A Covid One

Even if I tested positive I’m still expected to go to work if I’m well enough.

And I have a public facing role.

Did you miss the words in OPs post that she is low-immunity? Do you understand that managing to rarely catch anything could have something to do with, er…., perhaps your normal high immunity?

On a completely unrelated note, do other people ever wonder if stupid people can catch stupidity and get even stupider?

Covid spreads by aerosol.

Many workplaces expect the same and as isolation isn't something that is required anymore, it also counts towards people's sickness figures which can have an impact on their employment...

Do you understand that managing to rarely catch anything could have something to do with, er…., perhaps your normal high immunity?

What ‘normal high immunity’?

I have quite low immunity due to a lifelong health condition, which is my responsibility to manage.

Regarding your question, it’s clear you’re far better placed to answer that.

DH and I have tests, my young adult dds at university also have tests. None of us want to risk passing on Covid, dd has a friend who is immunocompromised, and we know people with long Covid who are still unwell years after catching it. We also have close relatives in their nineties.

It just seems like a basic level of consideration to test when unwell. Covid still kills people !

Test and do what??

Tell your boss you’re not going to work even if perfectly well enough?

Pay your bills and rent with chocolate buttons because you’re not entitled to sick pay, or because you’ve lost your job due to refusing to turn up every time you test positive?

Honestly some people don’t understand how the real world works.

I wouldn't say they should have tested, the general guidance now is to carry on as normal if you feel well enough to. However, I always let someone I'm meeting know if I have a cold or whatever so they can choose whether they want to be around me or not.
(If I had a really bad cold, I wouldn't want to be out anyway though.)

The correct answer.

My dad is having chemo and is going to the pub tomorrow. He’s spent the week after chemo mostly in bed and has chemo every 3 weeks so feels well enough for 2 of those weeks. You think he should sit at home and wait to die? He’s been having chemo on and off since Feb 2025 so no, I think people on chemo should be able to socialise and ill people should stay home temporarily.

I wouldn’t necessarily test unless I felt really bad in which case I wouldn’t go out but I don’t think you are being unreasonable. No one wants a bad cold, flu or Covid and with those symptoms I would stay home. That said, I have had Covid 3 times and each time it has floored me and I could barely get out of bed.

I don’t think he’d be wise to presume ill people will stay at home.

I’ve had Covid 6 times now with positive tests. Probably more if I haven’t tested. It has left my lungs at low capacity given me high blood pressure. Killed my healthy best mate. Fair play to you if you think it’s just a cold hope it is for you.

Of course they are testing at uni 🤣🤣🤣

My husband (and about 9 others in his dept) caught Covid about 3 weeks ago from a colleague who believes he got it at a basketball game. I caught it from my husband (as did a few other of his colleagues’ family members). I’m still not fully over it, despite being quite healthy generally. A close friend of ours has MS and she’s still not been over despite us both being negative. I also only visited my mum who’s in her 90s yesterday since I had it. Plus I’ve only been out for the absolute minimum since being negative as I don’t feel up to it and I was still sneezing and blowing my nose until a few days ago. I think it’s best to do a test if you may have symptoms and to steer clear of people (especially those that are vulnerable). I tested + three days after my husband did, but had been out to an important appointment the day before I tested positive…
Basically I could have passed it on to others prior to testing positive…. despite being vigilant.

What's the point in testing when everyone I know wouldn't be able to afford to isolate? I work in care homes and we don't test. Off sick with something you caught in the home? Don't get paid. Off sick with an injury from a resident? Don't get paid. Yes the residents are vulnerable. But the staff need to be able to pay their rent, bills and somehow have enough left to manage having something to eat. We don't agree with it but we can't afford to do otherwise.

Anyone I've heard of testing is either unemployed or can afford to be off work.

I'm someone who thinks people should try to avoid spreading their germs as much as possible, even when they only have a cold. However, I don't think it's reasonable to expect people to test for covid every time they could possibly have it.

Covid is a part of life now, just like the flu. People who are at higher risk should take it upon themselves to avoid people who seem to be contagious. I would just assume that someone who has upper respiratory symptoms could possibly have covid, unfortunately.

But the alternative is he stays home until he dies. When he stops chemo that will be when it no longer works. People need to stay home if ill - do I think they will? No. So there’s a likelihood I’ll lose my dad earlier due to their selfishness but spending the rest of his life isolating is no life.

To be honest, if they are meeting you, it's polite to let you know they are unwell anyway. If they know you have low immunity it's essential to let you know they are unwell, but I'm not sure that one can even get covid tests now, and if your immunity is low, wouldn't get a cold potentially be as bad.

I’m in full agreement with you @Goldengirl123.
A friend gave me covid a couple of weeks ago & I’m extremely ill (complex chronic conditions) as a result of their thinking that it’s just a cold. It really pissed me off that they were so selfish when they knew that it can be life threatening for me. But hey, it’s only a cold, innit!

I agree, it is very thoughtless
of people to go out to crowded places when they are ill, especially if they don’t have to be there. I am so sorry for what you and your dad are going through.

I haven't seen tests for sale for ages.

Tests are available everywhere, in any supermarket. Boots, Superdrug etc

Exactly, each time I’ve caught it I’ve been more ill. And don’t start me on long covid.