To go to the theatre with a cold?

[blameitonthecaffeine]

I have a theatre ticket for tonight.

I had Covid 3 weeks ago but wasn't ill. I think I caught it at the theatre (can't know for sure of course but I was sitting next to someone visibly ill and it was hit and crowded).

Now I have a cough and cold. Worse than covid was for me but nothing like bad enough to have given a second thought to pre Covid.

Half of me feels I should stay at home tonight. I was uncomfortable sitting next to the ill person and if I cough or sneeze while at the theatre, I don't want anyone else to feel that way. Even though I know it can't be Covid, they don't know that. And if they catch a cold, they'll have to go through the whole testing malarkey anyway.

The other me half of me thinks that theatre tickets aren't cheap, I'm well enough to go out and that we can't go round avoiding colds forever. If people are happy to be in a theatre they are probably well aware of and happy about the risks of catching a variety of bugs.

Which half would you listen to? YABU = stay at home. YANBU = go to the theatre.

I’m a masker, a rule follower and, with a normal cold that’s not covid due to recent recovery, I’d go.
I’d take a lemsip to reduce annoying sneezes, cough syrup to quell annoying coughing, I’d slather myself in sanitiser and wear a mask, and I’d accept that this is reasonable mitigation.

The thing is the impact on whoever you pass your cold on to. They get symptoms. They and their family have to isolate while waiting for a test result. You have no idea what impact that may have on someone. And you'll make someone ill. I get it's annoying but don't go. See if you can sell or give your ticket away

Ffs. Lockdown is over, covid isn't. Just bloody be considerate and don't give a cold or worse to anyone, have people learned nothing? You may infect someone who gives it to someone who will be really ill, yes even with a cold

I wouldn't go, I'm out and about on the tube and work daily and EVERYONE is sick at the moment. You never know if the person next to you is a responsible test taker and it just makes everyone around them feel uncomfortable. I would leave if someone next to me was sniffing/coughing and there was no where else for me to sit.

I wouldn't go somewhere like the theatre where you're sitting so close to so many people for a long time. I have a 'regular' cold that definitely isn't covid, and I wouldn't want to give it to someone else. I still go out to places I can stay apart from people, but I have an awful wheeze on top of the other symptoms and although it's not affecting me much, I wouldn't want others to get it if I can avoid passing it on.

Check if you can move your tickets. The show's I've booked for recently are offering quite easy ticket transfers, probably because they don't want people coming ill and to encourage bookings.

Don’t go.

Or if you must, wear a mask the whole time.

People who cough and sneeze in public were ALWAYS selfish bastards. If I get a cough or a cold, I can be quite ill for up to two weeks. Pleurisy, pneumonia type ill.

I love our current mask-wearing protocols -they’re keeping everyone just that bit healthier.

Ring the ticket box and say you have a cold. You're well enough to attend but out of consideration for others you'd prefer to go another night if the tickets can be moved.

I'm guessing they'll swap your tickets unles it's a sold out show

You could go and wear a mask, this is what people do do in Asia, wear a mask when poorly to prevent themselves spreading germs.

You are not legally obliged to obviously, however it would be courteous to do so and considerate of people around you.

Pre covid I had a cough. I had tickets for the theatre too. I didn’t go because my cough would have been irritating to the rest of the audience. It’s just common curtesy not to spoil the show for others regardless of the covid dimension.

Don’t go. You’ll just be spreading your germs and probably making someone else poorly or, at the very least, nervous of infection, thus ruining their evening.

@KaycePollard

Don’t go.

Or if you must, wear a mask the whole time.

People who cough and sneeze in public were ALWAYS selfish bastards. If I get a cough or a cold, I can be quite ill for up to two weeks. Pleurisy, pneumonia type ill.

I love our current mask-wearing protocols -they’re keeping everyone just that bit healthier.

There are no mask wearing protocols now. And you can't help coughing in public! Some people cough because they have asthma, copd, hayfever etc. There are so many bad colds at the moment because we have been sheltered from germs for so long, our immune systems are struggling. They need to be in regular ordinary contact with germs in order to function. Should we not go to work with a cold?

Do a lateral flow test. If negative, go.

Should we not go to work with a cold?

I’d prefer it if you didn’t send your children into school whilst coughing and sneezing everywhere, and it’d be far better if people didn’t struggle into work whilst clearly suffering. Going to an environment where breaking the silence ruins other people’s enjoyment (let alone puts them at risk of catching the same illness) is pure selfishness.

I wouldn't be going. I have the horrible snotty cold that's going round at the moment and I don't see how I can safely wear a mask as I'd be pulling it down every 5 minutes to blow my nose or catch the drips! Not to mention the coughing and sneezing. We need to do a food shop but I'm staying in until this is gone and sending DH. Plus I really don't want others around me feeling worried they may catch something. I've done a test and it was negative.

@CarrieBlue

Should we not go to work with a cold?

I’d prefer it if you didn’t send your children into school whilst coughing and sneezing everywhere, and it’d be far better if people didn’t struggle into work whilst clearly suffering. Going to an environment where breaking the silence ruins other people’s enjoyment (let alone puts them at risk of catching the same illness) is pure selfishness.

Yeah, I've kept my dd off reception class for two days and taken her for a test. She's got a cold. And now missed out essential learning and settling in. Where does this end?

You could go and wear a mask, this is what people do do in Asia, wear a mask when poorly to prevent themselves spreading germs.

This.

It’s common courtesy, and I’m surprised at the number of people who don’t understand this. I’ve always admired the Asian politeness and consideration for others in public that mask wearing signifies in the countries of south east Asia.

This is the reason that theatres etc will continue to struggle because people like me won't go back and risk sitting near some one audibly unwell.

"The rest advice is for LTF not PCR"

That's not right. You are advised not to have a pcr for 90 days after testing positive. It even asks that when you go to book a test

Bad use we were locked down for such a long time

Respiratory infections are hitting some people hard. They're seeing a massive influx of children at our local hospital right now with really bad full blown respiratory infections.

So for that reason. I'd say please don't go. My kids for example have just recovered from one of the worst colds they've ever had. Because they haven't been sick for a while. Our immune systems need to build up again.

I'd vote not to go

I wouldn't go. Even passing a cold to someone would would mean they have to isolate and test, plus wait on results, even if you know yours isn't covid. In some professions that can be really difficult, and in others that person may not get paid.

YABU

@TheVolturi

The people these respiratory illnesses are hitting the most. Are the children.

We've seen a huge influx of kids in our local hospital. Which started out with a cold.

I’d not go to a busy venue ill regardless of covid or not. What can be a cold to some could make someone else very ill or ill enough to miss a special event etc.

I think it depends how bad your cold is. If you're going to be coughing and sneezing throughout it will be annoying for those around you even without the added stress of people thinking you might have Covid.

Most events I've been to recently, including the theatre, have offered full refunds for people with Covid symptoms, so if you do cancel you will likely get your money back.