own consultants!) on the internet. If you're offering advice/opinions in the capacity of a medically qualified person, it's helpful to know which field you're in. That's all.

How much will LFTs cost? It's a different scenario if they are £1 a test or £10 a test.
Like many on immune suppressants I have been advised to LFT daily. At £1 a test, I probably wouldn't but would on injection day. At £10 a test, then it gets difficult even to do that weekly.
Where it costs too much, you perhaps forgo testing (possibly get very ill and cost the NHS 100k for your stay) or you stop taking the drugs and cost the NHS / Gov 100k over the next 10 years as your health deteriorates and you can no longer work or afford a home. (Numbers made up obvs)

I am not happy at having to pay massive extra taxes for 20 years to pay for measures which I have fundamentally been against.

That's a good point. We and our children will have to pay for all this for many years to come!

There will be households with stockpiled boxes of LFTs. I can imagine a lot will end up in landfill in coming weeks and months. What a total waste.

and yet if I want to go abroad I am not allowed to use a UK free covid test whilst abroad or when I get back for the 2 tests I am still obliged to have when I return to the UK despite never have had a single covid test so far (the vaccinated in the UK do not have to have nor pay for those 3 tests for which I would have to pay were I to go abroad and then return to the UK).

My friend lives in Spain and tests there have never been free. People abuse things when they are free.

Yes there's certainly been many tests wasted or misused - sometimes to get a positive result to stay off school or work.

And think of all the plastic....!

[quote 0pheliaBaIIs]@Belladonna12 I have given a reason. It's been advised by my consultant. If I test positive I have to contact the hospital immediately.

Of course you don't have to give specific details of your qualifications, and I didn't ask for them - just what field of medicine you're in, which of course you don't have to disclose either (I said if you don't mind me asking). I just wanted to know how reliable your statements/advice on autoimmune conditions was - there are so many people who claim to be experts (and to know more about individual patients' conditions than their own consultants!) on the internet. If you're offering advice/opinions in the capacity of a medically qualified person, it's helpful to know which field you're in. That's all.[/quote]
But surely you know why the consultant advised it? The procedure now is that the covid treatment unit will contact you if you test positive. Your consultant isn't involved unless they don't contact you 24 hours after testing positive and even then you will just be referred to the treatment unit. They won't treat you if you don't have symptoms regardless of a positive lateral flow test.
I haven't given any statement on your specific drugs/treatment as I don't know what you are taking. If would only give information in relation to official advice anyway (with links) so you don't really need to know my qualifications.

@Garysmum it's a massive worry isn't it. You make excellent points re cost effectiveness, too. Surely it's cheaper to supply a few hundred thousand boxes of LFTs a week than pay for the care of those who become gravely ill with Covid, or those who decide taking their drugs is too risky so live with the ill health/disability/inability to work that goes with disease progression.

@Belladonna12 as you can see, the advice to test daily is not just a whim of my consultant. Many immunosuppressed people are given the same advice.

@Belladonna12 I'm not sure why you're so invested in attempting to prove me wrong.

I am on immunosuppressant drugs. I have several health conditions, the most concerning of which is an autoimmune disease. I am CEV (four vaccines). My consultant has advised me to test daily, and that it's particularly important to do so on the day I inject my medication.

What you think is correct procedure doesn't really come into it.

I believe that CEV/immunosuppressed people who have been advised to test regularly should have access to free tests. To do otherwise is to go against the advice of those caring for us and would come at a great cost both to our health and to the NHS (far greater than the cost of testing).

You believe that CEV/immunosuppressed people shouldn't have access to free tests, despite this being the actual advice of those caring for us (as opposed to someone on the internet purporting to be a medical expert but unwilling to disclose in which field).

We're never going to agree, clearly.

@Belladonna12 as you can see, the advice to test daily is not just a whim of my consultant. Many immunosuppressed people are given the same advice.

Two people on mumsnet does not mean 500,000 people need daily lateral flow tests. As I said, if expert groups give that advice for people on specific drugs then I am sure you will receive them. I don't think it applies to most immunousppressed people now that there are covid treatment which are only given if symptomatic.

[quote Belladonna12]**@Belladonna12 as you can see, the advice to test daily is not just a whim of my consultant. Many immunosuppressed people are given the same advice.

