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Covid etiquette now?

112 replies

Rainallnight · 08/10/2023 19:52

What is Covid etiquette these days?

Very few people in our area are testing, and school is letting kids in with positive tests, as long as they have no temperature.

We are testing and three out of four of us have it. DS very poorly and has been all week. Hasn’t been able to go to school and I’ve been home away looking after him. Haven’t tested DD yet - she sounds like she’s got a cold so probably has it too.

On one hand, I don’t want to isolate if we’re the only idiots doing it.

But on the other, it feels irresponsible to just go round the place giving people Covid.

But then, given no one where we are is testing, everyone is probably going round giving each other Covid anyway.

You can see I’m going round in circles with this.

Tell me, what are you doing?

OP posts:
OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 08/10/2023 19:56

My child tested positive today, sky high temperature of about 39.8 so she won't be going to school for a few days. I will work from home with her around. Husband needs to go in to work but will test daily.

I dont care what others do, I like to do the responsible thing for us. School do say 3 days off with covid.

We still test as my mum is very vulnerable.

Rainallnight · 08/10/2023 19:56

And to add, we were very sort of obedient and cautious in the first couple of years or Covid so starting from that base. But increasingly wondering if it’s the right thing to do.

OP posts:
Rainallnight · 08/10/2023 19:59

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 08/10/2023 19:56

My child tested positive today, sky high temperature of about 39.8 so she won't be going to school for a few days. I will work from home with her around. Husband needs to go in to work but will test daily.

I dont care what others do, I like to do the responsible thing for us. School do say 3 days off with covid.

We still test as my mum is very vulnerable.

I’m sorry your DD is poorly. Will your husband go in if we he does get it? We’re not due to see my elderly MIL for a good while but I’m conscious others are vulnerable.

OP posts:

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Normandy144 · 08/10/2023 20:00

I'm not testing. If my kids have a temperature/vomit/diarrhoea then I will keep them off school but I won't be testing them for covid, I'll just deal with it as per any other illness and keep them off for 48 hours after vomiting or diarrhoea. I had a cold/cough last week - was well enough to work (I work from home) but skipped the gym as didn't feel 100%. I didn't test for COVID though as I don't have any tests left and don't want to buy any.

stayathomer · 08/10/2023 20:00

The rule here in Ireland is if you test positive you stay home and stay home for three days then test again- if negative go in, if positive wait a few days then test again. Of course test! (Son was floored by it a few weeks ago)

Houseplanter · 08/10/2023 20:01

No different to anything else. If I'm unwell I will stay at home as I have always done, and avoid giving it to anyone else.

lemonraincoat · 08/10/2023 20:02

Of course it's the right thing to do. Have people lost their minds? No one should ever be knowingly spreading a virus whether it's covid or not.

MuggleMe · 08/10/2023 20:03

Kept DD age 6 off Thur and Fri, tested positive and reasonably heavy cold. If it hadn't been COVID may have sent her in on the Friday. DD9 has a very mild cold and her best friend has vulnerable family member so tested her today and would have kept her off for a couple of days to be safe but was negative. DH and I have been floored by it. I'm doing my best not to spread it around.

fattytum · 08/10/2023 20:04

I was really ill with covid a few weeks ago, and the school policy was the same as the Irish one ( we are in England) do not attend within 3 days of a positive test. Obviously some one had come in while infectious, or I wouldn't have got it..... and I gave it to my daughter, so I was ill for two weeks, then they were ill for a week.

I am still not right

stay home if you know you are infectious.

PlipPlopChoo · 08/10/2023 20:05

Not testing.
Would not leave the house with a sickness bug but will carry on with daily life with cold symptoms.

SirVixofVixHall · 08/10/2023 20:06

stayathomer · 08/10/2023 20:00

The rule here in Ireland is if you test positive you stay home and stay home for three days then test again- if negative go in, if positive wait a few days then test again. Of course test! (Son was floored by it a few weeks ago)

This seems sensible.
We still test if anyone is unwell. It is still a horrible illness with a much higher risk factor for serious complications than things like colds or tummy bugs. I don’t want to make anyone else ill.

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 08/10/2023 20:08

Rainallnight · 08/10/2023 19:59

I’m sorry your DD is poorly. Will your husband go in if we he does get it? We’re not due to see my elderly MIL for a good while but I’m conscious others are vulnerable.

He will stay home if he tests positive. He can work from home but part of his job is lecturing to students which can't be done from home. But work expect us to stay home with covid.

