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).

Testing if symptoms on an lft. I’m not sure what I’ll do when we have to pay for them and I’ve ran out of freebies.

I probably could if I stretched, afford to keep buying them once they are no longer free. But that's not how I want to spend my ever decreasing disposable income! Does that make me selfish? Should it be seen (morally obviously not legally) as something you have to work into your budget if you absolutely can?

I think it will also depend if you will get paid for being off sick

I test once a week as I am in the office a few days a week. Once my LFT's run out I'll stop this. I have also tested if not feeling great.

@WouldBeGood

I think it will also depend if you will get paid for being off sick

I'm SE so no. Also been a big factor in me deciding not to bother anymore. We got sweeped under the rug during the pandemic and I simply can't keep all the balls in the air if I'm constantly isolating.

We're not testing (no tests) and I wouldn't expect anyone else to anymore. I will be treating it as any other cold or flu type illness - if I feel like I can't get out of bed I'll stay at home. Otherwise I'll go about my business as normal.

@HonestTest

I probably could if I stretched, afford to keep buying them once they are no longer free. But that's not how I want to spend my ever decreasing disposable income! Does that make me selfish? Should it be seen (morally obviously not legally) as something you have to work into your budget if you absolutely can?

Personally, I think people who can afford to buy them should continue to test. Vulnerable people are still at risk, even after vaccination. But ultimately, it's a personal choice. If you think it's morally OK not to test, then that's your decision. We are all only responsible for our own actions.

That’s how I feel @HonestTest

We haven't been testing for a while now as can't afford to be off work or have kids miss more school. There is no requirement to test, self-isolate, or even stay off work anymore. Once they're charging people won't bother and I think now people are just using it as an excuse to stay off work and pander to the paranoia. Of course if I was visiting someone who was CEV and I felt ropey I'd test but then I probably wouldn't want them risking catching anything, Covid or otherwise, from me.
I think some people are milking it now.

I test whenever I have symptons especially if I know I am going to meet with certain people indoors or if I know someone I have been in contact with has contracted COVID . I don't want to risk passing anything on. I know a few people who have had COVID and it is certainly not been mild.
I have some lateral flow tests and will no option but to buy more when they are no longer free because I visit someone vulnerable in a care home and have to show a negative test to visit. They won't be free to people visiting care homes .

I still tested because I had symptoms and had plans to go to a large event. So glad I did as it came up positive. Seeing how transmissible this is, I didn't want to spread it.

I've recently had covid, and I tested because I had symptoms and was going to a social event.

I've got a couple of boxes of tests which I'll save for future use (for testing before seeing my cev parent if I have symptoms) but I won't be buying them after the end of the month.

What do we think schools and nurseries will do come the 1st April? I am aware right now most are still saying two neg LFTs but surely they can't continue to insist on that once they cost?

I'm on first day of positive lateral flow. I feel horrible..I wouldn't have gone into work if I felt like this and couldn't test. But it is nice to be able to confirm what it is. It's currently rifein our office and I believe it's down to a manager who had a 'heavy cold' and continued to work

@HonestTest

I probably could if I stretched, afford to keep buying them once they are no longer free. But that's not how I want to spend my ever decreasing disposable income! Does that make me selfish? Should it be seen (morally obviously not legally) as something you have to work into your budget if you absolutely can?

Well it means you can’t follow public health guidance but your hands are tied by this government.

@HonestTest

What do we think schools and nurseries will do come the 1st April? I am aware right now most are still saying two neg LFTs but surely they can't continue to insist on that once they cost?

No, I don't think they will be able to insist on this if people have to pay. Bad luck for any CEV teachers/TAs, I guess.

@AlexaShutUp

We're still testing with possible symptoms and/or after close contact with positive cases.

I don't really see why you think it would be different for people who are CEV. I'm not CEV but I test because I don't want to infect others who might be.

Are you aware of the fact that ANY contagious illness can be dangerous for CEV people, not just covid? It's like, if you had a bad cold - fine. If you had exactly the same symptoms but it was labelled as covid - not fine. What the fuck? That's batshit. You use the emoji you used as if you think anyone who might not test is batshit - but sorry, you need to rethink your own logic.

I feel horrible..I wouldn't have gone into work if I felt like this and couldn't test

I think people would continue to do this if they would have before. For example if I felt really rotten I wouldn't have gone into work in 2019 either.

But if I felt better by day 3 I wouldn't stay off for a further 7 days "just in case".

I'm CEV but relaxed now with the covid thing since fully vaccinated and had it a month ago.

Child's school has cases so I tested him this morning just in case and happy to keep home if he should get it again. However, I don't wear a mask apart from hospital appointments and fairly back to normal now. The local school has an outbreak but again the cases all seem really mild now.

When my LFT's run out I won't pay for more though.

I've got it now. I moved into the spare room and cancelled all my plans, although I'm moving around the house but with FFP2 mask and multiple hand washing and distancing, and the rest of the family are testing regularly. Walked the dogs across empty fields.

Are you aware of the fact that ANY contagious illness can be dangerous for CEV people, not just covid? It's like, if you had a bad cold - fine. If you had exactly the same symptoms but it was labelled as covid - not fine. What the fuck? That's batshit. You use the emoji you used as if you think anyone who might not test is batshit - but sorry, you need to rethink your own logic.

Some CEV people may be equally at risk from a bad cold. Others are not.

My DS is CEV and has been advised that covid could present a serious risk to her, even after four jabs. She is not at all at risk from a cold.

I'm not bothering. But then I had covid at Christmas and haven't had any symptoms. I thought most covid cases now don't have the traditional symptoms they are asymptomatic.

Previous strains were more serious. omicron (both variants) is no more harmful than a cold.

I had covid 2 months ago and am left with inflammation of the muscles in my rib cage, so I'm being cautious. I can't wear my mask for long periods, so am wearing it when I'm nipping in a shop or moving around restaurants etc.

I am trying to meet most people outside, and am eating out at places I know are still sticking to covid safe rules.

We have a large outbreak at DDs school so I am testing her regularly, and I test us all if we are meeting anyone who we know is vulnerable or if anyone has symptoms

@Bouledeneige

I'm not bothering. But then I had covid at Christmas and haven't had any symptoms. I thought most covid cases now don't have the traditional symptoms they are asymptomatic.

Previous strains were more serious. omicron (both variants) is no more harmful than a cold.

I don't know if there is a new variant out there now, but most of the people I know who have had covid recently have actually been quite unwell with it. More like a nasty case of flu than a cold.

I had covid in January with no symptoms. I only tested because cases were rife in my DDs class and she was positive as was DH. I’ve not done a test since. I’m self employed and if I’m sick I don’t get paid. If I am feeling poorly I won’t work but there was absolutely nothing wrong with all 3 of us when we had it which I appreciate is very fortunate but with financial support now being withdrawn for the self employed I can’t continue to actively look for covid.