Think we've got a cold but should we self isolate anyway??

[FleabagTeabag]

DS (4) started complaining of a sore throat on Friday. High temp Friday night but temp back to normal yesterday although still complaining of sore throat. I've also jow got a sore throat and feeling shivery, although again no temp.

Without all the coronavirus stuff, I'd assume this was a normal cold and probably be in work/nursery as nornal tomorrow.

But I'm worried now we've actually got a mild version of coronavirus.

What would you do? Self isolate for 7 days or is that overkill?

Self-isolate as per guidelines. I suspect a lot of people will have to do it more than once as without testing you can’t know if it is actually CV.

The advice is clear - any temperature or cough and you have to self isolate for 7 days. It’s not overkill!

@MrsLangOnionsMcWeetabix this is it. Given how often my kids have temperatures etc we could well be self isolating for the next 4 weeks!

We're isolating for a sniffle this week. It's about social responsibility.

Yes isolate. Yes you might have to do it a few times. The only other option is to lock everyone down for months which will be a lot more disruptive

This is the whole point, by making a vast number of people self isolate (let's face it coughs and temperatures are rife in children this time of year) you create a minor lock down which results in fewer people out and about. And thus reducing the spread.

It's so difficult isn't it, we are so used to going into work with a cold, this feels really strange.
I'm a manager of a residential care home ( mental health not elderly) though and I literally have no idea how I am going to staff my home as more and more people ring in saying they need to self isolate, I can't sleep thinking about it! We are a small home, only 14 staff- the impact is huge already and it's going to get dramatically work week by week I'm sure. I don't know what the answer is I really don't. But we absolutely must the guidance, I know that.

Yes of course.

I get that kids get fevers for quite a lot of illnesses. But that's the rules.

And if you have a fever (which is a lot rarer) then 100% you must isolate.

If you get a fought or a temp you're supposed to self-isolate for 7 days or until the symptoms have gone.

You could have no cough or temperature but still not feel well enough to go to work/school.
What would you do normally?

Given how often my kids have temperatures etc we could well be self isolating for the next 4 weeks!

Well so be it. We're facing a huge pandemic and the more people self isolate the less chance of transmission!

Same dilemma here, except it's me - I have a mild sore throat, slight headache, bit achy and I'm a bit hot, unfortunately these are also the symptoms of a mild hangover (from last night), the exertion that is Parkrun (yesterday) and being perimenopausal ! I'm staying home today anyway and see if the above dissipate by lunchtime

@okiedokieme I have the exact same symptoms too. Will stay at home today but tomorrow? Do I take the kids to school or keep them
Off too??

High temperature or new cough = stay at home for a week. Even if you think it’s something else. Even if you feel fine.
Yes it might happen multiple times especially with kids.

@okiedokieme me too! Yesterday as well, though not the hangover. But it could just be peri menopause......

Why not work if no high temperature and no cough?

I've had a dry cough for a few weeks, since getting a chest infection. I've had a runny nose and lots of sneezing this weekend. Accompanied with the cough I suppose I do look symptomatic, however it is just a cold, so I'll be working tomorrow. The alternative is me in and out of work for what, the next several months?

For your dc, keep him at home if poorly for the length of time you normally would.

My dd has a cold and ds today too. No temperature or cough, just sore throats and runny noses, sneezing..... debating school tomorrow....

If it wasnt for corona then DS would be at nursery tomorrow as normal. But if he should stay off under the guidelines, then I'm assuming the whole family should, as we've not been able to live separately from him (obviously). So me, husband, DS and 6 year old DD will all be at home for a week because of a temp that lasted a few hours. Which luke another poster said completely goes against the grain of normal behavoour!

Can I ask, what about cold symptoms? Dd has a sore throat and slightly runny nose - should she be self isolating for a week? No temperature, but I guess it might turn into a cough.

DD came down with very sore throat on Thursday and stuffy nose, which has moved to some achiness in arms and hands and a little bit of coughing, but not constant. No fever. Had to call in sick today, and was told to call 111. She did early this morning (got straight threw), described her symptoms and she was told that she didn't need to self-isolate, these were not the symptoms, but to wash hands, etc....

The guidelines don't say he should stay off though, if he doesn't have a temp any more?

I will keep saying this on every thread like it. You are NOT being asked to diagnose whether your child had Covid-19.

You are simply being asked to stay home if they have a temperature or brew cough.

Not too hard to understand

@screamer1 you say it's not hard to understand...but there is a lot of confusion.

He does not have a temperature any more.

You self isolate for 7 days. It’s not overkill. These are easy instructions people!!

I’ve got a gravelly throat but no temperature or cough. As an earlier poster said, I think a fever in adults is pretty unusual with a regular head cold. Statistically it’s probably regular flu, but you shouldn’t be going into work with that either ffs!