Covid tests

Yes, bring back pre and post flight testing. Or it's going to hit us all over again.

Out of my friendship group, it isn't the Chinese natives that are the issue, they're staying put. But the ex pat's are travelling all over the world, then coming down with COVID. So far in the UK, Italy and Croatia. Talk about spreading it far and wide!

Or it's going to hit us all over again.

Its really not.

Oh my goodness, I live in a tourist hotspot for the Chinese. Coach loads are dropped off at the local Chinese restaurants before or after visiting the Chateau. I don’t use these feeding places but the germs will be in the air to infect the local population. Don’t understand why Macron hasn’t put a covid test barrier.

From the information I have read the WHO have said that they are unable to make a comprehensive risk assessment about the situation in China because there is a lack of data, about spread, deaths, and circulating variants.

What is known is that their elderly population is under vaccinated and the vaccines commonly used in China appear less effective than the mNRA vaccines used elsewhere. What is also unknown is whether any circulating variants are different in response to vaccines.

We are obviously in a better situation in U.K. since widespread effective vaccination, and coronavirus generally is now a much less serious illness.

Viruses will always evolve, and it is not really overreacting to remain mindful of the possibility of more harmful variants appearing, not just of coronavirus, but really important to maintain a sense of balance, unless we want to live in a constant anxiety state.

It reads to me as if China is happy to send people with Covid out into the world.
A kind of biological warfare?

Why do our Govt want to stick their heads in the sand again?

I am one of the vulnerable people with chronic illneses that caught Covid Mar 2020.
I have never properly recovered. I now have almost zero energy and have far more trouble with Asthma and COPD.

I am afraid. The Govt not collecting data is very frightening as we will never know how much of a risk a trip outside will be.

Are we quarantining anybody in the UK that tests positive for Covid? (No, we're not. We're telling them to stay at home for a few days if they feel unwell.)
1) we test and the onus is on the “patient” to behave responsibly, self quarantining or at least avoiding group activities, hospitals, doctors, dentists, vulnerable people, care homes, new babies - need I go on?
2) it is not simply a case of “feeling unwell” or have you missed the point altogether?

JaneJudge

I don't know anyone who is still testing, is this commonplace? The tests are really expensive to buy too

Really expensive? About £7-8 max for a box of five.
Everybody I know still tests when necessary and no, we are not hypochondriacs, just responsible.

We don't all test.

You may, but not everybody does and there is no compulsion on anybody to do so.

Even if you are feeling unwell there is no compulsion to test.

I don't think its me who is missing the point.

About £7-8 max for a box of five.

We're in a cost of living crisis where people are scared to turn on their cookers. So maybe £7-£8 is a lot of money for some people.

What is your point volver?

I am the biggest Sinophile around. I love the place. Regard it as my 2nd home. But the situation there is dangerous. And I'm not taking it from the western media. I'm taking it word of mouth, from Chinese people who live there.

Oh, and everyone I know there is triple vaccinated. As to the quality of the vaccine they received... but they're all jabbed. As are all of their families regardless of age.

In a household of 5 people, a box would be gone in one testing session, so I imagine it is relative as to whether you would find this additional cost too much. I honestly thought you only to had to test if you were going to fly to certain countries now. My dd's care setting stopped testing months ago, which may be why I am a bit surprised but I'm not completely heartless as to not understand why some people may be being more cautious

As an aside, why have they not made the testing process more cost effective. All that packaging on the test kits just seems really unnecessary and must up the cost

volver

We don't all test.

You may, but not everybody does and there is no compulsion on anybody to do so.

Even if you are feeling unwell there is no compulsion to test.

I don't think its me who is missing the point.

Moral responsibility?

Or do you believe people only have to abide by legal requirements?

We do not know that the government will not be collecting data? I understand no decision has yet been made with regard to Chinese entry checks.

I am very sorry that you are vulnerable pinkquartz and do agree that it easy to forget about the not inconsiderable numbers.suffering long covid, and also vulnerable people in the community.

However, I certainly think we are not in a situation similar to biological warfare.

I feel very sympathetic towards you pinkquartz but there is really no evidence to suggest that the vulnerable will be any more at risk than at present in the U.K. A majority of our population are protected against serious illness by effective vaccination, including to newer variants.

