Ending of free testing in England

pinkquartz, you are right. You only have to look at what happened to the elderly and frail in the early days of this pandemic.

The older I get under this government the more scared I get. I have to go for investigations to see if I have COPD. So far I have managed to dodge Covid by following the rules and still wearing my mask in shops or crowded places.

I will be shot down in flames for this, but I think many people were obsessed with testing while they were free, and this resulted in such high infection rates being recorded. For example, I have been asked to test every time I attend a knitting group. LFTs were not free in most countries, consequently people tested less often, and I don’t think we should expect LFTs to be free for everyone indefinitely. Just to explain, I am triple vaccinated, I still wear a mask on public transport and in crowded areas, and I always carry masks with me. If I am feeling unwell I stay at home, and if I have been in contact with someone who tests positive I stay at home.

When I was in Ireland I think they were 7€ for each test
We are suffering too many price hikes to buy them, even at £2 a hit
I feel that all the mask wearing has prohibited us from catching anything seasonal colds, coughs, flu, gippy tummies I haven’t had anything for two years which means I ll probably catch everything that goes around now
We do have to live with it now and just keep away from anyone vulnerable if we get anything…. cold, cough, flu,
like we were always supposed to do pre covid (but because of economics many didn’t)

Only law in Scotland in certain places. Right fiasco if you are out in a pub, restaurant. Wear it to go in, sit down take it off, get up to toilet wear again, sit down take it off. Clubs can have a few hundred folk up on the dance floor, no need to wear a mask. Ludicrous. People have been ignoring the face mask rules for weeks, young and old. Children over 5 used to be expected to wear a mask in stores etc. Haven't seen a child with a mask for months. Think there may have to be a 5th round of vaccinations.

My daughter has suffered very much with her mental health during the pandemic and still worries a lot about getting ill and potentially infecting others. She lived in Scotland until last Christmas and every time she felt in any way ill (or just had any unusual feeling) she took herself off for a pcr test. Every time she was given boxes of LFT tests to take home so had quite a stockpile. We continued to order free tests online so are well stocked at present. Like a previous poster I sing in a choir so always test before each practice. I also test before seeing vulnerable people and as my circle of friends includes people who were shielding for much of the pandemic that means that most weeks I test on 5 or 6 of the days! I also do casual work invigilating in a school so always test before working. We are just hoping that our stockpile will last, but if we have to buy tests we will just have to do so. My daughter's mental health may depend on it, and me testing too contributes to her peace of mind now she's living with me again. She works from home when she can, but always tests before working in person. She mostly only socialises outdoors so roll on Summer when we can be outdoors more comfortably and hopefully the infection rates will fall.

I guess it was inevitable that free testing would end eventually but as always it is those least able to afford to pay that will suffer. The lowest paid are often those who don't get paid if they are off sick so what incentive is there for them to stay home especially as it can be impossible to differentiate between a mild cold and the omicron virus.

I continue to wear a mask when shopping and in crowded places though I realise they don't do much to protect me, just protect others if I'm infectious. My daughter wears FFP2 masks but they are much more expensive than the ones I have, though they do protect the wearer. I have worn one but find them uncomfortable as I get very hot so I continue to use the cheap surgical masks. I realise I'm now in the minority when out in a mask though.

My son and his family live in Germany and they had to wear FFP2 masks on public transport etc. Apparently the Germans were much more compliant. Even when it was required in the UK many people refused to wear masks, not just those who were exempt. Even though it is no longer a legal requirement many places are still asking the public to wear masks and I wish more people would do so.

Although having had two vacs and a booster I still (no doubt out of habit) wear a mask in shops or at the hairdressers.
My local doctors surgery& opticians make this a requirement

All very well to say those with Covid should isolate at home/stay off sick from work but who is going to pay their bills? Great if you are a civil/public servant or NHS staff but many people do not get paid a full wage when off sick or nothing at all (like many care home/agency workers). The vagaries of the benefit system, the low benefit rates and the agonisingly long drawn out claim and payment process would leave many people unable to pay bills or even eat and would plunge them into debt. I think the majority are going to have to live with this virus, whilst protecting the vulnerable with vaccines, free testing for them and those closely around them, antiviral drugs etc otherwise, with all that’s going on, (including an influx of Ukrainian refugees whom we of course want and welcome), we will become an even more bankrupt society than we are already.

