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!..

Seriously, get a grip. Covid, long covid. You have a cold, drink plenty of fluids and rest and stop spreading rubbish and I say that as a health care worker that didn’t do TikTok dances etc. look up the death rates since we all took the covid vaccine. Something is very off about all if this.

I think you did exactly the right thing.

I'm not particularly bothered about Covid, but I do not want to be knowingly exposed to any infectious diseases so would appreciate the option to cancel.

Well done on your probity.

imo I think if a person is a bit ill and able to "function" it is courteous to wear a mask around other people until symptom free and to explain same so others can decide if they want to take any precautions.

I am also an NHS worker and would do the same. I hope you are better soon.

I think you should ask your clients/their family whether they want you to visit regardless of whether it’s covid making you sick.

A midwife with a stinking cold visited me after my youngest child was born. She assured me it wasn’t covid… but I didn’t particularly want any avoidable illnesses around my newborn. I imagine I’d feel the same way if I had vulnerable family members too.

Yes you are doing the right thing. I had it a few months ago and wasn't at all ill, in fact I only tested myself because my meals tasted weird, but I stayed home until I was testing negative again because I didn't want to give it to someone elderly or clinically vulnerable or anyone at all really. I have been quite aghast at some threads on here where people are rude/mocking/shaming about people who test and/or who care about infecting others.

You did the right thing. Last time I had covid, it took my 8 weeks to get properly better. I would be really pissed off it I was knowingly exposed. Lots of people seem to have forgotten what it does to some people. My db was on a ventilator with it after 3 jabs.

Yeah, and me. No one wants restrictions back, but a bit of common sense doesn't hurt.

Oh great, are we back to Covid hysteria again

You did the right thing, thank you. I'm a clinically extremely vulnerable person and a cold could kill me. There are thousands more like me 😊

In my view, the only thing you're doing wrong is trying to work (even remotely) while you're experiencing high levels of fatigue.

As evidence emerges about the long-term effects of Covid, my main take-home message is that I want to be infected as few times as possible.

One thing that we as individuals can do is test, isolate to the greatest extent possible when positive, and (if positive and we must go out) wear a properly-fitting N95 face mask. I wish that masks and tests were more freely available to help facilitate this, and that workplaces gave more support to allow ill/positive staff to stay away. (I also wish government and the public and private sectors were also pulling their weight more in terms of better ventilation and air filtration, better public health policies, etc - it cannot all be down to 'personal reponsibility'.)

As others have said, it's not fair that the CEV have to live a highly sheltered life because most people don't or won't take the most basic precautions set out above. I was shocked at the GP's recently that I was the only patient wearing a mask! How is that acceptable?!

Having lost 2 people to covid this year, one of which was only in their 40s, I think it's unethical to work knowing you have an infection that could kill someone. It's a lot more deadly than a cold or flu

Thank you OP. I wish more people had your integrity and common sense

Agree you did the right thing OP.
You gave people the choice to decide for themselves, which is the right thing to do.

Not sure, think the NS were told not to test and infection control took the testing kits away however we are told to stay off if positive! Make of that mush mash what you will! Basically we have to buy our tests now but still have to be off 🙄

I think you misunderstand the meaning of hysteria. OP hasn't run through the streets wailing that she has covid and painted a red X on her door, she has simply advised clients she has covid and is happy to still see them, if they don't mind. They have politely declined due to having vulnerable family members. I see no hysterics in this situation.

You have totally done the right thing. Our laissez-faire attitude in the UK is really tainted by our government's poor performance and high mortality rates. I was in a developing country in Asia last week. They've had around just 500 covid deaths since 1919. That's because the population are far better at being careful, protecting themselves and caring about others.

Lots of people who don't want to test and or make a big deal about COVID use the argument it's no worse than getting the flu.

But HCP shouldn't be working with patients with the flu either.

I'd even go as far as not wanting nurses and carers at work with bad colds either although I understand that creates staffing issues.

You are absolutely doing the right thing. Covid is still an unknown virus really but what we do know is that the initial 'cold' is not always the end of it. WHO say 1 in 10 infections leads to Long Covid which is really debilitating from what I've seen let alone what it does to the vulnerable. I shielded my clinically vulnerable husband until he died last year. There are people still shielding now who are vulnerable and afraid to seek medical attention because HCPs are going into work with Covid so thank you for doing the right thing. It's so hard to go against the crowd even when it's the right thing to do.

I'd have just called in sick - problem solved without aggravating your manager who said you should carry on (whilst you felt it was fairer to tell you clients).

You are absolutely doing the right thing!

I’m getting chest tightness and am very sleepy but that’s about it

If you’re experiencing that as a healthy 25year old God knows how it could make a elderly or vulnerable patient feel.

My DH is immunosuppressed and I wouldn’t want you anywhere near us.

I’m NHS clinical staff and I wouldn’t go in with it.

If you feel well you could have worn an FF3P to protect them.

Well done op. My darling relative is having a brain tumour operation next week. She's young with children and desperate to be well again. I'd hate for her to catch Covid and the operation to be postponed or for her recovery to be made much worse. We still should consider others and not just ourselves.

Well done OP and thank you.

I'd want to complain re your manager tbh.