Symptomatic husband too 'busy' to get a test?!

[lifejusthappenss]

Dh had symptoms come on yesterday, new continuous cough and a fever. He's kept me up all night so far coughing so badly and woke up the baby

I work in a hospital and am well aware as he has symptoms I should self isolate until he has a test. Issue is dh is ridiculous and insists he hasn't got time to self isolate or miss work, he's travelling for conferences this week and has lots to do surely if you're travelling for work it's more important than ever to get a test and not become a super spreader across the UK!! I know he's worried the results won't come back in time but it's the right thing to do

Anyway we've just had an argument over it at 3am!! He said he was going to sleep downstairs so I can get a good sleep for work and I said I won't be going to work in the hospital with you like this until you've you've been tested and he scoffed that there's no chance. So what do I do if he refuses? Besides me thinking he's massively unreasonable putting other people at risk because he's too 'important' I also feel he's putting me in a difficult position at work? I'm not going into a hospital if someone I live with shows symptoms but will have to be off the full 10 days if he doesn't test?

@lifejusthappenss

I agree mass testing of asymptomatic people is a bad idea but of course individuals with symptoms need a test

You do realise that one of the reasons we have issues is that asymptomatic people transmit unknowingly? How can it be a bad idea to test them? It stops the transmission, if they are positive they isolate

As you your husband, words fail me

@lifejusthappenss

Thanks all. He started going on about how the more people that get tests the more cases they'll find so it's time for people to just get on with it now we're coming out of lockdown and honestly lost respect for it. How stupid can you be? I agree mass testing of asymptomatic people is a bad idea but of course individuals with symptoms need a test.

So angry I can't get back to sleep!

Why is mass testing a bad idea?

I know it's frustrating that your husband has different morals to you but maybe see it as a silver lining that you get ten days off now because of it. I'd also do a test on yourself in a few days if he refuses.

If it is his work he is most concerned with point out how annoyed they will be if he passes on covid at multiple meetings. Or even becomes close contacts and more people have to self isolate. Or passes on a non covid cough causing many colleagues to require tests and days off waiting for results.

Glad he is seeing sense and booked test.

I’ve not read all of the thread (sorry, makes me sound lazy!) so apologies if someone has already said this, but if you work at a hospital, he should be able to have a test through your occupational health department, to be analysed by either your hospital lab or the NHS lab that supports them if they don’t have one. When my husband had symptoms, I called my manager, and they arranged a test for him a couple of hours later. As they were keen for me to work that weekend and there was no cover, they fast tracked it for a same day result. Even without that, the result would have been next day. I only had one day off isolating because it was negative.

Looks like he’s booked one now anyway, but it’s an easier solution that may not involve travelling so far or isolating as long in future.

I agree mass testing of asymptomatic people is ridiculous
I don't get this attitude- if someone tests positive they isolate and it doesn't spread!

@Welikebeingcosy

I know it's frustrating that your husband has different morals to you but maybe see it as a silver lining that you get ten days off now because of it. I'd also do a test on yourself in a few days if he refuses.

Unfuckingbelievabe!

Could you imagine the reaction he would get coughing and looking unwell in a public place?

What an idiot, glad he’s given in and will get tested. Is it horrible to hope he comes back positive now or you will get ‘I told you so’

Glad he’s getting a test , I think that’s the thing it does feel like a cold if it’s mild .
I almost wanted to cry when I read your op because my family have had Covid apart from me and I started feeling unwell yesterday also booked a test . It feels like a bad cold but as I know other family members have had it I’m certain I have it too . I think that’s the thing people are reluctant to isolate and I understand but is it really a big deal for 10 days to stay home when your unwell .

Glad he’s got a test. My friends had covid symptoms but didn’t test as they didn’t know anyone who had covid (despite going daily into shops etc they thought they were fine to both work in the office when they stopped coughing.....)

Hm, well on the one hand you have inconvenience of staying at home and getting a test.

On the other hand you have, as a direct result of your husband's actions if he went to conferences etc, potentially tens or hundreds of people experiencing serious illness, with risk of long-term debility or even death.

Tricky one.

Why? Is that a known cure for coronavirus?

It's a known cure for driving to work!

Glad he has booked a test.

I imagine if he had turned up at a conference/work place in that state they would have sent him home straight away - I nearly wish that had happened (as long as no-one affected on the way) just to show him how selfish and unacceptable it was to turn up like that, with no consideration for others.

I’d really struggle to be attracted to someone that stupid and selfish.

I agree mass testing of asymptomatic people is a bad idea
What an ignorant comment , asymptomatic people still spread Covid19 it’s almost more important than they are tested as they wouldn’t know they had Covid.

Does he always behave like a 3 year old having a tantrum when he doesn't get his own way? Glad he has seen sense now he's over his strop - how unattractive

I'm glad he has seen sense, hope it is just a cold nothing else. I think his approach to work is not good though in general.

I’d also be interested to know what he does that’s SO important. Bet it’s really not...

@Hoppinggreen

Where are these conferences? All our UK and international ones have been moved online

Aren't business still allowed if they're 'socially distanced' and 'necessary'?

So what is he doing now re. work OP? Is he staying away until the test results come back?

@RoseAndRose

I know OP is probably in England but in Wales, contacts are asked to book PCR tests - similar to travellers on day 2 and day 8. People are getting picked up who would otherwise have left isolation after day 10 but are actually infectious.

So the suggestion of taking a PCR test without symptoms is not ridiculous.

I understood that everyone working in hospital (bit just frontline HCP) are being advised to self test 2times per week. Don't you have any of the kits that give you the results straight away?

@NurseButtercup

I understood that everyone working in hospital (bit just frontline HCP) are being advised to self test 2times per week. Don't you have any of the kits that give you the results straight away?

In my trust it’s voluntary. I’m Sure lots have taken it up ( me included) and anyone can test but it’s not compulsory even for ward staff.

I’m glad he’s getting a test but his whole attitude toward sickness in the workplace fucking riles me up. So even if he tests negative for covid he’s obviously still carrying some sort of illness and it’s not ok to go into a workplace and spread that around. I really hoped this would give employers and employees the opportunity to think about how illness is treated in this country but it doesn’t seem like it is. If you’re ill stay at home and stop spreading your fucking germs around!