No lateral flows left.. 🙈

[Zolla]

Ahh. As predicted, they announce the end of free testing and people have gone wild on ordering the free ones 😂 Shock.

I think at the point they are rolling out 4th jabs for over 75s then at some point people will have to stop testing all the time.

@lucylucyapplejuicy

I think at the point they are rolling out 4th jabs for over 75s then at some point people will have to stop testing all the time.

Many CEV people have had four jabs already.

Unfortunately for immunosuppressed people, vaccines often do not work very well. Testing is our first line of defence, not vaccines.

Well, it was our first line of defence.

@0pheliaBaIIs sorry I must admit I'm quite clueless when it comes to how immunosuppressed people are managing. I imagine it must be a nerve wracking time. Hopefully there can be some middle ground where the people who feel safe to are able to get on with life but CEV still have some measures to protect them.

@whynotwhatknot

i think its a massive mistake dropping isolation plus free testing-people wont/cant pay so it will be rife come next month

But we won't know it

I have been ordering an extra box a week so have a stash now for my household.

Because I do not trust the Governments plan.

Because I want to sporadically test especially before visiting older relatives or those who are immune compromised.

Do you think its a good thing that the Government want to hide Covid figures?

Not be able to quickly pick up deadlier variants?

To not worry about long Covid?

It's going to be interesting how it pans out. My ds had covid picked up on a LFT at school for sneezing. So not one of the symptoms. I think unless one of us was coughing or lost taste / smell we wont be testing or thinking about covid. Hardly anyone will be picking up asymptomatic cases and they wont be reported back. Regardless of whether that's right or wrong it's going to be reality. We have two boxed of LFT and I have told dh not to use one unless he feels like death. His boss will definitely be telling people to come into work even with confirmed covid. Let's hope it continues to mutate in the right direction

I ordered a box yesterday because DH's employer asks people to do them before going into the office. They arrived today. I am not a greedy wotsit - this is only the second box of them I have ordered - the rest came from a holiday in Guernsey which we paid £5 a box for, and ds had some when he was at sixth form college.

But once they're gone, they're gone, I am not ordering any more, and if DH's employer wants people to test in future, they will have to buy and provide them. I suspect they won't.

To not worry about long Covid

do we know that Omicron causes long covid? It's only been around 3 months.

No one said Omicron causes Long Covid? But I am finding it hard to ignore the scary number of healthy young adults who are suffering from it.

I'm freelance and some clients currently require me to test the day before. If they continue to ask then I will have to pay for tests once I don't have any left. However I think we will see a gradual acceptance that testing is no longer required. If tests aren't free then there is no doubt people will lie about taking a test.

Ultimately we have to get on with life and if people want to test for social reasons then it can't be funded indefinitely by the government. I'd rather see that funding used to clear NHS backlogs.

I know people who test almost every time they are going somewhere. It has to stop.

It's why I ordered 2 boxes last week when it was mooted. It will calm down in a few days

Testing is costing 2 billion a month, it’s crazy money

I’m really shocked at some of these posts wanting free testing. So you can sing in a choir, really? It gives you peace of mind with your mum? Then pay for it.

@Chestofdraws

Testing is costing 2 billion a month, it’s crazy money

I’m really shocked at some of these posts wanting free testing. So you can sing in a choir, really? It gives you peace of mind with your mum? Then pay for it.

People with money can.

But once again, the poor are thrown to the wolves.

NHS Funding is 190 billion for EVERYTHING. You think it REALLY costs 24 billion a year for testing?

I don't really get it either. When are you supposed to do a LFT after Thursday, just in day to day life?
Some people will want to test before seeing vulnerable/elderly family members.

I'm a teacher. I've been getting my LFTs through work so I'm wondering if this will continue?

@Katya213

Why do people want them as the need to test stops on Thurs? I'm just curious in case I've missed something

Well I need them to visit my dad in a care home. I didn't panic order any, so may be high and dry when our pack runs out.

Haven’t RTWT but my parents test every day even if they’re not going anywhere or not seeing anyone. DM is CV but tried saying that daily testing in those circumstances isn’t necessary but falls on deaf ears. DM also has an element of health anxiety too and I don’t think that daily testing is doing that any good either.

My husband's Royal Mail delivery office is over-run with them. People are ordering way too many. It's selfish and greedy.

I know one thing, the amount of employees that will not wanting you testing and to get your backside into work, symptoms or not. That will be mine included. If I want to take ten days off isolation, it will go down as sick.

@Katya213

I understand what everybody is saying but after thursday it will be unreasonable to ask people to test if that's not what the law says. It's like, everywhere is open but doctors surgeries, you are not allowed to book an appointment other than on the day and even then, you are triaged by the receptionist for a telephone call? What's all that about?

The current advice for those who are critically vulnerable (immune suppressed) is to mix only with vaccinated people, and that all visitors should LFT

And issues from isolation - both MH and working life - are so much graver. I really hope people won't think it's unreasonable to follow government advice (even when it's not law) so that the most vulnerable can see people occasionally

@Katya213

I know one thing, the amount of employees that will not wanting you testing and to get your backside into work, symptoms or not. That will be mine included. If I want to take ten days off isolation, it will go down as sick.

But you won't need to isolate from Thursday? You'll just take the time you need off ill as you would with any other illness.

But once again, the poor are thrown to the wolves

No they are not, they will be tested if it’s medically required and for free. Since when have we let people carry out tests as standard for free so they can do leisure activities or have peace of mind?

@Katya213

I know one thing, the amount of employees that will not wanting you testing and to get your backside into work, symptoms or not. That will be mine included. If I want to take ten days off isolation, it will go down as sick.

Why would you want ten days isolation? It’s no longer a requirement. If you have symptoms and are Ill then like any other illness you stay home till you’re better. If you fancy ten days off to isolate of course you shouldn’t be paid for it.