Are people still testing for Covid even if they don’t have to for work/family members?

[Lucky457]

Just that really! I used to test for covid whenever I had any cold/feeling unwell symptoms but I’m wondering if people who don’t need to test for work or elderly/immunosuppressed loved ones are actually testing? I don’t work in a medical setting or care home, nor does my husband. Our eldest relative is 60 and well. We don’t have anyone immunosuppressed in our friends or family circle. My little girl has recently started at nursery and has a constant runny nose/sneezing/cough that she’s passing on to her baby sister and I think that’s what’s making me wonder if most people are testing still, as I’d be spending a fortune on tests in that case the way my little ones are picking things up. I’m just curious what others do.

Yup. Why would I make an unnecessary trip to boots when ill.
Save your faces for those who dont give any form of shit about it.

@QuiltedHippo no need to trek to Boots you can get them next day delivery from Amazon .

But to warn everyone who is using up old tests to check the best before date . I had a few single packs that I had only bought last Summer and when I went to use one a couple of months back they were all out of date .

I only test if I am due to visit elderly or otherwise vulnerable friends and family. I work in a school and the current advice is to attend work unless too ill. Same advice for the children. Anyone who chooses to stay home risks falling foul of the sickness policy which only allows a certain no of sickness 'incidents' before you have to attend OT interviews and risk being put on a performance plan.

'Anyone who chooses to stay home risks falling foul of the sickness policy which only allows a certain no of sickness 'incidents' before you have to attend OT interviews and risk being put on a performance plan.'

We are in a pandemic. There is obviously more illness. It's so nonsensical that organisations dismiss this - especially when not taking this into account leads to even more illness.

This is a good example of why the cost of tests is only a small part of the picture here. In a lot of cases, it's not the few pounds a month that'd be the problem, it's the time on SSP and repercussions from the employer if a person stayed off.

Definitely. Although a world in which "no one tests, don't be silly, it's just a cold, and anyway don't you know lots of people can't afford tests or to take time off work?" is also much more comfortable for some people who would have no problems with sickness policies or SSP.

If everyone agrees it's silly to test, then it can't possibly be my fault if I pass something on to a friend or colleague and it turns out to be a really nasty case of covid, or if my hairdresser who I really really wanted to see despite my 'cold' then has to take two weeks off work being ill and loses lots of pay. It's completely understandable why lots of us don't want to test, or test close to important events. It's also fair to characterise that as sometimes selfish and nothing to do with sick pay, but then we're humans, we all do selfish things all the time.

It might help if the government was more honest about the long-term risks of covid so it was obvious that having less of it going round protects all of us, not just "the vulnerable", and that a world in which testing is common would be in everyone's self interest. That would include people who only get SSP when they're ill, because they'd be ill less often.

I think it matters more than cold in many circumstances - not all- but COVID for most , although not as severe as was for most , is worse than a cold & has bigger impact on the vulnerable. The scenario I'm in now is eldest reen had cold starting over wk ago , she in theatre show /intense daily rehearsals, tested after day 2 just to check (her driving instructor & singing teaching both cancelled lessons the previous wk as have COVID so it's obviously doing the rounds in our area again), & reassurance I guess ) It was negative & she felt well enough to continue activities & cold passes after few days. So when younger teen developed cold symptoms overlapping with her sister , presumed the same cold. Few days in tested her for COVID as she feeling worse than eldest did , & it was negative (day 3-4 of symptoms) . She rallied with college (reassured not COVID ) , & actually was feeling better ...but come Friday (day 5-6) she just not improving , no fever but tired & achy & persistent cold , so tested again & big fat Instant positive 2nd line !!

As her sister in theatre performances this & next week , plus seeing my dad tomorrow for his 90th birthday, we have kept her isolating largely . I also have long awaited hosp app this wk.

It's a hard one though. But COVID can be much worse than a cold for many , & lethal to some with low immune systems.

Covid is really doing the rounds where I live. 🫤 the people I know who are testing are doing so as they have elderly parents.

Felt better after a week with covid, but was positive for another 10 days after that. God knows how much of a superspreader I would have been.