NHS Calls Out TikToker Who Wasted Covid-19 Test For Video

In the video, a woman decides to put hand sanitiser on a Covid-19 test - in what is surely one of the most pointless, ill-advised and completely unsatisfying amateur experiments ever to circulate online.

Somehow, the clip managed to rack up more than seven million views on TikTok, so our National Health Service decided to wade in (yes, the NHS is on TikTok).

Commenting on the clip, the NHS said: "Er, don't do this."

The comment racked up more than 132,000 likes, and sparked a whole thread of comments condemning the wasteful TikTok user.

One person commented: "If the NHS is commenting I would stop wasting tests."

Another said: "Wasting NHS well done mate."

A third added: "I love the fact that ur wasting a Covid test when thousands of people can't get them!"

This is essentially the crux of why people were so unimpressed by the video. Beyond the fact that the video is an utterly pointless waste of time, it is also a waste of a precious resource in the fight against a pandemic that has crippled the planet for more than a year.

Countries across the world have worked tirelessly to produce, acquire and distribute tests, which can then be used to identify and isolate those who have contracted Covid-19, preventing further spread of the disease.

Tests are particularly important, given that around a third of people with Covid-19 are asymptomatic.

As of Friday (9 April), everyone in England was given access to two lateral flow tests per week, which are available for free at testing sites, pharmacies and through the post.

Boris Johnson said: "As we continue to make good progress on our vaccine programme and with our road map cautiously easing restrictions under way, regular rapid testing is even more important to make sure those efforts are not wasted."

Health Secretary Matt Hancock added: "Around one in three people who have Covid-19 show no symptoms, and as we reopen society and resume parts of life we have missed, regular rapid testing is going to be fundamental in helping us quickly spot positive cases and squash any outbreaks."

Critics argue the mass testing initiative is a waste of money while cases are low and will prompt people to self-isolate unnecessarily following false positives. However, the government insists the tests are highly effective, with less than one false positive for every thousand tests.