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AIBU?

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Original poster

Shop assistant coughing

174 replies

NameChangeAgain2 · 06/11/2020 20:56

I've just been to the local one shop stop to get milk (missing from our supermarket delivery). The shop assistant, wearing her mask on her chin, burst into a coughing fit half way through scanning. She turned away and drank some water then pulled her mask up before turning back and told me 'it's not Corona, people have been asking all day, I'm just full of a cold'. She looked really sweaty.

I'm so upset. I'm shielding a relative and haven't been to the local shop since February.

Aibu to think she shouldn't be at work if she's coughing all over the place to the point people have been asking her is if she has the virus all day? I have no idea if she's had a test, she might just be assuming it's a cold. We've been so careful. I want to phone the shop and ask if she's had a test, if not I still have chance to leave the house now before possibly getting sick and passing it on to the shielding relative. I also want to complain that they were wearing their masks on their chins. What's the point that isn't helping anything!

OP posts:
SquirtleSquad · 06/11/2020 20:59

I don't suppose you know that it's a new continuous cough.
I had a horrid cold and cough, isolated for two weeks and had a negative test but my cough lasted for weeks and weeks longer. I couldn't be off work longer than those two weeks.

WaterOffADucksCrack · 06/11/2020 21:05

Coughs can last for longer.

She may have had a negative test.

Work may have told her if she phones in sick she may lose her job.

DramaLlama12 · 06/11/2020 21:08

I've been coughing for a month.. yes you are being VVVVVVV unreasonable, this cough is wet phlegm and I'm.full of cold , I get an annual cough and cold this time of year , a lot of years it goes straight to my chest and results in the coughing fits it brings ,, I'm now coughing and weeing a little and my throat is sore through all the coughing I cant help it
It doesn't look as though it's going anywhere soon once it goes to my chest ,its been know to sit on my chest for up to 3 months
I cant sit around on unpaid sick leave for the one month I've had it never mind potentially 3 months
I feel like I have to keep explaining myself to everyone I cough near
I know.mine isnt covid , perhaps she knows hers isn't covid, my DP wouldn't even go out for lunch with me the last couple weeks because its embarrassing and everyone looks at me
We cant just all sit indoors and wait for the common cold to go before we enter society
I'm getting sick.of people acting like I'm a disgusting peice of shit when it's only a cold
Have some common sense and stop treating everyone that has a cold as potential covid carriers

Original poster
NameChangeAgain2 · 06/11/2020 21:09

I do get that which is why I'm wondering if I would be unreasonable to call and ask? Legally she should be wearing a mask and doesn't so I concerned she isn't to concerned about covid in general.

OP posts:
NameChange84 · 06/11/2020 21:10

Covid or not, it’s disgusting to cough any germs all over the public and the rules are that we should be wearing a mask.

She has a duty to be as hygienic as possible.

Everyone should cover their mouths when they cough by coughing into the crook of their elbow. Her mask should have been covering her mouth.

This is MN though so you will be told it’s you that’s unreasonable and people will come up with a zillion reasons why is impossible for them to cover their mouths when they cough.

lemmywinks84 · 06/11/2020 21:15

Tricky. Some people are immune compromised and get a lot of colds. Colds aren't covid. But I know everyone is worried.

I have a nervous cough that is basically a throat clearing tick that I've had for 20 years related to another disorder and I'm really paranoid about it at the moment in case people think I have covid.

ShowingOut · 06/11/2020 21:17

@NameChangeAgain2

I do get that which is why I'm wondering if I would be unreasonable to call and ask? Legally she should be wearing a mask and doesn't so I concerned she isn't to concerned about covid in general.
No, shopworkers do not have to wear masks.
Original poster
NameChangeAgain2 · 06/11/2020 21:17

@DramaLlama12 I wasn't off out for a meal, I was at the local shop for the first time in 8 months so my gran could have a cup of tea because our delivery was short. Some people have had to sit in and wait around. It's literally life or death for many people. I'm justifiably scared. She should have at least worn her mask.

OP posts:
DramaLlama12 · 06/11/2020 21:19

I dont wear a mask I'm exempt but I do cough into my arm and practice good hygiene when I cough
She would have a protective screen in front of her anyway wouldn't she ? I dont know of any shops that DONT have the protective / spit screens

OP posts:
Original poster
NameChangeAgain2 · 06/11/2020 21:21

The screen had two foot cut out of it to pass the shopping through. It's not exactly covid proof is it?

OP posts:
ShowingOut · 06/11/2020 21:22

Only if there's no perspex screen. Otherwise, shop staff don't need to wear masks.

