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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Greenhairbrush · 06/11/2020 21:59

For goodness sake. Not every cough now is covid. Other illness still exists.

DramaLlama12 · 06/11/2020 22:00

Proudauntie because it's the SAME SYMPTOM.OF A COLD I HAVE PRETTY MUCH HAD EVERY SINGLE YEAR FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS
I could tell you when I'll get the cold , what symptoms I'll get on day 4 , what symptoms will be first to come then what symptoms will be the last to go
I'm leaving this thread its bloody ridiculous
I'm taking myself and my cold to bed ..the same cold I'll have probably until end of January I don't believe I have had coronavirus every year for 25 years either

ProudAuntie76 · 06/11/2020 22:01

@Greenhairbrush

For goodness sake. Not every cough now is covid. Other illness still exists.
Except the shop assistant has now confirmed that this cough is following a Covid diagnosis last month...
PurpleDaisies · 06/11/2020 22:01

Proud auntie because it's the SAME SYMPTOM.OF A COLD I HAVE PRETTY MUCH HAD EVERY SINGLE YEAR FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS

That is IRRELEVANT.
You have a new continuous cough.
You need a test.
You need to isolate until you are proven negative.

ProudAuntie76 · 06/11/2020 22:03

@DramaLlama12

Proudauntie because it's the SAME SYMPTOM.OF A COLD I HAVE PRETTY MUCH HAD EVERY SINGLE YEAR FOR ABOUT 25 YEARS I could tell you when I'll get the cold , what symptoms I'll get on day 4 , what symptoms will be first to come then what symptoms will be the last to go I'm leaving this thread its bloody ridiculous I'm taking myself and my cold to bed ..the same cold I'll have probably until end of January I don't believe I have had coronavirus every year for 25 years either
Colds ARE caused by CORONAVIRUSES.

We currently have a BRAND NEW CORONAVIRUS in circulation called Covid 19.

You have the symptoms of it and cannot know that you haven’t been suffering from it. Whether you like it or not.

AriesTheRam · 06/11/2020 22:03

You can get cold symptoms with covid.A colleague currently has it and she has a cough,no taste or smell and cold symptoms.

NameChangeAgain2 · 06/11/2020 22:03

@pollylocketpickedapocket Really? We have stayed home. I've had to deregister my kids from school. I haven't been in the shop since February. Are you in Manchester? People are stockpiling and there were several things missing from our delivery. I didn't want my gran to go a week without a cup or tea. I didn't expect to get coughed on.

OP posts:
BornOnThe4thJuly · 06/11/2020 22:03

@DramaLlama12 Why don’t you want to get tested? To be certain, are you scared?

Nocto · 06/11/2020 22:04

YABVVVVU

CovidClara · 06/11/2020 22:05

[quote NameChangeAgain2]@pollylocketpickedapocket Really? We have stayed home. I've had to deregister my kids from school. I haven't been in the shop since February. Are you in Manchester? People are stockpiling and there were several things missing from our delivery. I didn't want my gran to go a week without a cup or tea. I didn't expect to get coughed on.[/quote]
This was the first 1st time you have left home since February? Wow that is impressive.

My DD only went out about 15 times and got CV19 on their last trip out.

userxx · 06/11/2020 22:08

Try to calm down, maybe get some coffee mate in for next time. You're more likely to die of a heart attack due to stress than covid.

NameChangeAgain2 · 06/11/2020 22:08

@ProudAuntie76 thank you you're right.

I'm not completely nuts it was covid just no longer contagious. Not just a cold.

OP posts:
laidbacklife · 06/11/2020 22:12

Who are you, the stasi? Leave the poor woman alone. She has a cold and you’re bitching all over the shop about her. She has stated it’s not Covid. If you’re really so paranoid you should stay home. Utterly ridiculous.

pinkksugarmouse · 06/11/2020 22:12

Personally I would call up. She shouldn't be coughing and spluttering all over customers and their shopping whether it's covid or not. She says it's not covid but does she know as in she has had a test or just knows in her gut or because she is assuming it isn't.
You have to protect yourself and those around you and she should have been wearing her mask. Not okay, no excuse.

cuparfull · 06/11/2020 22:14

@ShowingOut

Only if there's no perspex screen. Otherwise, shop staff don't need to wear masks.
30 Oct 2020 — People around the UK must now wear face coverings in many public places, but ... must be worn in all indoor public places by customers and staff.
NameChangeAgain2 · 06/11/2020 22:14

@CovidClara we've been out on plenty of walks in the countryside. I was into rock climbing when I was younger so I know a lot of quiet spots. But no shops or restaurants. The hospital twice for my gran. She's in her 60s and had a transplant last year. I feel like people think she should just politely die for the good of the economy. She still feels young to me. It's heartbreaking.

I hope your DD is ok.

OP posts:
Nocto · 06/11/2020 22:14

[quote NameChangeAgain2]@ProudAuntie76 thank you you're right.

I'm not completely nuts it was covid just no longer contagious. Not just a cold.[/quote]
You what? Did you test het? How on Earth can you possibly know that?

SomeSmotheringDreams · 06/11/2020 22:15

[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]
No you don't know yours is a cold. You are merely guessing.

My husband had identical symptoms. Like you he gets them every year. He was sensible and took a test. We were stunned when he tested positive. I had already caught it from him.

Really, your naivete is astonishing.

NameChangeAgain2 · 06/11/2020 22:15

@laidbacklife if you read the thread you'll see it was covid.

OP posts:
cuparfull · 06/11/2020 22:19

@Fouroclockonamarblemorning

The whole continuous cough thing is so subjective. I had a scratchy throat, no cough, no temp, sense of taste and smell was fine, I just felt like I was coming down with something and tested positive. I’m in my fifth week of being very ill with covid. It’s absolutely awful. She doesn’t have been in work with cold symptoms.
Flowers None of us should just assume we have a cold. This year is very different. Get a test.
ProudAuntie76 · 06/11/2020 22:19

@NameChangeAgain2

Well I rang up and actually got through to the women who served me and explained my situation. She was very nice on the phone and said she tested positive for covid over a month ago after starting back at uni and has been coughing ever since but has been advised she isn't contagious any more as covid is her only symptom and is fine to be back to work.
@Nocto OPs update. The assistant admitted she had tested positive for Covid and has been coughing ever since.
user1481840227 · 06/11/2020 22:19

It's possible to have a cold AND covid at the same time...so for those saying X gets the same symptoms every year...always a cold...then tested positive for covid.

It could easily be a cold that's causing the symptoms and the person is also covid positive but asymptomatic for that.

liverbird10 · 06/11/2020 22:19

Burn the witch.

LolaSmiles · 06/11/2020 22:20

I wouldn't have called up. She knows she's ok to be in work and work have accepted she is ok to be in work.
It's horrible when you know you've done what you should regarding isolation and testing but people are obviously drawing the worst conclusions.

ssd · 06/11/2020 22:20

On the flip side, I work in retail and I give a wide berth to anyone not wearing a mask correctly eg. Under the nose, I won't go near enough to help them.

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