Free PCRs have stopped

[Lougle]

I took a PCR test on Wednesday. All my LFTs had been negative but I was coughing badly at night, sore throat, runny nose. Once the cough started I figured a PCR would be wise. No fever. PCR was positive.

I asked my DD to do a PCR today as he has a mild cough starting, just like I did. The service has closed.

In England? This is not the case in Wales

Hopefully you'll recover quickly!

And hopefully your DD also recovers quickly. That's what matters, rather than what virus she had.

@Lilaclavenders

And hopefully your DD also recovers quickly. That's what matters, rather than what virus she had.

Yes in England.

My typo. DF - 72.

They announced this a while ago, but yes all testing centres in England have closed. The ones in my area closed a couple of days ago.

Only certain groups will have access to free PCRs

Sorry-am confused.

Is it the end of all PCR's or free ones?

If all the testing centres are closed how will anyone get one?
Am I missing something?

@mumsiedarlingrevolta

Sorry-am confused.

Is it the end of all PCR's or free ones?

If all the testing centres are closed how will anyone get one?
Am I missing something?

That's what I was thinking. I knew it was the end of free mass testing. But I thought that there would be a switch to some sort of assessment process to determine if you get a test.

It's literally stopped. It's meant to be from tomorrow, but it's stopped already. I went to a testing site on Wednesday and presumably it's gone now.

Pcr testing has stopped in Wales as well.

Why do we need it?

If your Dad feels unwell, he can stay home until he feels better. Whilst a PCR will confirm or deny covid, he needs to act just as he would have done in 2019.

Testing is coming to an end.
If you are unfortunate enough to need hospital treatment, they’ll do the test.
There’s no real reason why you would need one if you’re well enough to be treated at home. If someone was worried they were positive and wanted to see an elderly or vulnerable person they should postpone, surely. Test or no test.

It has stopped for many people but the clinically extremely vulnerable (including me) are still able to get them.

The NHS have been very efficient and sent me two boxes of lfts and two pcrs 8n the last week.

SaxendaSummer you probably DON'T need them most of the time. My family are still testing before they visit to protect me rather than for their own benefit. They have a few left and then I will buy them some. Much better than going back to shielding 🙂

@Lilaclavenders

And hopefully your DD also recovers quickly. That's what matters, rather than what virus she had.

It does matter if she ends up with future complications or wants a vaccine as there needs to be a gap between covid and vaccine.

@Nidan2Sandan

If your Dad feels unwell, he can stay home until he feels better. Whilst a PCR will confirm or deny covid, he needs to act just as he would have done in 2019.

Yes, if he is one of the ones who is well throughout. If he knew he had Covid he'd be eligible for the PANORAMIC study, which could make a difference. Also, my Mum is vulnerable so that's a worry.

@Nidan2Sandan

If your Dad feels unwell, he can stay home until he feels better. Whilst a PCR will confirm or deny covid, he needs to act just as he would have done in 2019.

The problem I have with this is that if I had covid with mild symptoms I would still want to stay away from people. But if it was just a cold I would go to work/visit my parents. Covid is much more likely to make the vulnerable severely ill than a cold would be (and is also more contagious.)

Why does he need a PCR? Just do an Lft.

Big display of £2 LFTs as I walked into my local Tesco yesterday. I thought it didn’t take them long to start capitalising.

Covid is well and truly over according to the government isn’t it?

@Scottishgirl85

Why does he need a PCR? Just do an Lft.

I had a sore throat since Friday. Saturday night I had a sporadic cough but thought it was irritation in my throat because it was sore. Monday night the coughing was really bad. Tuesday morning PCR. Wednesday (yesterday) positive result.

My LFTs were negative until this morning.

How will they keep tabs on any new variants of pcr’s are not done and samples tested at the lab. That’s quite worrying as what if a deadly variant arises, we will only know something is up if the hospitals start filling up.

its all got to end at some point!! the 'what if's' can no longer be afforded

I still think there needs to be some surveillance. I say scrap lateral flows and keep pcr’s

@SaxendaSummer

its all got to end at some point!! the 'what if's' can no longer be afforded

It doesn’t end up stopping protective health measures.

@FourChimneys

It has stopped for many people but the clinically extremely vulnerable (including me) are still able to get them.

The NHS have been very efficient and sent me two boxes of lfts and two pcrs 8n the last week.

SaxendaSummer you probably DON'T need them most of the time. My family are still testing before they visit to protect me rather than for their own benefit. They have a few left and then I will buy them some. Much better than going back to shielding 🙂

I've had nothing yet My GP says I'm coded correctly but I didn't get a priority PCR either

Not all CEV people sadly. Only a small subset of the most critically vulnerable, who totally should have them, but the rest of us CEV feel forgotten. No 4th vaccine, nothing at all. Yet we haven't stopped being vulnerable 😢

@Nearlythere28

How will they keep tabs on any new variants of pcr’s are not done and samples tested at the lab. That’s quite worrying as what if a deadly variant arises, we will only know something is up if the hospitals start filling up.

PCRs will still be done in hospital settings so there will still be that variant oversight.