"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.

WHO have also made it clear that symptoms can extend to runny nose, sore throat, diarrhoea... The NHS have completely missed those out.

Mrsjayy

The cough was awful and I am only just getting my breath back.

I think if people are saying it is unclear, then it is unclear!

Yes, this. If people don't understand then the advice needs to be changed, calling people stupid isn't helpful. It is totally irrelevant if you understand it, everyone needs to understand it otherwise it is pretty much pointless and a waste of time.

NHS site updated:

Stay at home if you have coronavirus symptoms

Stay at home for 7 days if you have either:

a high temperature – you feel hot to touch on your chest or back
a new, continuous cough – this means you've started coughing repeatedly

Honestly, for once the advice is actually pretty clear. If you have a new persistent cough and/or a fever, stay home.

I disagree, the start of the advice says cough and/or fever

But the final sentence of the advice says:

*“ A persistent cough alone does not mean you must continue to self-isolate for more than 7 days.“

It's not clear to me.

I think I have a regular cold, just without the snot and sneezing. I have a sore throat and have been coughing regularly but not frequently, since yesterday. No fever.

According to the advice it seems like I should self-isolate for 7 days. Frankly, I feel like a prize turnip because I wouldn't normally think twice about something like this and don't want to seem like a chancer taking advantage of new advice for something really mild.

Obviously I will isolate myself, but it seems so unlike the coronavirus information we've been given which is probably the main source of hesitation.

Having a new (sudden onset, as in you didn't have it yesterday... No idea why that's hard to grasp) cough which is dry plus a fever, self isolate.

No one with a fever is going about their day anyway. I think it would be apparent you were ill.

Fever is horrible. The combination of one with a new cough should give you the heads up that something isn't right.

My little boy and I have had a cough all week prior to the advice and I still sent him to school as normal. Both fine now, it's much more likely to just be a cough or cold

Ironically, you have used the incorrect terminology in your OP so perhaps it's not as clear as you make out. You have a referred to a "persistent" cough - this is defined on the NHS website as a cough that has lasted for 3 weeks.

The advice about the coronavirus on the NHS page refers to a "continuous" cough. This is not a long-standing commonplace definition of a cough so does need some clarity. What, for example, would the frequency of coughing be?

I

You MUST have a fever if its CV, and a cough. That's it!
(continuous jus means it's pretty constant from day one, not once an hour).

So what is a fever if you do not have a thermometer to measure your temperature?

alloutoffucks

If you "feel hot to touch on your chest or back" is the new guidance.

Thanks, hadn't seen that guidance.

They took account of earlier feedback, looks like. Probably not from here specifically(!), but from general reactions on social media.

Good, It did need to be much clearer. So glad it has been changed. I think most parents with young kids have a thermometer in the house, buy beyond that I suspect most people don't.

I've had an unusually upset stomach and loose motion the past couple of days. I still have to go to work though. Maybe the symptoms are not the same for everyone? Surely you can't expect everyone with a cough/cold to stay at home.

People are dim. Especially on the main virus thread. I shake my head at the nonsense spouted all the time

I have a very mild cough, BUT have had chills a few days ago, now joint/ muscle pain and nausea, vomited last night. I'm always fatigued, so wouldn't notice any different. It's in my neighbourhood, so there is a chance I have it. I am confused by the advice as my other symptoms are so much stronger.

I've had a dry cough for a week, it's not new. No other symptoms.

I have tried to find out more about the 'cough' - a 'persistent cough' means one which has lasted over 8 weeks. A 'continuous cough' is where you cannot stop coughing.

There is not one bit of this advice which tells me I should be self isolating, but you would disagree.

That's medical terminology. I'm still confused why 'persistent' is being used at all as can't see how self isolating after coughing for 8 weeks is going to help

I've had a cough a snotty nose and other cold symptoms for nearly a week. I haven't self isolated as I have a cold a typical winter cold with no temperature. If I had a temperature I would self isolate. My children have the same cold for nearly 2 weeks it's them I caught if off. If however in the future we develop another cold I would probably consider staying at home.