Page 3 | Travelling with Covid

PatricksMother · 2024-07-17T23:42:51+00:00

I am currently on holiday with friends. We have been away for nearly two weeks and we're due to go home on Friday. I started feeling a bit unwell last night and this evening tested positive for covid. I wouldn't normally test, but one of my companions is still very nervous about catching covid and insisted I tested. I am now self-isolating in my room at her insistence. On Friday we will be catching a ferry home and it's likely to be very busy due to the time of year. I will then leave my friends and catch a (pre-booked) train home. My covid-nervous friend is appalled that I intend to travel and thinks I should find a hotel room somewhere and self-isolate until I get a negative result. The house we are staying in is booked for someone else from Friday. Even if I was able to find a hotel with a vacant room, I would struggle to afford it and may have to pay again for the ferry and train. I am also due to return to work on Saturday and my employer will expect me to work if I am well enough. They would not be impressed if I told them I was still away. I haven't had covid since 2021 and I thought people weren't testing or self-isolating any more. I feel a bit under the weather, but not too ill to function normally. So am I being unreasonable to travel on Friday, or is my friend right to be appalled?

BeaRF75 · 18/07/2024 16:07

Oh and don't faff around with all the mask and anti-bac nonsense, because they don't work and only feed other people's paranoia.

SoSoller · 18/07/2024 16:06

I wouldn’t have tested in the first place.

BeaRF75 · 18/07/2024 16:03

Of course you can travel! Just because your friend is paranoid and [insert insult of choice] you don't have to go along with it. Stop testing, stop isolating and just carry on as normal.
Oh, and make a note never to go on holiday with this friend again.

Original poster

PatricksMother · 18/07/2024 15:56

Wendysfriend · 18/07/2024 15:34

We're going around in circles here.

Many, many posts on here state that when people have COVID they can go to work if they feel well, I don't know who said it as I don't know your government. There's plenty of posts on this site saying this.

I have not used the word mandatory, I have used guidelines and rules as in follow it you want.

If you test positive here and tell your employer you are to stay home, of course if you keep it quiet then no one knows.

People are still testing I haven't said anything differently about that, in my world which is surrounded by illness and hospitals, tests are used regularly. I can't speak for the rest of the world but I have said there's still people testing. Of course there's some that don't.

Look you are wasting your holiday nit picking my posts, go off and enjoy your holiday, travel home and go work and don't even give this another thought.

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My headache is getting worse and I don't think it's the covid this time.

One more try, because I want to help:

You might not have used the word "mandatory", but you did say "rules" which you claimed are "completely different" in Ireland.

Rules are mandatory and there are no covid rules in Ireland. Only guidance.

There is no difference in how covid is treated in Ireland, France and the UK.

I hope that explains it. If not it will have to remain unexplained...

OP posts:

Cunninghamsarah · 18/07/2024 15:45

Zotter · 18/07/2024 15:27

As we know Covid is airborne, so unless you are in a room on your own, please wear a mask on your journey home.

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I second this. Wear your mask at all times when you’re around people. If you do this OP you’ll have done your best to avoid passing anything on.

Wendysfriend · 18/07/2024 15:34

PatricksMother · 18/07/2024 15:09

What Country are you travelling from ? Just because the UK has rules to carry on, other Countries don't. For example, Ireland has completely different rules for COVID.

I have copied and pasted the first paragraph of your first post above as a reminder of what you actually said.

Just because the UK has rules to carry on.

The UK has no rules to "carry on" (I'm not even sure what you mean by that to be honest). In fact, like Ireland, the UK has no covid "rules" at all. Only guidance.

For example, Ireland has completely different rules for COVID.

Ireland doesn't have any rules for covid at all. Just like the UK and France. All three have issued advice and guidance which is substantially the same. You haven't demonstrated that any of the guidance in Ireland is substantially different from the UK.

I haven't said you want it to be law (although your posts suggest to me that you might). I had the impression you don't know the difference between mandatory rules and guidelines/advice. Hence your assertion that "Ireland has completely different rules for COVID", which you now seem to be conceding is not true.

You imply that it is mandatory to stay away from work if you have covid. It's not. Like everything else it's advice. But if it was mandatory, how could it possibly be enforced when - as you have conceded - most people don't test?

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We're going around in circles here.

Many, many posts on here state that when people have COVID they can go to work if they feel well, I don't know who said it as I don't know your government. There's plenty of posts on this site saying this.

I have not used the word mandatory, I have used guidelines and rules as in follow it you want.

