Covid testing

[Hurdygurdygirl]

I am wondering if people are still testing if they have covid symptoms. We now have to pay for tests and NHS guidelines seem to be to treat covid like flu or other similar illness.
I feel you just stay home if you feel ill or go to work with minor symptoms without needing proof of what illness it is. Do other people still test?

I tested at the start of the week, because I started feeling really cold-y very quickly, and I don't usually get colds. It was positive, and as a result I'm basically staying away from other people until I test negative. I'm lucky that I work from home, but I'm also of an age where many of my friends/people I do stuff with are older or have health conditions or care for others. For example, I wouldn't have wanted to bring Covid to my book group which includes 1 x nearly 80-something, 2 x people with vulnerable older people they partly care for, 1 person with cancer and so on. I'm also feeling pretty rough, so its no real hardship. I will test again at the end of the week, and if that isn't negative, will test again at the middle of next week as that's when I'm due to go on holiday. Really hope it clears before then...

I don't test regularly but do if I'm very ill. Was ill a few weeks ago with very sore throat and it felt different to a normal cold so I tested and it was positive. I then masked around my family/opened windows a lot and none of them got it. Was too ill to work but if I was well enough I would have either worked at home or masked until not infectious.

I test whenever I have Covid-like symptoms. Tests are cheap and readily available and I would feel terrible if I passed Covid on to someone who was really vulnerable.

I haven’t tested since you had to pay for them. It’s only on MN I realise anyone still does test!

I test when have symptoms or if someone in house has covid. 2m already with long covid in space of a few years.

Yes, I still test if I feel ill with ‘fluey’ symptoms. There are lots of people I’d rather not give it to. I still think it has more serious health implications than a cold.

I test, because I have CEV family members and covid almost killed my mam a few years ago.

Also having covid 3x in quick succession has left me with long covid and has had a significant impact on my health to the point I've had to give up a job I loved because I couldn't physically do it. It's not just a cold!

Yes I test and like anyone outside UK I've always had to pay for tests. I have Covid right now and it's awful and absolutely not a just a cold or flu. I'm staying indoors away from anyone until I'm feeling better and also negative, because I wouldn't wish this on anyone. I would do this with flu too.

For some reason there are a lot of people who get angry that some people still test.
No requirement to test. Go to work unless ill.
There is a sizable minority of people who do test for various reasons. If you have a weak immune system like me you get antiviruls for covid (but not for colds or flu). People who have vulnerable relatives often test.
It's not compulsory and there's no need for the faux surprise that people still test.

Thank you all for the responses. I am feeling unwell with symptoms that make it seem likely to be covid, for the first time for me. I am staying indoors, not working or seeing anyone apart from young adult family members here. Government and NHS guidelines say no need to test unless you are/or live with someone at high risk, so am following this.
I can see here a lot of people are still testing so will consider ordering tests for future use.