Morals… I know no one cares about COVID but…

[aussierules1]

… I work for the NHS and a colleague tested positive last week. We don’t have to test, and I wouldn’t have bothered, but my Nan and Grandad have travelled from another country and are visiting this week. I had a tickly throat and would hate to make them ill, so I tested. I was positive.

My boss told me that as long as I feel well, I should continue to work. I’m feeling a bit rough and VERY tired but fine enough to work. However, I just feel bad for my clients. I work with kids, who come with their parents, who may have vulnerable family members etc… I just feel a bit bad.

I know many people don’t care about COVID and I don’t really either, but I’ve decided to tell my clients and let them decide. Every single one has declined, saying they have vulnerable family members or don’t want to risk it, so I’ve stayed at home and done a couple of virtual sessions/lots of admin.

My boss hasn’t replied to me; I don’t think she’s particularly happy but I think it’s fine.

Am I doing the right thing? Or am I just overreacting and should get on with the sessions? The more I sit at home, the more guilty I feel!..

My husband and I are isolating for 5 days each as we have come down with it. I tested as I was as due to go into work for rehearsals and results (work in school). What I didn't want to do was ruin some one else's last week of the holidays.

You are definitely doing the right thing. I think it is disgusting that people are expected to go to work if they have covid, especially if they work in a health setting.

My neighbour had covid recently and is a nurse. She still went to work.

I had it for the second time a month ago. I am 69 but in fairly good health. I couldn't even get out of bed for 3 days and could not stop throwing up. I am still struggling and doing anything tires me out.

My child had an operation for her brain injury. Her sister and dad lost money not going to work so everyone stayed healthy. If you need a time limited operation it’s imperative you and your relatives know.

This!!

I've got it at the moment, felt ill for 8 days but thought just a cold, it got worse as the days went on so I tested and it was positive. First day today with negative test but I still feel absolutely rotten.
I've avoided seeing anyone/going anywhere. What has annoyed me is people almost ridiculing me "why on earth are you testing 🤣" type messages.
I think we all have a responsibility to protect others when we know we have it.

A relative works for a care company visiting clients in their homes. They have been advised that Covid is in the population and treated similarly to flu, so they are vaccinated. So if a carer tests positive they are expected to work if they are not ill - just to take precautions. And yet the government website is still advising to isolate for five days and to stay away from vulnerable people for ten days. Very confusing.

This

It is shocking that NHS staff are now being told they can come into work with Covid, especially given that eligibility for the autumn booster is going to be restricted.

I was classed as clinically vulnerable during Covid and am still regularly sent test kits, and antivirals are available if I have severe symptoms. I think the message to people like myself is that we are responsible for taking our own precautions and for our own health, and I agree with that that. But the governments’ own general advice is to isolate for five days on testing positive, and to extend to ten days to avoid vulnerable people. If people are simply going to ignore that then what’s the point ? I think the vaccines have changed things though. I’ve had Covid recently and it was no more than mild cold symptoms.

I am glad you are taking a sensible course of action. Not coming into a place of work if you catch it and things such as face coverings in medical settings are reasonable and proportionate courses of action. It is not staying at home at all costs, it is not stopping all travel on holiday for everyone or for other things.

I think it's right to give people choices and allow them to protect their own health.

This is a different scenario (not about proximity to others) but I've recently been tested for a genetic condition that makes a range of cancers more likely at a young age. I have the gene and now I can attend the screening I wouldn't normally be offered.

If my (estranged) mother just hadn't contacted me to tell me that she was positive after a biopsy, and I had a 50% chance of having inherited it, I'd never have known the risk I was at.

I think you’ve done the right thing and your decision appreciated by many.

I don’t understand why people working in hospitals etc have to stay off with gastric stuff, but not covid, flu, etc. Don’t hospitals have a duty of care to minimise risks including risk of making patients more unwell than they might be? Doesn’t basic health and safety in the workplace come into play here. Surely it would be highly wrong for, say, an HCP in a ward with people with lung conditions to go about infecting them willy nilly?

I too thought that a positive from covid would be to reduce spreading illnesses where possible. I can’t stand the ‘what you’re still testing’ sniping going on.

You are definitely doing the right thing. Thank you.

You’ve done the right thing, OP. Thank you 🙏 The thing is, we’ve no idea who is actually vulnerable - a fiercely fit and healthy mum and kids close to me have had their lives destroyed by Long Covid. A recent US government survey found about 10% of infections result in Long Covid. Nobody should have to risk long-term / permanent disability to see a healthcare provider (as a patient or a colleague)! Hope you’re on the mend very soon.

Fellow HCP here who has been unwell twice with covid even after vaccination. Thank you for staying at home. I do we should take something from covid times in terms of protecting others from unecessary illness

I had covid when early pregnant and if caused my HG to be so bad that my body started to shut down and we had to make the call not to continue a wanted pregnancy.

Thank you for doing the right thing OP.

I'm nhs we still have to stay off. Wonder why it's different?

You are deffo doing the right thing. Wish everyone was as sensible.

Different trusts? Different part of the UK? Perhaps different in Wales to England or Scotland?

You are absolutely doing the right thing by staying away OP and I'm astonished that your NHS manager would pressure you to do otherwise. There is a new omicron variant around and I've heard of a few people who've come down with it.

As before, some get it badly, some not so much. Can't believe it needs spelling out to some healthcare professionals that elderly, ill or immune-compromised people are significantly more vulnerable than others, and that's why it's a good idea not to spread it.

I'm a nurse - they changed the policy at my Trust at least a year ago, probably more than that, so that Covid does now count towards sickness. We are told not to test. We go into family homes and know who we want to see, but any vulnerable person could be there. It does feel very wrong. I agree it's not just like any respiratory infection - my fit young relative with Long Covid, would not still be living with the after effects years later if it was.

Think of people still to go on holiday, we had this last year and we were so looking forward to 2 weeks in the sun. we all had covid! it doesnt make for the most relaxing holiday to be ill, whether its covid or something else.

Plus seen first covid death in MONTHS this week

I would be so grateful if I was your client.

I really think we shouldn’t be walking around infecting each other with anything without letting the other person chose whether it’s a risk they want to take. Even with a cold - I don’t want a couple of days feeling rough, keep your germs to yourself! Some people don’t get sick leave so I understand that’s a difficult situation but otherwise I think your approach of letting people make their own minds up is the right one, even more so with something potentially dangerous like covid.

There’s less danger of NHS overwhelm so the public awareness and support for restrictions has gone - but that doesn’t mean I’m personally ok with knowingly risking giving covid to any vulnerable people I know.

You’re doing the wrong thing. Because you’re reinforcing what is now incessant panic.