Big day batfink – hope you didn’t shed too many tears.
It's all good - the only tear I shed was one of joy at not having to pay 2x childcare fees any more!
"waterfall scrambling" sounds like potentially the most covid-safe activity I can think of - you'll be right.
Quoted directly from what you posted. I’d go so far as to say self testing is an utterly pointless waste of resources.
To be clear, self-testing is useless.
It's a fairly large jump in reasoning to go from "self testing has some limitations" (which I think everyone knows?) to "it's completely useless / pointless". That's why population health is so interesting (and challenging), even something with a marginal benefit at the level of the individual can be worth doing when scaled-up.
If you haven’t done the test right, then you shouldn’t get a control line – that’s the point of it.
The self test line just checks the reagent. It'll appear if you don't actually swab yourself at all but complete the rest of the required steps. My doubt isn't in the actual LFT's but in self testing to actually take the required samples for them to work effectively. If you want a negative test you can get one very easily, a positive takes slightly more effort. Using them properly is unpleasant so it's unlikely most people do.
You think it's unlikely that >50% are using their LFTs correctly?
Without the LFTs it's unlikely we'd know that either of the families close to us had it. They got a + and went to get a PCR to verify. Makes sense to me.
“waterfall scrambling” sounds like potentially the most covid-safe activity I can think of – you’ll be right.
One of the parents is an outdoor education instructor so it was all carefully managed of course 🙂
One of the parents is an outdoor education instructor
Kudos for them taking it on, knowing what I know of H&S in an education setting from a previous life.
What's the reason for "inconclusive" test result?
We've two back today, one negative and one inconclusive. Both same time/centre/assume batch.
Clearly we've seasonal flu in the house....
Schools here opened up after the summer hols.
Govt has put "air purifiers" in classrooms at cost of thousands.
We seem to be going RAT test mad here. Health depot advises we can still work if you're a close contact with no symptoms but have to RAT test every day for 7 days. If you're doing this then you go to work, then go home and isolate! RAT tests cost $15+ each and really hard to get hold of. Nursing Union has asked the govt to provide the tests to us nurses for free. Nope. ScoMo doesn't want to "undercut businesses" (aka one of his mates owns a RAT test company).
My kids are going for their 1st dose today. and their follow up is due 4 days after we're meant to leave Aus for Dubai. Not sure if they will allow their second dose a couple of days early but it's that or only getting one dose. Really hard to book appts near by. Closest place I can find today is an hours drive against rush hour traffic. Also worried if they have post injection soreness / fatigue with the prospect of a big international flight. Oh well. If there's no booking slots, what can we do?
Using them properly is unpleasant so it’s unlikely most people do.
This might have been the case when you have to gargle on a swab and then use it to tickle your brain to get a good sample, but the current ones are designed to sample from the nostril.
I still do the throat swabbing anyway, better safe than sorry.
What’s the reason for “inconclusive” test result?
We had this a few months and phoned up and the operator suggested it was quite often just the case that the test had been lost or muddled with another so they didnt know which was which
Seems like its rife in my childs school, email round saying the most cases in staff and students that there has been during the entire pandemic.
Using them properly is unpleasant so it’s unlikely most people do.
the large numbers of people testing positive by LFT's (100-200K per day through most of Dec and January) indicates that there are plenty that can. Even allowing for people running follow up tests for release purposes, that's millions.
Sure you can point to 'most' and say you mean 50.000001% but if you're going to suggest most tests are false because they aren't done properly, you might need to back that up (I have looked myself and I can't find anything immediately, which is a bit of a surprise, must be searching the wrong thing)
It seems to be social care workers as well – Dunno if that includes care homes
Looks like it does. Understandable really, having higher requirements for care homes than hospitals would be hard to justify at this point. Not trying to get that debate going again (you've made your point well, and have far more knowledge and experience in this area), just filling in a blank with some fresh info.
Govt has put “air purifiers” in classrooms at cost of thousands.