If you test positive here and tell your employer you are to stay home, of course if you keep it quiet then no one knows.

People are still testing I haven't said anything differently about that, in my world which is surrounded by illness and hospitals, tests are used regularly. I can't speak for the rest of the world but I have said there's still people testing. Of course there's some that don't.

Look you are wasting your holiday nit picking my posts, go off and enjoy your holiday, travel home and go work and don't even give this another thought.

Zotter · 18/07/2024 15:34

Ps and a well fitted N95 mask is not useless, will decrease significantly amount of viral particles you breathe out.

Zotter · 18/07/2024 15:27

PatricksMother · 18/07/2024 11:03

I will take one with me. Whether I wear it will depend on how easily I can avoid close proximity with other people.

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As we know Covid is airborne, so unless you are in a room on your own, please wear a mask on your journey home.

Original poster

PatricksMother · 18/07/2024 15:27

"I never said it was mandatory, I said guidelines."

Not true. You said:

"For example, Ireland has completely different rules for COVID."

To be clear, rules are mandatory (you can be prosecuted for breaking them).

Guidelines are not mandatory and the individual can decide to follow them or not without fear of prosecution.

It's a very important distinction. "Rules" and "guidelines" are not the same thing and in extreme circumstances could mean the difference between prison and liberty if you get it wrong... 😉

OP posts:

Cunninghamsarah · 18/07/2024 15:22

Berlinlover · 18/07/2024 13:35

I have cancer and at the moment I also have Covid. Your friend is being ridiculous. Carry on with your holiday as normal. Don’t bother wearing a mask either, they are completely useless. I’m one of the immunnocompromised and don’t expect the whole world to isolate over Covid. You wouldn’t isolate over any other cold or ‘flu so what’s so special about Covid? I can’t believe so many are still brainwashed four years on.

FFP2 masks work. Homemade masks or gapey surgical masks are useless. There is a difference.

Original poster

PatricksMother · 18/07/2024 15:09

Wendysfriend · 18/07/2024 14:40

I never said it was mandatory, I said guidelines.

I didn't know where you were travelling from when I replied.

You said the guidelines were the same everywhere, I only mentioned Ireland to inform you that our guidelines are different, according to here, you carry on as normal if you feel well, that includes work, you can't work here and you are advised to keep away from people especially vulnerable people.

I'm not sure what you are saying about me wanting it made into law? I didn't say anything of the sort .

It's not about wanting to be different, why you even say that confuses me. All I have tried to do is inform you that there are very ill people in this world depending on those who test positive to not knowingly pass it on to them.

You took a test, you tested positive and you are happy enough to travel home amongst many people and go to work. That's your choice.

Just because some think people don't test anymore, they do, just because it doesn't happen in 'your' world doesn't mean it doesn't happen, I still buy all our tests, in our situation it's a case of having to test, otherwise if left untreated can lead to complications and more serious issues. That's my world and there's thousands and thousands in the same situation. I know now not to get worked up trying to explain online, it use to upset me reading posters writing "fuck them", "their problem", "let them stay home", "not my problem" etc I just try explain the other side the side where we still have to take precautions, we don't like it either.

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What Country are you travelling from ? Just because the UK has rules to carry on, other Countries don't. For example, Ireland has completely different rules for COVID.

I have copied and pasted the first paragraph of your first post above as a reminder of what you actually said.

Just because the UK has rules to carry on.

The UK has no rules to "carry on" (I'm not even sure what you mean by that to be honest). In fact, like Ireland, the UK has no covid "rules" at all. Only guidance.

For example, Ireland has completely different rules for COVID.

Ireland doesn't have any rules for covid at all. Just like the UK and France. All three have issued advice and guidance which is substantially the same. You haven't demonstrated that any of the guidance in Ireland is substantially different from the UK.

I haven't said you want it to be law (although your posts suggest to me that you might). I had the impression you don't know the difference between mandatory rules and guidelines/advice. Hence your assertion that "Ireland has completely different rules for COVID", which you now seem to be conceding is not true.

You imply that it is mandatory to stay away from work if you have covid. It's not. Like everything else it's advice. But if it was mandatory, how could it possibly be enforced when - as you have conceded - most people don't test?

OP posts:

PregnantWithHorrors · 18/07/2024 14:57

Your friend is being a tit. It's not reasonable to expect you to hang around for an unspecified period with no booked accommodation, until such a time as your tests show as negative. You're taking a mask, so travelling and using that is the maximum that can reasonably be expected of you.

