People referring to covid as a cold

[ellie09]

On Monday I tested positive for covid. Felt horrible and took a test (even though you dont need to anymore), as I work in an office.

I have had covid a few times, as I have a really crap immune system. Ive also had several colds over the years which I tested negative for covid.

My DS came down with the sniffles last night and a cough. I rang his dad as he was meant to be staying at his dads, and he lives with his elderly mum. I told him the situation and that DS would be better staying home for a few days isolating with me (we dont know if its covid as he wont let me test him, but we can assume)

Ive felt utterly awful and like each time i've had it, my chest is in pain and it feels like someone's standing on my chest 24/7. There is a big difference between the times I had a cold, and covid (but I cant speak for others)

DS's dad brushes it off, tells me covids made up and its "just a cold" and that DS should still go round. I rang DS grandmother seeing as its her house and explained, she basically said to me, "yeah, you just have a cold, thats not real".

Is this a normal reaction now? People have covid and its just brushed off as a cold, therefore people are out spreading knowingly?

My brother and sil had it two months ago, both healthy, fit and in their 40's, both were very sick particularly my brother, thankfully they took it seriously and stayed away from our elderly father, a month ago myself and my husband got it, a colleague of my husband had it but didn't tell anyone until others started to get it, my husband ended up in bed for a week and off work for two, I was very weak and breathless for over a week. It may be like a cold to some but for others it can be serious and dangerous. My father was waiting on surgery to remove a kidney, getting covid could have been catastrophic.

Exactly

“you don’t have to isolate now”

really? What a dick! Like we don’t know this? Like those idiots on here who quote the OP? We’ve ALL fucking read it you numpty, it’s literally the opening post, it’s why we’re all here.

it’s a dick move to know you’re ill with a cold even to go spread it in the office for example, Covid isn’t a cold for everyone. It’s basic manners to consider someone with an obviously weaker immune system

is Norovirus just a tummy bug? Chicken pox a few spots?

no. Neither of these would be welcome in someone’s home

it’s so disappointing that so many people are still so stupid

The first time I had it, I've definitely had worse colds. The second time, I wouldn't have known at all, if we hadn't had to test before going into the office. Tested positive for 11 days, and I was fine throughout.

I've never knowingly had flu, but it can be asymptomatic, as can covid. And like flu, it can also kill.

The trouble is, now you don't have to isolate, people might have to go to work or school unless they are really quite ill with it. My manager used to object to us coming in with a cold, even long before covid, but we could always WFH, so it didn't mean we couldn't work. But some jobs, you have to be physically present.

Government advice:

"Try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 5 days after the day you took your test"

Covid may feel like a cold for many. But for many others it's more like the flu. And each infection carries an increased risk of LongCovid. But a lit of people try and pretend that's not real too.

You do what feels right for you and your child - and the elderly relative.

it’s a dick move to know you’re ill with a cold even to go spread it in the office for example

Truthfully, are you one of these people who think all office workers can WFH?

Or are you one of these people who think if you get the sack for taking too much time off work, you can 'just get another job'?

How do you think anyone can survive in the workplace if they take time off every time they get a cold, especially if they're prone to catching them?

I’ve had it twice. Both times it was the mildest of colds. Barely registered. My 89 year old mother had it last month (she tested only because she’s having hospital treatment) and it gave her only the slightest of symptoms.

I’m so thankful that for the vast majority of people, covid IS nothing more than a minor cold now. Also that the vast majority no longer test.

That's great for you and your kids but not so much for the countless people you're all potentially spreading it to in work and school. A common cold will not put me in hospital, covid probably will. People should also have some empathy even with colds and limit contact for at least a couple of days. Relative works in a care home. 12 residents and 6 staff currently have covid. Some are very ill... But no worries as long as people get to walk around in the community, knowing they have covid that's all good the vulnerable don't matter...

It knocks me out every time. Dh and the kids - it's just a cold.

There will always be divided opinions on this based on personal experience.

It's so weird how people have gone from willingly locking down for months to not even thinking someone should avoid their vulnerable elderly relatives while they are infectious. I'm not in favour of lockdown but you would think it would have left a feeling that we should be careful about not spreading it to those most at risk

Exactly.

My dad is in his 90s and I wouldn't visit him if I had anything at all contagious.

However, I have to follow my employers rules and go to work if I'm well enough.

Which has always been the case since long before Covid anyway.

It’s so disappointing that so many people are still so stupid

yes it is. People willingly believe the lies that were fed to them and the fear that was instilled is still there.

Is this a normal reaction now? People have covid and its just brushed off as a cold, therefore people are out spreading knowingly?

I think people are spreading it UNknowingly because for most people (fortunately) it is like a cold and while I don't think people brush a bad cold off (you can still feel pretty rotten), they do need to get on with things (living with the virus).

People who say covid isn't real are a ignorant. I don't know how I'd handle one of my family members saying something like that.

I'm sorry it hits you hard, OP. I think if people are able to modify their behaviour to minimise the risk to others then that's a good thing.

