Being honest, who else is doing this?

[HonestTest]

Talking to a group of friends who are split between what they now do in regards to Covid. None are CEV.

Some still testing for every symptom on either LFTs or PCRs and isolating if positive as previously required for up to 10 days (or early if neg day 6/7).

Others, like me, now not testing at all even with potential symptoms and just staying in until they feel well enough like they would have in 2019 whether that's 3 days or 10.

What are you doing now?

When tests start to cost I imagine we'll see the number of people bothering with them drop but it's been very freeing to not have to bother anymore with the circus of scrambling to find a box of gold dust lfts every time my DC or I sneezes and just treating what could be potentially Covid (I wouldn't know) like anything else.

(I appreciate the answer to this will be entirely different if you are CEV and that these people will still have access to free testing and will understandably want to do so).

I test after I've been mixing with large groups of people and public spaces. Last weekend we went to a party so I'll test tomorrow. I've not had any symptoms though but I might be asymptomatic.

I only tested recently because we were really ill and I needed to know if it was covid in terms of what help we could have. And then continued testing until we were neg to meet a baby.

I wouldn't test otherwise. And I won't buy any tests.

There is also research that the vaccine is causing long term side affects, heart problems and strokes etc

Oh go away.

@Alexandra2001

Govt is full on Living with Covid, me testing or not is irrelevant, esp as few SD or wear a mask.

Ukraine has removed CV from our horizon, despite admissions up and people getting it more seriously as vaxx wear off.

even Ukraine is further down the news

With 1 person in 24 having Omicron what's the point in testing all the time? If you don't work in a hospital or care home etc then why are you doing it?

Haven't really thought about Covid for a few weeks now but i haven't had any symptoms or causes to worry

I mentioned up thread that I test after mixing in large groups as I'm more likely to catch something. If I am positive then I'll quarantine to prevent people from catching it from me. That's how the virus is rising again because people are mixing more & not quarantining when positive. So the virus is circulating more rather than retreating.

We are still testing and we have also been covid positive, have self isolated.

I appreciate the answer to this will be entirely different if you are CEV

Thing is, you don’t know if someone you come into contact with in passing is CEV.

You also don’t know - and should NOT assume - that everybody will have a “mild” go of COVID. Some people are made very I’ll by this nasty disease. It is not “just like a cold.”

Defintely testing if known close contact or symptoms, or before seeing anyone vulnerable. DS and I had COVID in January, but I know that doesn't count as out as being able to catch it although I consider it still fairly unlikely for another month, but not assuming any extra protection from that after Easter.

DH and I can both work from home, so would if either us had or suspected we'd have it we'd self isolate. Expect we'd have to send kids into school.

I would test with symptoms and I would test (once or twice) after a known contact with a positive case (but I did have a good dose of covid six weeks ago so I'm not too concerned about coming down with it again for the time being). I also test - diligently - if I'm visiting our elderly parents.
But I have plenty of lateral flow tests at the moment - when I have to start buying them who knows how I will feel.

Still testing if we get symptoms and staying isolated until we get 2 clear LTF in a row. DD went back to school today and wore her mask as she is still sneezing and coughing a little despite having clear LTF so advised to be back.

I'm mindful we have had a few mutations and I think we are taking our eye off that particular ball at the moment.

Even mild cases of Covid cause your brain to shrink.
We have no idea what the long term consequences of Covid might be, and amongst people I know who have it currently, some have been pretty unwell now for two weeks or more. Thankfully the death rate has fallen but it still is something to avoid passing around if possible, the risk of a much more lethal variant is something to factor in too.
My dd is testing daily before school, this is a requirement, and I am testing if I am meeting up with other people indoors. Or when meeting a friend outdoors who has a vulnerable family member.

We don’t have any tests at home and can’t get any. Both DH and I have covid - pcr test. But we have never done a lateral flow test, and they can’t be got hold of, so how do we know if we are negative? I’m really surprised that people have boxes of tests at home.

Test if I have symptoms but almost out of LFs now anyway. I like the peace of mind of knowing.

How’s everyone feeling about no longer having flow tests or PCR tests freely available?

It’s going to be weird not being able to easily test with symptoms and get used to ‘not knowing’

[quote Benjispruce5]@Bananabutter all I can say is that I have so little respect for you.[/quote]
And as you are a random stranger on the internet that really doesn’t bother me.

I am testing with symptoms and will continue to and would isolate if positive.

Having just spent almost 3 weeks with covid unable to move further than bed to bathroom and return, despite being triple jabbed and healthy I wouldn't wish that on anyone else.
I wouldn't want to spread to those who are unable to be vaccinated or with health issues that means they are at risk.

I felt worse than I have with any cold or flu.

This is my second time with covid (first March 2020) and it took me 9 months to regain my fitness last time, and I didn't feel as bad then as I did this time. So I'm really hoping to not suffer the same again.

[quote OnceuponaRainbow18]@Bananabutter

The weather is so nice why can’t you do outside stuff for a few days?[/quote]
The park was outside. We booked the aquarium last week and are celebrating a birthday tomorrow.

There’s no reason to alter our plans.

I have boxes because they were handing them out in the town

@dorisdohnson

Test if I have symptoms but almost out of LFs now anyway. I like the peace of mind of knowing.

How’s everyone feeling about no longer having flow tests or PCR tests freely available?

It’s going to be weird not being able to easily test with symptoms and get used to ‘not knowing’

I’d hardly say they were freely available in the first place. Lateral flow tests were unavailable on the government website and unavailable at all my local chemist’s when I investigated. I’ve never done one. I’ve never had any in stock in the house. I’ve had a pcr test done, though. The only lateral flow test I have done was when they did surge testing in the community in my area.

Even the mention of covid seems to make people’s brains shrink it seems 🤣

@Bananabutter

Other than the very clear guidelines saying avoid others if you can when positive. Eating out and Aquarium aren’t necessary. Basically you’re being incredibly selfish, maybe pop to the local old people’s home for a cuppa too!

@dorisdohnson it scares me to be honest - not for us in particular but several friends are high risk and one other has a high risk child. They all say they are going to be very wary of meeting people once the tests are gone, which seems to be around now unless people stockpiled ahead

Banana

Ignore the posters

Some people literally will never get over the fact covid is no longer priority no1. Next week no one can test - not even pcr for symptoms so whole country will be mixing with covid! Some people sound like they’ve lost all sense of reality

If banana had covid next week she’d still go aquarium if well the only difference is she wouldn’t know

The vax work. Find something else to worry about