To go to work with a cold?

[examnerves]

I don't know what to do and reaching out to the good people of the internet for advice. I have woken up with a cold, sore throat, runny nose, blocked ears, tired etc. With paracetamol I think I'll be ok to work and probably only the eagle eyed would notice. But today is our Xmas party, (afternoon/evening event and dinner for around 15) I wouldn't want someone with a cold there, so think I should bow out. But then tomorrow I could really do with being in the office for a group training session on something I'm leading, among other things. Do I go tomorrow and/or today and if I only go tomorrow, what do I say?

Also, I have negatively covid tested today and yesterday twice, but I am a bit nervous as it's doing the rounds at the kids school. Thanks!

You’ve described the actual early symptoms of Covid including the ears and headache. Our government’s list is pants. You need a PCR. Also it’s just rude to spread a cold around for the sake of a party!

@Meandmini3

You’ve described the actual early symptoms of Covid including the ears and headache. Our government’s list is pants. You need a PCR. Also it’s just rude to spread a cold around for the sake of a party!

Yes fair enough. It's not actually the party that I'm fussed about but the work day tomorrow. Anyway off for a pcr now.

My test result just came back positive.

And I'm triple jabbed ! And flu jabbed too .

@INeedSixEggs

I think we all have what you’re describing too 😭

I’ve had the same symptoms and the govt website says I’m not eligible for a pcr. So I went to work. 🤷‍♀️

PCR now

You might get the results by tomorrow

Definitely don’t go in as you are, without PCR testing

These are symptoms now, very much so

I agree the government’s list of symptoms is pants now

You need a PCR but even if negative I wouldn’t go tomorrow either. Blatantly exposing colleagues to a crappy cold isn’t on, especially so close to Christmas.

Do go for a PCR. We all just had Covid and only symptoms were a cold for two of us. I found lateral flows were negative for the first and second days of symptoms before eventually turning positive

There seems to be quite a lot of competitive PCR-ing going on, with hugely mixed responses from
Medical professionals. I spoke to a Doctor yesterday who was horrified by how many people are doing PCRs without hving a fever, and saying that lots of people have it asymptotically and just also have a runny nose etc at the same time - the two aren’t necessarily related. But then another doctor a few weeks ago was adamant people needed PCRs for the smallest of colds. Very mixed messages.

@Justheretoaskaquestion91

There seems to be quite a lot of competitive PCR-ing going on, with hugely mixed responses from Medical professionals. I spoke to a Doctor yesterday who was horrified by how many people are doing PCRs without hving a fever, and saying that lots of people have it asymptotically and just also have a runny nose etc at the same time - the two aren’t necessarily related. But then another doctor a few weeks ago was adamant people needed PCRs for the smallest of colds. Very mixed messages.

Wouldn’t you rather take a PCR than go to work and give your colleagues Covid for Christmas? Especially given the high transmissibility of the new variant (and whose severity is still unknown). I just don’t know why, when there is so much testing capacity available, people are so willing to take risks which could have a huge impact on someone else’s health.

@MsAgnesDiPesto

Where did I say I wouldn’t rather? I do resent subjecting my 3 year old to them though as part of nursery protocol when he only has a runny nose.

Sorry to hear your result it's party time. I guess you'll have to party at home for a while! What an annoying taxi driver.

Update from me. We're waiting our test results. Annoyingly my manager seemed really quite irritated at me for bowing out today, even though I explained the situation. A similar thing happened for our last team party and I think she doesn't believe me. But I have NEVER called in sick once and only ever missed two get togethers recently due to worries over covid/passing on illness etc. .

I actually am annoyed I had to miss it and have worked hard all day at home, so didn't really appreciate her response I have to say.

@DeepaBeesKit

It’s the need to test to be sure, so that you don’t put all your contacts into isolation, which is so disruptive.

Omg how out of date are you? Close contacts don't have to isolate. Unless they have not had the vaccine, in which case its their own fucking fault.

Unfortunately there's plenty of people who can't have the vaccine for various medical reasons which is absolutely not their fault.

Don’t go to work and spread cold, flu , covid or anything else! Nobody wants your lurgy. When I was pregnant, one of my colleagues came into the office with whooping cough! And she had travelled on a train from the Home Counties and then
In a tube spreading her germs, knowing what she had. Just stay at home.

Agree with others that even if it's not covid, nobody wants to catch any colds etc now, as it spreads exactly all this hassle around to everybody else.
So even if you're negative I bet your colleagues would be glad if you stayed home (even though your manager hasn't applied her logic by the looks of it...)