What to do (cough cough)

[MonaLisaDoesntSmile]

So this is one of those dilemmas... Staying at home with my daughter at the moment as she had a tummy bug until Tuesday. Last week I got what seems like my regular allergy cold/hayfever. They usually go through the same phase- sore throat, then blocked nose, then runny nose, then cough. Every year in beginning/mid march for the past God only knows how many years, have been having them since secondary school. Now- with the situation as it is, I feel very uncertain rocking up to work with this (no other symptoms of Covid). But then it is a new cough that is getting stronger. But then if it is not the virus and I self-isolate, and I get it at some point later, will it not look like I'm slacking off or took a week off unnecessarily?
I don't think I can go to work in good conscience not being sure what it is 100%, we have elderly people and probably others with health conditions that would not appreciate someone sit there and cough all all over the place, I'm sure I would not. I use public transport a lot (train and bus), there have been reported cases in the area.
Can't get through to our HR unfortunately, so posting for traffic and out of anxiety really as there is no one I can ask IRL until I can be put through to them!

If it's a new cough you have to self isolate for seven days, regardless of what you think it might be.

My daughter has a cold, no fever, started over the weekend. School has said 7 days isolation regardless, so that may be the measure to go by?

The NHS advice is the measure to go by.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

I think you've got to self-isolate, and employers are going to have to accept that people will be off multiple times potentially, for multiple scares for them and their family.

This is the hard part. How often can you self isolate? I am pretty poorly and have been since wednesday. Some fever symptoms, no energy and a cough which is not constant but is there and what I can only describe as itchy lungs. The problem is if you take a week off for this and it is not it then there is another week off (luckily I am already off work) I would feel better if they would just test people so you actually know!

I’m in a similar situation. My hayfever has kicked in in the last few days (itchy watery eyes, sneezing lots and a chesty cough) I know it’s hayfever, and my symptoms improve with an anti histamine but I’m still reluctant to show my symptoms in public!

So don't.

Hi me too, I get this cough every year and I know what it is. I am wfh anyway so will keep out of peoples way.

You also need to self isolate geekone. There's no two ways about it. I don't get what people don't understand.

You need to stay home and self-isolate.

You don't know for sure that it's not coronavirus.

@OhLook - No one 'does not understand'. As I said I would not feel good coming to work on Wednesday.But it's also normal to be concerned about your professional future in a workplace if you take a lot of time off. A lot of people like me and you know it's a necessity, but if you look around, some workplaces seem to only look at things from the point of view of finances and inconvenience of staff not being around.

Yes that is what I meant.