I would stay away from my vulnerable family members when unwell, and I would test if I thought it was covid as I would want to inform the care home if I knew I might have visited while contagious but not yet symptomatic. I'd also inform others so they could make their own decisions if say we were planning on visiting. I am able to do this. I wfh, my son is old enough to look after himself. I appreciate others have to carry on regardless.

I had Covid in July four weeks after finishing chemo and would actually say it’s milder than a cold. I haven’t had a vaccine since 2021.

Most people aren’t testing for Covid so would say “I have a cold” rather than “I have Covid” because they don’t know which one they have and the treatment is usually the same for both.

I’m currently recovering from covid - it’s been a month so far. This illness has been nothing like any cold I’ve ever had!

Although the common cold is usually caused by rhinoviruses,[94] in about 15% of cases the cause is a coronavirus.[95

Wikipedia.

So it's still very sensible to think of vulnerable people if you have a "cold"

It’s not a cold. People aren’t dying from it in the millions now. I’ve been a bit surprised what a huge impact it has had in sport this year, particularly cycling. It has actually changed the season. Seems that it’s still a lot more contagious than a cold, no masks now so we’re seeing it.

.we dont know if its covid as he wont let me test him

You have a much bigger problem than Covid I'm afraid.

If you want to test him, go right ahead. Who made him the boss of you and your son?

@suburberphobe - I think you've misunderstood- the child is refusing the covid test, not the dad

I don’t think we have a particularly good approach to illness in this country. And I mean even before COVID.

There seems to be some kind of stupid perception that you’re somehow a better person if you don’t take time off sick when you’re ill. It also seems to be completely acceptable to splutter germs around an office/train/shop etc.

COVID got us all thinking/acting in a healthier way - the notion that it wasn’t a good idea to spread germs around when you’re ill shouldn’t be controversial!

We still don’t know what COVID does to the body. It seems to be connected to long-term systemic issues in some. Long COVID has decimated the lives of people who were previously active. If you’ve only experienced it as a slight cold that’s great but a) there might be long-term effects that haven’t manifested yet and b) next time you might not be so lucky.

I’m not some doom-monger. I just think it’s sensible to stay away from others if you have a contagious illness of any kind, particularly if it’s one that has the potential to randomly cause really serious illness, or even death. And in the vulnerable, it still has that potential.

We’re just not very good at caring/thinking about other people in this country - COVID has proven that. And in addition, culturally we have unfair expectations that people will drag their arse into work even if they have a contagious cold/virus.

Weirdly though, we completely accept it for some illnesses such as chickenpox and norovirus. My DS had chickenpox a few weeks ago. He is 14. Other than being an bit itchy, he was totally fine. Could EASILY have gone to school. But we have a social agreement in this country to keep kids at home during the infectious part of chickenpox. No one questions it - we all agree that it’s a good idea not to pass it on. But a nasty cold? COViD? Yeah, no problem - sharing is caring….. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Good on you OP for checking - I’m sure all will be fine but if it isn’t, at least you tried to be considerate.

Interesting. In Australia we're still strongly recommended to isolate for at least five days, though it's no longer mandatory and reporting isn't required. I've just been doing so - my mum's caught it in her nursing home and I tested positive the day after. Asymptomatic, so no more than a mild inconvenience for me, but it would be bloody selfish if I hadn't at least tried to avoid infecting others.

Why won't your DS allow you to test him, OP? Does he believe his father's "it's just a cold" nonsense? (People don't die from or have their health ruined by colds, stupid man.)

I am vulnerable as am on a waiting list for heart surgery. A woman in my office has recently had heart surgery. She still has a cardiac condition that leaves her vulnerable for life also. There is someone at work who has had a wet, hacking cough for weeks. They refuse to take time off, wear a mask, isolate, or be tested. Now I am sick - yes, it’s Covid. The other woman has it and so does half the staff. It’s fucking insane. Btw, I don’t think I have ever felt this unwell before.

Last time I had a cold and tested out of curiosity, it was COVID though. I was fairly ill the first time (equivalent to a bout of flu, was in bed for a couple of days and then took a week or two to fully recover). Second time, it was a cold. I think it will be like that for most people now.

I'm aware there may be some people who struggle with the virus LT, but that's true of every virus to an extent.

There is actually some interesting evidence that one of our strains of "common cold" is the same virus that caused a pandemic back in around 1889. It mostly causes mild illness now, because everyone grows up with this virus so has a decent level of immunity to it. At some point, you have to move away from the "pandemic" mindset and accept that this is just one of the virus that goes around.

I tested positive mid last week. It was by first time that I know of being infected with Covid. I rarely get sick in general and while I recovered very quickly from the Covid and was back at work on Monday, it felt like the flu in the short time I was unwell. I was spaced out and exhausted. I have not had flu in a very long time - 25 years? But I remember what it felt like. Whereas having a cold is just annoying with having to blow your nose constantly. I didn’t even get a blocked or runny nose with the Covid but I would rather have a cold.

So if the covid test was negative would you have went and been ok with infecting them with something else? 🤔