AIBU to test for covid?

I’ve just had what I suspect what Covid. I didn’t bother testing but while im ill with any virus, I don’t take it to the office or visit vulnerable relatives.
I am immunosuppressed but realise any virus can make me ill not just Covid. The ideal is we think about spreading (or ideally not spreading) all illnesses not just Covid.

And yes that’s true, we don’t actually know the long term impacts on it. I would be interested to know what the long term effects are for those with long covid for example. I knew a lady that got it and was otherwise fit and healthy - doesn’t make sense to me. Especially as there isn’t a thing such as a long cold or a long flu, unless I am mistaken.

I’ve found that the government guidance on this is conflicting and leaves you feeling guilty if you don’t test or if you do test. For so long we were conditioned to think that if we got Covid and passed it on we would be responsible for potentially passing it onto some more vulnerable and them potentialy dying. I’ve recently had covid and found it very much depends on individual opinions to Covid and that at least in the past we knew what we needed to do, whereas now it is so unclear. The government guidance says that kids are ok after 3 days and adults after 5 days, or 10 days around CEV people. However, the vaccine was meant to have protected these individuals and despite having 3 jab myself there’s no way of avoiding it. I think the guidance on living with covid should be clearer for businesses and hospitals so there is less confusion around it. I have been isolating this weekend after testing positive. I think you are right in way you are saying about your boss and maybe they should normalise mask use moving forward as a way of reducing any illness that a person may have, whether it’s a standard cold or flu if you feel a bit ill and are unsure.

I test but I work with vulnerable people (I'm a midwife). I think it's responsible.

Plus the research around the impact of repeat COVID infections is concerning. People say it's just like a cold, but it's really not.

If your work wants you in
Mine doesn't. Covid, flu, weird virus, stay at home and work or off sick with pay

I'm ill with covid currently ( my third time). I tested when feeling ill on Monday after work because I am a carer for an elderly relative who is vulnerable ( I was given a covid booster because of this), am a teacher with 2 colleagues that are pregnant and another member of my department has it. We are advised to stay away for 5 days. I understand not everyone can do this. However, even though it's made me more dizzy I've had to spend hours sending resources in for my classes, so in effect working from home whilst ill. I agree with what you've done op.

If you feel well enough, get back to work. Too many people still skiving with a positive result.

If you are unwell you should stay away from vulnerable or elderly people no matter what is wrong with you. Why is it ok to spread germs as long as it isn't covid?

We are not supposed to test at work. The old tests don't don't pick up every strain anyway.

Your boss is BVU to tell you off for testing - you have the right to find out any information that you want to know about your health

What difference would testing positive for Covid have made to your visit to a cardiac ward? If felt ill, you shouldn’t go. Or would you have gone marching in there regardless had the test been negative? If the answer is no - then why test?

I run the sickness reporting for our place. 2500 employees and only 2 sick reasons as Covid in 18 months. We have no policy on testing, as with most work places.

The last role i was in, retail HQ during Covid, also have no testing policy now, you come to work positive if you're not too ill.

I think you'll find it's not a thing now. i've not had Covid that i know of, but wouldn't dream of testing. if i'm too ill to work i'd stay home a day or two, if i've just got the sniffles, sore throat and that, i'm still in the office, same as everyone else.

That doesn't make it right, or in line with government policy come to that.

It is wrong to spread diseases that can be fatal to some and have a life changing long form, and increase the incidence/severity of many other infectious diseases (because of impact on immune system, which can last months and possibly years - the longer it's studied, the longer they find), and increase rates of diabetes, stroke and other cardiovascular events and have neuro effects ("brain fog" = mild brain damage, not clear how reversible, also earlier onset and more rapid progression of dementia)

We need safer hospitals in particular (cancer death rates will rise if hospitals are unsafe - it's not just chemo wards, it's things like scanning and other relevant departments, and common areas

And I'd like to know what places have bans on staff testing and insistence on symptomatic staff working, so I can whenever possible vote with my feet.

The most vulnerable and their households are told they must use their judgement and consider various precautions when risks are higher. We can only do this if we have at least some of the relevant information

I have stopped testing because I'm not in contact with anyone vulnerable (apart from myself!), but I would if I was eg if my parents became frail.
So I would tell your boss that's why you tested and you wanted to give him the full facts and let him make a decision. You know you've got Covid, but if he wants you to work anyway you have to go in if you're well enough to work.

The thing is that if you can work from home then testing is fine as you can stay away from the office but still be working. It’s only an issue for people who can’t WFH.

It's really hard because there is still such a strong instinct not to go out/to work when you're testing positive.

Say OP was unwell for 2 days and stayed home (in bed). If she tested positive, then advice is to stay home for days 3/4/5. If she didn't test, or tested negative, her work would have expected her in on days 3/4/5 once she was well again.

I also don't think people should work and spread germs around if they're sick but I've been sick since the end of October and there's no way I could justify being off/at home for that length of time. The coughing just lingers and lingers...

You do realise that even hospitals and schools expect their staff in if they feel well enough regardless of if they have covid?
I realise that there are still people who are vulnerable I have two.in my immediate family but thats the way it is now.

Yes, your boss is nuts.

Having one in a team off for 5 days (the advised period if you test positive, only longer if you're actually unwell) is way better and less disruptive than spreading it round everyone and your clients.

Yes you are doing the right thing in avoiding passing it on to those who might be severely ill. You're doing the right thing in avoiding passing it on to anyone else, because the consequences of having covid repeatedly aren't known and the rates of those affected by long covid continues to rise.

Resting in the acute phase means better recovery

It's not compulsory to test (which says everything about the Tory attitude to protecting the vulnerable) but neither is it banned.

I think what you are doing is the responsible thing. Not least with the growing understanding of how much covid harms the body (especially the immune system)

Why tell im.you tested ?
If you are ill.stay at home,unfortunately many people have no option but to work if hey have covid,that's the reality these days