I always have a cough from mid-Feb to about mid-April - am I going to be stuck at home?

[MrsFogi]

So every year I get a foul cough from mid-Feb (have it now) and it hangs around for months (yes I've been to the Dr, no they can't do anything, may be an allergy). With today's announcement does this mean that once the "stay in if you have a sniffle/cough/flu" policy mean that I will be in self-isolation until well into Spring?

I was wondering this

I wondered the same as my allergies & asthma are triggered this time of year & I get rather unwell with it all. Perhaps it’s unexplained coughs etc? Ie. If you developed a new symptom not typical for you (so the virus couldn’t be eliminated as a possible cause)

I always develop rhinitis and a tickly cough at this time of year for about 8-10 weeks. I’ve been embarrassed to be seen outside for nearly two weeks now.

Yeah, no one can force you (not at this stage anyway) Especially if you don't have a fever (the no1 sign of Covid 19) you can just say you're always wheezy around this time and have no other symptoms.

During the winter I frequently cough when I go from outside to a warm environment. Happened to me on the train home last week. I coughed into a tissue but the woman sitting opposite gave me the evil eye for rest of the journey. If it becomes official government policy to isolate with a cough are people going to get abuse for coughing in public?

I’ve already got a cough from the last bug. It’s lingering but I’m 100% well.

No. I’ve got a bit of a runny nose and a bit of a sore throat. As have 3 members of my department at school. It’s simply not going to work if I had to tell my head that I’m not coming into work for a slight cold. Because they won’t be able to replace all teachers who do that with supply teachers.

I always develop rhinitis and a tickly cough at this time of year for about 8-10 weeks. I’ve been embarrassed to be seen outside for nearly two weeks now.

Mine usually lasts until September. I really will not be quarantining myself for the next 6 months!

OP- have you tried antihistamines to see if it helps? I get hayfever in early spring and either use an antihistamine tablet or nasal spray to relieve symptoms.

I've got the tail end of a cough I've had for about six weeks now, I was wondering this too. Though I work from home most of the time anyway.

A runny nose isn't a symptom of corona virus. A dry cough is though. Get tested if unsure.

This year I’ve had the sniffles and occasional sneezing since January. I can’t just go and sit at home for weeks.

Yep seriously - I have an 19 month old and I am pretty much permanently snotty and. coughing. I was taking all of this coronavirus stuff pretty lightly tbh until the prospect of getting effing isolated for a sniffle arose and now I am genuinely worried. What on Earth would I do with the baby? Feeling a bit sick thinking about it.

Every winter for the last 22 years, I've caught a cold in November that's left me with a cough, then another one in late January that's really ramped up so every time I cough I go light-headed with exhaustion. Some years I've had chest xrays, some years I survived using Benylin. It's now been labelled seasonal asthma, and I'm carrying my blue puffer round like a talisman, like Saffy's friend in Ab Fab. But I'm getting a lot of sideways looks!

I really don’t understand that this will work. People can not afford to take time off because they have a bit of a cold or a cough as advised today. Bosses will be going bananas! They will only test those who have been in contact with a confirmed case which they won’t get unless they test more people. I can’t get my head around how self isolation is going to work as most people won’t be doing it

This feels like the government shifting the decision making/responsibility onto individuals again (first hand washing, now cough/sniffle quarantine) and avoiding actually taking any proactive decisions/action.

And there we have it - no action from the government, simply a shift of responsibility for deaths onto individuals who don’t wash their hands enough and/or ha e a persistent cough. There is no way I can self isolate simply because I always have a cough - there is no way this measure will work!!

I'm wondering the same - I have had a cold and am still coughing. Is that 'new'? I really don't know whether to isolate or not, particularly as I have other health issues too.

I get allergic rhinitis, sneezing and hay fever from now till June. I find that I’m now a bit anxious about sneezing when outside and being considered a pariah.

If it helps anyone with hay fever, there is a spray called Avamys that you use every morning for hay fever and it helps keep inflammation out of the lungs (one airway approach). It’s prescription only but I got mine online by doing an online consult.

What exactly do you think the government should do and why?

No. It has to be a new cough