Does anyone actually have the virus?

[rrg1]

With all the talk and speculation on these boards and with thousands on here everyday, may I ask if anyone on her actually has the virus?

@rrg1. They had been overseas. I don't know the answer to the second question, sorry.

DP just come home from work saying 2 colleagues have got it. One has tested positive (been abroad), the other is waiting for his results but has been working alongside the other one.

Possibly, been ill for the last couple of weeks, but not been tested and as I get ill this time of year anyway it could literally be anything. I always self-isolate when I'm ill anyway and no-one else I know who has attended the same events I did have it, so I'm erring towards it not being that.

Also; Not been overseas either. I don't even have a valid passport

he's now struggling for breath and coughing up bright red blood

Need to phone 111 again now that they are not just saying people who have travelled.

The new information is that unless you have severe symptoms you just self isolate and don't even call 111. They won't test you and they will just focus on treating people who need it. If you have a new cough or a temperature you stay at home for 7 days.

What's the idea behind self isolating if you have a cold-because you might have it or might find it harder to shake off if you get it?

Surely if you have any symptoms you need to be tested?

Colleague of DH's and his wife are both ill with a flu-like virus and tried to get tested by the NHS, but because they haven't been abroad they won't test them. Even Boris Johnson is saying he thinks there are thousands of infections out there! In the meantime, DH's office is closed for a deep clean and we are all practising 'social distancing' with friends. No touching of any kind.

I started a cough on Sunday, by Monday had a high temperature and have felt terrible since though temperature controlled with paracetamol and ibuprofen. I'm assuming I should now self isolate for the next few days right? Not that I've felt able to be out much anyway.

I’ve come down with cold/flu symptoms this afternoon. I’m working from home tomorrow to see how it plays out. Shook hands with a client 6 days ago who had recently come back from Italy and has since developed and recovered from a mild cold.

Hoping I’m just run down and it’ll be nothing.

MsMeowington I'm horrified and terrified by your post!

Boss is currently getting tested for it. I'll keep you posted

he's now struggling for breath and coughing up bright red blood

Surely with those two symptoms alone he should still be being seen by the hospital, or a doctor.

I wouldn't even mention CV when calling. By mentioning it it makes the handlers go into their CV flowchart.

I'd just say those two symptoms to,start with and tbh - not being able to breathe properly would normally be then sending an ambulance or sending straight to A and E. I don't understand why they wouldn't be seeing him, regardless of ether he fits the CV pattern or not.

@diddl the logic is better to be safe than sorry, I suppose. Apparently Coronavirus carriers are the most infectious in the early days, so the likelihood of passing it onto others after the 7 days are up drastically decreases.

In regard to testing, they have essentially said there’s no point testing the masses as it’s a drain on limited NHS resources. Testing will basically be reserved for hospital patients to prevent further vulnerable hospital patients from being infected. If you think have it, self isolate at home and only seek medical assistance if it becomes severe/you get to the point where you would normally go to hospital (ie don’t go to hospital with mild symptoms just to ask for a test)

I’ve had a high temperature, very achey, sleeping is difficult. It started with sneezing so presumably not Coronavirus? I do have a cough but not persistent when I do cough it’s very painful. I’ve not been abroad but I live near a massive airport and have been out and about a lot so it’s not impossible I could have bumped into someone who has it. What’s worrying is me and DS are asthmatic.

I can't see how it's relevant whether you've been to China or Italy or know someone who has. Since the virus can survive in the air for 3 hrs and on surfaces for 3 days, you can easily get infected without those criteria. It's ridiculous. As for saying, well if you think you've got it why bother getting tested, just self-isolate, but if you then get as seriously ill as the poor man in MsMeowington's post then you don't get any medical help anyway. You're just supposed to die at home I suppose, especially if they deem you too old (over 65) to bother with.

The geographical criteria for testing has changed from today, so it doesn’t matter if you haven’t travelled anymore. But they also said that they are limiting testing so won’t be testing everyone who asks for some. However someone who’s coughing up blood should be seen at A&E anyway, I can’t see the NHS refusing to test someone this poorly.

If someone is coughing up blood and struggling to breathe they should call 999 or demand a GP comes out to see them. If they haven't been tested, haven't been in close contact with someone with CV or been to a high risk area the assumption should be they've not got it.

I've had all the symptoms, have stayed at home, GP said only to call them back if I get worse and they aren't routinely testing for CV.

I don't know anybody but the nearest confirmed case is about 15 miles away so I wouldn't expect to. For now anyway.

The chief medical officer said earlier (5PM ish) to call 111 as you would in normal circumstances if feeling I'll and your condition deteriorated. So the dh coughing up blood and struggling to breathe should be ringing now....

I don't believe nobody will see someone who can't breathe and is coughing up blood. That's bollocks.

They're giving up on testing - they know probably 10k people have it already, and up to 80% of us will have it eventually, so the small number of positive tests they get is irrelevant.

The message is - if you have a dry cough or fever (along with any other symptoms, people have had a variety of other symptoms from runny noses to d&v) - assume it is coronavirus and isolate yourself for 7 days.

well last week I had the slightest touch of a sore throat and this weird little dry cough. its so mild this little dry cough. the back of my throat feels "dry"....like I need to drink? Also I have nothing health related, but my chest feels "different" like a cold....but not! I have felt hot on and off. I thought it was me???

so who bloody knows! I havent been out or about anyway, shopping is delivered..so a social hermit anyway

@Aragog what AWFUL advice to be giving someone.

Putting emergency workers at risk by deliberately withholding information like that is beyond selfish and affects more than just the one person.

By all means, @MsMeowington call 999 if he is indeed coughing up blood (more than the odd streak in a tissue) and struggling to breathe.
Do not withhold information.
An ambulance will attend, but they will wear correct protective gear to prevent a crew going off road for the rest of the shift/putting themselves/future patients at risk.

Meow must be awful for your friend as well - I'd go straight 999 that situation, they do checks first anyway, mention blood first then other symptoms