Do normal people not bother testing now?

I would only test if I had covid symptoms now..

I wouldn’t go to a rock concert or a football match either Callistemon

Actually, I wouldn't go to either anyway!
But I have been out and mixed with people this year.
I know some test first but not everyone does.

When DH was tested recently before a hospital procedure, the nurse said there was no need to do other than swipe the swab around the inside of the nostrils. Sticking the swab up the nose until a child gags or is upset is unnecessary, she said.

I wouldn’t go to a rock concert or a football match either Callistemon, and I haven’t been to the theatre or a classical concert either since Covid. We used to go a lot to those events. I wasn’t classed as ECV but I did have Covid pre vaccinations and was hospitalised for twelve days with it, and I’d prefer not to have it again. I do have quite bad asthma though. I don’t go to the theatre anymore (at the moment anyway) because I know some people are very selfish and will go to the theatre with Covid quite knowingly because they don’t want to lose the money. But it’s wrong to do that.

We had Covid about 6 weeks ago. Thought Mr. S. had hay fever but when he tested positive, I tested too and wasn't surprised to get a positive result.

We stayed in for 5 days apart from walking the dogs in secluded areas where if we did see anyone, we could keep our distance. Both tested negative 7 days later.

When my daughter and her family flew from New Zealand in May, and returned in June, they were not asked if they wanted to test before they got on the plane, they were told. No negative test, no flight. And that included their four year old who cried and became upset. He had to have the test anyway. They tried to do it sensitively but in the end one parent had to hold him very securely whilst the other did the test. Crying and being upset made no difference, it had to be done. Fair enough, why should they have got on a long haul flight and risk infecting others because they didn’t test? They did the tests, they flew home.

NittWitt

That's the trouble maddyone. If we have any sort of a normal life, we could be associating with such people - who are covid positive.
Just as some posters are saying they test before seeing 'vulnerable people' but not otherwise.
What about those of us who are 'vulnerable people'? We just have to stay hidden because no-one cares.

Yes, I tested before meeting with vulnerable people but yes, I suppose I would be classed as vulnerable too as I was advised to shield.
I wouldn't go to a rock concert or football match but I have been out and about otherwise life would be like a living death.

But people with flu shouldn’t be out and about infecting other people either. People who are ill should stay at home. They shouldn’t be at work, or shopping or anywhere else until they are well. We know that some people with Covid don’t feel ill, that’s why we test. If they test positive they absolutely should not be at work or out in public, but we know they do go out because Covid keeps spreading. They are selfish. And so are employers who ask Covid positive employees to work. Just selfish, no other word to describe them.

I have a two year old and I wouldn’t test her for cold symptoms. For a long time lateral flows were not recommended for under 5s and I don’t know if they still are or not. It’s hugely upsetting for them though. My child has colds often as she goes to nursery three days, and I am not convinced other people are testing extensively. On balance, I don’t feel it’s right to subject DD to regular testing.

If she had a bad cold I wouldn’t go on a play date with a child who doesn’t go to her nursery for example, but I probably would still go to a cafe with her. I also wouldn’t go and visit grandparents if she had a cold.

If, however, I have any symptoms, I do test, and so does DH. If we have plans to leave the house anyway!

I've only ever done two tests when I had been in contact with relatives with covid. I felt ill a bit ago and just stayed in for 10 days. I couldn't see the point of going somewhere to test or ordering one by post and then needing to go out to send it back.
I believe covid is set to become much the same as flu

I saw a sign in local library for free test kits being available on request. I also know someone who has never done a test. Would that be considered unusual?

My younger son and DIL both had COVID last week, they have done regular tests but both their employers said they could still go to work! DIL said she would feel more comfortable working from home which she is doing until she tests positive. Our son is a service engineer so obviously couldn’t do calls but his employers asked him to go to the head office and work in a room on his own fixing machines, he agreed as he is the senior engineer and they rely on him too much IMO. He is home today as he found the room they put him in far too hot and it is a 25 mile drive from his house to the office. No wonder COVID is rife if some employers are discouraging staff from staying home, both son and DIL have a lot of contact with the general public.

I should have added, we had spent last Thursday from 10.30 am to 8 pm, out with Gdcs on London public transport and a in a very busy London Zoo, so the odds on having picked up COVID were probably high.
Gdcs haven’t picked up anything, thank goodness!

The government guidance for under 18 s is 3 days after testing positive. Unless they are too ill to go to school. They are not stupid or selfish.

That's the trouble maddyone. If we have any sort of a normal life, we could be associating with such people - who are covid positive.
Just as some posters are saying they test before seeing 'vulnerable people' but not otherwise.
What about those of us who are 'vulnerable people'? We just have to stay hidden because no-one cares.

Dh and I both came down with something just the other day - me a cold with a nasty cough, him just feeling cold and very tired.
We both tested ourselves yesterday. Both negative.

What is normal?

I'm not sure but I took it to mean the vast majority of the population i.e. not me who was thinking it necessary.

For myself, I almost never test because I don't go anywhere.

I usually test about twice a week because I visit my elderly mother in her care home. I also visit two friends who have cancer so I think it’s the responsible thing to do.

The type of people katyj speaks of, who go into work and out and about even if testing positive, are not just irresponsible, they are utterly self centred and selfish. I wouldn’t want to associate with such selfish people in any way at all.

We tested before visiting vulnerable relatives and friends recently although we felt perfecty well.

What is normal?

I only tested when I was ill (with covid) I work in lots of different schools no requirement to test.

I buy single tests from the pharmacy £2 it’s nothing to pay. It puts my mind at rest and if it protects other people catching the virus it’s worth it.

If you don’t feel well, without a prescription, you can go to a testing point without having an appointment, to have a test free of charge, if you are up to date with your injections or a minor, in France.

We tested before we visited family abroad recently, all fine. Otherwise only test when I'm going to see my mum.

Katyj

Most of my family and friends are still testing if they have symptoms, just out of curiosity really. Their still going into work and carrying on as normal if they test positive.

How utterly stupid and selfish of them.

Biscuitmuncher

I've never done a covid test, I despair at all that plastic waste

This worry crosses my mind frequently too, bisccy.

I've entered my covid health status every day on the King's College Zöe app ever since it started near the beginning of the pandemic. I've been entering negative test results since we were told to do them twice weekly at work. It's getting a bit boring now and I have wondered about stopping. The test results are entered at work on a different database.

Interestingly, I have had several presumed mild colds over the entire period, which is 'as usual' for me, but never anything that counted as covid. I say interesting because other family members, living elsewhere in the world, say they "haven't had a cold for two years". I'm not sure that is a good thing, especially when it's young children who haven't been exposed to viruses they'd normally be exposed to and need to be exposed to.

And so I arrive at a Hey Ho moment.

The only time I had a test was pre hospital procedure.