HiFi Subjectivist ¦ Audio Forum ¦ NVA User Group

I've just been informed of a very strong rumour that FREE Lateral Flow Tests available from the NHS may be stopped as early as next week, so now might be a good time to order a pack of 7 if you need them, or are likely to need them.

Leaked documents last month hinted that mass testing would stick around until at least July before being limited to care homes, hospitals and schools.

But Whitehall sources say the scheme could be ditched months earlier because the Treasury wants to slash annual Covid spending by 90 per cent — from £15billion to £1.5bn.

Better safe than sorry. I've just ordered mine.

After Boris was caught being a huge lying hypocrite, it now appears that Government policy is to sweep Covid under the carpet.

Maybe this will be a lesson to PM's for the next 20 years? Don't impose any rules or laws that you are unable to fully follow yourself.

We have to pay for them over here in Holland. €12,50 for a pack of 5.

But all Covid restrictions are finally being lifted !!!!!!!!

I don't care what the government tells us, I still won't be leaving the house unmasked. They're ignoring the science and following pressure from big business, none of whom - just like the government - could give a flying fuck about "us" who may get sick because of them.

I wonder what things would be like now if we'd lost two or three Front Bench Tory MPs to COVID during the first wave, or some of their immediate family members; sons, daughters, wives, husbands etc.

Like the vast majority I don't know who or what to believe.
I did, however, recently read a newspaper article which quoted a British Medical Journal report saying that at best lateral flow tests were only, on average, 60% accurate and the worst "brand" less than 40%.Are we too reliant on testing given these figures plus that we can contract the infection within minutes of testing negative.
Carry on with wearing the mask Slinger because common sense makes sense.

As an old git with a few underlying health problems, I'll take all the precautions I can. My prevailing chain of thought says better safe than sorry.

slinger wrote: ↑Wed Feb 16, 2022 9:10 pm As an old git with a few underlying health problems, I'll take all the precautions I can. My prevailing chain of thought says better safe than sorry.

And that makes sense - for each and every adult to do their own personal risk assessment and to act accordingly.

So that, for example, a semi old person that's had 3 jabs and who has no underlying health issues would have different results to their risk assessment to yourself.
With it only being fair and ethical that such a person would have respect for the risk assessments of others.

slinger wrote: ↑Wed Feb 16, 2022 6:54 pm I don't care what the government tells us, I still won't be leaving the house unmasked. They're ignoring the science and following pressure from big business, none of whom - just like the government - could give a flying fuck about "us" who may get sick because of them.

I wonder what things would be like now if we'd lost two or three Front Bench Tory MPs to COVID during the first wave, or some of their immediate family members; sons, daughters, wives, husbands etc.

Partygate should be the least of Johnson's worries. He should be facing mass manslaughter charges for ignoring the scientific advice throughout the pandemic. Pressure from big business and his fuckwit MPs in the name of civil liberty.

Lindsayt wrote: ↑Wed Feb 16, 2022 9:50 pm

slinger wrote: ↑Wed Feb 16, 2022 9:10 pm As an old git with a few underlying health problems, I'll take all the precautions I can. My prevailing chain of thought says better safe than sorry.

And that makes sense - for each and every adult to do their own personal risk assessment and to act accordingly.

So that, for example, a semi old person that's had 3 jabs and who has no underlying health issues would have different results to their risk assessment to yourself.
With it only being fair and ethical that such a person would have respect for the risk assessments of others.

Precisely that, we're doing this stuff for each other not just ourselves. Although I'm determined to keep myself safe, the way that I'm doing it is also designed to keep others as safe as I possibly can.

I've got a 97-year-old mum in a care home, and she's already tested positive (but was asymptomatic I'm relieved to say) once, and there's no way I'd endanger her for starters. I'm triple jabbed and masked, and if there was more I could do I would.

Slinger wrote: I'm triple jabbed and masked, and if there was more I could do I would.

There's always more but the other sensible things to do are:

a) keep your distance - at least 1metre with face covering

b) wash your hands - between 2 and 4 hours between thorough washes.

Just because the government has to balance many factors and have come up with the legal (non) constraints, we can make a difference anyway. The basics of virus protection have not changed just because Boris and his mates declare "we have to learn to live with it".