Random Covid Testing

[sherrardk]

Anyone else been invited to be randomly tested for covid? Himself got an invite this morning.

[Hopkirk]

Are you sure it's not a scam?

[sherrardk]

No, proper name, in a letter, not an email just seemed, well ... random :)

[jakep]

A friend of mine has.

[sherrardk]

Wonder how random it is then, there must be some sort of criteria.

[albaqwerty]

not a scam apparently.
https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-china-health-britain/uk-conducts-random-coronavirus-testing-as-part-of-early-warning-plan-idUKKCN20K1FX

[albaqwerty]

I've just noticed the date on that link, surely that would imply they've been doing this all along?

[margarettom]

As an extremely vulnerable person, I would not want to go and have a test, as I assume it would involve getting quite close to someone. I would only consider a test if I was ill.

[sherrardk]

You don’t go anywhere, you use your ‘special’ code online and get sent a swab which is collected by courier. Seems a bit of a faff and a bit of an expensive way of doing things.

[Buenchico]

I'm still waiting for the letter which tells me that I'm in the 'extremely vulnerable' group, who must remain 'shielded'. (Apparently I'm meant to have had one but I seem to have been forgotten!)

However, here's a relevant link for Sherr:
https://www.itv.com/news/2020-05-11/why-figuring-out-how-many-people-in-the-uk-have-covid-19-is-such-a-difficult-question/

[ummmm]

I wasn't invited but I have been tested. A visit to the hospital and the tests kits came out. One for MSRA as well.

[DJHawkes]

It sure I need to be and not sure what would happen if it was positive, enough sleepless nights as it is

[jno]

evening, dot, symptoms keeping you awake late?

[Mamyalynne]

Hi Dotty x


I'd have a test if offered one (with no travelling) but am lucky in that I have no plans or need to go anywhere.

[jno]

I guess I'd take one if it was free; I don't feel ill but I'd happy to be told I'd had the virus and hadn't noticed.

[ummmm]

The tests are free.

[jno]

what are they doing with them, ummmm? just sending letters to people by sticking pins in the phone book? Or are they prioritising some people? I haven't kept up with this.

[jim360]

Random testing is probably quite a good idea, and important to participate in if so.

[sherrardk]

Jim, he’s not going to do it, no big surprise - he hasn’t been for his checkup for his head going bang :(

[ummmm]

That's just daft.

[Buenchico]

>>> Wonder how random it is then, there must be some sort of criteria

The criteria (other than a willingness and ability to give informed consent) are solely that the intended participant is
(a) 2 years old or older ;
(b) healthy; and
(c) lives in a household where someone has previously taken part in survey for the Office of National Statistics and then consented to be approached for future research

See Section 8 here:
https://www.ndm.ox.ac.uk/_asset/file/protocol-covid-infection-survey-2020-04-20-v1-0-clean-with-ethics-ref.pdf