What do people think about this mass testing that they have introduced in Liverpool? My son lives there he has just tested negative. Could this be a way forward? I know that every single person I have met just wants a return to normality maybe this will help. Fingers crossed!!
I don’t know what to think of the testing, good that your son was clear but supposing he contracts COVID on the way home. Does the test mean they won’t ever get it, I doubt it.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
@Lyn I totally agree but the government must have some plan or why waste all the cash these tests will cost? Maybe they hope to get a better overall picture of the number of infections?? My son is young and very fit although he gave us a nasty scare in January with a burst appendix and sepsis. He isn’t worried about himself but thought he should be a good citizen and get tested. Let’s hope it’s not all another massive waste of money.
I think that’s what is for, @debs64 Just to get numbers. Who tested negative today could easily catch it tomorrow. I’ve heard people say that they were ok because of the test, false sense of security I think.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
To be honest he is on furlough anyway so won’t be going out much, luckily his apartment overlooks the river and he has a flat mate who is a good friend but I feel sorry for others less fortunate. He just got the test to try to help out no symptoms.
An item on R4 this morning said that a lot of people aren't getting the Home Testing kits for Covid because the database that is being used is from a Credit Rating Agency, and if you have poor credit you're not on the list?!?!?!?! Given that the lower paid and the young are those who are frequently accused of spreading the virus, how the heck is that supposed to work? https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested#register-a-home-test-kit
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I noticed people were queueing for the tests.I suppose you could catch it in the queue and it wouldn't show up. If people who test positive go home and isolate properly, it would definitely slow down the spread. As I understand it, reducing the R number is the aim rather than the unachievable one of eradicating the virus.
The testing itself is good, but I feel there are problems with who is tested and the outcomes. If the people have no intention of isolating if positive, they won't have the test anyway and secondly, not all of those who feel they will isolate won't in all cases fully isolate.
In an authoritarian state, then I think it works better.
And if they're going to that length, why not also gain more data and test for people who have had the virus as well? I would have thought knowing number of positives and number of (potentially) 'immune' out of the population would give a better insight (unless the science has come to the conclusion that immunity ISN'T long lived and so irrelevant now).
@Dovefromabove that's not strictly accurate. The database is used to confirm the requestor of the test is a "real person", and it's not a fraudulent or malicious request. The issue comes when new immigrants to the UK request a kit and, for obvious reasons, have no credit history/electoral roll presence/etc, and the request is rejected.
It's not an ideal system but it's about identity validation, not credit systems. A poor credit history is still a history, and would enable the requestor to get a test. The process used is very lax as well - much less stringent than the process to get a government gateway ID, for example, which is also required by immigrants (and everyone else).
So although no doubt frustrating and perfect fodder for "the government/NHS/outsourcer/aliens messed up again" stories, it does make sense. There are alternatives for those minority of edge cases caught by this.
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Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Who tested negative today could easily catch it tomorrow. I’ve heard people say that they were ok because of the test, false sense of security I think.
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-getting-tested#register-a-home-test-kit
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
It's not an ideal system but it's about identity validation, not credit systems. A poor credit history is still a history, and would enable the requestor to get a test. The process used is very lax as well - much less stringent than the process to get a government gateway ID, for example, which is also required by immigrants (and everyone else).
So although no doubt frustrating and perfect fodder for "the government/NHS/outsourcer/aliens messed up again" stories, it does make sense. There are alternatives for those minority of edge cases caught by this.