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'm not doing any testing, there is absolutely no point because I can't afford to stay off work without sick pay so nobody is going to pay me if it's covid now the legal requirement to isolate has been scrapped.

I have almost permanent symptoms thanks to allergies so I've only been testing if I've been going somewhere it's required or I'm seeing someone CEV. I'd be testing every day otherwise. Once I have to pay I won't be testing at all.

Why is it a "circus" of "scrambling to find gold dust LFTs"? Why don't you just order some LFTs when you're running low, or collect some from places that hand them out free, and then just use them when you need to? I don't understand why it's a drama and fuss for you to do a very simple thing?

We've stopped testing only ever did to get DS back to school, now they can go in with a confirmed case never mind symptoms

@ThisTownAintBigEnoughForBoth

Why is it a "circus" of "scrambling to find gold dust LFTs"? Why don't you just order some LFTs when you're running low, or collect some from places that hand them out free, and then just use them when you need to? I don't understand why it's a drama and fuss for you to do a very simple thing?

You can’t get them anywhere. That’s the issue.

I test once a week before I go to work.

I've never tested, apart from when OH was positive and I proved to be too although neither of had any symptoms. Even then, he only tested because a workmate tested positive.

I am not going to test anymore.

A couple of days ago DD seemed very under the weather in the evening, sore throat, not feeling well, something I would definitely have tested for before. She woke up Monday morning and still felt a bit iffy but said she felt well enough to go to school, by Monday night she was absolutely fine.

If I had tested her on Sunday and it was positive, that is potentially 10 days that I would have had to keep her at home, that DH and I would have had to sort out work, days off etc. I couldn't send her in knowing she actually had covid so I think it's time to say that ignorance is bliss.

Next week testing is not going to be free anymore and no one will be testing anyway. If you are well enough,go to work/school, if you are not, stay at home.

I think covid is worse than flu or cold. The brain fog, palpitations, damage to brain tissue, increased risk of diabetes are very common especially if you worked in a high risk environment and so were infected prior to vaccination. Some of the after effects can linger even if you felt well during the acute phase.

It's also very unpredictable so I think most people may be cautious when visiting older or vulnerable friends and relatives.

For myself I am only testing when I get symptoms that are unusual compared to previous cold or flus, or common symptoms if I am visiting vulnerable people.

Ultimately I have probably tested only 4 times over the last 6 weeks so have a few unused lft boxes and I guess we will all have to stop testing eventually.

Can anyone who isn't going to test, pass them to people who would but would struggle to afford it? I'm severely immunosuppressed without antibodies, so the more people who want to and can get tests, the lower the rates will be.

I can't avoid Covid but lower levels would help my chances whilst I wait for the government to offer the vaccine equivalent evusheld injection. It has been approved by MRHA but government hasn't ordered any, leaving my group the only group without pre infection protection.

The antivirals and infusions are in short supply because of high hospital rates now.

You definitely can get tests in lots of places, if you want to. Sounds to me like OP doesn't want to.

@nearlyspringyay

I've been ill since Saturday, cough, temp, chills. Went into the office for the first time in forever on Thursday. I've been testing on LFTs a couple of times a day a day as we have loads that teacher DH has brought home from school. I haven't been out because I'm sick, I certainly wouldn't go to work even without the LFTs, I wouldn't take flu into work.

I have taken a PCR, waiting for the results.

When they're charging for them, I won't bother. So many others won't, I'll use common sense and if I'm unwell stay at home, same as BEFORE.

Why have you been testing a couple of times a day? That's so wasteful.

I don't test anymore, definitely will not be paying for one either so like a pp said ignorance is bliss

I hope someone is modelling the apathy of the general population with regard to this 🙈.

I completely disagree with the government abolishing free testing, and not legislating about isolation and sick pay etc.

I think it depends where you are. Pretty much all of my friends and family who want to test have been struggling to find tests, none online either, my Mum checked this morning.

