Aibu ti be slightly annoyed with DH for taking a Covid test

[Raspberrysins]

… and now we find out we are both positive. I’ve been ill with cold and cough symptoms for a week. I had one day off work then spent the whole weekend with family for my mum’s 80th. We went to abba voyage. I have been in the classroom. I have been out for dinner with colleagues last night. Until now, it was just a cold virus. But NOW I feel duty bound to tell people? I kind of prefer the living in ignorance thing! Should I announce it or not? I will def tell my mum. Not sure how I feel about Covid now that all the rules have ended. I kind of feel annoyed that he did the test at all!

If you were having those symptoms then you should be trying to minimise contact with others anyway. You don't need to say COVID, you could call it flu or just say you're unwell. As long as you keep your distance and tell people you're not socialising for a few days because you're sick.
You wouldn't want to pass it on to an elderly or vulnerable person by accident.

But if I have a cold, I would obviously tell my 80+ year old mum (and any other elderly/ vulnerable family members); keep my distance from them as much as possible; practise really good hand / tissue hygiene and avoid preparing or serving their food as far as possible.

So as long as you did the things you would do to avoid them catching a cold (as any cold can be nasty for the elderly) there isn’t much more you would have done knowing it was Covid.

Well I did a few weeks ago because I didn't want to take Covid to my 83 year old mum or spread it around the office.

Sounds like it was a good job he took the test, as now you can inform all those people you mixed with! Also will inform your decisions going forward.

We still test in our workplace, and are asked to stay home regardless, if you are sick
Testing doesn't mean you are in fear, or trying to get attention, it's just a way to find out what you have so you can have an idea of how long you will be sick.
The lastest covid going around here lasts about five days, so the test is sort of reassuring that it isn't some long term thing

Well, he is a fool, but you didn't have to take one, OP! Just stop testing and crack on with your normal life.

@Raspberrysins if I have a bad cough and cold and feel like shit I don’t socialise with folks so they don’t get a cough and cold and feel like shit.

I have an immune disorder so my mates - bit of a sniffle will make me quite ill. My partners really heavy cold could floor me. I end up with pneumonia each year.

I dont care if you have a cold, flu or covid. People so often mistake them all for each other so play it safe. I want none of them and would guess others are the same.

Hard agree.

Dad has cancer & heart issues, mum has heart issues, I have a heart problem. MIL is undergoing chemo. Very vulnerable people who if they got Covid could cause serious damage. I still test

I think that’s a bit harsh tbh. You can’t stay inside with every sniffle and cough. It’s not how things work now. I’m a teacher and I see how much of it’s about this time of year. It feels just normal to me to carry on with life when you’re not feeling 100%. I had a day off when I felt shitty. After that I could go to work so I did. That’s the rules in schools now. I’ve already said I feel bad so no, I don’t want a gold medal.

Having had Covid a few weeks ago I can promise that it's not always 'just a cold' even if the person you caught it from is just having cold symptoms. I - 30s, slim, healthy - have been very unwell.

But then I think half the colds that people spread around are not something you should be inflicting on anyone else either.

I think there is a difference between being in a classroom with healthy children and choosing to spend a weekend inside in very close personal contact with an 80 year old.

(You didn’t say whether you are primary or secondary, and therefore whether you are likely to know whether X lives with a parent undergoing cancer treatment and therefore needing you to think carefully about infection control with that specific child)

It’s secondary. But I get your point. There really isn’t much going on like that now. Only advice is stay off if you feel too ill to come in.

@arcticpandas

Disagree.

Most people I know do test especially if they're feeling really rough.

Of course it's personal choice nowadays, BUT many of us feel it's the right thing to do. Just because you don't agree, it doesn't mean those of us who do are in the wrong.

It's different thinking, risk taking and levels of personal responsibility. Each to their own and all that.

I don’t it abnormal for you to be cautious. I’d do the same if I had vulnerable relatives. My best friend (late 40’s) has been unwell with long covid for over 18 months and it’s affected every part of her life. A cold would have been just that, over in a week. For her covid has ruined her life, and safe for another person I know, who has lost her career over it. Sure we can’t all hide away forever, but given I can work from home, I will test if I feel like I have covid as I don’t want to make people sick.

In primary, you would know the personal circumstances of your class much more and - whatever the guidance - most would make compassionate and sensible adaptations both for their own relatives’ case and for their pupils’.

You don't have to make a formal announcement, just stay away from people outside your household. You may find that telling people individually is helpful, so they don't assume there's some personal reason for your absence. COVID still exists and still is dangerous even though there is no state of emergency. Surely you don't need Boris Johnson standing over you with a pint glass Fixed Penalty Notice in order to behave responsibly and considerately?

It might not make a difference to you, but it would make a massive difference to anyone elderly or with a compromised immune system. For them, a normal cough or cold could feel like the flu. Covid could put them in hospital. Isn’t that enough to make you want to change your behaviour?

This is yet another example in my pot of 'people never learn'.

Over 2 years of mass messaging about covering your mouth when you cough, staying away from people when you have a spreadable illness, washing your hands.

And here we are with people knowingly going to large public events with a 'cold', visiting vulnerable relative. Every day I see people coughing without covering their mouths, merrily and disgustingly spreading their germs.

You seem remarkably sure that no one else is testing anymore. I would 100% still test if I had any “cold” and was seeing anyone I knew to be vulnerable. I would also generally avoid seeing anyone as old as 80 if I had a cold anyway, although I appreciate you say it was your Mum’s big birthday - I’d probably let her decide in that scenario (but would also test first).

Covid is not the virus it used to be, in fact there are worse flu viruses going around that aren't tested for. Just because it's covid, doesn't make it worse.
I do get cheesed off though when out and about and hear people who are obviously suffering still out and about nearby. I think generally there is less tolerance to people who go around spreading their viruses- quite right too, we should all have learnt that there's no need to spread the misery around. So if feeling unwell, some consideration for others would be good - which would not involve turning up to an 80th, where likely lots of vulnerable older people likely attend. Listing your extensive activities almost sounds like you are showing off how many people you could possibly expose. Well done you, it's probably loads, but it doesn't make a difference if it's covid or another virus, it's still inconsiderate to others - but as long as you get to do your activities?
Your DH's test is irrelevant, it's just as reckless with a negative result.

I need antivirals if I get covid. They have to be given as early as possible so I'd want to know if I'd been in contact so I could test myself.

If I feel rough I wouldn't be visiting frail relatives. No matter what virus I'm carrying, wouldn't want them to get it. So it doesn't really matter if I'd test negative to covid, I still wouldn't go when feeling ill.

Proper protective gear made freely available for the vulnerable should have been the direction of travel rather than the one that was taken.