Coronavirus.

[BobClay]

I think my pushrod has worn out ....

 

[Trumpet]

As long as the big end hasn't gone.

 

[proactive]

As long as the big end hasn't gone.

He's always struck me as being the sort that has a little end...

 

[SketchyMagpie]

Ordered one box of Lateral Flow Tests last week and they sent two boxes of Antigen tests.

 

[staffordjas]

Ordered one box of Lateral Flow Tests last week and they sent two boxes of Antigen tests.

All the tests our pharmacy has been giving out since about September have been Antigen tests instead of the old ones I used to have.
Used a bit differently , only have to swab your nose and not your throat as well.
Results after 15 minutes , instead of the older 30 mins .

I had to get a code off the NHS website last time to pick-up for each person, to be handed to pharmacy before they hand any over ( so that they can record whose having them now as lots are getting wasted.)

Gave me 2 boxes for each person/code

 

[SketchyMagpie]

Ah thanks, I got a letter from the NHS on the same day about Antibody testing so I was confusing the two and thinking it was the ones for those. Cheers.

 

[Gadget]

Had the dreaded text this morning that Alyssa's (spawn3) teacher has Covid. We sigh, and order her a PCR test. Line everyone up for their Sunday LFT she gets a faint positive. Her younger sister is next, her positive line comes up before the control line. So I redo hers just in case, same result. So PCR test ordered for her too. Myself, my husband and their older sister all come up negative. The 3 of us have been jabbed. Alyssa only received hers on Monday unfortunately so possibly hasn't kicked in yet. I'm not sure whether Alyssa should be in school tomorrow now so I'm waiting for her Deputy Head to get back to me. Before her LFT status changed the rules stated that she still went in while waiting the results of her PCR.
* Edit to say, word back from the DH is stay at home till the results come in.

 

[BobClay]

Got a letter yesterday from the NHS about a survey being compiled to gather data. Was I prepared to volunteer ? I went online and filled in the details and now they're going to send me an 'RT-PCR' test for me to self administer.
I have never had a COVID test !! I haven't had COVID to my knowledge ... (given my age and health issues I figure I'd have noticed.) Anybody here have any experience with an 'RT-PCR' test then I would appreciate any advice on what is in store for me. Will I need to retire to my study to do it ... (in case it goes wrong? .... and I have the option of eating my gun. )

(For the pedantic the last bit is a joke. Guns taste horrible anyway. )

 

[SketchyMagpie]

Got a letter yesterday from the NHS about a survey being compiled to gather data. Was I prepared to volunteer ? I went online and filled in the details and now they're going to send me an 'RT-PCR' test for me to self administer.
I have never had a COVID test !! I haven't had COVID to my knowledge ... (given my age and health issues I figure I'd have noticed.) Anybody here have any experience with an 'RT-PCR' test then I would appreciate any advice on what is in store for me. Will I need to retire to my study to do it ... (in case it goes wrong? .... and I have the option of eating my gun. )

(For the pedantic the last bit is a joke. Guns taste horrible anyway. )

There's an instructional video here

The first time you do it it's intimidating, but they're a piece of piss really. You just swab each tonsil a certain number of times and then up yer shnozz (I mean your nose, don't worry). It'll come with a pretty thorough information leaflet too that will tell you how to do it.

I got one of those letters recently, too.

 

[Thehooperman]

Had my booster today but they wouldn't give me my flu jab (despite me booking it to be done at the same time) because there were no vaccinators at the surgery where they were doing the COVID jabs.

My query about "who's giving the COVID jabs then?" and pointing in the direction of a group of COVID jabbers fell on deaf ears.

I wouldn't mind if I'd just turned up and asked about the flu jab on the off chance but the docs have been texting me every few days to remind me and I did book it to get both done at the same time.

Lots of people coughing and not social distancing in the 15 minute "after jab" waiting area so I waited 5 minutes and went and sat in the car for the remainder. No ill effects so far.

 

[staffordjas]

Got a letter yesterday from the NHS about a survey being compiled to gather data. Was I prepared to volunteer ? I went online and filled in the details and now they're going to send me an 'RT-PCR' test for me to self administer.
I have never had a COVID test !! I haven't had COVID to my knowledge ... (given my age and health issues I figure I'd have noticed.) Anybody here have any experience with an 'RT-PCR' test then I would appreciate any advice on what is in store for me. Will I need to retire to my study to do it ... (in case it goes wrong? .... and I have the option of eating my gun. )

(For the pedantic the last bit i,s a joke. Guns taste horrible anyway. )

I had one , as part of a trial I was taking part in from Imperial College London in the 1st lockdown when the tests were not long out.

First one in my panic I got everything prepared , clean towel to do it on , hands sanitised etc , mirror ready to see what I was doing so that I didn't touch anywhere other than it should in my mouth. Did the test with swab down the throat and nose and then the swab had to go into their sealed plastic container . Then into another sealed box for a courier to pick up from the doorstep......

Then read the important bit last .....instructions not to do it until I'd arranged a time for the courier and then do it just so many hours before handover........ Luckily the courier came within the alloted time limit , Phew !

Wasn't as bad as I was expecting.

 

[BobClay]

I'll see what instructions I get. I've already set up a shaving mirror and a light on a stand because I think I'm going to need my left hand free to push my tongue down with a spoon, I must be part lizard !!! (I'll assume one of my distant ancestors was Terry the Tyrannosaurus )

 

[Cue]

Been a while since I’d had to probe my nasal cavity with a bit of cotton on a stick… I’d forgotten how unpleasant it is

 

[BobClay]

.......

Then read the important bit last .....instructions not to do it until I'd arranged a time for the courier and then do it just so many hours before handover........ Luckily the courier came within the alloted time limit , Phew !

......

There's a saying we used to have at sea, and I suspect many other trades have it too ........ RTFM

 

[Lucy]

Rumours that they might drop the booster age.

I wonder if they'll open it up to anyone over 5 months, because 6 and a half months after my AZ second dose I really feel I need one.

 

[kilmaccumsey]

I had my booster no problems with that but within an hour of having my flu jab I was so ill I couldn't walk thru town to get my car and have been ill since lost all taste and smell having dizzy spells head shocks . Pcr came back negative. Maybe one of the nasty flu virus thing going around. But it's bloody lingering

 

[FooFighter]

All the tests our pharmacy has been giving out since about September have been Antigen tests instead of the old ones I used to have.
Used a bit differently , only have to swab your nose and not your throat as well.
Results after 15 minutes , instead of the older 30 mins .

I had to get a code off the NHS website last time to pick-up for each person, to be handed to pharmacy before they hand any over ( so that they can record whose having them now as lots are getting wasted.)

Gave me 2 boxes for each person/code

All LFT tests, past and present, are Antigen tests - rapid ones.
Pharmacies have been restricted via the code system as they get paid for each box handed out.

 

[Lucy]

Over 40s can now get a booster. So close...

 

[SketchyMagpie]

All LFT tests, past and present, are Antigen tests - rapid ones.
Pharmacies have been restricted via the code system as they get paid for each box handed out.

I think the confusion is just the difference in the box design and the greater prominence that's given to calling them Antigen tests on the new ones.

 

[SketchyMagpie]

Over 40s can now get a booster. So close...

I know! XD I'm 38 in January.