Best to take the virus test
REGULAR RAPID TESTING IS A VITAL STEP FOR STOPPING THE SPREAD OF COVID-19, PARTICULARLY AS PUPILS SETTLE BACK IN AT SCHOOL. HERE’S HOW THE TESTS CAN HELP PROTECT YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES
hen you can’t work from home or you are a parent with children who are back at school or college, regular rapid testing can help to keep you and your loved ones safe.
One in three people with Covid-19 don’t show symptoms, so it’s vital to remain vigilant as lockdown restrictions begin to ease, and getting into the habit of taking rapid tests at home will help stop the spread of the virus. The impact of vaccination on transmission isn’t yet known, so even if you’ve had both doses you could still be able to give Covid to someone else.
You’re more likely to catch Covid from people you spend time with – so testing twice a week (and following self-isolation guidelines if the result is positive) will help to break the chain of transmission. Whether negative, positive or even void, you should report the result at gov.uk/report-covid19-result or call 119.
Testing and isolating play an important role alongside the vaccination programme and the ‘hands, face, space, air’ guidelines. (Wash your hands, cover your face, make space and open the windows to make sure rooms are well ventilated.)
Testing is free, quick and easy, and you can do it at home. Millions of people are already taking the tests – in the NHS, at workplaces and in secondary schools.
Tests are available to families and support bubbles of school children and people who have to be in a workplace.
Find out where you can pick up the test kits at gov.uk/ getting-tested-forcoronavirus.
“Initially, Covid put paid to me being able to work as a physiotherapist. The return to normality started with investing in a lot of PPE. The client’s safety is paramount and many of those I treat can be vulnerable.
“I’ve worked where I can, but always within the guidelines and with the girls not being at school, I was obviously at home more to look after them – even if they might claim it’s the other way around! The day starts early with turning out our ponies, so thankfully it’s not 100 per cent screen time. Being able to get outside and interact with animals definitely helped us all.
“The tests have been a godsend for a few reasons. Understanding that I can test myself regularly gives me the confidence to know that I’m not asymptomatic and won’t be responsible for spreading the virus – especially to anyone I’m treating, but also, of course, to Chris and the girls.
“Also, when clients see me, they can do so with confidence that they are being treated by someone who is not only wearing PPE, but has also tested negative.
“Initially, testing can be daunting. It’s the unknowns, isn’t it? What if I mess the test up? Actually, it’s surprisingly simple. You take the swab then add it to a small vial containing the testing fluid, swish it about, drop two drops onto the test strip and wait for 30 minutes.
“The top line shows the test is working, a second line will appear if you test positive. If it’s negative, just throw it all away and disinfect stuff as you would normally. It soon becomes second nature.”
“We were grateful to receive a trial from my children’s school so we’ve been doing rapid tests for a while. Working one day a week as a teacher, I get tested regularly, but with me going between my own children and then into a different setting it’s hugely important for us to be tested. I do a test before I go to work and we do one over the weekend before Anya and Oscar go to school.
“It’s so important to keep everyone safe. Obviously we don’t change what we do based on the outcome – because we’re staying at home in lockdown – but it’s vital for those situations where I have to go into work and the twins have to go into school – it makes me feel safer knowing we’ve had a test.
“The tests are super easy to get hold of. We get them from the Government website so we don’t have to go anywhere. It’s a very easy process, they are posted out and the last batch we ordered arrived the very next day – it literally couldn’t be easier.
“Home schooling was obviously incredibly difficult and I was managing my business as well – I have a natural health and beauty company, Natural Mothers, and make all my own products. My husband Nick has his home office in the garden now. But I feel like I want to be done with that part. The children need to go back to school and I felt like I was holding my business back, too.
“We’ve been incredibly careful throughout the pandemic. My husband had cancer over 10 years ago and we don’t know how he’d be affected if he got coronavirus, so that’s why we’ve been so cautious. I don’t think it’s worth the risk.
“This year is a very short time in our whole life and I feel really passionate about sticking to the rules and staying home. As hard as it’s been, I think it gave me the need to recognise that we all needed to slow down and spend that time together.
“By doing these tests, we’re protecting other people. If we were asymptomatic but had Covid and didn’t know, the children and I could infect others.”