So are we encouraged to not test now?

[Wednesdayafternoon]

I am just so confused.

I know LFT are available to buy etc, but is the general consensus that if unwell to not bother testing anymore?

Seems so. My kids school have sent home things saying that only to stay off with covid like symptoms if no fever is present, we all had covid and not one of us had a fever with it so not a good way to determine if covid. Plus kids should be off with a fever covid or not!

I think so but I absolutely will be testing!

I’m not keeping my children home for every possible sniffle ffs. But I will if they have covid and I know it’s covid.

I would rather that way around.

It’s going to be a nightmare with work colleagues claiming they need to stay home for “possible covid”, when a test would be better even if not conclusive, better than nothing.

why test when theres no requirement to isolate?

its got to end at some point

I imagine it would be useful to have a definitive test in case of severe illness or long covid which doesn't seem to relate to severity.
Also that if you have covid you should stay at home whereas if it's just a cold you don't need to.
I don't think you are "encouraged not to test" just that the UK is moving into line with other countries and charging for tests.
Tests were never free, you just paid out of your tax.

@SaxendaSummer

why test when theres no requirement to isolate?

its got to end at some point

Because you may care for or have vulnerable family or friends who you could then avoid.

@Duracellbunnywannabe is that what op is doing then? she didn't say in her op...

@Wednesdayafternoon

I am just so confused.

I know LFT are available to buy etc, but is the general consensus that if unwell to not bother testing anymore?

They're still available on line ordered some today.

Our school email actively encouraged uscnot to test. Said there is no reason to test a child unless asked to by a health professional.

Not available online unless you fall into a very narrow category.

@JanglyBeads

Not available online unless you fall into a very narrow category.

I ordered as normal today.

Here in Ireland, I tested positive on an LFT so have to isolate and our local primary school require that my DS stay home until everyone in the household tests negative two days running.

It’s disappointing for DS as he has no symptoms and doesn’t appear to be infected (I’m on day 8 and still positive) so he has to continue to stay at home.

To be honest, I think that’s the right decision because if it was norovirus, I’d expect to keep kids off school in that situation too.

What if my lft is clear after 15/30 minutes but a line appears hours later,does it mean I have a very low level of covid

@Hollywolly1

What if my lft is clear after 15/30 minutes but a line appears hours later,does it mean I have a very low level of covid

No it doesn't mean that. The test result is only valid during the timescale window that the instructions say to read the result within. Whatever you see before or after that window is totally irrelevant. You are looking at libes made by complex chemicals diffusing according to multiple factors. The buffer solution is used to bind to covid particles and trigger a line at a specific diffusion point within that timescale. A line outside that time frame is more likely to be being triggered by something entirely unrelated to covid.

@Hollywolly1

What if my lft is clear after 15/30 minutes but a line appears hours later,does it mean I have a very low level of covid

No it's completely invalid after 30 mins! It could be due to the test drying out etc! If it's clear in 30 mins then it's fine :)

So I still remain confused. Our school hasn't sent out any further clarification. I feel like the gouverment is basically saying -

"No need to test anymore of you have symptoms. But if you do wish to test and it's postive you must isolate until 10 day. But if you don't want to test you don't have to and you can go on as normal".

You can only order lateral flow if you are eligible so either pp falls into this, isn’t in England or ignored the filter.

I think it’s a case of get a test if you have symptoms. But there is no requirement to regularly test any more. We were lucky that we had free tests for 2 years. Other countries haven't had that.

Nope, no longer able to get a PCR for symptoms, or to order lateral flows for general public.
www.gov.uk/get-coronavirus-test

Some jobs continue to test but definitely gone for the majority of us

I’m confused - I had the nhs text inviting me for jab 4 due to immune compromised - sadly I’ll have to wait a few weeks as actually got Covid
Just checked and I’m not eligible for free LFT either
I don’t test Willy nilly but do have elderly DM (83) with other health conditions so try and protect her and am also in regular contact with people both work related and personal who are unable to be vaccinated

www.gov.uk/government/news/changes-to-covid-19-testing-in-england-from-1-april

Summary of testing as of 01.04.22

I didn't know people were still routinely testing! It has to stop at some point. It's costing the government billions for a virus that barely has symptoms anymore, even for many vulnerable people. We have a few if we need them but I won't be using them unless asked. Think of all the used tests now in landfill for thousands of years, and the amounts you see chucked in the street. The stopping of routine tests will be much better for the environment.

@Cheesechips

I didn't know people were still routinely testing! It has to stop at some point. It's costing the government billions for a virus that barely has symptoms anymore, even for many vulnerable people. We have a few if we need them but I won't be using them unless asked. Think of all the used tests now in landfill for thousands of years, and the amounts you see chucked in the street. The stopping of routine tests will be much better for the environment.

Barely has symptoms? Not in my experience, friends that have been triple jabbed have been floored by it, 4 have long Covid and left with horrible after effects including one that's been left with heart issues and at 17 has to take daily beta blockers and according to her consultant he is seeing more and more people with post Covid heart issues. If you had barely any symptoms that's great but don't speak for everyone.

If you can afford it, I would actively encourage anyone to test.

It may be useful to have the proof in case of any future legal action (eg in case there are lasting after-effects from Covid and you need to prove that you had it, or that your workplace or the government were negligent in exposing you to it).

As the poster above has just said, it is possible for even mild Covid infections in healthy children or adults of working age to end up in long-term disability. I've had it happen to three friends now.

@MrsPelligrinoPetrichor I suppose everyone reacts so differently though. My mum who has a compromised immune system as she's had chemo and has a serious heart condition had Covid and dealt with it better then any cold she's had in recent times. My sister her husband and 2 children has it and weren't really poorly...

I don't really think anyone can make the assumption that you will be fine or floored but I wouldn't encourage people to assume they will be floored because its not helpful and could be very worrying for some IMO.

It’s going to be a nightmare with work colleagues claiming they need to stay home for “possible covid”

But why if they feel fine enough to work?

Covid is everywhere. We are learning to live with that situation. Being vaccinated and having had covid should hopefully build up resistance.