They were called a lifesaver when the Covid test was first performed in early stages of the pandemic.
In the absence of vaccines and effective treatments, it was imperative to know who had the virus – and urge them not to infect others.
However, two years later the test’s appeal has diminished. Now, my patients and friends are asking me more questions: “Why are we so obsessed with testing?”
The tests seem to be addictive in Britain. Our tests have been more thorough than those of any other country: We’ve conducted more than twice as many, more often than the Americans or French and five times more than the Germans.
The first Covid test was performed in early stages of the pandemic. They were widely praised as lifesaving. In the absence of vaccines and effective treatments, it was imperative to know who had the virus – and urge them not to infect others. Two years later, however, these tests no longer have the same appeal.
This has led to a shortage of testing supplies in many parts, as Health Secretary Sajid Javid warns that there’s no quick solution.
Somehow the nation has sleepwalked into a gigantic, expensive mass-screening programme – without properly considering whether it is justified or when it might stop.
This has led to a shortage of testing supplies in many parts, as Health Secretary Sajid Javid warns that there’s no quick solution.
The people have the right to question: Why hasn’t testing been so important?
Over half of the country has been triple-jabbed. The Omicron version, Boris Johnson rightly stated this week, is “obviously gentler” than the predecessors. Yet, the testing continues.
It is important to be clear that a positive test can have a profound impact on people’s lives, and their livelihoods.
Currently, the rules state that if your test is positive, you have to self-isolate for seven days – though the NHS’s website yesterday was still wrongly claiming it was ten.
It may not seem like a big deal to those with large houses and comfortable jobs.
Self-isolation may be the last nudge for millions of individuals with low or precarious earnings.
As a result, I’m increasingly hearing that people have stopped routinely testing because they can’t face the idea of a positive result and the subsequent disruption – especially if they don’t have symptoms.
Given the immense staffing requirements of the NHS, this situation is particularly urgent.
For example, nearly 19,000 NHS employees were out of work on December 19, after they had tested positive.
Yesterday, alarmingly, it was revealed that one third of London’s fire engines had been rendered unusable due to positive or isolating firefighters.
The consequences if – God forbid – another Grenfell Tower disaster were to happen do not bear thinking about.
Anyone who tests positive for symptoms and is unable to control them should seek help.
It is not just me who thinks that only people with symptoms should test. All others should go on living normal lives.
The country now has more than 50% triple-jabbed. Boris Johnson correctly stated that the Omicron version is clearly milder than previous versions. But the chaos continues with the hectic testing
Anecdotally speaking, there have been many instances in which people did exactly that over the last few weeks. They avoided tests to avoid a negative result ruining a Christmas with their family.
Many others are going even farther. Some colleagues from the medical field have made it clear that they will not test under any circumstances.
A week went by before Christmas when not one junior doctor worked on my ward. All had tested positive or lived with an Omicron patient.
These doctors were not actually sick, as they were all just at home. However, a ward physician can only do so much if they are not present on the ward.
I believe we should all begin to live with the virus as we did with flu.
It is impossible to imagine a worse alternative: that we would spend our entire lives testing, locking down, and then crashing when the cases get too high, making it difficult for people to live their normal lives.
We must end the tyranny and cruelty of testing now, before it is too late.