To wonder what the current guidelines/conventions around Covid are?

[Jjiillkkf]

I have no idea where we are with Covid, it's not easy to track down a test and they're £2 each! Are people testing if they're unwell - what are workplace policies like? Stay at home until negative? Are people really testing everytime you feel unwell?

There are no official guidelines I don't think. Certain workplaces might have their own policies.

I'm not testing. I'm doing the same thing I've always done, which is stay home if I'm feeling too ill to go out. I can WFH luckily though.

I certainly wouldn't judge anyone for going to work with a cold if they are unable to work from home. Bills need to be paid and not everyone is in a financial position to miss work.

There are no restrictions anymore in the UK. Having said that the advice is try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days after the day you took your test if you are 18 years old or over. Avoid meeting people who are more likely to get seriously ill from viruses, such as people with a weakened immune system, for 10 days after the day you took your test.

But that is only advice. Not everyone can stay at home. If you are feeling too ill to work, stay home obviously, but if you are feeling ok then go in - unless your work says no. Even hospital staff are usually told just to go in to work.

You can boxes of 5 Covid Tests for £7.99 from some Chemists and also from Amazon

My local hospital certainly isn't, DS was in recently and nobody said a word about Covid!

They're not testing. Where on earth are you?

@beezlebubnicky Look at the havoc it wreaked at the Olympics in a world where we're back to normal.

'Havoc'? Bit of an overstatement. You might find this article interesting - https://www.google.com/amp/s/abcnews.go.com/amp/Health/summer-olympic-games-paris-covid-success-story/story%3fid=112829794

How many of the athletes had norovirus, or other GI infections? Any idea..?

As far as I'm aware there aren't any. Covid has been absorbed into our existence alongside all the other illnesses and viruses we've lived with for years. Some people worry and take extra precautions, just as those particularly worried about flu or gastrointestinal viruses might be extra careful where they are concerned. Some people feel covid should be afforded a special status, but as far as I know, the authorities are not taking this stance and it's up to people to choose whether they test, stay away from others etc.

I’m NHS and there isn’t really any rules specific to it anymore, it’s just now treated the same as any other illness, if you’re too poorly to work don’t if not come in. It is now counted towards your sickness as well so there is that.

Ive recently just completed a placement in my local emergency department and they aren’t testing everyone that comes in only those with respiratory issues and it isn’t a Covid test specifically it is a combined RSV swab to test for everything

I followed this, i know i didn’t have to but this is what the nhs suggests

I wouldn’t test for a cold or cough but this was the 2nd time i had covid and although they started differently both of them developed into the same ‘illness’

its because i felt the same for the 2nd time that I eventually tested

The local supermarkets usually have them

@Arrivapercy I'm not sure what your question is? That one can be quite unwell with something other than Covid? Yes I do know that. The reason I suspect it could be Covid is there seems to be a lot of it about. The thread is about the rules around Covid.

Most virologists, infectious disease specialists etc were of the opinion that it's better to cut the amount of infections. Swine flu, zika, elboa and HIV should be enough for people to get that not all viruses are equal. We are seeing people 'weakened' after having Covid a few times and for those more exposed, we know that future health is going to be affected. Younger people are needing more antibiotics and longer stays after surgery etc. We used to see similar when people would get TB/pneumonia/flu repeatedly. Better housing, sanitation, nourishment meant better health. Some people seem to have issues with those working in health care, warehouses etc having protection. Once again class dictated who was the worse affected and in twenty years time when people are expected to work until 70, I think that we'll see the consequences of Covid, or rather the lack of restrictions at the start. Because are health is so poor as a nation, as people who are repeatedly exposed get to 65, I do think it will be a public health crisis. Hep B (another virus) was ignored as though it was nothing in some countries. I know a lot of 32+ year olds who have started to get inflamed liver issues and issues during pregnancy.

I might test if I was due to go somewhere / be around vulnerable people. We can work at home if we have covid. No negative test required, and don’t even have to stay at home but people are sensible about it

No one I know personally tests. Some people still test for covid at work. Lots of people been off recently but told to come back in as soon as they feel well enough which is probably why everyone else has been off too. I was I’ll recently for a solid week it really floored me was like a tummy bug followed by bad flu. Still feeling a bit rough months later but am also anemic so that may be to blame as well.

My MIL had a massive go at us last week for 1) not testing when we’ve all
had bad colds and 2) carrying on as normal (shopping, appts, work etc). I don’t think she realises we can’t just stay in each time dc get a cold !!!!!

I agree with this - the three women I know who claim to have long Covid almost certainly had health anxiety pre catching covid. Ie, if I had a headache they had a brain tumour, know all the tricks to get PIP...sorry but there is a 'type' !

The Infection was mild but the after effects have been severe supposedly.

One of these women now uses a wheelchair and has a collection of walking canes that she gets gifted for being an influencer. She has a SM presence detailing how bad life with LC but is forever out and about, visiting cities and going on holidays but complains it takes a week in bed to recover.
It's become a sort of identity and a profile she didn't have before. Its very strange.

A relative of mine has long covid

very active woman can barely walk now and has to rest regularly

If you are well enough for work, go. If not stay at home.

Same with all illness.

Any respiratory illness, wear a mask.

You won't know if it's a cold or covid. You will know if it's flu as you won't be able yo get out of bed.

No testing under any circumstances is what we have been told. (NHS worker)

Oh you poor thing. My mums been incredibly ill with it. When it hits bad, it really hits bad

To be fair, the 3 times I’ve had Covid I was unable to get out of bed for a week. I know it’s just a cold for some, but I was properly floored! That doesn’t mean I think everyone needs to carry on putting their lives on hold for it indefinitely, but I’ve had both flu and Covid and I’d be hard pressed to say which was worse for me.

Work provides tests for us still and anyone testing positive but feeling well enough to work is asked to WFH

Ah ok. Tell my cardiologist that. Fuck me, the number of self appointed medical experts on here is amazing 😂

Again, we aren’t all like that. I’m wondering why certain posters have to belittle others in a way they wouldn’t about people with other diseases.

Happens a lot with this stuff and things like ME/CFS

lots of people and very much ‘if i can’t see it it doesn’t exist’