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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

People with coughs shouldn’t be allowed in restaurants?

396 replies

Andrewsgirl · 15/07/2021 00:02

AIBU to think people with continual coughs shouldn’t be allowed in a restaurant at the moment and to be annoyed a restaurant allowed someone with a very obvious cough dine there?

OP posts:
Rooroobear · 15/07/2021 09:24

Wow! Let’s just exclude people who cough from everywhere. In fact let’s send them to an island! Don’t be ridiculous. People have coughs for most of different reasons. Covid has made people stupid about things like this. People look at you like you’re a leper if you dare cough or blow your nose!

HoppingPavlova · 15/07/2021 09:28

This thread is so sad. People have learned literally nothing from covid and will continue to go out while sick and infect other people.

No, this thread has clearly told you that in the main, a chronic cough is NOT infectious, hence no issue with people going out and about when they have a chronic cough (as opposed to a new continuous cough, or indeed any new cough unless it’s ascertained the cause is non-infectious which could well be the case).

Biancadelrioisback · 15/07/2021 09:32

Wow, you're right! If only someone had said this to me before I could have been spared all this coughing!

poshme · 15/07/2021 09:34

I have a cough. It's a covid cough- so I'm at home self isolating. In 2 days I will be allowed out- even if I still have a cough.

I've been told by T&T that the cough might last a while, but I can still go out as I won't be infectious.

IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves · 15/07/2021 09:35

I have asthma and COPD.
I know my cough is not a covid symptom because it's not a new cough.
People can have coughs for other reasons and I promise you we know our cough.

IveGotASongThatllGetOnYNerves · 15/07/2021 09:37

Oh, and the go out when sick and infect other people thing? Fear not. Neither asthma nor COPD are contagious you will be delighted to learn.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 15/07/2021 09:42

I've been told by T&T that the cough might last a while, but I can still go out as I won't be infectious.

That makes sense, coughs linger. I've never had a cold that doesn't turn into a hacking cough and last for weeks afterwards. Between that and the hay fever I'd never leave the house!

Lemonmelonsun · 15/07/2021 09:49

Well it's not going to be a pleasant dining experience for either party surley?

I wouldn't go out to Eat in an enclosed restaurant with a cough?

Also restaurant and pubs seem to have problems with airing their rooms or just opening windows and doors occasionally so I probably won't be dining in an enclosed space at the moment anyway.

FourTeaFallOut · 15/07/2021 09:52

I wouldn't go out to Eat in an enclosed restaurant with a cough

And that's fine for you but many people who live with a cough aren't going to do that.

stellaisabella · 15/07/2021 09:57

@Shelddd

This thread is so sad. People have learned literally nothing from covid and will continue to go out while sick and infect other people.
What?? Can you read?? Most on this thread have explained they have asthma, copd, hay fever etc - you can't catch any of those things ffs. What's sad, is that you think people should lock themselves away in case they upset you for coughing. Go outside - you need it.
Pedalpushers · 15/07/2021 09:58

My MIL coughs constantly. She's not got any diagnosed condition but if she's walked somewhere, if it's dusty etc she will cough every 30 seconds or so. Never covers her mouth but that's another story.

Doubledoorsontogarden · 15/07/2021 10:05

OP it’s not for you to decide if it’s a new cough or an old cough. The owner of the cough is to decide that Hmm

Cushionsnotpillows · 15/07/2021 10:12

@Andrewsgirl

Bit of a difficult thing to establish though, whether it’s new or old cough !

Not for the person WITH the cough? They will know if its their usual one or something NEW (as per govt guidelines). You must be a bit dim if you can't grasp this simple point.

Don't like it, stay at home.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 15/07/2021 10:25

I wouldn't go out to Eat in an enclosed restaurant with a cough?

As has been explained over and over again on this thread NOT EVERY COUGH IS CONTAGIOUS!

If I don't go out with my cough I don't go out at all. That won't be happening.

KurtWilde · 15/07/2021 10:29

Clearly some posters are being purposefully dense. Surely no one actually believes EVERY cough is contagious??

Cooldryplace · 15/07/2021 10:31

@KurtWilde

Clearly some posters are being purposefully dense. Surely no one actually believes EVERY cough is contagious??
No they don't, but there's a RISK it might be dont you know?
Cushionsnotpillows · 15/07/2021 10:33

@VerticalHorizon

People who start crazy threads should be made to quarantine from MN for 14 days.

Best idea ever WinkGrin

Sirzy · 15/07/2021 10:39

Can someone let me know at what point in the future DS will be allowed to leave the house as his cough isn’t going anywhere

HappyDays40 · 15/07/2021 10:41

What a silly suggestion. I have hayfever and cough frequently. I also have people scowling at me frequently. I wear my mask a d stare at them and ask them what their problem is. The cough police can fuck right off.

Ofallthethings · 15/07/2021 10:46

YABVU there's all sorts of viruses out there that involve coughing that aren't Covid, plus all the other reasons PP have listed that they cough, allergies, asthma etc You need to have faith that someone with a cough will have had a negative test result and therefore can carry on with their life. If you're that worried, don't go out yourself.

FourTeaFallOut · 15/07/2021 10:47

No they don't, but there's a RISK it might be dont you know?

There's A RISK the perfectly fine looking asymptomatic person sat next to you is spreading covid, don't you know?

Nietzschethehiker · 15/07/2021 10:53

See this attitude is really beginning to piss me off and in general I'm quite a believer in understanding people can be very anxious.

My ds1 is ASD and one of his stimming behaviours is continual clearing of the throat in a certain way. It does sound like a cough. I know exactly what it is and hell I can usually predict it appearing down to the half hour (obviously we put strategies in but they don't work everytime ). It is most likely to happen outside because unsurprisingly he gets more anxious outside in public.

The amount of sodding bosom hoiking looks he has recieved is beginning to push me. There are lots of reasons people cough and its just not OK to be the cough police. Its just not. I am done being considerate of over anxious judgemental twats because they think they are the social arbiters. Nope , no ....I'm not keeping my son in any longer than I was legally required to .....nope.

What's worse is I bet my damn life that despite being roundly told she is wrong the OP has trottered off thinking that really she is right and people neeeeddd to be mooree respectful of her in public and that really she is just more reasonable and wonderful than everyone else.

Erghhhh I'm losing my faith in humanity and it wasn't that bloody strong to begin with.

Cooldryplace · 15/07/2021 10:57

@FourTeaFallOut

No they don't, but there's a RISK it might be dont you know?

There's A RISK the perfectly fine looking asymptomatic person sat next to you is spreading covid, don't you know?

Yes, I should had added a winky face
FourTeaFallOut · 15/07/2021 11:00

Sorry cooldryplace 😁. I think I need to isolate from MN. I think I'm catching the shitty vibes.

81Byerley · 15/07/2021 11:01

I have a cough caused by medication. I've had it for about 20 years, and it's very annoying. I feel torn about this, because I know my normal cough is not Covid, but I still feel very uncomfortable if I hear someone else coughing.