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Original poster

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:
RicStar · 08/10/2023 20:30

Flu is more of an issue than covid in the stats for the last couple of years, we don't test for that so i dont see covid as any different. I keep kids off for temp / D&V per school policies and then the rest, just treat as any other cold / flu / virus, at home if too ill to take part in lessons or work, otherwise just carty on.

OceanicBoundlessness · 08/10/2023 20:34

I suppose you'd only test if you were going to follow the old rules on isolating, otherwise no point testing?
So therefore you'd have to test at the slightest hint of a sniffle?
Or would you only test if you had a strong suspicion it was covid?

MatthewsMumFromTikTok · 08/10/2023 20:36

Not testing either

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Covid-19
Knivesandforks · 08/10/2023 20:37

Send teacher here, we're to go in if positive and feeling OK wear mask if need to. I'm positive and feeling awful so not going in.

Wolfen · 08/10/2023 20:38

Not testing. Dealing with colds and flu like we used to.
Rest, hot lemon, soup, paracetamol.

StrictlyComeback · 08/10/2023 20:44

We are only testing as have a close relative having cancer treatment who we see everyday. Otherwise would only stay off work/school if too ill to go in. This is the same for most other illnesses. I am scrupulous about 48h rule for d&v though and would not let someone with chicken pox out till crusted.

BlueKaftan · 08/10/2023 20:45

I tested positive on Friday and plan to stay home from work until I test negative. Btw, any PPs “shoving sticks up their hooters” haven’t been testing correctly.

MatthewsMumFromTikTok · 08/10/2023 20:46

Are everyone's tests still in date?

Or are you buying new?

80sMum · 08/10/2023 20:48

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.

Same here.

carddino · 08/10/2023 20:50

It's my fear and anxiety a million fold.

If my children are unwell, they stay at home.

Same for me.

Covid last time, they were fine, but positive.

Covid last two weeks, one in hospital, three very nearly.

I am having to come to terms with the fact that others don't, won't, can't, care about any bugs.

I've witnessed children throwing up in the playground at drop off and parent driving off. Not collecting till lunch.

Kids so tired they are falling asleep and burning hot, send them in.

Chicken pox ignored, posts about child being sick everywhere then next day I see the, at school.

I don't know what the answer or etiquette is. I'm just not going to be the one to knowingly spread it. And I wouldn't wish the last two weeks in my worst enemy.

Tocktocknearlybedtime · 08/10/2023 20:54

I work in the nhs and I can no longer get free tests so once ive finished my box of tests I will no longer be testing. The only people who can get free tests are those who work in hospices. It's an additional expense I can't afford to make with the current cost of living.

I come into contact with immunosuppressant patients so they will come into contact with covid postive staff.

Purplerain1144 · 08/10/2023 21:01

Not testing now, what does it change?? I wouldn't go out or go to work with D&V or if I was feeling too unwell to but otherwise carry on as normal. I'm not putting my life on hold any longer!

NotReadyForAutumnYet · 08/10/2023 21:03

Is it the right thing to do? Of course. Some people can and will. Some people can and won't. Some people can't.

There will be people that take the piss out of you for doing it, even though they benefit from those that can test and act upon it.

Normandy144 · 08/10/2023 21:07

Why aren't I testing? I don't have any tests for starters and I don't think you can get hold of them for free anymore can you? I don't want to spend money on tests. If I'm poorly then I'm poorly. I'll stay home anyway, take care of myself with paracetamol etc, I don't see what knowing or not knowing I have COVID will make me do any different. I don't think the guidelines are that you have to test so I just don't think it's necessary. You can pick up infections and viruses anywhere. I'm happy with that level of risk. The reality is that you can have Covid and not be ill and not even know it, but I don't think people are testing themselves regularly even if they feel fine just on the off chance? That's surely back at 2020 peak Covid?

Purplerain1144 · 08/10/2023 21:08

Also I don't get sick pay from work until day 3 and that's just statutory so can't afford to be sat at home if I'm well enough to go in. Did that twice during 2020 and 2021!

pizzaHeart · 08/10/2023 21:10

DH asked at work and was told to treat it as any other illness: to go in if he’s fit to work and not to go in if he’s not fit to work. So technically if he is tested positive and doesn’t feel very bad he should go in. That’s the answer why some people are not testing. What’s the point? They can’t afford to loose their jobs so they just follow the rules - and the rules are to go in if you are okeish .
I’m very conflicted on this but I’m SAHM so it’s easy for me to criticize as I can stay at home but other people can’t.

MatthewsMumFromTikTok · 08/10/2023 21:11

Tocktocknearlybedtime · 08/10/2023 20:54

I work in the nhs and I can no longer get free tests so once ive finished my box of tests I will no longer be testing. The only people who can get free tests are those who work in hospices. It's an additional expense I can't afford to make with the current cost of living.

I come into contact with immunosuppressant patients so they will come into contact with covid postive staff.

Won't be testing then.... I think cost will put many off

grayhairdontcare · 08/10/2023 21:18

If I'm to I'll to work, then I don't work.
Regardless of what the illness is.
I don't test for covid.
We are actually told not to test and to just carry on unless we can't work.

WeWereInParis · 08/10/2023 21:18

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.

I don't mean to be snippy but do you really mean that no one should ever knowingly spread any virus? Do you call in sick and isolate at home for a mild cold, for example?

LollipopViolet · 08/10/2023 21:25

Treating it as I would any cold or other illness here - only difference is my work (civil service) have asked that we WFH with any kind of respiratory illness rather than attending the office. A sensible approach IMO and the one I've always taken - don't spread germs about unnecessarily.

I live with someone CEV, and someone else who's a nurse. Both of them are up to date with boosters, I would get one but not eligible so if I get ill I shall be hunkering down in my room and limiting contact with both of them.

agent765 · 08/10/2023 21:27

I'm immunosuppressant so still get free tests and anti-virals if I test positive.

I've only left the house since Covid started for medical and dental appointments and then only this year.

After avoiding it until July this year when I picked it up when I went for a scan, I got really ill with it. The anti-virals were sent within a day of my result, I took a half dose as my kidneys are compromised then had rebound.

The rebound was bad but worse was my asthma. I've never had so many severe attacks. I wasn't allowed to use my steroid inhaler as it can cause cardiac problems.

I had flu in my early thirties and thought I was dying as I felt so rough. Covid, for me, was far worse.

I can understand people not wanting to test as they no longer get free tests. I can't understand people who refuse to stay home when they're ill or at the very least wear a mask and use sanitiser regularly if they can't get to a sink.

thaegumathteth · 08/10/2023 21:32

Dd and I had it early summer. I stayed home and kept away from dh and ds as did Dd. We probably wouldn't have been as strict as that tbh but ds had important exams and has bad asthma at times.

Dd had 4 days off school I think. She could've been in earlier but given loads of the other kids also had exams it felt wrong.

MatthewsMumFromTikTok · 08/10/2023 21:33

Won't wear masks... and will have to go to work if I'm able to

Need to be paid and won't use sickness if I feel able to work. Not many will

ttcat37 · 08/10/2023 21:48

I’m pregnant and really grateful that my colleagues who have felt off have tested. The 5 covid positive people could have come to work and if I’d got it baby and I would be more at risk of being very ill. So if you can test please test to avoid passing covid to people that could get really ill.
I've had the booster since they caught it- it wasn’t available before then.

Usernamen · 08/10/2023 21:51

I haven’t tested in nearly 2 years and I don’t know anyone who still tests.

People are ignoring it mostly, but I can’t say I’m 100% comfortable with this given I last had a vaccine 18 months ago…