"new" cough OR fever - this is not hard

[BlingLoving]

Honestly, for once the advice is actually pretty clear. If you have a new persistent cough and/or a fever, stay home. I am really struggling at the people on SM, here etc who are asking, "I've woken up with a cough but I feel fine, the advice is so confusing, does this mean I should self isolate."

I honestly worry that such simple instructions are hard for people and assume we'll see it all spreading so much more quickly as people keep themselves home for a runny nose but don't bother with a mild cough.

Yabu

I’ve been coughing today - could be my hay fever or the fact I’ve been cleaning the house and there’s dust 🤷🏻‍♀️

My ds was coughing a bit this morning. Not not continuous- he was fine after he’d had breakfast.

The problem is that it is open to interpretation. And it feels ridiculous could self isolate over something so small.

Also the fever bit. My dd when ill rarely has massively high temperatures. A fever barely registers for her - even when she has had raging tonsillitis.

So the advice is negligent imo.

This advice is confusing despite what the OP says. Just because you find it clear, others don’t.

And that’s the risk here.

Others don’t understand it, others will find it confusing and others find it ridiculous.

So I’d like to know what behavioural scientists make of that 🤷🏻‍♀️

I think the advice is fine. People need need to take responsibility and make a decision. If in doubt, stay away from other people.

@PotholeParadise Everyone knows what a cough is. Many don't know what continuous means.
Have you ever used the 111 symptom checker before for other things? I have. It explains in detail everything. Because it knows the level of vocabulary for a sizeable number of people is pretty poor. You can't make assumptions people will understand words like that. You have to write at the level an 8 year old would understand. If they wouldn't, then it is not that useful.

@walkingtheway The multiple threads on this site alone show that many people don't understand it.

The NHS symptom checker asks if you have a continuous cough then doesn’t explain what it means.

Well I have a new fever and sore throat but no cough. Feel pretty crap actually. Rang 111 and was assessed via the coronavirus people and I was told I did NOT need to self isolate. This is only last night.

@alloutoffucks you're correct. I'm amazed at how many people on here don't seem to understand. But I also think others are just being obtuse. I despair that some people seem unable to think things through and make decisions for themselves.

My DC2 has an on / off cough for the whole of winter. Teacher was fine today as she knows this.

I actually don't think the advice is particularly clear. What is a continuous cough? Coughing all the time? At regular intervals? Sporadic coughing fits that you weren't having a few days ago?

Something else to think of though.

If you have mild cold/flu like symptoms, you may know that it's not COVID, you're fine, don't have to isolate.

BUT, an ordinary cold for you, may prove harmful to those on the very vulnerable list. If they catch a cold, it might be very risky for them and they'll need to seek medical help, which adds even further strain on the NHS.

So being extra cautious and keeping away from people when you 'just' have a cold is actually really sensible right now.

If not sure whether a cough is 'the right sort of cough' or 'the wrong sort of cough' why wouldn't anyone err on the side of caution for the sake of their fellow citizens. It feels to me like that some people are looking for excuses not to do the right thing.

In that case, we're screwed then. If "continuous" is genuinely an unclear concept, it's going to go through the UK like wildfire.

With anything that is going to cause massive disruption to people's lives, of course they are going to seek reassurance that the information somehow doesn't apply to them. Lots of people are going to be very badly affected by self isolation, you can't look down your noses at them for not wanting it.

You have to write at the level an 8 year old would understand.

This. The average reading age in the UK is 9.

I think if people are saying it is unclear, then it is unclear! People asking means they don’t understand part of all of the advice which means there is a problem interpreting it. There’s no point saying people are stupid for not understanding (I’m a teacher - how many of you would be happy with me telling your child that they are stupid because they didn’t understand the way I had explained something!)

Fever - easy. You either have one or you don’t
Persistent / continuous cough - not so easy to interpret.

Definition of persistent - .
continuing to exist or occur over a prolonged period.

So how long is a prolonged period for a cough??

See the problem?

@potholeparadise Yes it is an unclear concept. Which is why either the advice needs to be different e.g. stay at home with any new cough, or the word continuous needs to be explained over and over again.
I would have argued for the advice to be any new cough. Would mean people self isolating unnecessarily, but is easy to understand advice.

I don’t think it’s that clear. My cough is ten days old and started when I burned my throat breathing in something that irritated my throat. Do I self isolate or not?

Also what is ‘new’? As of when?

Basically you test any advice out on a group of 8 year olds first, Do they understand it? If not then simplify it.
So wash your hands is very simply advice. Wash your hands while singing happy birthday is also simple advice. Someone chose a song to wash your hands to because they know saying wash your hands thoroughly is not easily understood.

@OttilieKnackered Great point, so even that is not clear enough.

Just heard someone on the radio earlier point out the coughing and fever advice isn't helpful lots of healthy people with covid-19 don't show any symptoms at all. This person claimed to be a research doctor.

I got a new cold on Wednesday. I get colds frequently from autumn to early summer due to underlying issues. I knew yesterday as soon as Ireland announce their measures I should prepare to stay away from people so I don't have to deal with the stares etc.

I actually did think it was confusing yesterday but reading this thread has made it make much more sense. I feel quite reassured also.

I came back from N Italy on 22nd Feb. Late on the 14th day back I developed a minor cough. Not a dry one etc but more phlegmy really, 2 days later I developed a cold. No temp at all. It will be 7 days I have self isolated tomorrow so hopefully all ok and really unlikely I had CV due to my symptoms. I also self isolated for the 1st 2 weeks I was back as I work in healthcare.

I had to go out on tues and someone was extremely rude to me when I sneezed.

I was glared at for sneezing the other day that is how on edge people are

No one has a continuous cough - no one will cough "constantly" every second of every minute all day. I literally cannot believe it's come to this

I was ill over New Year. Really didn’t start feeling normal till mid February.
I still get out of breath just walking to the shops but it is getting better
All the symptoms of CV but wasn’t tested as no one knew about it.

I can tell you I coughed every minute of everyday.
I didnt sleep for 3 days because of coughing. My throat was raw and I thought I was going to have a heart attack through the constant coughing. My rib cage felt like someone had taken a sledge hammer to it

I started with a fever and a cough.

@oliversmumsarmy My mum has had that fluey illnessshe is still a bit breathless she had it for weeks.