What to do about a potential Undiagnosed Super Spreader

[naughtycat]

I've wrote about this on a different thread this evening...but more in terms of my own personal issues. But I just want to know what you /me/anyone should do in this situation;

Local shop. Open 24 hours.

The man behind the counter is quite clearly unwell. He has a fever. He is constantly taking his handkerchief and wiping his forehead and cheeks. He knows he is unwell. He looks unwell and he looks worried.

I think this is a Coronavirus Symptom? He should be at home, but I don't blame him he has a business to run.

This is a super super busy part of town. Next to the city Centre. A really cool, trendy bohemian area. Totally diverse.....rich poor homeless student professional etc etc....very close to the main train station for the city and the region.

I keep thinking I should go back and talk to him. See if he's okay. He's quite old. I'm worried about him. See if he knows about possible government support if he has to go home sick.

There's no one to phone about this. No advice. Police and ambulance won't be interested....even though this could escalate infections . I'm tempted to go back and talk to him( the shop is 24hrs).

What would you do??

Just to clarify....

He has a fever bad enough that he keeps wiping his cheeks and forehead with his handkerchief. He looks ill and worried.

What government support is there? If he's self employed, is there any at all?

If you go back and talk to him, keep your distance!!

I have a few face masks (probably useless, they were purchased from amazon). I think they would be best used for him. I'm going to take them up there. He might Not be happy or impressed but I will see what he says. He might be over the moon.

They say the masks are best used to prevent the infected passing it on to the uninflected. Rather than the other way around.

Yes, like many many other posters and MNers, I feel like this is not real and I'm going to wake up soon from a bad dream

Coronavirus is now a disease but I don't think there are currently any powers to stop someone who is infected from working.

There was this article about some powers given to NHS staff.

I would phone 111 and environmental health for advice.

Thanks Ginger Kitty (I love your user name by the way......from naughty cat!!).

I won't call 111 because the government made it clear today that we shouldn't. But I like your environmental health idea. That is very very sensible. I might go over to the council offices on Monday and see who I can speak to. I don't want to get him in trouble though. He might infect loads of people, but his family might starve if he doesn't keep working, and to be honest the government advice is vague and open to interpretation.

I feel sorry for him, but I'm going to go up there now and give him the 5 masks I have. It's 2am, I shouldn't...but I will

If he's not coughing frequently, it's not CV! There are plenty of other cold/flu varieties that he's likely to have caught. You could of course talk to him to be nice, kind thing to do.

haha, just noticed - cats galore! three in a row

If he's not coughing frequently, it's not CV Are you 100% sure about that?

haha, just noticed - cats galore! three in a row

I feel left out!

Hello catandhiskitt 😁

I went back. He's finished his shift. Another dude was working the night shift. They are all such totally nice people who run this 24 hour shop. I took with me some flimsy face masks that I bought from amazon a couple of months ago when this all kicked off. Anyway, I gave the healthy guy behind the counter 5 of them and explained he needs to stick them over the face off any customers who start coughing. He was most grateful to receive the masks. He said Thank You Sister. I then gave 2 off these probably useless masks to my Uber driver. He was also happy to receive the masks. My last Uber driver last week, he was so petrified to hear on the radio while I was on his cab, officially announced the first Coronavirus case in our city. He was so scared that I gave him my alcohol gel hand sanitizer!! He's more at risk than me!! Made him feel a bit safer!! Like the guys on the 24 hr shop tonight??

Day1inisolation...

Don't feel left out. We're all obviously cats here! As long as you're nice to us we will love you back loads

Oh blimey.............

Panic, stealth boasting and virtue signalling in one thread. Does the OP win a prize?

Cats that are allowed to roam and visit multiple houses for food are super spreaders.

I frequently have to wipe my brow because I'm busy running around my shop all day. Wonder if people will worry I have the plague and start avoiding me? Hope so! :P

Why did you tell him to put face masks on his customers and not on the staff member with isolation symptoms?!

It could well be coronavirus. He doesn't need to have a cough.

I would not be comfortable not reporting this to someone, even if complaining to someone else at the shop. He could be infecting many customers! Some of them might not survive, or maybe the people rhey in turn infect will not.

Of course it could be something else but whatever it is he should not be working.

He may not have a cough on day one of fever, but it starts usually simultaneously same day, or next day for some, dry frequent cough thay becomes wheezy if he's got any weakness in respiratory system - OP made it sound like he's been like this for a couple of days already.