I’m still concerned about the lack of a requirement to test before visiting elderly relatives in care homes.

I wouldn’t trust’Dr John’ if he told me it was raining outside.

I saw a doctor on television, not sure who, but he also said that about half of people in hospital with Covid are in hospital because of Covid.
The other half, who contract Covid in hospital, are not necessarily going to have mild Covid. It will depend on different factors as to whether they will become very ill with Covid.

I’ve just reread my email and things have changed since the first one in December. It now says that if I test positive I will be contacted regarding treatment rather than being sent antivirals.

That’s okay Hannah
It might be different info now. I initially thought that you would take the antivirals at home.
I’ve looked online and can’t see anything about problems, but someone mentioned that the Blood Cancer charity had mentioned it.
It’s all a bit vague unfortunately

FannyCornforth

My husband, who is immune suppressed, got a box of tests delivered yesterday.
I hadn’t ordered them.
So I wonder if this is going to be a regular thing?
He also has a Respiratory Occupational Health Therapist who used to visit every six weeks.
She recently cancelled an appointment and hasn’t been in touch ( very unlike her ).
So I can only conclude that she is very busy with other (new) respiratory patients.

I had a box delivered too but I also got a follow up email from the government telling me that they would be coming. I am in the CEV group so I can still get the tests for free anyway.

FannyCornforth

Hannahloisluke thank you,
Yes my DH had the details about the antivirals too, and they sent him a PCR test as well.

I think that you have to take the antivirals in hospital.

There is a concerning thread on here about a problem with getting the antiviral drugs.

I keep bumping it, as I’d like to know more.
I probably should Google it - or perhaps not!

Oh dear, I didn’t know there’s a problem with the antivirals.
Re the PCR test, I was sent one of those in December with the same message about the antivirals but the latest email tells me I don’t need to do a PCR, just report the LFT if positive and the antiviral tablets will be sent. Didn’t know they had to be taken in hospital. Better check that out. Thank you for the knowledge.

Read the .Gov website it explains who will still be eligible for Free LFTs and why and what they should do if they test positive. As far as I am aware there is no problem for these people to get the necessary drug. The problem is that people who think they are in the vulnerable groups to get these are not any longer. The list has changed some people who were originally in these groups aren't. Age wise its only over 75s. Care homes will still get the LFTs but whether they will have enough to test visitors is another matter. However paying £2:00 to go and visit my Mum, Dad or Husband/Wife would be lovely if I had the opportunity as all of mine are dead.

I wouldn't trust "Dr John" if he told me it was raining outside.

In my neck of the woods its between 1/3 and 1/2 who are not in hospital "because of" COVID. A real medical doctor told us that. One who works in a hospital and has responsibility for public health.

The fact that most of the people being admitted to hospital actually have Covid but are not admitted BECAUSE of Covid is true. People are going into hospital for other reasons but are tested and found to have Covid as a secondary thing. Even the Zoe App and Dr John are agreeing with that. The current death rate is in actual fact lower than it would be at this time of the year in normal circumstances. Not including murder and traffic accidents.

It's the blessed media once again scaremongering what a better kinder country we would be if they would just shut up . I'm fed up with their opinions that are stated as facts sick of partygate, covid , Brexit, prince harry ,women being erased once again , the labour party, Tory party etc

volver

I have no time for Christina Pagel; her three myths in the article cited:

1. Covid is endemic: Nobody has said this and she is using it to create a false environment of discord, to suggest that we are being lied to.

2. People believe that COVID is evolving to become milder. That has never been proposed in any communication from anywhere, because it would be a lie. If you think that COVID is evolving to become milder, you’re not paying attention.

3. Nobody thinks we are “finished” our vaccination program. We’ve just started the second booster program for the elderly and vulnerable. Hardly “finished”.