Wendysfriend · 18/07/2024 14:40

PatricksMother · 18/07/2024 13:12

I don't live or work in Ireland, but even if I did I would not have to isolate. There is no mandatory obligation to test or isolate in Ireland. If you don't feel unwell and don't test, there is no reason why you wouldn't be allowed to go to work in Ireland.

The guidelines you have posted are advice and guidance and substantially similar to everywhere else.

I'm wondering if you don't understand the difference between guidelines and mandatory restrictions. Guidelines tell you what you should (ideally) do, but there is no legal obligation to comply. Mandatory restrictions are law. If you don't comply, you can be prosecuted.

There are no mandatory covid restrictions in any country that I know of, including Ireland.

I understand you want it to be different and you would like the guidelines to be law as a minority of people everywhere seem to, but the fact remains that the world has moved on and nations' economies, including Ireland's, can't afford to continue mandating covid restrictions.

As I said before, if I was staying in Ireland instead of France I wouldn't act any differently. I would be travelling home tomorrow and I wouldn't be breaking any laws.

Edited

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I never said it was mandatory, I said guidelines.

I didn't know where you were travelling from when I replied.

You said the guidelines were the same everywhere, I only mentioned Ireland to inform you that our guidelines are different, according to here, you carry on as normal if you feel well, that includes work, you can't work here and you are advised to keep away from people especially vulnerable people.

I'm not sure what you are saying about me wanting it made into law? I didn't say anything of the sort .

It's not about wanting to be different, why you even say that confuses me. All I have tried to do is inform you that there are very ill people in this world depending on those who test positive to not knowingly pass it on to them.

You took a test, you tested positive and you are happy enough to travel home amongst many people and go to work. That's your choice.

Just because some think people don't test anymore, they do, just because it doesn't happen in 'your' world doesn't mean it doesn't happen, I still buy all our tests, in our situation it's a case of having to test, otherwise if left untreated can lead to complications and more serious issues. That's my world and there's thousands and thousands in the same situation. I know now not to get worked up trying to explain online, it use to upset me reading posters writing "fuck them", "their problem", "let them stay home", "not my problem" etc I just try explain the other side the side where we still have to take precautions, we don't like it either.

DaffodilDora · 18/07/2024 14:32

The ffp2 masks aren't useless @berlinlover?
They do help.

You wouldn’t isolate over any other cold or ‘flu so what’s so special about Covid? I can’t believe so many are still brainwashed four years on.
Health professionals do usually recommend staying away from others, especially vulnerable others, if you're sick with any contagious illness.

People don't listen, and don't comply for a variety of reasons (quite often good reasons), but that's a different issue.

Berlinlover · 18/07/2024 13:35

I have cancer and at the moment I also have Covid. Your friend is being ridiculous. Carry on with your holiday as normal. Don’t bother wearing a mask either, they are completely useless. I’m one of the immunnocompromised and don’t expect the whole world to isolate over Covid. You wouldn’t isolate over any other cold or ‘flu so what’s so special about Covid? I can’t believe so many are still brainwashed four years on.

DaffodilDora · 18/07/2024 13:20

Wendysfriend · 18/07/2024 12:56

But you're planning to go into work with COVID, you can't here.

Everyone is always saying on here to carry on if you feel ok. You can't here, you have to isolate.

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I have a feeling the majority of Irish people aren't testing anymore though (I'm Irish). Lots of people just don't want to know, don't want to deal with any consequences. They're on here too.

I do test but fear I'm in the minority. I'm a fan of taking reasonable precautions to protect other people if you can.

cheezncrackers · 18/07/2024 13:14

Your friend is being absurd, but I would probably wear a mask, or at least go and stand on deck on the ferry, just to be considerate. As for the train, well the best you can do is mask up and travel. No one is expected to self-isolate when they have Covid any more.

Original poster

PatricksMother · 18/07/2024 13:12

Wendysfriend · 18/07/2024 12:56

But you're planning to go into work with COVID, you can't here.

Everyone is always saying on here to carry on if you feel ok. You can't here, you have to isolate.

Show quote history

I don't live or work in Ireland, but even if I did I would not have to isolate. There is no mandatory obligation to test or isolate in Ireland. If you don't feel unwell and don't test, there is no reason why you wouldn't be allowed to go to work in Ireland.

The guidelines you have posted are advice and guidance and substantially similar to everywhere else.