Massivescreen · 08/10/2023 20:09

I am not testing. Just looked on gov.uk there is nothing saying you need to test.
If we felt too poorly we would stay at home, otherwise, straight to work/school.

Rainallnight · 08/10/2023 20:10

lemonraincoat · 08/10/2023 20:02

Of course it's the right thing to do. Have people lost their minds? No one should ever be knowingly spreading a virus whether it's covid or not.

People where I live are not testing and sending kids in with colds etc that could easily be Covid (presumably how we all got it!)

OP posts:
Rainallnight · 08/10/2023 20:11

Massivescreen · 08/10/2023 20:09

I am not testing. Just looked on gov.uk there is nothing saying you need to test.
If we felt too poorly we would stay at home, otherwise, straight to work/school.

For people not testing, can I ask why?

There’s just such a variety of viewpoints around now, and no real advice from Govt.

OP posts:
InTheRainOnATrain · 08/10/2023 20:14

Why does it matter whether or not it’s covid? Unless you’d need certain anti virals. But obviously that doesn’t apply to healthy kids. If you are unwell and could spread it then stay home until you’re better- whether it’s flu, bad cold, nuro, chicken pox, mystery stomach bug it’s the same. Most people don’t need to test - they just need to exercise some common sense and basic consideration.

BoDidley · 08/10/2023 20:15

Because no-one gives a shit about Covid anymore.

calishire · 08/10/2023 20:16

If we don't test for the flu I don't see why we should test for covid at this point. The vulnerable are vaccinated (or should be) and should be taking the normal hand washing precautions etc. if you are very ill, then stay home and rest and try not to spread your disease. I have a cold right now. Could be covid but I wouldn't know as I haven't tested. I'm pregnant so I guess technically I am vulnerable. I'm planning to get a booster (flu and covid) in the next few weeks.

PlipPlopChoo · 08/10/2023 20:16

For people not testing, can I ask why

Because it would not change my actions and I am done with shoving sticks up my hooter. If I am well enough to go out I will if I am bedridden I will not. I have things I need and want to do.

Covid has been here nearly four years ago. It is endemic in the population and there is no going back on that.

Mariposista · 08/10/2023 20:17

Normandy144 · 08/10/2023 20:00

I'm not testing. If my kids have a temperature/vomit/diarrhoea then I will keep them off school but I won't be testing them for covid, I'll just deal with it as per any other illness and keep them off for 48 hours after vomiting or diarrhoea. I had a cold/cough last week - was well enough to work (I work from home) but skipped the gym as didn't feel 100%. I didn't test for COVID though as I don't have any tests left and don't want to buy any.

You are the most sensible person I have read oaths forum all day.
This OP.

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 08/10/2023 20:18

We’re still testing as DD4 is very vulnerable, as are others in her school.

The HT is getting all sorts of grief from the LA for not following procedures because she’s doing things like covering classes when teachers are positive and encouraging parents to keep children home if they’re positive. It’s a school with lots of vulnerable pupils and the loss of one pupil to covid at the height of the pandemic is still very raw.

LolSpinner · 08/10/2023 20:22

We suspected we had covid shortly before flying a few weeks ago and we decided to test despite not being sure what we would do if we were positive. Thankfully we were negative as I'm not sure I would have felt ok putting other people at risk.

MartyFunkhouser · 08/10/2023 20:23

Ran out of tests months ago. Wouldn’t occur to us to test now.

If I was feeling too unwell to go into work I’d stay home. If I felt too unwell to wfh, I’d call in sick.

Our son is back at uni and they’re all unwell in his house with coldy type things. Just the same as every start of the academic year, ‘twas ever thus. None of them are testing or even talking about bloody covid. They’re just getting on with it, as they should.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 08/10/2023 20:24

I've got a winter virus at the moment, I don't have any tests (even though I work in healthcare). I feel okish but will be carrying on as normal. If I feel too unwell then I won't go out, as usual.

My friend has just tested positive for covid so I suppose it's a possibility. I live with someone CEV, I couldn't isolate from them due to our household set up.

HunterHearstHelmsley · 08/10/2023 20:28

Rainallnight · 08/10/2023 20:11

For people not testing, can I ask why?

There’s just such a variety of viewpoints around now, and no real advice from Govt.

I'm treating it as any other illness. I don't test for flu, norovirus etc. I just don't go out if I'm not up it. I'm not going to pay for tests either.