To go on long coach journey with a cough?

[Ribrabrob]

I have a cough. It’s not corona virus, however it is a strong, persistent and annoying cough which has lasted a few weeks (I will go to the doctors next week).

I need to make a coach journey next week however I am worried about any nasty remarks or people being concerned I may have the virus! I’m in a country where masks are mandatory everywhere and my temperature would be checked before hand. But it’s also a country where I am noticeably ‘a foreigner’ which may bring more attention to me!

So aibu to take a coach journey with a cough at this time? Would it concern you? I can post pone the journey for a little longer however would rather not do so as it’s basically an ‘essential’ journey.,

People on here are crazy. I have a cough as I have an irritable throat through hayfever, it tickles constantly as it has done through April - August every year. Should I stop my life? Take the trip and wear a mask, please don’t listen to people on here.

@Justgorgeous

People on here are crazy. I have a cough as I have an irritable throat through hayfever, it tickles constantly as it has done through April - August every year. Should I stop my life? Take the trip and wear a mask, please don’t listen to people on here.

But this isn't someone who has always had a persistent cough due to a known trigger. This is someone who has a new, continuous cough with unknown origin. Yes, they've had a negative test, but they are still displaying a symptom of a pandemic-causing virus. A negative test does not mean that they don't have the virus; it just means they had a negative test (obviously we're being told that negative test = not covid. This is because hospitals would be even more screwed if we didn't go along with that belief)

I'm not your conscience, OP, but it would be good to avoid this journey if you can. And please don't turn up at your GP with a covid symptom, as they would surely turn you away and ask for a phone consultation.

Hope you're well soon

@SengaStrawberry

I’d go.

Even the official guidance if you have a confirmed case says you can start going out again if you otherwise feel OK after the isolation period but still have the cough. Coughs can last for months. I’m totally pissed off of people making up rules then berating others as “selfish” for not complying with their made up version.

This is actually a reasonable point and the only "I'd go" post that wasn't just "I'd go because I should be allowed to do what I want."

If OP has had the cough for a few weeks and it was covid (or any other similar cold/flu thing), they're probably no longer infectious. So yeah, maybe go for it. I dunno (see previous post telling you not to!). Guess it still just depends on how important it is.

There's always going to be a chance we spread this disease. We do need to get back to some normality, although we should try to be as cautious as we can without majorly damaging our quality of life.

I come at this as someone with a child who suffers from persistent coughs with a known, absolutely not contagious explanation. I may very well be forced to bring her out in public at some point during a flare. She may even have to attend school (which Has been discussed with specialists and will be discussed again should the situation actually occur).

If you haven’t been to a doctor for the cough, I would not take the trip. I would want a medical professional to sign off on the fact that your cough is not related to a virus or bacterial infection.

@excuseforfights

What is a Corona virus cold virus?

Lots of common colds are caused by coronaviruses (coronaviruses are not new).

@annabel85

Now is not the time to have a dry cough if you can avoid it.

In my workplace you're not allowed in with a cough, you'd be sent home. Public transport (and any enclosed public space) is a big no-no to be coughing and spluttering during this pandemic.

As someone else said you'll get enough dirty looks/comments just coughing in the street with a mask on in the current climate. To even think about a long coach journey with a virus at the moment, with a persistent cough as a symptom especially, is not advisable in the slightest.

And would they be paying me full pay to stay at home for 5 months a year?

And would they be paying me full pay to stay at home for 5 months a year?

Depends on the workplace but you'd be working from home in many cases.

@annabel85

And would they be paying me full pay to stay at home for 5 months a year?

Depends on the workplace but you'd be working from home in many cases.

Right. I can only do about 30% of my job from home.

Honestly you are being ridiculous if you think that those of us who have persistent coughs for a huge variety of reasons should stay at home for months on end.

Bit different if youre in a workplace where everyone knows you have a cough normally though and you can actually talk to your colleagues, rather than on public transport where noone knows you from adam during a pandemic

It doesn’t sound like a good idea OP.

I have cough variant asthma and am doing everything in my power not to catch a cold at the moment. My work can’t be done from home and I catch public transport to the office. I use ventolin when I have a post viral cough but it only lessens the coughing, it doesn’t get rid of it. If I got a cold and post viral cough at he moment I’d probably have to take 1-2 weeks off work and then pay for car parking for another couple of weeks.