Just got shouted at in a coffee shop for coughing in public 🥴

[wildgreyocean]

I know I’m not being unreasonable here but I just need some reassurance! I was in a coffee shop after popping to the shops and got a tickle in my throat. I’ve had a cold all week but nothing too severe. I coughed and next thing I know an old man is shouting at me that I’m being selfish and should be self isolating at home, and “don’t I know the NHS is on its knees?!”

AIBU to think this is a total overreaction to a cough?!

I don’t know how many more times I need to say I have post nasal drip

During Covid, if you were elderly or vulnerable then going out for a coffee would have been a massive no.
Why is the old man in the OP allowed an unnecessary coffee? If he is that worried then he should be the one staying at home. That was the narrative during Covid.

I think it's about respecting people's right to enjoy their coffee shop experience as much as possible. This is about common courtesy really.

The man who shouted has also disrespected this rightful expectation of enjoyable relaxation by destroying the atmosphere for everyone.

He has also vilified you which is which is completely out of order, and by far the worst aspect of this situation.

Shouting at you is a bit much but I think accepting that people are a bit twitchy about it is something we should be prepared for and aware of. I was on a train with my daughter last week, and someone sat next to us and starting coughing and blowing her nose. My daughter has had a crappy year but has had a little bit of a boost by being picked to sing a solo in a couple of christmas events, she's worked her socks off and it would be rubbish if she ended up poorly for the event. I explained to the lady politely and asked her to stand up so we could move seats, she was unbelievably unpleasant about it. I think it's just common courtesy to try and avoid spreading germs as much as we reasonably can. There are loads of reasons people might be anxious about coming down with something.

If I was coughing up huge globs of shit I’d agree.

I’ve got a tickle in my throat because of post nasal drip. Am I supposed to stay in 24/7? This can continue for weeks!

It depends on the cough. I you were coughing, every few minutes or so, in a confined space, then i would deem that selfish, If you just coughed once or twice and covered your mouth then ok.

'Simply'. Easy to be so airy when it's not you having to do it. You've no idea whether such people might be physically intimidating, for example, or seem unstable. You don't know whether they'd believe you, or if they'd be one of the utter delights who would still think you shouldn't be out in public.

What actions can I take to avoid catching or spreading respiratory illnesses?
Here is a list of simple actions you can take to reduce the spread of respiratory infections, and protect those at highest risk:

1. Get vaccinated if you are eligible
2. If you are feeling unwell, stay at home
3. If you’re meeting people indoors, open a window for fresh air. Just keep in mind the room temperature and whether anyone might be sensitive to the cold
4. Practise good hygiene:
5. cough into your bent elbow, or use a tissue and dispose of it afterwards in the nearest bin
6. wash your hands frequently with warm water and soap
7. clean your surroundings often, especially areas that are touched frequently such as door handles* *
8. Wear a mask when you are unwell and need to go out

Catching a cold can weaken your immune system making you more vulnerable to other illnesses including this current flu virus

One can easily lead to another which can lead to hospitalisation

Wow the country would literally grind to a halt

So just never go out then. Right.

No! It’s a cold! That’s all!

Thread is just proof that humans learn nothing. Mask wearing for sick people would have been a positive development, something actually useful to public health to come out of Covid. Instead it just became politics. It’s nonsense.

A cafe local to me employs just 3 staff. If one is off sick, the cafe closes and loses money.
I was in there the other week and the lady working apologised for sniffing as she she was at the tail end of a cold. She felt well enough to work.

I’m not unwell.

I can’t speak for how others might feel obviously
but I appreciate people will be worried by people coughing given the current flu virus
I think it’s obvious people will be given the advice we’ve had

So I’d respect their worries

On the fence with this as feeling better doesn't necessarily mean not being contagious and I've just been subject to a young shop assistant coughing over everyone and when the woman in front of me asked him why he was at work, he said he didn't feel that ill, but he patently was!

It’s gov advice though

In that Guardian article below it says consider it.

Coughing does not mean someone feels ill. It is just a cough. I have had a cold where I had a very stuffed up nose, but no other symptoms. I could still go out and do things.
I bet he was at work because he was expected to be by his boss.

Or take the advice from specialists and wear a mask
Other posters have copied the advice here.

Okay? The government advised lockdown during covid while ignoring it.

But no respect for the worries of anyone who you consider less deserving, obviously. You really have no business dismissing the issues that an expectation of declaring one's asthmatic status to any passing bully that wades in would create as 'simple'.

Having had 16 rounds of chemo earlier this year, I managed to avoid any illness by taking care of my own health etc.

No way would I have been angry with someone on a cafe coughing into their sleeve.

The onus was on me to protect myself, not that OP was a threat in anyway.

I certainly wouldn’t expect someone with a common cold to stay home.

One specialist says consider
Another says you must
and
surprise surprise Labour are too scared to commit to anything

The nhs says wear a well fitting mask ( if you suspect flu )