Testing has always been a major part of the most countries and government’s handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. With the ongoing vaccine rollout, though, you may wonder why it is still important to test for Covid-19 and why you and others should still get tested for the virus. After all, doesn’t a vaccine mean we are heading towards being Covid-19-free?
In time, we all hope that will be true but until that time, testing is still an important practice that can help in controlling and reducing the spread of the virus. To help give you some thought and ensure you understand its importance, we are going to look at 5 reasons why you should still get tested for Covid-19.
It Is Still the Best Way to Identify If You Have the Virus
Depending on your age group, you may still be waiting a few months for your vaccine. Although they are making good progress, they are working through the entire adult population of the country. Even if you get your first jab, the vaccinations currently being administered involve two doses, so you are not fully covered until you have had both.
We’re not even sure of the real world effects of the vaccine yet. With all of that in mind, it is still important that we understand who has the virus. The best way of determining who has the virus with any level of certainty is through testing. So, whether you are offered or choose a PCR test or Antigen Test, these are still vital.
Stops the Spread of the Virus
Following on nicely from the above point, testing helps to stop the spread of the virus. As social distancing and restrictive measures like self-isolating if you have the virus are still in place, if you receive a positive test result, you are still expected to stay at home and stay away from other people, especially those outside of your own household.
Without testing, even while the vaccine is being rolled out, the virus could continue to spread. That is why, at least for the time being, social distancing, regular hand washing and wearing face coverings along with testing and self-isolating if you have the virus are the best ways of stopping it spreading.
It Can Help the Government Understand the Progress Being Made
Everyone is hopeful that the vaccine will obviously put a stop to the virus that has impacted our lives both indirectly and directly now for more than a year. However, we will not know if and when we are really heading out of the clear unless testing is still done. That is why Covid-19 testing is still important, even for people who have had their first jab. It helps to show the government the affect all their efforts and the addition of the vaccine, are having on the R number and spread of the virus.
You Need a Negative Covid-19 Test to Travel Overseas
As the pandemic continues, even as the case and death numbers are falling, you still need to be tested if you want to fly away on holiday (or for any other reason too). You cannot book a flight to many destinations outside of mainland Britain without first having a Covid-19 test that returns a negative result, along with a valid Fit-to-Fly Certificate.
Covid-19 Testing is Part of Our Ticket to Normality
As noted earlier, we are now into the second year of living with and dealing with the coronavirus. It feels like for a long time we have all craved a return to normality. As the various vaccines available are administered to all relevant members of the population, in the order decided by the government, many of the important measures we’ve all been taking and the directions we’ve all been following, remain the same, until we know the vaccine is really having the desired effect.
Therefore, our ticket to normality still involves social distancing, washing hands regularly, wearing face coverings, staying at home where possible and getting tested. Until we are all vaccinated, and Covid-19 is no longer a serious issue, testing is an important part of managing the spread of the virus and getting things back to normal in the country and by extension, the world.
