Concerned young Heart Disease sufferer/Coronavirus testing why is this not more widely available?!

[Chronic25_Catlover]

Hey so concerned member here,I have been having typical cold symptoms for quite a while now on and off but has only been since last 3 days I've had a cough not alot but been coughing here and there particularly more so at night.Early hrs of this morning it was pretty horrible and I've been having some water I do also feel sluggish I've no idea whether this is early starts of Corona or whether is just a cold.I am at home self isolating/self distancing have been since yesterday.My Dad (over 60 and has high BP and COPD) has also been coughing too like myself.

It's such a pity it seems we have to just suck it and see where stop at home for up to 14days and if get worse only then ring 111 (which are terrible to get hold of in first place and by what I've heard not useful at all) and only perhaps if that bad or if you was to push you at high risk that they may suggest 999 to be taken to hospital for tests/treatment.Other countries are having many tests so why aren't we?.Being realistic not saying screen everyone but someone who is ill let them self isolate for about 7 days then if they get worse they get tested especially so if they're high risk that is the sensible regime I propose.

[Chappychap]

I guess there are lots of things our government would have done differently if they had had the foresight to recognise the risk of a pandemic. More intensive care beds and trained nurses, more ventilators, and, as you're suggesting, more test kit manufacturing capacity.

But, unlike say Singapore, they didn't. So we are where we are.

You're right, it's frustrating to be stuck indoors if it's not necessary, but when this shortage of testing becomes much more serious is if you were a front line NHS worker or a key employee in an essential service like power or water. They are the people that really, really need to be tested early and frequently, so that they can get back into work where the nation desperately needs them. That we don't have the test kits for even those people is one of the critical lessons that will have to be learnt from all this.

[willsie01 in reply to Chappychap]

Shortage of trained nurses; necessary equipment; etc. I’d love to reply to this but it’d be too “political” for some members blood. The answers to why, nonetheless, are obvious.

[DavidG1971]

Hang in there. Let us know when you’re feeling better. I’m 48 with an LAD stent and keeping my house secure is IMPOSSIBLE. My 17 year old daughter hates me even more than last week for suggesting she dies by eat everything in next 24 hours. She’s working at a gym - impossible to stay secure. I’m terrified.