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Original poster

How easy is it to actually take a week off?

63 replies

OntheWaves40 · 13/03/2020 21:15

I work in a school. Last week a couple of my pupils had cold/cough symptoms, prior to current advice, no foreign travel etc. I am now ill with same symptoms most likely caught from them. If I ring school on Monday they are most likely to think i’m skiving and will be expected in regardless as that’s the kind of place it is.
How is everyone else coping with this? I’m not self isolating as yet as i’m confused, though i’ve not been in close contact with anyone either.

OP posts:
NaturalBornWoman · 13/03/2020 21:19

Why are you confused? You've been told quite clearly that if you have new respiratory symptoms you must self isolate for 7 days. It isn't in any way confusing.

hookiwooki · 13/03/2020 21:23

If you have a new persistent cough or a fever or both you self-isolate as per gov guidelines. We have been told to assume that if it's new for you, it's coronavirus.

Original poster
OntheWaves40 · 13/03/2020 21:27

I’m too busy to self isolate on a maybe. I will though but wonder how many like me will just send their kids in to school and go to work etc because they have busy lives and it’s not totally clear. 7 days from now? 7 days from when symptoms stop? What if I still have a cough in 7 days? It’s very confusing!

OP posts:
1stMrsF · 13/03/2020 21:29

I work in a school. If I develop a cough over the weekend I won't be going in on Monday. Simple. If I do, and I've got it, I'll infect loads of children and they'll infect their parents and their grandparents... Schools of all places really ought to understand the responsibility you have to follow the new advice.

1stMrsF · 13/03/2020 21:32

No, it's very clear. Look here www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

How easy is it to actually take a week off?
NaturalBornWoman · 13/03/2020 21:33

I’m too busy to self isolate on a maybe

Your 'busyness' v other lives. This is why people will actually have to lose their liberty to save lives. Shocking.

DettolsYourFriend · 13/03/2020 21:36

I’m too busy to self isolate on a maybe.

ODFOD. you're not special. I swear they should start threatening the non conformers with manslaughter charges.
How hard is it. YOU COULD KILL SOMEONE! Stop being a dick.

Original poster
OntheWaves40 · 13/03/2020 21:38

The ‘continuous cough’ is confusing. I have a cough but it comes and goes every half hour or hour or so. So it’s not continuous. Or does it mean continuous over a few days? In which case how long do you wait to decide if it’s continuing?

OP posts:
Bonkersblond · 13/03/2020 21:41

You're not the only busy person, if you have symptoms you self isolate, it's quite simple really.

1stMrsF · 13/03/2020 21:41

Please have a look at the NHS resources. Use the 111 Coronavirus service.

HotGlueGun · 13/03/2020 21:44

Seriously? If you have a cough, self isolate. Play it safe and stop being so bloody cavalier with everybody else's wellbeing. It's not your decision to make.

MyHipsDontLieUnfortunately · 13/03/2020 21:50

The continuous cough is confusing, you're right; esp as on R4 this morning they were referring to a persistent cough. Not the same.

My employer is definitely not taking this seriously enough and is looking at it from a perspective of inconvenience to themselves.

Babybel90 · 13/03/2020 21:53

I can take a week off if I have to, no one will cover my work so my clients will just have to wait a week longer for their work to be done. The thing we get most complaints about is timescales so I’m certain our complaints will go up but what else can we do?

Duchessofblandings · 13/03/2020 21:53

Please don’t go in. I have a child with asthma and an immunosuppressed husband with additional lung condition. If you were my child’s teacher you could put either/both of them into ICU ( assuming a bed was available).

picklemewalnuts · 13/03/2020 21:55

If you have a new persistent cough or a temperature, self isolate.

Some people often have coughs- allergic to cat, asthma, whatever.
If you don't usually have a cough, and do now, then it's a new cough.

Coughing once or twice, maybe you swallowed a drink the wrong way- that isn't persistent.
If you are coughing because you have an illness that's causing you to cough, then stay home.

Selfsettling3 · 13/03/2020 21:56

Have you taken your temp?

Solasum · 13/03/2020 21:57

I believe ‘persistent cough’ doesn’t mean you are coughing constantly. It means you cough, and continue to cough regularly for over four hours. So not just an odd cough, but a new habit, if you see what I mean.

Beesisabuzzin · 13/03/2020 22:00

You have a new cough. Stay home. It's not that deep. Your busy life style doesn't come into it do don't be a dick.

BeeFarseer · 13/03/2020 22:04

The advice is very clear, you do NOT go in.

How many parents of kids at your school are going to be umming and ahhing and are '...too busy to self-isolate on a maybe'? You need to hold yourself to high standards and set a decent example.

What makes you so special? I'm not saying that to be nasty. There are plenty of busy people in the world who are heeding the advice.

Original poster
OntheWaves40 · 13/03/2020 22:04

@Selfsettling3 no unfortunately my thermometer isn’t working, typical. But earlier I was hot to touch but shivering and now i’m just hot. I had paracetamol at 6 ish and was ok for about an hour or two but then feel hot and crappy again now. Will go out for a thermometer tomorrow if the shop is empty.

OP posts:
DettolsYourFriend · 13/03/2020 22:07

earlier I was hot to touch but shivering and now i’m just hot

  1. you're coughing.

  2. you're feverish.

  3. you're not special or indispensable. STAY THE FUCK AT HOME. 🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯🤯

Kmx123 · 13/03/2020 22:13

Stay at home please
To think this is a teacher
keep them at home people

NaturalBornWoman · 13/03/2020 22:18

Will go out for a thermometer tomorrow if the shop is empty.

Are you being deliberately goady? If not I hope you're not actually a teacher.

Solasum · 13/03/2020 22:18

If you know you have a temperature, at this point it doesn’t really matter exactly what that temperature is. If you are unusually hot for you, now you stay home for a week, or until better, if that is longer. If your condition deteriorates significantly so you have E.g. breathing difficulties, call 111. PLEASE don’t go to the pharmacy to buy a thermometer. They have probably sold out anyway

Murrfect · 13/03/2020 22:19

The thing is that schools are very tough on teachers who take time off - whatever!

My school is much much better than most but still when I was off with virus (but not coronavirus) symptoms they wanted me back in as soon as I could drive safely

But you have a persistent cough and coronavirus so call in - what can else you do?