Coronavirus - how is it/has it affected you?

[Ethan]

With respect I think your last few posts are politically based.

With equal respect, I was commenting on the implications for public health. Any comment could be construed as political if implies agreement or disagreement with something that was the subject of a political decision or policy. One of the arguments made for this policy shift was financial.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Is testing free in other nations? I seem to recall Hobbit saying that it was a couple of Euros a time in Spain, but I may have remembered it wrongly. Has charging (if that is what other nations do, especially at higher infection times) compromised their response?

I heard on the radio the other day that kits in Italy have to be bought by the individual also.

 

[SocketRocket]

I heard on the radio the other day that kits in Italy have to be bought by the individual also.

If some have to pay for tests they will need to go without something else so won't test. Maybe some countries have been doing this but it doesn't sound right to me.

 

[Swango1980]

If some have to pay for tests they will need to go without something else so won't test. Maybe some countries have been doing this but it doesn't sound right to me.

I wonder how many people test now anyway. If symptoms are mild or non existent in majority of cases, why would people test anyway? How many people test regularly, symptoms or not?

 

[ExRabbit]

I wonder how many people test now anyway. If symptoms are mild or non existent in majority of cases, why would people test anyway? How many people test regularly, symptoms or not?

My wife tested last Wednesday as she was going to visit her elderly parents on Thursday. She had what she thought was a bit of a cold, but she had a positive test, cancelled the trip and avoided possibly infecting her more vulnerable parents.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

If some have to pay for tests they will need to go without something else so won't test. Maybe some countries have been doing this but it doesn't sound right to me.

I guess if you have paid from day 1 then that is the norm. I agree with you, once people have to pay some, who knows the percentage, simply won't bother even when showing symptoms.

 

[SocketRocket]

I wonder how many people test now anyway. If symptoms are mild or non existent in majority of cases, why would people test anyway? How many people test regularly, symptoms or not?

People visiting the elderly or vulnerable. Some test when visiting friends etc, some test for work. I think there is still a lot of testing. The reason why they would do it is to be responsible and caring of others.

 

[SocketRocket]

I guess if you have paid from day 1 then that is the norm. I agree with you, once people have to pay some, who knows the percentage, simply won't bother even when showing symptoms.

Or be able to afford to. It's a little unfair if the worst off are hit the hardest.

 

[Swango1980]

Well, the press conference was rudely interrupted by Putin starting WW3 (I watched it on Sky)

 

[Ethan]

Testing will drop sharply now that it is declared unnecessary, and further in April when it is chargeable. I think it was fairly obvious that Chris Whitty would have preferred sticking with isolation and testing.

Some other countries set a different expectation for healthcare costs and funding. Test-negative status might still be needed for access there, so incentives to test different. All basically gone here now.

 

[drdel]

With equal respect, I was commenting on the implications for public health. Any comment could be construed as political if implies agreement or disagreement with something that was the subject of a political decision or policy. One of the arguments made for this policy shift was financial.

True but putting in words like "...spunking..." in your narrative was not apolitical.

 

[Ethan]

True but putting in words like "...spunking..." in your narrative was not apolitical.

I did not know that was a political word, just a colourful word for wasting.

 

[Tashyboy]

I did not know that was a political word, just a colourful word for wasting.

If it is a political word Ave been wasting me time ??

 

[Deleted member 25172]

Is testing free in other nations? I seem to recall Hobbit saying that it was a couple of Euros a time in Spain, but I may have remembered it wrongly. Has charging (if that is what other nations do, especially at higher infection times) compromised their response?

Not in Sweden where I’m from. Never has been. They’re about £3 per LFT.

 

[Tashyboy]

Not in Sweden where I’m from. Never has been. They’re about £3 per LFT.

Yup spoke to a pal last night in Italy, she said they have always had to pay for LFT. They were expensive when they were first available. Now about €12 each but you can pick them up for €5 or 6 from markets.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

If some have to pay for tests they will need to go without something else so won't test. Maybe some countries have been doing this but it doesn't sound right to me.

£20 for a standard pack of 7 tests is going to be a push for those on low income or for those who get minimum sick pay - especially given we know what’s going to happen to gas and electricity costs for us all in a couple of months time. It’s all very well the state asking you to pay for tests when the state also ensures a high level of sick pay and other benefits.

 

[bobmac]

It’s all very well the state asking you to pay for tests when the state also ensures a high level of sick pay and other benefits.

You mean the government?

 

[drdel]

I did not know that was a political word, just a colourful word for wasting.

As an intelligent person the sentence/context was not accident...

 

[GB72]

I guess there could have been room for some middle ground on free tests. What frustrates is that many very large, very profitable companies, wrote compulsory LF testing into their covid safety procedures. As such, thousands of people are taking sometimes daily LF tests at taxpayers expense whereas the cost, at least in part, could have been covered by some of the global companies insisting on daily testing. As the tests were free there was, in the cases that I am aware of, little consideration of the need to test daily but rather a blanket requirement to have a clear test that day to enter buildings.

Oh well, will just wait now for the almost inevitable LF test shortage as people try and stockpile or even profiteer when they stop being free.

 

[Blue in Munich]

Having been looking forward to a relaxation of restrictions and with a significant birthday coming up, we'd booked a trip to Scotland for some golf & a few distillery visits.

And as a result of a weak positive LFT & a confirmed positive PCR, I've spent the evening cancelling everything. My true thoughts would see me with a significant holiday from here, if not a permanent ban.