ShowingOut · 06/11/2020 21:22

If there is a barrier at face level, a mask does not need to be worn.

Sevendaysaweek · 06/11/2020 21:23

Maybe she’s had a negative test. Must be so worrying for you though.

DramaLlama12 · 06/11/2020 21:24

@NAMECHANGEAGAIN2
I work in retail in a massive chain and I have been told unless on the shop floor none of us have to wear a mask if there are protective screens
Dont ring up, they could tell her to go off unpaid maybe until she can get tested
A co worker was told to go off unpaid until he could get tested .. he waited 3 weeks to get an appointment and the result get sent to him , self isolating was only 2 weeks but they wouldn't let him back until the results came back
3 weeks with ssp ??? Nah , I know I couldn't cope when I know mine only a cold ..same with her , she knows its only a cold

Original poster
NameChangeAgain2 · 06/11/2020 21:24

It wasn't at face level, the whole shopping area was cut out. If they didn't have to wear masks why bother wearing them on their chins?

OP posts:
SomeSmotheringDreams · 06/11/2020 21:25

@DramaLlama12

I've been coughing for a month.. yes you are being VVVVVVV unreasonable, this cough is wet phlegm and I'm.full of cold , I get an annual cough and cold this time of year , a lot of years it goes straight to my chest and results in the coughing fits it brings ,, I'm now coughing and weeing a little and my throat is sore through all the coughing I cant help it It doesn't look as though it's going anywhere soon once it goes to my chest ,its been know to sit on my chest for up to 3 months I cant sit around on unpaid sick leave for the one month I've had it never mind potentially 3 months I feel like I have to keep explaining myself to everyone I cough near I know.mine isnt covid , perhaps she knows hers isn't covid, my DP wouldn't even go out for lunch with me the last couple weeks because its embarrassing and everyone looks at me We cant just all sit indoors and wait for the common cold to go before we enter society I'm getting sick.of people acting like I'm a disgusting peice of shit when it's only a cold Have some common sense and stop treating everyone that has a cold as potential covid carriers
My husband had a wet cough and a sore throat. He also gets this every winter. However, he took a test just in case.

He has covid.

cathcath2 · 06/11/2020 21:25

Shop workers do have to wear masks unless they are exempt.

Shop assistant coughing
ColdNovemberNights · 06/11/2020 21:25

I would of left at that point
I wouldnt of taken the items once she touched them.
I would of disinfected my hands as soon as i got outside and went home and got straight in the shower....

But im paranoid!

Fittata · 06/11/2020 21:26

@DramaLlama12 how do you know yours isn't covid? Have you taken a test?

DramaLlama12 · 06/11/2020 21:26

Also I very much doubt you've contracted much, isnt it prolonged time and exposure with a positive person ,something like 15 minutes of being round a positive case?

Original poster
NameChangeAgain2 · 06/11/2020 21:26

@DramaLlama12 this is exactly what I'm afraid of. She 'knows it's just a cold' although 617,000 had covid this week and can't afford to be off. We're in Manchester. As awful as it is for her to not get paid for a week, it's a lot worse for my immune compromised gran to die. Or anyone else she comes into contact with!

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 06/11/2020 21:27

@DramaLlama12 if she has a new cough and hasn’t been tested, she needs one and to isolate in the meantime.

I would take the “I know it’s a cold” to mean that they’ve already had a test. I had a cough with a cold and was tested a few weeks ago.

The testing system is a bit rubbish but now most results are still back in a day or two.

DramaLlama12 · 06/11/2020 21:31

@fittata because every single year without fail since I can remember its the same symptoms , same time of year starts off with a headache for around 3 days , then A sore throat , then I know the next symptom is swollen glands around 4 days after , then a steaming runny nose , for.about a week then lastly the cough which I pray doesnt go to my chest which it then does. Then up to 3 months later all gone with the cough being the last to go .
I could set my calendar by it
Been the same since early 20's
So unless I've had covid for the last 25 years I know mine is the common cold

PurpleDaisies · 06/11/2020 21:32

[quote DramaLlama12]@fittata because every single year without fail since I can remember its the same symptoms , same time of year starts off with a headache for around 3 days , then A sore throat , then I know the next symptom is swollen glands around 4 days after , then a steaming runny nose , for.about a week then lastly the cough which I pray doesnt go to my chest which it then does. Then up to 3 months later all gone with the cough being the last to go .
I could set my calendar by it
Been the same since early 20's
So unless I've had covid for the last 25 years I know mine is the common cold[/quote]
You are in the wrong here. You need a test.

You are putting others at risk by not getting tested this year.

In previous years, covid wasn’t circulating. This year it is.