GagaJo

What is your point volver?

I am the biggest Sinophile around. I love the place. Regard it as my 2nd home. But the situation there is dangerous. And I'm not taking it from the western media. I'm taking it word of mouth, from Chinese people who live there.

Oh, and everyone I know there is triple vaccinated. As to the quality of the vaccine they received... but they're all jabbed. As are all of their families regardless of age.

My point is that people are over-reacting to the fact that a lot of people in China have got Covid. China tried to control COVID by adopting a zero-covid approach. That hasn't worked, because now that they have removed it, the disease is running rife. Their population is not sufficiently vaccinated, either because their "home grown" vaccine isn't effective enough or because the rate of take-up is too low. Its great that so many people you know are triple vaccinated, but that is just anecdote. Chinese authorities are now offering people £60 (or is it $60?) to get vaccinated. The population as a whole is under-vaccinated.

Here in the West, we're not. Rates of vaccination are higher and the vaccination we used is more effective. Rates of COVID have gone down because we are vaccinated. Not by magic.

Maybe the Chinese people arriving here will bring Covid with them. But maybe the lady on the till at Lidl already has it, and you'll get it from her.

Maybe the government will decide to bring in testing for arrivals from China, but in the meantime we need to be aware that we have ways of managing Covid now that are different to what they were 3 years ago.

MawtheMerrier

volver

We don't all test.

You may, but not everybody does and there is no compulsion on anybody to do so.

Even if you are feeling unwell there is no compulsion to test.

I don't think its me who is missing the point.

Moral responsibility?

Or do you believe people only have to abide by legal requirements?

I postponed my mother's funeral because I tested positive for Covid. Responsible enough for you?

I postponed my mother's funeral because I tested positive for Covid. Responsible enough for you?

Then why do you think personal responsibility does not apply equally to others?

Oh FFS.

Yes, you're right.

I think we should all throw caution to the wind, and cough and splutter over everybody we meet.

I'm telling you the rules and why that means that right now, there is no justification for testing people coming from China. Sorry for saying this, but you are just panicking and adopting a position that the majority of the country has moved on from.

With regards to testing, when I wanted to visit premature new-born twins I tested even though I had no symptoms because that was the responsible precaution to take. I tested positive to my surprise so stayed away until I tested negative. Why would I chance the health or even life of anyone especially vulnerable to Covid? Even asymptomatic infections can be passed on. While it may be unnecessary to routinely test on a weekly basis, surely most people would be prepared to test when they will knowingly be in contact with an especially vulnerable person?

Quite some time ago we were required to show negative test, timestamped at most 24 hrs prior to boarding a flight into Spain. A rational approach to me.

Why couldn't passengers be asked to show a negative test before departure from China - on a flight to UK?

We tested before we went to Vienna a few weeks ago. In January we will test before we go to Paris. I'm not sure why we do to be honest? And would it even change our plans? Does testing really help the worldwide spread?

I thought I'd just got a cold but today tested positive for covid. The pack of five lateral flow tests we had turned out to have only one phial of developing fluid so OH has not been able to test.

I reported my result on the GOV.UK website which informs us that lateral flow tests are no longer provided free (except in very exceptional circumstances which are difficult to understand. We can buy tests privately but CANNOT report the result! In other words our government is no longer interested.

Our local branch of Boots sells a pack of five tests for £9.85.

I don’t think it would be considered reliable Norah. The alternative is to test on arrival here and quarantine, but doesn’t seem practical, or economically viable, and at present not justified.

1) I am not panicking,
2) if rules are inadequate, they need changing
3) I would not be at all surprised if the “rules” were to change as they have already in the case of some other countries.
It’s called shutting the stable door before the horse bolts.

It's madness. Of course the governments should be taking action to prevent the spread. Particularly of new variants which are sure to come along with so many infections. No, they don't learn. I wonder why that might be?

I think I get really irritated by the "its madness" "I despair" "will they never learn!" comments. That's my problem, I have to deal with it and I'm not suggesting anybody stops saying that, I'm just using that to explain where I'm coming from.

It shows a rather excitable reaction to something I suppose. I prefer to actually understand what is going on and how it works, rather than running around with my hands in the air.

Just me, I suppose.