Lockdown compliance improving but low take up of Covid tests ’worrying’

Less than half (43%) of people who developed Covid-19 symptoms say they've requested a test, find UCL researchers as part of the Covid-19 Social Study. Three quarters (75%) of adults aged 60+ who reported experiencing symptoms at least once said they had never requested a test, with just 18% of the same age group saying they requested a test every time they experienced symptoms. Younger adults have been most consistent in requesting tests when they experience symptoms of Covid-19, with 42% requesting a test every time, but 45% of this age group still said they'd never request a test despite experiencing symptoms. Compliance with lockdown rules has been increasing since last September, especially as stricter measures have been brought in, with particular improvements since the start of December when news of the new variant became widespread. 'Majority' compliance with the rules is being reported by 96% of people; an improvement since the start of the autumn across all demographic groups. 'Complete' compliance is lower, but still being reported by the majority of people (56% for the week ending 10th January) and is now at comparable levels to back in May 2020. Over a third of respondents (38%) say they are not isolating for the recommended number of days (ten or more) when they develop symptoms of Covid-19, with 13% saying they are not isolating at all.