Mum’s carer just turned up with a streaming cold

[OhFFFS]

WTF?? No mention of it. Mum’s health is compromised and she’s elderly. It could just be a cold... but??!

She won’t get aid if she doesn’t turn up.

Paid

Oh yes.
Do you want your Mum to get help or not?

Tbh I always ask clients if they want me to come when I have a cold. So it's their choice.
Cold does not equal corona virus though

Ffs, not yes, auto correct.

A cold is not corona virus. People don't 'stream' with it.

If she's 'streaming' it's highly unlikely to be coronavirus. I mean it's unlikely to be anyway but especially with the wrong symptoms. I can imagine the cold itself would be a problem though.

What does that have to do with coronavirus?

IHaveBrilloHair, I don’t understand your comment even with correction? As Greysparkles said, you’d prewarn clients so they can decide.

Streaming cold isn’t a symptom of Coronavirus, as I understand it, however it is selfish IMHO, I have an autoimmune condition and my friends & cleaner wouldn’t dream of seeing me if they had a bad cold. YANBU.

A streaming cold is not coronavirus.

Her employer probably wouldnt have anyone else available.

do you want to send her home and you do the care op?

That’s how she described it. And obviously I have today’s announcement in mind. It’s not for members of the public to decide whether or not they have Coronavirus or another infection.

i think it is, members of the public check their symptoms, and a streaming cold is not symptomatic of covid19

EricaNernie, that’s what I would have done if given the choice beforehand. No idea what to do now.

this announcement doesnt apply yet

are you near by?

It’s any, even minor, signs of a respiratory tract infection.

If she’s got a streaming nose etc it’s highly unlikely to be Coronavirus. If she doesn’t have the symptoms and hasn’t travelled to a high risk area then she’s no more likely to have it than you or I.

I probably wouldn’t be keen on a carer turning up full of cold but that’s because I wouldn’t want my mum catching the cold if she’s vulnerable.

Look. I run a homecare company. Why don't you ring them in the morning and tell the not to send anyone who is ill and you can do the care yourself instead.

But that announcement doesn't apply yet - it is intended to kick in when 'traditional' cold season starts to reduce so it may pick up more covid19 cases.

She doesn’t have COVID-19 unless she has a dry cough and a fever.

It is currently for the public to decide whether they have the virus or not, they will only test if you’ve come back from an affected Country or been in contact with an affected person in the UK.

I would, however, be fuming if someone with a cold came to care for my Gran. She doesn’t breathe very well and even a common cold can kill the very elderly/compromised.

@notsuch good idea

Having worked in community care, you would have been within your rights to tell the Carer - politely - that you will be OK seeing to mum yourself tonight thank you.

Failure to come to work (especially for a cold) would result in zero pay & a telling off for the Carer.