In the US, they're offering free COVID tests

jvickers · Jan 18, 2022

This is totally unrelated to anything technological, but I thought I'd share it. It you live in the U.S., you can get four free COVID tests from the government by going here: COVID Home Tests | USPS.

iko22 · Jan 18, 2022

They are called "rapid lateral flow tests" in UK. We can get a free plastic test kit from the Chemist, which, when completed, we are then invited to share the result via telephone, webform or QR code (that's the possible technology connection) . On completion, they e-mail us back with a "certificate", or a notification of the result . See, technology can play a part!

BunnyJ · Jan 18, 2022

jvickers said:
This is totally unrelated to anything technological, but I thought I'd share it. It you live in the U.S., you can get four free COVID tests from the government by going here: COVID Home Tests | USPS.

I ordered ours today..

mecanicogolf · Jan 18, 2022

BunnyJ said:
I ordered ours today..

Thanks, Bunny! Thanks to you, so did I.

cereberus · Jan 19, 2022

In UK, we get 7 tests in a pack, and can order online or pick up from chemist. These are in high demand though.

z3r010 · Jan 19, 2022

cereberus said:
In UK, we get 7 tests in a pack, and can order online or pick up from chemist. These are in high demand though.

20 in the last pack I picked up!!!

cereberus · Jan 19, 2022

z3r010 said:
20 in the last pack I picked up!!!

From a chemist?

z3r010 · Jan 19, 2022

cereberus said:
From a chemist?

Leasure centre that is doing the jabs, I'd never seen a 20 pack before.

cereberus · Jan 19, 2022

z3r010 said:
Leasure centre that is doing the jabs, I'd never seen a 20 pack before.

Only beer LOL.

jvickers · Jan 19, 2022

Unfortunately, we've been well behind the UK in terms of prevention and testing. So, this is a good step forward. Now, only if they'd crack down a little more on the prevention. It's important to know if you have COVID, but it's better if you were not in a situation where you could contract it in the first place. Just look at the arguments in the US about mask mandates, anti-vaxers versus those who want a vaccine, etc.

* EDIT: This is not a political post. I'm just indicating that this is new for the US and ways in which we're behind the UK.

cereberus · Jan 19, 2022

jvickers said:
Unfortunately, we've been well behind the UK in terms of prevention and testing. So, this is a good step forward. Now, only if they'd crack down a little more on the prevention. It's important to know if you have COVID, but it's better if you were not in a situation where you could contract it in the first place. Just look at the arguments in the US about mask mandates, anti-vaxers versus those who want a vaccine, etc.

* EDIT: This is not a political post. I'm just indicating that this is new for the US and ways in which we're behind the UK.

One of the key differences between UK and US is we have a single National Health Service (two actually as Scotland has separate NHS to rest of UK).

Crucial point is they are funded by state taxation rather than health insurance.

I know the US does have state funded hospitals but they are not like the UK health system.

Only integrated organisations like NHS are capable of managing this situation without having to answer to shareholders (answering to government of course).

We, in UK, tend to knock the NHS as slow, inefficient etc, but COVID has shown the organisation was able to provide a major response to this pandemic, free of shareholder interference - of course the payoff will be the National Insurance contributions will ultimately have to go up to pay for this.

Key point is we spend now and collect money in future - regrettably shareholder owned organisations are not so forthcoming.

One major reason the NHS has organised things well is the dedication of staff and volunteers working long hours at vacc. sites etc., and also we should not underestimate the organisational management i.e. vacc. invitation letters sent to virtually everbody (except homeless?) in a coordinated manner, based on age range sequencing/health needs.

I note some companies in UK are now only paying minimum statuory sick pay to those off sick with COVID who have NOT been vaccinated.

In Europe, e.g. Greece, they are now going to fine people monthly who do not get vaccinated unless a certified health reason preventing this.

I believe other EU countries are going to do similar.

From an IT perspective, is big brother now running the show?

jvickers · Jan 19, 2022

cereberus said:
One of the key differences between UK and US is we have a single National Health Service (two actually as Scotland has separate NHS to rest of UK).

Crucial point is they are funded by state taxation rather than health insurance.

I know the US does have state funded hospitals but they are not like the UK health system.

Only integrated organisations like NHS are capable of managing this situation without having to answer to shareholders (answering to government of course).

We, in UK, tend to knock the NHS as slow, inefficient etc, but COVID has shown the organisation was able to provide a major response to this pandemic, free of shareholder interference - of course the payoff will be the National Insurance contributions will ultimately have to go up to pay for this.

Key point is we spend now and collect money in future - regrettably shareholder owned organisations are not so forthcoming.

One major reason the NHS has organised things well is the dedication of staff and volunteers working long hours at vacc. sites etc., and also we should not underestimate the organisational management i.e. vacc. invitation letters sent to virtually everbody (except homeless?) in a coordinated manner, based on age range sequencing/health needs.

I note some companies in UK are now only paying minimum statuory sick pay to those off sick with COVID who have NOT been vaccinated.

In Europe, e.g. Greece, they are now going to fine people monthly who do not get vaccinated unless a certified health reason preventing this.

I believe other EU countries are going to do similar.

From an IT perspective, is big brother now running the show?

I'm going to have to ponder this post. You make excellent points and ask a great question at the end.

A Guy · Jan 20, 2022

I believe often now doctors are asked to be administrators, look to the bottom line rather than just what's best for the patient. They are also more circumspect. Ask them what they suspect, and a politician answers, they worry if they say something, and it doesn't turn out to be true, they will be liable, etc.

If you have money, you can get a group of doctors who all get together and work out a plan for treatment. If you just have insurance, you get doctors working on you piecemeal if you have multiple issues...and they don't appear to communicate with each other

A Guy

barman58 · Jan 20, 2022

What has been happening here in Wales, ( the NHS is controlled mostly by the national government, but the devolution of power does give a more local control, as they decide locally where the Finance sourced from the UK government is used).

I have noticed that Local GP (General Practitioner), practices are employing doctors who have a specialty ( Cardiology, Respiratory, Pediatric Etc), rather than doctors who work in all fields. As I have multiple issues, for me this means that I will see a different doctor each time I visit, but one who is aware of my issues and history, rather than having to spend half the appointment reading my notes. If I go for an unplanned visit then I will see one of the fifteen or so doctors available, but any follow-up visits will be directed to a more specialised doctor.

Another thing that I have noticed lately with my doctors is they ask me questions, and actually listen to the answers I give rather that give a default "Cure"

When I was younger my GP's had two doctors with training in General Medicine. Neither of who had updated their knowledge of current practices since they left Medical School ( so you got the classic "take two Aspirin, and come back next week" diagnosis

)

mecanicogolf · Jan 20, 2022

Interesting topic you all are talking about. But I can't see between the lines as of what this has got to do with Win 11.

z3r010 · Jan 20, 2022

mecanicogolf said:
But I can't see between the lines as of what this has got to do with Win 11.

This is the off-topic section.

BunnyJ · Jan 20, 2022

mecanicogolf said:
Interesting topic you all are talking about. But I can't see between the lines as of what this has got to do with Win 11.

We have this section to discuss off topic things.. like this.

mecanicogolf · Jan 20, 2022

z3r010 said:
This is the off-topic section.

Gotcha.

WXC · Jan 20, 2022

jvickers said:
This is totally unrelated to anything technological, but I thought I'd share it. It you live in the U.S., you can get four free COVID tests from the government by going here: COVID Home Tests | USPS.

Noticed in WSJ yesterday, that N95 mask, are on their way also.

N95 Mask...

~~~~~

EDIT...These are N95's, not 'KN95', as I first posted. Sorry about that.