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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I have a blocked/runny nose. Aibu to not test for covid

75 replies

Goslingsforlife · 22/07/2024 07:46

Just doing an insanity check (or maybe I need telling off). I have a mild cold. Just a bit of a blocked nose. We do not have a workplace policy for covid anymore. A colleague just got really shitty with me for not testing. I feel absolutely fine apart from the blocked nose. I am not ill, no cough, no temp, taste etc fine. I feel good.

Are people still spending money on tests for every little cold symptom? AIBU?

Really not sure now given her reaction but she has a tendency to be OTT with loads of things.

OP posts:
PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 22/07/2024 07:47

I’m always amazed when I hear people say they’ve got Covid now - how do they know? No, I wouldn’t be buying a test either.

DustyLee123 · 22/07/2024 07:48

I won’t be buying a test either.

x2boys · 22/07/2024 07:52

I think most work places say if you feel well enough to work than come in,covid or no covid ,your collegue needs to accept that.

WhatHaveIFound · 22/07/2024 07:52

Honestly I would test but my DS has Long Covid and I visit my dad in his care home. That's just personal for me though and I don't expect others to test.

Ponoka7 · 22/07/2024 07:53

If you tend to keep away from people, cover a cough etc and aren't in contact with anyone vulnerable, then crack on. We are testing because of vulnerability in the family and workplace policies. Just wash your hands regularly.

HerNameIsIRIS · 22/07/2024 07:56

I've currently got Covid, although it seems to be dying out (after a week of symptoms). I returned from abroad and started feeling unwell 3 days later. Thought, initially, it was a cold but it became apparent it wasn't as I felt worse than I do with a cold and kept getting a high temperature. Also, very lethargic.

I work in the NHS and there is an updates policy to say staff have to stay away if test positive and have symptoms. I hadn't tested, initially. I tested 3 days after symptoms and had gone into work (and felt like 💩 as time went on). I had to call at the pharmacy for a test and, sure enough, it was positive (came up positive instantly and before the control). My manager told me to stay off site and work from home if I could. Problem is, I have probably already spread it about as I was close to a lot of people last week.

It's a difficult one as there are people out there with elderly/frail relatives who don't want to pass it on and everyone says you shouldn't be at work with Covid.

I know it's going around again.

Second time I've had it now but there is definitely a difference in a cold to Covid. Covid drains energy a lot too.

Eze · 22/07/2024 07:57

If your colleague is immunocompromised then I’m not surprised she’s being shitty.

First time I had covid (pre jabs) I was very sick for a month and another 2 months after recovery.

Second time last year I was really sick for 2 weeks and recovery 2 weeks.

So a cold to you is a month of covid shiftiness for me.

Is it possible to WFH or for your colleague to do that? Or you move to different office for a time? I get not paying for the test as money is tight for everything these days but really shitty to pass it onto someone immunocompromised because it doesn’t effect you much.

Wimberry · 22/07/2024 07:59

I had covid recently and people were very surprised that I 'knew' ie I had tested, I don't think it's the norm at all.
I only did so because though I started to feel quite strange (waves of fatigue) and we happened to still have tests in, it helped me to decide whether to try and push through and go to work or not. My work doesn't have any rules about staying home any more, but for me I know I can work with a cold, covid tends to be a bit more unpredictable.

HerNameIsIRIS · 22/07/2024 08:00

Also, one of my close friends is having chemotherapy for cancer. Her immune system is knocked by this. I haven't seen in her in a few weeks (she lives a few towns away) but it makes you think that there are vulnerable people out there.

HerNameIsIRIS · 22/07/2024 08:03

The test cost £2.50

Lurkingandlearning · 22/07/2024 08:04

l’d try antihistamine for hay fever first. I do that whenever I’m feeling off colour and most of the time it sorts me out.

ajanifear · 22/07/2024 08:04

Are you sure it’s not just allergies? Without any other symptoms I would be amazed if it was Covid

Beezknees · 22/07/2024 08:04

I don't test but I'd probably WFH but then I am able to.

I wouldn't judge anyone for not testing if they can't WFH. Not everyone gets sick pay and not everyone can afford to take time off work for a runny nose, there's a cost of living crisis.

HerNameIsIRIS · 22/07/2024 08:04

Oh, and I'm not in a patient facing role in the NHS

Cadela · 22/07/2024 08:05

I’ve currently got covid, but have to test because I have epilepsy and getting ill can really send my seizures haywire so I need to know so I can keep my consultant up to date.

But in your shoes would never test. No need. There’s no need to isolate anymore, and chances are you’ve just got a cold.

RuthW · 22/07/2024 08:05

Don't test. Even NHS staff are told not to test now.

DancingPhantomsOnTheTerrace · 22/07/2024 08:06

A colleague just got really shitty with me for not testing

What difference would it make? Would your employer think it was acceptable for you to take a day off sick if you felt fine, but had covid? Presumably not. So you'd still be there.

I think generally, if you have the option to wfh, it's nice to do that if you have a virus. But I'd say that's the case whether it's a cold or whether it's covid, so I still wouldn't test.

x2boys · 22/07/2024 08:06

Eze · 22/07/2024 07:57

If your colleague is immunocompromised then I’m not surprised she’s being shitty.

First time I had covid (pre jabs) I was very sick for a month and another 2 months after recovery.

Second time last year I was really sick for 2 weeks and recovery 2 weeks.

So a cold to you is a month of covid shiftiness for me.

Is it possible to WFH or for your colleague to do that? Or you move to different office for a time? I get not paying for the test as money is tight for everything these days but really shitty to pass it onto someone immunocompromised because it doesn’t effect you much.

Not everyone works In an office or can work from home ,the restrictions were never about protecting the individual ,it was about protecting the NHS
I have two Diabetic people in my small household of four in fact my son is very vulnerable as He has no pancreas and was critically ill last year
But as it stands please lots of work places expect their employees to come in assuming they are well enough

HerNameIsIRIS · 22/07/2024 08:07

For info. We ran a check on what positives we were getting back from A and E. At the moment, 30% of tests are positive.

Original poster
Goslingsforlife · 22/07/2024 08:07

If your colleague is immunocompromised then I’m not surprised she’s being shitty.

she is not

OP posts:
DancingPhantomsOnTheTerrace · 22/07/2024 08:07

ajanifear · 22/07/2024 08:04

Are you sure it’s not just allergies? Without any other symptoms I would be amazed if it was Covid

Why? Covid has always ranged from asymptomatic, to very mild, to more serious, to fatal.

thebigchorus · 22/07/2024 08:07

I wouldn't just for runny nose. But I would try and be hygienic wash hands blow nose away from people etc

Equally it could be Covid my DH just had it and only had a runny nose.
We only know as I tested as I had a fever and have previously had long Covid

Beth216 · 22/07/2024 08:07

I have a blocked nose on and off all the time and often have bouts of sneezing what with allergies, hay fever, minor colds etc. I'd never assume someone with such minor symptoms had covid. People had coughs and colds, hayfever and allergies all the time before covid so they still will now. Testing every time you get a slight sniffle is ridiculous.
OP has made no suggestion that her colleague is in any way immunocompromised only that she tends to be OTT about everything. Tell her you're not paying for a test for a slight sniffle as people get minor colds all the time OP.

Badgerandfox227 · 22/07/2024 08:08

I dont test anymore, I would treat this like any other illness, if I’m ill I stay away from people.

Mischance · 22/07/2024 08:08

If your colleague is immune compromised I can understand her concern.

I had covid a few weeks ago when due to visit immune-compromised GD, so I tested. Vulnerable people could be anywhere though and we don't know it.