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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I've got a cough, so does DP

46 replies

TheoriginalLEM · 12/02/2020 07:29

Feel a bit rough but I'll be going to work.

It's just a cough, pain in the arse - just a virus, no biggie - but it could be corona virus I guess?

A work colleague has recently returned from Singapore, she is perfectly well and unsorted, as am I but what if she catches my cough? She'll be expected to quarantine herself??

So what does one do? I ordinarily wouldn't dream of calling 111 for a cough but what about the information gathering? I suspect many hundreds of people will get corona virus and think its "just" a cold, feel crap for a week or so and carry on as normal. But of course those people won't add to the statistics for corona virus.

There is probably someone quite good at maths who is factoring this into WHOs stats right?

I'm not explaining myself well.

OP posts:
Original poster
TheoriginalLEM · 12/02/2020 07:31

*unworried

OP posts:
Waxonwaxoff0 · 12/02/2020 07:34

You carry on as normal. Plenty of people have coughs this time of year.

Original poster
TheoriginalLEM · 12/02/2020 07:39

Yes that is sort of my point and what i will do but I was thinking merely about statistics

OP posts:
Sexnotgender · 12/02/2020 07:44

I’ve got a cough too. It’s the time of year for it.

blondiebrowneyes · 12/02/2020 07:45

I've also got a cold this week along with millions of others at this time of year, it hasn't even occurred to me that I might have coronavirus.

Shoxfordian · 12/02/2020 07:46

You're probably going to die before the weekend
Hope you have your affairs in order

DuploTower · 12/02/2020 07:48

The poster is concerned that the measures taken to contain the illness have failed and that the disease is already at large in the UK. We won't know until a week or so when serious cases start appearing with unknown chains of infection. Like in Singapore.

There's not much that can be done, the opportunity to contain has passed and the consequences will have to be dealt with.

Mummyzzz044 · 12/02/2020 07:48

I understand what you're saying. How many people will think it's a common cold when really it's the Coronavirus... then they have infected loads of people.

Also me and my little family have had cold. Partner had it for 3 weeks but he's getting better now. Little dd had it but again improving. Just the time of year.

EmeraldShamrock · 12/02/2020 07:50

If it is just a cough without flu symptom I wouldn't panic. Call 111 if it is puts your mind at ease.

LemonTT · 12/02/2020 07:53

Stay home and watch the dystopian box sets. It will help you plan and prepare.

inkydinky · 12/02/2020 07:55

I also have a cough. A bad one. Much like every January/February. And much like every January/February I was in Chinatown for new year, and we have an office in Hong Kong that at least one colleague returned from as the news broke. But there are no confirmed cases of Coronavirus in my region at all so I have to assume it’s a regular cold/cough.

DonnaDarko · 12/02/2020 07:55

So far, less people have died from coronavirus than die from the flu every single year. The media hype is causing a panic that is really not necessary. Just go to work.

CakeandCustard28 · 12/02/2020 07:56

I’ve got a cough too, maybe I should call an ambulance can never be to careful. Hmm Stop being dramatic OP, unless you’ve been in contact with someone with it you’re being ridiculous.

LeekMunchingSheepShagger · 12/02/2020 07:57

It wouldn’t even occur to me to call 111 in your situation op. I’ve got a cough too, as have a high proportion of people at this time of year.

codenameduchess · 12/02/2020 07:57

Do you think your colleague has coronavirus and that's what your cough is?

I get what you say about people being infected and assuming it's a cold and carrying on, as I understand not everyone is badly affected by the virus so it's possible that could happen. But it's not really feasible for anyone with slight cold symptoms to quarantine for 14 days.

Cyberve · 12/02/2020 07:58

You're probably going to die before the weekend
Hope you have your affairs in order

Yup this.

Stay at home, get your will done, then watch some of your favourite movies and wait for death to come.

Fairylea · 12/02/2020 08:00

Same situation here. I do think there will be loads of people who have corona who won’t even be included in the true figures (I don’t think we have it by the way, just thinking out loud)!

Phifedean123 · 12/02/2020 08:01

Doesn't corona start with respitory problems? Shortness of breath etc? If it's just a cough then hopefully it's just that, a cough. I've had my cold for weeks now. Two year old who started nursery in January keeps picking up bug after bug 😣

sparepantsandtoothbrush · 12/02/2020 08:05

Can you imagine the strain on 111 if everyone with a cough phoned them? Don't be ridiculous. I get that you're worried but if you don't actually have breathing difficulties then please don't use 111 and stop someone who genuinely needs them getting through

Dilbertian · 12/02/2020 08:09

A work colleague has recently returned from Singapore, she is perfectly well and unsorted, as am I but what if she catches my cough? She'll be expected to quarantine herself??

How long ago did she return? If she catches your cough in a few days time, will she by then have been home for longer than two weeks? In which case it should n not be a problem for her. Though the prejudice of others may be a different matter!

Anyway, isn't it a cough with fever that we have to look out for?

cologne4711 · 12/02/2020 08:09

I've got a dry cough and sore chest but no temperature or achiness. I suspect it's to do with the fact that I went out running yesterday evening when there was a very cold wind and may well have "seared" my lungs with cold air.

I've no reason to think I've come into contact with anyone who might be carrying the new coronavirus.

DishRanAwayWithTheSpoon · 12/02/2020 08:10

I see what your saying OP

There will be people with coronavirus who simply think they have a cold. There will be people with coronavirus who go about their day to day lives. How are we supposed to know if in most people it's similar symptoms to a cough/cold? Someone who's been to Singapore/China with the same symptoms would ring 111.

I guess you don't. The WHO can only say how many confirmed cases and I think it's impossible to guess how many may have undiagnosed - I'm thinking more in a few months rather than now. If you look at statistics for other 'pandemics' the numbers are often vague.

I think all we can do is follow handwashing precautions, sneeze into tissues etc.

KundaliniRising · 12/02/2020 08:13

Keep an eye on your temperature op, if you start to get feverish then phone 111.

DishRanAwayWithTheSpoon · 12/02/2020 08:14

At what point as well do we say this maybe coronavirus?

How many people in Britain need to be diagnosed before we think it's a good idea to stay home with bad cold like symptoms.

Obviously chances of it being coronavirus right now are very very slim, but if more and more people get diagnosed.

I think of noro. Every year 1000s of people get Boro, the symptoms are very obvious and logically it should be fairly containable. D&V stay at home. Yet it still spreads

Lovetocycle · 12/02/2020 08:14

I think OP makes a good point though. British are typically the stiff upper lip, carry on type. A virus may affect different people in different ways, so it's possible it's about but people not reporting because they don't want to make a fuss.