Interesting... there were calls for that to happen here, but it hasn't (in state schools anyway)... and my naive expectation was that natural ventilation would be FAR easier to arrange in schools down there this time of year than it is up here... so I didn't think you'd need them. Showing my ignorance about the realties of living in Aus there, I'm sure!
Well I’ve finally joined the club after 2 years. I’ve tested positive on an LFT, that’s what I get for going to Scotland at the weekend. :/
My lad is in Y9. His school now has 20 teachers isolating so is homeschooling Y7/8/9 TFN.
Bad luck Drac, I hope it's mild for you.
Is the rest of your crew clear and working Drac?
This uptick in cases, is it just the change to include repeat infections?
Cheapo chino LFT kits giving unreliable results shocker!!
Sounding a bit racist there...also making a bold - and disproven - assertion.
https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2021/oct/lateral-flow-tests-detect-most-people-risk-transmitting-covid-19
Thannk you Jonv.
lets order a few million more “free” kits with tax payers money!
What's your alternative - don't tell me, you think that fewer tests = fewer cases? What's your solution, maybe ration LFT tests for people who can afford to pay for them?
they look so cool in landfill sites too.
So what do you suggest?
Well I’ve finally joined the club after 2 years. I’ve tested positive on an LFT, that’s what I get for going to Scotland at the weekend. :/
I'm sorry to read this, I sincerely hope that you and yours get well quickly.
and my naive expectation was that natural ventilation would be FAR easier to arrange in schools down there this time of year than it is up here…
5.30am, 28 Celsius. A/C rules in urban Oz.
Is the rest of your crew clear and working Drac?
Cheers for asking. I’ve not been at work for nearly 2 weeks as I’ve been on holiday.
@Murayy thank you. I feel Ok but kind of new this am so was surprised with a negative result, as the day went on I started to feel like I was getting a cold. I’m now starting to feel shattered.
Rest up. We’ll send cake if you need it.
How was minibatfinks first day at school?
Cheers Kelvin.
5.30am, 28 Celsius.
OMG! Yeah, I can see that’s windows closed and AC and air purifiers on well before 3pm and home time. I’m sweating just thinking about it.
Riding to work for an hour my HR was 5-10 beats up on normal.
Our kids got an extra 2 weeks extra summer hols to help smooth out the peak. Return to school rules in our state are masks on for high school students, strongly recommended for Y3-6, no tests required unless symptoms.
All schools have access to carbon dioxide monitors to measure ventilation, and if ventilation issues can't be solved by opening windows or with air conditioning, air purifiers will be provided.
@matt_outandabout
Not sure if you got an answer to reasons for inconclusive PCR tests.
Firstly not anything to worry about, basically there was a contaminated sample or too little material collected by sample.
There are several reasons including lab failure but main one is if user is inexperienced and the swab touches the tongue or cheek while sampling (contamination). The other is that insufficient material was collected (not uncommon for people to spend to little time at back of throat with swab). Hope that reassures a bit. Frustrating but a retest is what we would get done.
So schools opened up on Monday.
Yesterday a school had 1 positive case.
Today, whole school closed.
How was minibatfinks first day at school?
Pretty good I think? From what we were able to piece together, it seems like she had a good time! She's starting the after-school club thing today, so that's another change for her too - but she's doing great, thanks for asking. We are going to LFT her tonight as part of her 2 per week standard testing.
The postie has just dropped-off her new surfboard - I think I'll keep hold of that to use to cheer her up when she (invariably tests positive) - hoping that me might get through this week before that happens!
So schools opened up on Monday.
Yesterday a school had 1 positive case.
Today, whole school closed
Gutted mate..... where are you? NSW schools changed the rules to prevent this from happening. Not sure it was a good idea - but closing the whole school when there's a single case doesn't sound like a good idea either
Just had to escort a client home and had to have him sat in the back, both of us with masks on in the car and me with a face shield too. So you think glasses steam up with just a mask? Worse with a shield too. Combined with 36c / winds and a big bushfire locally, I'm hotter than a Macca's coffee right now.
Gutted mate….. where are you?
