Tests that are more reliable than the coronavirus one: a UK government guide

BY the time testing is reliably rolled out, either the crisis, or the world, might have ended. Here are some tests that are more dependable than the UK government’s current offering. 

Pregnancy test

The time in 1997 when you thought you’d been knocked up by Gary Fletcher behind the bins by Argos was almost as terrifying as COVID-19, but at least you could get closure by spending £6.99 at Boots. Try spitting on a Clearblue to see if you’ve got coronavirus. The results will be about as reassuring as the government test.

Homeschooling maths test

Parents will accept any old answer as they can’t be arsed to get their heads around fractions, and they’re on their third glass of wine. But at least they’ll give you a fish finger sandwich for your efforts, which is more than you get in a government drive-through.

A dog agility test

Despite being a theoretically less-developed species than humans, dogs are reliably good at these tests. There’s always one dog that disgraces itself by shitting publicly at a podium, but that’s basically what happens to a government minister at the press conference every afternoon.

Tarot cards

Tarot cards and the government’s current coronavirus tests are about as reliable as each other in predicting your future. The upside of tarot cards is that they have pretty pictures on them, and they don’t involve having a swab jammed up your nose.

Mood ring

See if you’ve got coronavirus by consulting this totally non-scientific cracker gift. You won’t be able to get one until Christmas and it’ll probably give you the answer ‘Violet means passionate and excited’. But that’s quicker and clearer than anything on offer from the government at the moment.