You're right I don't want to test. I'm self employed and am no longer interested in watching my income source go down the drain searching for Covid for "the greater good". I have to feed my kids same as everyone. If I'm sick I don't get paid, if I'm repeatedly not at work (work out of home) I lose customers. It's simply not an option these days, not if I want to actually earn any money anyway. If that makes me selfish then I guess I'm selfish 🤷‍♀️

@ThisTownAintBigEnoughForBoth

You definitely can get tests in lots of places, if you want to. Sounds to me like OP doesn't want to.

Can I have some hints please?

I’ve tried the website regularly. None of the pharmacies round here have any in stock for me to use a collect code.

@ThisTownAintBigEnoughForBoth

Why is it a "circus" of "scrambling to find gold dust LFTs"? Why don't you just order some LFTs when you're running low, or collect some from places that hand them out free, and then just use them when you need to? I don't understand why it's a drama and fuss for you to do a very simple thing?

It took 4 days of trying before I could get any. Seems best to try and order around 8pm if anyone is struggling.

Tbh though now we have 7 we've enough for what we need.

I have forgotten all about coronavirus and it wouldn't even occur to me to test anymore.

Haven’t read the whole thread but just had a google and seems like it will be £20 for a pack of 7. Lots won’t be able to pay that. On the other hand think it said they spent 2 billion on tests just in January so that can’t continue either.

[quote MsMartini]They are not £17 for four.

They are £9.80 for five.

www.boots.com/flowflex-antigen-rapid-testing-self-testing-kit-5-tests-10312496[/quote]
My bad Msmartini, they are the prices I quoted if you want to report your result. Cheaper if you don't report. This is the article I got the info from (inews) but didn't read it in its entirety, sorry about that.
"Retailers will be setting the price but we will be ensuring that the private testing market is properly regulated, including monitoring prices charged, and we will of course continue to work with UK companies in developing lateral flow tests.”
Boots was the first retailer to announce its pricing, as it confirmed kits would go on sale from this week – indicating the Government’s figures were an underestimate.
The pharmacy said that customers will be able to purchase tests for £5.99 each.
It confirmed: “From tomorrow, customers can purchase a pack of four lateral flow tests for £17, or one test for £5.99, from boots.com, with both options including delivery. This test will offer customers an option to send their results to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to report a negative test, should customers need it.”

Still testing my son twice a week at the schools request, SEN school with some very vulnerable kids, school are sending multiple packs home, we are well stocked for awhile.

I'm testing symptoms and happy to buy tests.

I test before spending time indoors with others, e.g family/friends coming over.

But DH and I aren't testing as standard. I know going to a restaurant could potentially be a risk, in that a person in that restaurant might have covid and I might catch it. I assume people are only putting themselves in those situations because they accept that risk. My Mum, for example, is not going to restaurants (unless she can eat outside) because she doesn't want covid and she accepts she might catch it in a confined indoor space with people she doesn't know. So I think that's all around individual risk perception and choice.

I wear masks in places that I know vulnerable people need to go - so supermarkets, pharmacists etc I can see that's a bit of a lost cause because so many people aren't now but I will keep doing it because it feels like a nice thing to do and it doesn't bother me.

My Mum is vulnerable - she doesn't have to go to a restaurant but she does have to do food shopping. She does have to pick up her medication from the chemist, she does need to buy petrol.

So I think about it in terms like that.

I just try and do my bit while also living my life. I've just recently had a positive test and I have covid now and I look at everything I did last week and i was wearing a mask the whole time. So I can feel a bit assured that if I was contagious before that positive test that it's very unlikely I spread it along to others.

Try the website around 8 am. Many local libraries have stocks too.
Apologies to those who have genuinely been trying for weeks and unable to get any. I haven't experienced this other than for a few days at a time and have always just tried again each day until I am successful. It's not any drama just takes a minute each time.

People who will keep testing, will you get paid if you’re off work?

OP i understand if you don't want to test, but why not simply say that rather than implying it's a difficult thing to do?