Don't know whether to test/isolate - what would you do as I genuinely don't know?

[coffeerevelsrock]

I have a nasty cold. Steaming eyes and nose, bit headachy/weak, bit of c cough, especially in the night. No classic covid symtoms, but lots of people I know who had it didn't have those anyway. No breathlessness, which does seem to be a common one. I would probably call in sick tomorrow in normal circumstances as I have been in bed most of the weekend and have prep to do for Mondays, so unless I perked up massively this afternoon, I'd be off tomorrow.

But tomorrow is a massive day and I have a couple of things on that I really don't want to miss - they can't be put off and will go ahead without me one way or another but it will be a loss. But I don't want to sit spluttering in case it makes people feel uncomfortable. But also don't want to miss these things just for a cold when I could dose up and struggle through. LFTs are negative, obviously if that changes I can't go in, but should I go for a PCR? If I do am I asymptomatic? I don't have the 3 listed on NHS but I do have other symptoms and look like shit! What would you do?

Sorry to hear you are unwell. I’d get a PCR test booked. My DD tested positive and only symptom was a runny nose. Even if it’s not Covid I’m not sure people will thank you for bringing your bugs to work.

Just seen you have a cough. I think you need to isolate as well as test.

If you can get a PCR test this afternoon there's a good chance it might be back overnight.

That is most definitely a ‘classic Covid’ symptom

I was in the same situation on Thursday, I felt well enough to work but was full of cold, LFT negative. I phoned my manager just to run it by him. He asked me to come in but put me in a separate office so that I could remove my mask to blow my nose etc and obviously so I didn't spread it (nhs so have to wear masks still).

Do you have a manager you can speak to for advice? Hope you feel better soon.

Even if it is just a cold, it sounds like you’ll be unpleasant to be around (sorry!), so the right thing to do is stay away.

I didn't have a cough though

You say in your post that you have a bit of a cough, so I'd say you definitely qualify for a pcr

Well, NHS specifies continuous cough, which I don't have. If I consider myself symptomatic I can't go to walk-in test centre so definitely won't have the results overnight. I feel like I could end up off for the week, be fine by Tuesday and sat at home. But of course I don't want to spread it.

You have a cough so, yes, you need to book a PCR

It feels like every other bad cold I've had, which always come with a bit of a cough for me...

I think ‘continuous cough’ is a bit of a misnomer. I believe it’s 3 episodes of coughing in 24 hours, which you seem to have had?

@coffeerevelsrock might be a cold but most people I know who have had the delta variant of Covid describe it as a head cold. You need to get tested I think.

Thank you- tbh, I heard that too .

I believe you can go to a walk in test centre with symptoms, you just can’t travel by public transport? Call 119 and they should be able to tell you the rules

I'm in the same position. Yesterday I thought I had a cold. Overnight it's got worse. I've done a pcr and won't be going anywhere until it's back and saying negative.
I'm 90% sure it isn't covid. Dd2 and ds and dh have had similar without the cough. All of us have had negative lateral flows (been doing daily while we were under the weather) and I haven't had, to my knowledge any contact at all.

Just spoke to 911 and they've booked me to a drive in in 30 mins! Tbh, website is a bit misleading as the guy said it doesn't need to be a continuous cough and I can do drive through with it. Thanks for advice Monopoly

@coffeerevelsrock No worries. Hope you feel better soon

@coffeerevelsrock how are you feeling? Have your results come back yet?