A small principality called "Western Australia". A little island not too far from the mainland 😉
Just downgraded one big fire and now this one just down the road.
https://bushfire.io/?location=11.413213994724135/-32.532204967576895/115.76439339468072/satellite/0/0
Thanks @sparksmaguff - second one was negative....
A small principality called “Western Australia”. A little island not too far from the mainland 😉
Lol. The hermit kingdom. How are your preparations going for reintegrating into society? Albeit a 2007 version of it
Just had to escort a client home and had to have him sat in the back, both of us with masks on in the car and me with a face shield too. So you think glasses steam up with just a mask?
Best masks I've used for avoiding steamed glasses are the ffp3 ones.
Sealed around the nose so your breath doesn't affect your glasses.
Better protection too.
Would always go for that option in that situation.
Well I'm off to Europe at the end of March with the family. Hopefully Marko will have some kind of plan by then. Not like we've had 2 years to prepare.....
To be fair, aside from huge staff shortages.... Life's been pretty normal bar a couple of mini lockdowns. Nowhere near the level of what's occurred over East. Problem is things like check ins, which perhaps 50% of people do consistently, and some just token check in to one location. We get told masks everywhere and no big gatherings, then they allow 1000s of people to attend the Skyworks for Aus Day? The general consensus is Marko's doing a great job, keep the borders closed and don't let any more bloody French backpackers in.
2007 - mate, WA would be positively futuristic if we aimed to be like 2007!
I think WA have done a great job to be honest. But once everyone is vaxxed, and the antivirals are widely available… it’s time to get to “normal”.
My neighbours just had their travel pass to Perth approved - they are moving there on Monday. They’re proper odd-squad, you’re welcome to them.
Agree and disagree. My fear is ba.1 might not really hit us but that means ba.2 could do and its really to early to see what this will present.
Also worried that with winter approaching we'll have another excuse to not open up, again.
Still, my flight's still booked and I'll be leaving for 6 months on 31st March..... All fingers crossed.
I've just attended an update on the Qld situation and the stat's are pretty encouraging at this point (notwithstanding emerging variants). Inpatient hospitalisation has plateaued, but the virtual inpatient load (patients isolating at home with medical oversight) has fallen by ~2/3 in the last couple of weeks. It's enough to start handing over some of this load to primary care.
The high vaccination rate is working. Still crap for the vulnerable though.
Just tested +ve for the 3rd time 😣
We are up to 192 identified cases now. Another school closed.
Lots of food shortages and limits due to floods in SA.
Bad day today as big bushfire locally. Suspiciously lit too. Water bombers, Helitaks, media air coverage and copper choppers. Roads closed traffic chaos. Glad I rode in this morning!
Having to wear full ppe in 40c. Fun!
Daughter’s school has a number of rising cases now.
The general consensus is Marko’s doing a great job, keep the borders closed and don’t let any more bloody French backpackers in.
Is the consensus really that general? Just curious really, as have a number of UK friends across there... I've not really questioned them, but assumed there must be a sizeable minority who aren't happy about not being able to travel to see family for 2 years+.
Any scientists care to comment on my musings?
Fist had Covid in the Delta wave on 30 Aug21
I had a positive PCR 19Dec21. No symptoms. One LFT on 19 had an extremely faint second line, all others -ve
This morning I took an LFT - faint but obvious positive . Had cold like symptoms all week. Second LFT 20 mins ago is now -ve.
Have I had omicron twice? If I’m exposed but fight it off twice within a month can that still show +ve twice within a month?
I introduced a phrase in a meeting some years ago which I thought was common parlance. Judging by the general hilarity it wasn't.
"Let's not go to the far end of a fart".
Hahahaha no idea what context you were using that phrase in then, nor what context your using it in now as I'm not up do date on this thread. It's a new one on me though, and has made me chuckle.
Have I had omicron twice? If I’m exposed but fight it off twice within a month can that still show +ve twice within a month?
Reportedly patients who have had the original Omicron strain can almost immediately reacquire the latest subvariant (ba.2). Bad luck.