To be confused about Covid testing

[MerryMarigold]

Why are the requirements to getting tested a high fever, a continuous dry cough and the loss of smell/ taste. SURELY there are milder Covid symptoms.

I work with 2-4 year olds so I get lots of germs. I've already had a very heavy cold and bad sore throat virus since term started. I recognised it for what it was. I now have something different which feels a bit 'weird' but none of the above 3 symptoms. Mild dry cough, mild cold, fell washed out but not unable to get out of bed, possibly a slight temp but nothing major. I didn't go in yesterday and have looked up testing but I don't fit their criteria so I don't know whether to sit this out and see how it develops or try and get a test.

WWYD?

Unfortunately people are making up their own rules, ordering unnecessary tests, expecting employers to allow them time off work for no proper reason. It is no wonder we have run out of tests and the economy is never going to pick up when people are making up rules rather than following guidance.

Yes, it's so hard to decide what to do.

a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)

I don't think this refers to a few coughs in a 24 hour period.
Frankly, this whole new cough thing is perhaps what's swaying the over testing and under supply. I don't think a phlegm cough after a cold could be covid.

I don't think this refers to a few coughs in a 24 hour period

That's literally what it means

Have you not seen the thread about exsctly that. Cold sufferers who actually have covid!?

You have a cough and a fever. You can get tested.

No fever

I don't think this refers to a few coughs in a 24 hour period

That's literally what it means

Seriously? What does the continuous bit mean then? Better give up work then (which is tricky when my husband was made redundant in April and hasn't found anything yet). I tend to have a new cold and cough every 3 weeks to a month. Do any of you actually work with young children? 😂 Anyway, it's all academic now, more than 5 days since symptoms.

As you do work with children you will presumably be safeguarding them from your symptoms by self isolating.

😂

Two of the classes in my son's school are off with COVID. School is only out for a confirmed positive case then two weeks off unless there is a negative test then they can go in. I like many people can't afford to have two weeks off work without notice and if after school club closes have no childcare. Parents will be getting their children tested symptoms or not to reduce the amount of time out. I can see why.

I would get a test in your position, and I don't think anyone working in a high risk environment should apologise for it. No-one is going to check whether or not you have a temperature or how continuous your cough is.

I don't think anyone safely WFH or with proper mitigation measures is in a position to judge whether or not those of us who can't should have access to a test, if we think we might need it.

This thread is ridiculous. OP said she had a cough and a raised temperature.

Correct course of action is to book a test - not endlessly debate the nature of the cough on MN.

Yes there are some complicated lockdown rules. But this is not one. It's simple.

Cough = book test.