Mathematician Pagel is part of Indy SAGE who are hardly exemplars of good pandemic forecasting. And are suddenly finding themselves irrelevant.

Sorry, but she gets on my wick. Please feel free to tell me I don't know what I'm talking about, I'm sure somebody will.

Not me.
I am always glad to read your posts about Covid. I think you are the voice of reason. I am too but you back it up with facts and science so you don’t get shot down. Carry on posting please!

Not wearing a mask is not sensible.
Some of my neighbours have never tested therefore haven’t registered as having COVID
The figures in England are much higher than being recorded.
I went shopping this week and there was sneezing and coughing and croaky voices in the supermarket and only a very few were wearing masks.
Some believe the rules don’t apply to them and continue to deliver mail, work in local shops and schools etc.
We complain about living in ‘a Nanny state’
Well when the population is not told what to do ie wearing masks, they go into petulant child mode, and don’t wear a mask “because we don’t have too”

Candelle

Writing as one whose is immune system is compromised, I am saddened by the lack of mask wearing in the general population. That, combined with the latest rules regarding movement if one is Covid positive (i.e. although there is a recommendation to stay at home, it is not a lawful requirement) has accounted for the enormous surge in Covid cases. I know almost twenty people currently ill with Covid.

Many people will not have the means to take lateral flow tests at £2.00 per person (four in a family, £8.00 a time) which means that rates will rise even further.

I know of Covid-positive people who have gone for walks etc., 'because they are allowed'.

I do not expect people to protect my every movement but the above means I cannot be sure that anyone I pass in the street or park will not be shedding the virus as they go. Without being too dramatic, it could kill but hey, they need their unmasked walk, don't they?

I don't think transmission in the fresh air and with good social distancing has ever been the main spreader behaviour, Candelle, and I do understand why people don't want to spoil their walk by not having the fresh air in their faces as they always have done until spring 2020.

In confined and crowded spaces it's obviously another matter.

Hannahloisluke thank you,
Yes my DH had the details about the antivirals too, and they sent him a PCR test as well.

I think that you have to take the antivirals in hospital.

There is a concerning thread on here about a problem with getting the antiviral drugs.

I keep bumping it, as I’d like to know more.
I probably should Google it - or perhaps not!

I think they should give free tests for hospital, care home and other such places for visitors especially as they are asking people to take them before visiting. It is completely unreasonable to make people pay to see their loved ones!

FannyCornforth

My husband, who is immune suppressed, got a box of tests delivered yesterday.
I hadn’t ordered them.
So I wonder if this is going to be a regular thing?
He also has a Respiratory Occupational Health Therapist who used to visit every six weeks.
She recently cancelled an appointment and hasn’t been in touch ( very unlike her ).
So I can only conclude that she is very busy with other (new) respiratory patients.

I also got a box of tests that I hadn’t ordered. Then an email the following day telling me they’d been sent because I’m extremely clinically vulnerable and if I get symptoms I should test and report. I’ll then be sent some tablets to take which lesson the symptoms and hopefully keep me out of hospital.
I still test before meeting people and a day or two later anyway.

I'm flying with Easyjet next weekend and they are asking for FFP2 masks, available at Boots, at £10 for 5. I think it is worth spending more for the added protection.

Writing as one whose is immune system is compromised, I am saddened by the lack of mask wearing in the general population. That, combined with the latest rules regarding movement if one is Covid positive (i.e. although there is a recommendation to stay at home, it is not a lawful requirement) has accounted for the enormous surge in Covid cases. I know almost twenty people currently ill with Covid.

Many people will not have the means to take lateral flow tests at £2.00 per person (four in a family, £8.00 a time) which means that rates will rise even further.

I know of Covid-positive people who have gone for walks etc., 'because they are allowed'.

I do not expect people to protect my every movement but the above means I cannot be sure that anyone I pass in the street or park will not be shedding the virus as they go. Without being too dramatic, it could kill but hey, they need their unmasked walk, don't they?