Got covid - Bit annoyed with co-worker

[notthecarebears]

Hello all. I want to start out by saying I'm not a Mum, I was just curious about this site and honestly I decided to try my luck. I need someone with a sound mind to help me out here because I'm very angry about this

Last Saturday (24th) my co-worker lied about having Covid and said they had a cold. Co-worker said she'd be fine in a few days and how it was just a little sniffle, nothing some vicks vapo rub couldnt cure etc. I've caught it from her despite being almost military like with washing my hands and keeping myself safe. Wednesday night and early Thursday morning my fever spiked from normal to 40 and I think at some point it got higher. I've been suffering on and off for a couple days with fever, its been miserable.

I took a covid test a few hours ago, it was positive. I'm living with my parents right now because of reasons and my Dad is on two different type of Medication for Arthritis that suppress his immune system. My parents are on holiday and are set to come back Monday, Im dreading them coming home only to catch covid from me. They've done so well the last few years to not catch anything

AIBU in wanting to tell my boss? I dont think she knows my coworker lied, she's very big on people staying home if they're too unwell to work. Also how should I tell my parents about this?

Thanks in advance and sorry for this rambling mess of words

YAdefinitelyNBU. Your co-worker is an egotistic cow. I agree on letting your manager know, just be careful how you phrase it - don't make sweeping statements you won't be able to back up.

That said, YABU in posting this on here with all the enraged covid deniers hovering in the background ready to swoop on any thread and pontificate on the "no worse than a cold" thing. It's no worse until it's a lot worse, long covid included.

Sorry about your parents' situation. Could you book into a hotel for a few days?

Did your coworker KNOW they had covid/do you have proof?

@GrumpyPanda have you stepped back into 2020 or do you just not understand that people have to go to work to pay their bills, and businesses have to remain open with working staff and that the world can't stop turning? 🙄

Firstly, your colleague was well enough to work so has done nothing wrong there. Secondly, even if they did have covid, they might not have tested, or even tested negative despite having it, so isn’t lying. Third, do you have any idea at all how common covid is, the idea that you and your parents have gone two and half years without coming in contact with it, despite them going on holiday is hilarious. And fourth, running to teacher, tittle tattling with no evidence, trying to get your colleague into trouble for something you have no actual evidence for, is downright nasty.

You're being plainly ridiculous. Unless your parents have lived in a bubble for the last couple of years then they've come into contact with people, and thus likely come into contact with people who could have had covid.

You could have caught it from absolutely anybody, as many are wholly asymptomatic. I've had a stinking cold this last week which absolutely wasn't covid (tested periodically as my husband and I are both CEV).

You'll need to just air the house properly and stay in quarantine in your room if you're still testing positive when your parents get back.

Oh do grow up Panda. What even does egotistic cow mean? It’s not 2020 anymore, you sound rather unhinged.

Unless you have only had contact with coworker in past week, travelled aline by car, you cannot be sure you got it from them specifically. No other work contacts, shopping, socialising, travel?

Your co-worker was completely irresponsible. She could be endangering other people. She should have let you know, and worn an N95 mask, and kept as far away from you as possible

I'm sorry what?! On what planet?

Do you KNOW your colleague had Covid and lied about it? If so, yes raise it with your boss. Otherwise, I'm sorry but you could have caught it anywhere.

How do you know your colleague had covid or that you even got it from them? Your parents are away so risk catching it. I can't believe people are still living like 2020. It's ridiculous unless completely necessary. My mum has had cancer during the last year and she still went to work etc... she actually caught covid and was okay. She said what more can she do? She's jabbed so has to live.

Egotistical? Do you know the colleague?

Are you the op?

Who is denying covid exists?

The fact is op could have caught it anywhere. The parents, who have been isolating from the whole world for 2.5 years are on holiday. So very much at risk from most illnesses, since they haven’t mixed with people for so long.

They could pick up flu and it have a really big impact on them.

@GrumpyPanda egotistical cow, really? The colleague may not even have had covid. Colds still exist you know. And the OP could have picked covid up from anywhere. Just like her parents could seeing as they are clearly not isolating.

My point was I had very covid-like symptoms like OPs colleague. It wasn't covid, it was just a cold.

As far as we know, OP has zero evidence that her colleague even had covid - they could have got it from a door handle, or work toilets or the corner shop.

OP is naturally worried for her parents, but that anxiety is leading them to consider make unfounded accusations against people at work.

Reporting people you suspect have covid is not appropriate or proportional - what's the boss expected to do with a suspicion that someone did something they (rightly or wrongly) are entitled to do?

Wearing a mask in public and controlling risk at home is the only action the OP can reasonably take here.

There is no longer a Government rule to self isolate if you have covid

Most of the population is vaccinated now

You can go about your business as usual & go to work as normal (unless you are feeling particularly ill)

Last year I had a cold & covid type symptoms. I went to a NHS centre to have a "proper test" & it was negative. Therefore it must have been a cold

People like you do my head in, what a drama llama you are! How do you even know she had Covid? And that you caught it from her? You could have caught it from anywhere. Just focus on getting your own immune system up and running, with healthy food, exercise, daylight etc instead of blaming other people.

She was unfair and irresponsible. She had symptoms so shouldn't have been in work, let alone lying about it.

Doesn’t matter though does it? You co-worker doesn’t have to stay home, no-one does. This is now like flu essentially.
your boss will do nothing and you’ll look silly.

Pre covid
Some people have had a cold every month in the winter & flu like symptoms too

I expect cold, flush to continue as normal

Business will not be put into lock down again

Secondly, some people don't receive sick pay or have limited amounts of sick pay, so they have to work

Life goes on...

Yanbu. Too many people either pretend or genuinely belive that covid is no longer a problem. People are still getting really ill with it and it so avoidable. People need to stay home if they are sick. I don't see how it's different from common assault knowingly infecting people. It's disgusting.

People need to stay home if they are sick

And who pays for that, if they don't get sick pay?
It's not disgusting, its just life. Viruses happen.

How do you know your co-worker even had COVID, you haven't said anywhere that she tested. She may have just had a cold - other illnesses do still exist you know! Also if you are so concerned about your own illness and have been feeling unwell since Wed night, why have you tested today - Saturday?

Like many posters on MN, she just knows she got covid from someone doing something she disapproves of. Couldn't possibly have been asymptomatic transmission.

There are a lot of bugs about at the moment that are not Covid. Your colleague could have had one of those.
Regardless, there is no obligation to test or self isolate anyway.

It sounds like you don't even know if she has Covid if she didn't test. And if she even does have it, you can't prove you caught it from her anyway.
DP has Covid as do two other family members at the moment. None of them have had it before and they haven't caught it from one another.
Covid is rife at the moment.

I can only assume the 'people should stay home when they're sick' brigade can either work from home, or have never had an actual job in their life.

Meanwhile in the real world...