Should I isolate?

[Ivebeentohellanditscalledikea]

This might sound stupid but all the advice I have read have said a persistent cough. I seem to be getting a cough last thing at night and the odd one cough during the day (tends to be in conjunction with the heating being on). Should I self isolate? I don't think it's an illness thing as I have no temperature and feel fine.

Guidelines are pretty clear, if you have a cough, don’t go into work, self isolate for a week.

Ok was just double checking. There is so much fake rubbish out there at the moment.

Thank you

If the cough is persistent then self isolate.

Why is there such confusion on this? It really couldn’t be simpler advice. But we have a forum of people who seem to be unable to understand it. There’s another thread saying “ is it more likely to be a cold than cv”.

Cough or a fever self isolate. It’s not difficult to understand. And if people do as they are asked then it might save people’s lives and we might all get back to normal quicker.

That's what was confusing me as it's only now and again. I'm not having coughing fits or anything and it's more like I get a tickle once in a while.

The roof of my mouth is itchy which is what I get every year with hay fever.

If you have a cough then stay home for 7 days. It's not actually confusing, people just don't want to do it

It’s ok, I understand, I was just wrestling with it myself. My DS has got a cough and sore throat and I was wondering whether to keep him off school. I know odds are it’s a seasonal cold but I won’t take that risk and I’ll just do as they have advised. Just follow the guidelines and you can’t go wrong.

I think the advice is unclear. A persistent cough isn't an occasional cough or a tickle in your throat. To me it's a constant cough throughout the day. I think things need to be clarified

i cough in the morning.
i assume they mean cough all day, regardless

I agree with grandmasterstitch. It isn't that clear, its not just any cough. It's a new persistent/continuous cough and I don't think the OP's cough necessarily fits that description.

It’s a persistent cough. So not an occasional cough every now and again. It is significant amounts of coughing.

I agree I would say persistent is all day. I also think after years of people being made to feel bad for calling in sick it's a hard habit to break.

agree op

This might sound stupid but all the advice I have read have said a persistent cough.

Where are you reading all this advice?

The official advice which can be found online very easily at either the 111 or Gov sites says CONTINUOUS cough. That is, it a one off episode.

Christ can't people be kinder in their responses?
it's a worrying time and unprecedented and I understand the confusion.
For example I had a sore throat for two mornings, gone now.
I've also started with a little tiny bit of a runny nose but not significant. I have a little cough but it's not persistent and it's only occasional.
I think it's perfectly reasonable to wonder when to self isolate.
You don't have to speak down to people. Now more than ever we need to be kind.

OP if my cough starts to develop I'll then make the decision to stay home.

Now more than ever we need to be kind.

Self isolating when the guidelines dictate you should, rather then second guessing if it is COVID-19 or a common cold IS being kind. It's being kind to society's. It's important. This is a killer. The advice needs to sink in.

I have read dozens of threads with people describing the cough or temperature which would lead to isolation but then dismissing it is something else. That is not what we are being asked to do.

It is kind to point out people need to be vigilant. It's a lifesaver.

I'd started with a runny nose and slight wet cough. I get it every year with hay fever. I take regular antihistamines because I have chronic rhinitis, but have used a nasal spray too. It's cleared up the runny nose and cough. I'm not self isolating as I know this isn't CV

Continuous cough is confusing to me...continuous, uncontrollable, persistent are not always the same thing. The government should've just said "new cough" ....I do think people should be kinder in their responses too

Not a persistent cough.

Everyone should be self isolating by now, but that's another thread.

Tbh, I don't think what you described would qualify as a persistent cough, but in this case, better be safe than sorry, and anyone who can self isolate as much as possible at this stage, should do it.

I'm not self isolating as I know this isn't CV

And this is why it isn't going to work. People are not being asked to self isolate if they think they have CV. They are being asked to self isolate if they have a new continuous cough or a high temperature.

I'm not disputing your hay fever, but you have given a prime example of the attitude of half the country.

Also as people arent actually being tested outside of hospitals people feel that there is no point self isolating if they believe they dont have it, itll just seem as though they have wasted 7 days of their life for no reason. If it cant be proved that their cough is caused by the virus they will carry on as normal thinking it's just hayfever or a common cold.

OTOH, there are people adamant that they had the virus back in November, when it wasn't likely that they could have had it.

There are some people with the virus that don't even show symptoms and people can be infectious before showing symptoms.
Current guidelines are shit.