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Reason #687 why I Love Socialized Medicine: Free at Home Covid Tests
Free testing is a game-changer for productivity and mental health
“Mom, I don’t know what to do. I coughed a couple of times this morning. I don’t really have any other symptoms so do you think it is still okay to go into work?” my daughter texted.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve been concerned I might have Covid multiple times since this whole thing started. Every cough, headache, or scratchy throat takes on new and ominous meaning these days. But unlike my daughter who lives in the USA, I have an easy solution when those probably not Covid but maybe symptoms hit, I pull out the box of tests I picked up at my local UK pharmacy for free and within 30 minutes I have my answer.
How it is designed to work
In April of 2021, the UK NHS (National Health Service) started offering free at-home test kits. You can call or go online and request delivery of a box of kits or you can walk into a pharmacy and ask. It is completely free in either case.
The goal of these kits is to catch asymptomatic cases before they spread. Ideally, everyone tests themselves twice a week and sends the results, positive or negative, to the NHS via an app. If you get a positive result the first step…
