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

[Goslingsforlife]

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.

Yes people don't seem to have grasped this do they. It's disabled so many previously healthy people.

I still test, yes

People have grasped this
What you don't seem to have grasped is that not everyone has the privilege of working from home ,
My Dh has type 2 Diabetes and works in a ware house, my son has tyoe3c Diabetes caused by acute necrotizing pancreititis last year and has no pancreas at all and.is insulin dependent
Both are vulnerable to covid but neither can just stay at home
I'm sure both would be delighted to stay at home but they can't.

That counts for any respiratory virus though, you might have it mild and the person you give it to (as it were, although I dont like that language), has a complication from it

Its the nature of being human

Wouldn't they appreciate an ill colleague testing for Covid and keeping away from them if positive? No-ones saying people should be staying home if that isn't an option but if someone tests positive for Covid then they know not to go to the pub with their colleagues after work and maybe work in a separate area rather than coughing into their colleagues' faces all day.

Because I know her well. We have known each other for years and I just know she has no underlying conditions.

How do you do thst in a ware house ?

I probably have Covid at the moment too. Very snotty, sore throat, headache, end of last week I had muscle aches and chills/shivers.

Didn't test, I haven't got any tests and there's no requirement to test. I am behaving exactly as I would with any other illness until I feel better.

Of course not. The guidance has changed entirely since 2020 and its no longer expected that people test or stay home unless they are ill. People may think this is wrong, but that's unfortunate. There is much about the law and societal norms that I disagree with because of the danger I believe is posed to others, but as long as people abide by the law I would have no business judging them for it. If people's lawful behaviour makes me nervous because I think it endangers me, then it's up to me to protect myself.

If you are such close friends then surely you care about her enough to find out what is making her so concerned.

And otherwise, however long you have known someone it doesn't mean you know everything about them. I only told my line manager and HR about my condition.

Covid is definitely going around again, but no, you shouldn't test if you feel fine. Currently the health authorities recommend you carry on as usual (work and generally being out and about) if you feel up to it, but stay home if you're feeling ill. A positive covid test would mean nothing if you feel fine, you still wouldn't be required/advised to isolate at home.

In other words, ignore your colleague and carry on.

Just reading some of the responses and I’m curious…

Say you cannot WFH and you have covid like symptoms, what would you do? You test and it’s positive but there’s no more stay at home guidance… your boss says you can’t get paid as you no longer need to be at home whilst you’re postive. You’ve got no choice but to come to work if you’re feeling well enough. Someone in the office may not be happy you’re at work, but you can’t have a week unpaid just because Sally in accounts isn’t happy you’ve got covid.

For a lot of people there is no point in testing. I understand that for some there is, either themselves or vulnerable family members for example.

And that's precisely what the OPs colleague needs to do if she is vulnerable, so a discussion can take place about reasonable adjustments. There are many ways to reduce risk for vulnerable employees, WFH, seating apart from others, policies around ventilation and hygiene etc which may be reasonable within the needs of the business. Requiring all staff to test at their own expense then absent themselves is not likely to be reasonable in many businesses.

For goodness sake. Do a test so you know what you have and wear a mask. We all uses to be completely blasé about colds and coughs but shouldn't be any more. Do you know the people in your work who have a weakened immune system? Do you know who's on chemo? Why would you not worry about being a danger to others?

I suppose Sally in accounts knows to give you the swerve for a few days? I went into the office the day after a vomiting bug and just stayed in my own office out of the way in case I passed it on. I know this isn't possible in every workplace but where possible it doesn't hurt for people to be informed then they can decide if they want to be near you or not.

Well this is the thing. Maybe mask wearing needs to be normalised for all respiratory illnesses. It won't be though because too many people are wet wipes who object to wearing a simple bit of kit designed to protect others.

Wear a blooming mask! An FFP3 or whatever. It's not hard.

Wear a blooming mask! An FFP3 or whatever. It's not hard

Right back to 2020. It is hard for some people, it's impossible for others.

If it's not that hard, the people who are concerned about exposure can protect themselves by doing it. We know now that good quality FFP3 masks protect the wearer when worn properly.

I think the people demanding masks are demanding that the people who may or may not have covid wear them. Obviously people who feel they are vulnerable may choose to wear them for any other reason. But if there are some people who may have Covid who can't wear a mask, there will be vulnerable people who can't either.

I might have covid at the moment, but not testing. No masks, we have none in the house and I was exempt when it was a requirement.

There will be people in that category who can't mask, yes. But if that's not a reason to avoid blanket statements about how symptomatic people should mask, it can't be applied to any other group either. Personally I'm in the mind your own business about what other people put on their faces school of thought.

Exactly - I can only control my risk tolerance and actions, so I do what I can to limit risk to others by testing/masking if I’ll and risk to myself from people are are knowingly/unknowingly infected by wearing a mask

it’s not that complicated to me!

I started feeling unwell with all the symptoms of covid last weekend. I thought it was covid as quite different than a cold, hay fever or the usual infections but did not see the need to test as I am retired and just staying home resting.
Family members nagged me to test so I ordered tests online and am still positive on day 10 now, but feeling better, just tired.

Are you? Can't you think of any reason why people might test?

If people live with vulnerable people, they test. My mum has leukaemia. Covid could kill her.

I work with someone who wears a mask in the office every day ... under her nose.