Two people on mumsnet does not mean 500,000 people need daily lateral flow tests. As I said, if expert groups give that advice for people on specific drugs then I am sure you will receive them. I don't think it applies to most immunousppressed people now that there are covid treatment which are only given if symptomatic.[/quote]
I suspect that if a thousand MNers said the same you'd still suggest it wasn't so.

Besides, I have never said that 500,000 people need daily LFTs. I said that I've been advised to, and many others have also. And it's essential we test on medication day.

As I say, we're never going to agree. Best move on, eh.

@Belladonna12 I'm not sure why you're so invested in attempting to prove me wrong.

Lol. I could say the same thing about you.

What you think is correct procedure doesn't really come into it.

The same goes for your opinion.

I believe that CEV/immunosuppressed people who have been advised to test regularly should have access to free tests. To do otherwise is to go against the advice of those caring for us and would come at a great cost both to our health and to the NHS (far greater than the cost of testing).

I believe that they should access free daily tests even if asymptomatic if expert groups advise that. I don't think they have but if they do for specific groups you will be able to get free tests.

everyone in RL is positive about these changes and having our freedom back!

only on MN is there negativity

Free testing and isolation payments for a bit longer in Scotland. Good news for those who need it.

@GirlInACountrySong

everyone in RL is positive about these changes and having our freedom back!

only on MN is there negativity

I think this is like Brexit - there are ‘subgroups’ within which pretty much everyone feels the same, so it feels as if ‘everyone everywhere’ thinks likewise. I know no-one in RL who thinks these changes are wholly positive - but equally am aware that this is a ‘subgroup’ opinion rather than in any way reflecting a national mood.

@GirlInACountrySong

everyone in RL is positive about these changes and having our freedom back!

only on MN is there negativity

I'm delighted that life is getting back to normal for most people. Enough is enough and it's time to get on with it.

I just don't think it's fair or reasonable to remove the main thing vulnerable people use to protect themselves, particularly now we'll be coming into contact far more often with covid positive people.

Free testing and isolation payments for a bit longer in Scotland. Good news for those who need it.

And bad news for those paying for it.

And bad news for those paying for it.

It’s part of living in a society. Suck it up.

@RockstarDotCom

And bad news for those paying for it.

It’s part of living in a society. Suck it up.

I think this makes those relieved that they are ending, even more so.

@Blubells

I am not happy at having to pay massive extra taxes for 20 years to pay for measures which I have fundamentally been against.

That's a good point. We and our children will have to pay for all this for many years to come!

So far the Government has borrowed and spent £450 billion to combat Covid.

This works out at £6.6k for every person or £14k for every working person or £27k for every income tax payer (only 57% of those working earn over the income tax threshold)).

Given that this debt incurs interest which rises during high inflation it will take a lot more than 20 years to clear.

Another interesting note on the scale of this figure is that if you put one pound in a very big jam jar every second it would take 11 days to reach a million. To get to £450 billion it would take 13,500 years or 11500 BC - basically the time of the first ice age (sabre tooth tigers / mammoths etc).

Cost of LFTs in Boots.

From the Independent -

"From “early March” the retailer said it will offer lateral flow tests in over 400 stores at £2.50 per test or £12 for a pack of five. These tests will also be available for £4.75 for two tests and four tests at £9.50 online."

*So far the Government has borrowed and spent £450 billion to combat Covid.

This works out at £6.6k for every person or £14k for every working person or £27k for every income tax payer (only 57% of those working earn over the income tax threshold)).

Given that this debt incurs interest which rises during high inflation it will take a lot more than 20 years to clear.

Another interesting note on the scale of this figure is that if you put one pound in a very big jam jar every second it would take 11 days to reach a million. To get to £450 billion it would take 13,500 years or 11500 BC - basically the time of the first ice age (sabre tooth tigers / mammoths etc).*

And that's before interest rates have risen much! This huge debt will become increasingly expensive to pay back.

"From “early March” the retailer said it will offer lateral flow tests in over 400 stores at £2.50 per test or £12 for a pack of five. These tests will also be available for £4.75 for two tests and four tests at £9.50 online."

That's quite cheap considering that they cost between £5 and £8 to produce. I wonder if the Government is subsidising them?

@1dayatatime interesting. Add higher (is it 2x?) Brexit costs into the mix and where do we end up?