I'm wondering if you don't understand the difference between guidelines and mandatory restrictions. Guidelines tell you what you should (ideally) do, but there is no legal obligation to comply. Mandatory restrictions are law. If you don't comply, you can be prosecuted.

There are no mandatory covid restrictions in any country that I know of, including Ireland.

I understand you want it to be different and you would like the guidelines to be law as a minority of people everywhere seem to, but the fact remains that the world has moved on and nations' economies, including Ireland's, can't afford to continue mandating covid restrictions.

As I said before, if I was staying in Ireland instead of France I wouldn't act any differently. I would be travelling home tomorrow and I wouldn't be breaking any laws.

OP posts:

Wendysfriend · 18/07/2024 12:56

PatricksMother · 18/07/2024 12:29

As I said. These are guidelines, not mandatory rules and not dissimilar to the guidelines in the UK and elsewhere. No country that I'm aware of has mandatory covid rules in place.

UK guidance has always been to isolate if possible, but like in Ireland, it's often neither possible nor desirable.

Your assertion that the rules in Ireland are completely different is not true. If I was staying in Ireland instead of France I would be under no obligation to act differently.

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But you're planning to go into work with COVID, you can't here.

Everyone is always saying on here to carry on if you feel ok. You can't here, you have to isolate.

Cunninghamsarah · 18/07/2024 12:35

I’m also still very nervous about covid due to what happened to my parents. Many people have been tragically affected by the virus and don’t have the opinion that it’s no worse than a cold. It must also be very hard for people who have medical conditions which means that covid is likely to badly affect them.
Having said that, I think you should travel but take basic, necessary precautions. A good, well fitting mask - FFP2 and the like. Definitely not one of the useless surgical types that gape at the sides. Also anti bacterial hand gel and sit outside or by an open window if you can or near a door. Also, stay away from people if possible. Realise that may be impossible but if you’re wearing a mask that should help.
All the best OP. Hope you get home ok and feel better soon.

Original poster

PatricksMother · 18/07/2024 12:29

Wendysfriend · 18/07/2024 12:15

Ireland has different guidelines to the UK. We have been informed not to just carry on. We never were, we have always been asked to isolate. Our ICU is filling up with the latest variant, there's currently 24 in there. There's 365 in hospital 60 which were admitted overnight, while those numbers seem low to others you have to remember we're a small Country with not many hospitals.

While we don't have travel restrictions like before, it sort of goes hand in hand with the isolation advice.

You are not allowed to work if you test positive, children can't go into school if they have symptoms or test positive so yes, totally different advice to the UK, according to here you all can carry on as normal and knowingly spread covid .

I do totally get when people don't want to isolate and want to carry on as normal, if I didn't have a seriously disabled dd with many health conditions or a DH who wasn't imunosupressed, I probably would feel angry too at having to isolate or not able to live my life, but unfortunately there are some very, very sick people in this world and we have to try not knowingly spread it to them, so I think I'd go down the route of a really good mask and not be near people. I couldn't sit with people knowing I was positive breathing over them .

This is not a cold for some, it might be for you but in my house like many others it means hospital admission. People say sure you're around people with colds and flu but colds we can manage but usually last a month, we're not usually around people with the flu because they're too ill to get out of bed but that's not to say they haven't had it, and 99% of the time ends up with vomiting from coughing resulting in dehydration and a hospital admission for IV saline and antibiotics, of course this all has a knock on affect with epilepsy meds as they're been vomited up.

I get this isn't your problem and me like many parents and carers spend our days trying to keep our families alive. We do worry and we do take extra precautions because we can't trust everyone to think of others besides themselves.

These are our current guidelines

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As I said. These are guidelines, not mandatory rules and not dissimilar to the guidelines in the UK and elsewhere. No country that I'm aware of has mandatory covid rules in place.

UK guidance has always been to isolate if possible, but like in Ireland, it's often neither possible nor desirable.

Your assertion that the rules in Ireland are completely different is not true. If I was staying in Ireland instead of France I would be under no obligation to act differently.

OP posts:

Figgygal · 18/07/2024 12:20

I'd be travelling but wear a mask.
Are you in a car ferry and so in close proximity to your friends?

LlynTegid · 18/07/2024 12:19

You should not be going to a place of work if you have Covid.

Bertsmum22 · 18/07/2024 12:18

Why did you test?! Testing means you have to deal with the consequences! I expect loads are travelling with Covid they just don’t know!
Just wear a mask if your friend insists and carry on!

NamechangeRugby · 18/07/2024 12:16

*deck!