Teacher with ‘bad cold’ WWYD?

[TestOrNot]

Hi
I’ve posted similar yesterday in the staff room but wanted to vary my question a bit and post here for traffic.

I developed a streaming cold yesterday. I’ve woken up feeling pretty dreadful- general malaise and headache but runny nose and sneezing has calmed down a bit. Definitely not hay fever.

Are there any guidelines for key workers with symptoms like this who don’t qualify for a test (no fever or cough)? I’m due back to Sitka early next week. Surely you can’t just go to work as normal with visible symptoms during the pandemic?

WWYD?

I was all set to ring 111 but clearly have none of the symptoms for a Covid test so thought I’d ask if anyone has had similar experience and can advise.

TIA

If teachers can't be trusted to be responsible, then who can?

The problem is that teachers are under massive pressure to go to work regardless. It is a very difficult mindset to get out of.

Talk to your head teacher.

Last night, I couldn’t taste my dinner or the very posh chocolate that dd bought me.

That's a CV19 symptom though.

You know that the common cold is caused by a coronavirus right?

I had hoped that after what we've been through and continue to go through people would have a bit of common sense.

If you're sick with something contagious stay at home till you are no longer contagious.

What's next, everyone stop washing their hands too?

Why wouldn’t you get a test? Tests are not an endangered species.

Get tested! I've had 2 already to remove doubt - both negative.

You self refer on the website and can get tested very quickly - I've been same day and had results within 48 hours both times

Ps testing is available 7 days a week too

I don't know whether to take this seriously.

A teacher loses their sense of taste - a well documented symptom - and doesn't know if they should go to work or not?

Jesus wept. Self isolate and get a bloody test.

My bubble at school would be if any of us turned up saying ‘it’s fine, just a cold!’ You’re risking having to close down the whole bubble.

Go and get tested —you donkey—

Thank you to those who have actually read my posts- as opposed to those who have convinced themselves that I’m going to go to work with symptoms, and without being tested!!!

To be clear: I am frustrated and confused because even though my situation is a ‘no brainier’ for me and many others (I think I should be off work and need testing) in order to do the above I would be ignoring government guidance on the whether I ‘need’ a test. (The reason I said I was unsure about sense of taste and smell is because it has returned this morning as my nose is less blocked).

To some posters I will say RELAX- I have no intention of putting anyone at risk but I feel that the official guidance shouldn’t be leading someone like me to make up their own minds. It should be clearer and a broader list of symptoms should perhaps be included in risk assessments within schools and other settings would spread of virus is more likely.

Thanks everyone. I’ll get the ball rolling.

I will get a test but need to approach it another way as the symptom tracker took me too dead end.

@hopingtobedally

Blimey It's a cold. Go to work

Have you been asleep for the last 12 weeks?

I can't believe people are saying it's just a cold go to work!!! There's fucking pandemic and people with this attitude are literally killing vulnerable individuals. It's obvious here who has the luxury of not being touched by it. Selfish pricks.

OP you do NOT need to say "I've got a cold, should I come in?". Say that you feel unwell, headache, loss of smell etc. Say your isolating and getting tested just in case. Then isolate and get tested! You're a teacher please do not take risks. It may well just be a cold but it might not. Not worth making assumptions.

@TestOrNot

Thank you to those who have actually read my posts- as opposed to those who have convinced themselves that I’m going to go to work with symptoms, and without being tested!!!

To be clear: I am frustrated and confused because even though my situation is a ‘no brainier’ for me and many others (I think I should be off work and need testing) in order to do the above I would be ignoring government guidance on the whether I ‘need’ a test. (The reason I said I was unsure about sense of taste and smell is because it has returned this morning as my nose is less blocked).

To some posters I will say RELAX- I have no intention of putting anyone at risk but I feel that the official guidance shouldn’t be leading someone like me to make up their own minds. It should be clearer and a broader list of symptoms should perhaps be included in risk assessments within schools and other settings would spread of virus is more likely.

Thanks everyone. I’ll get the ball rolling.

I will get a test but need to approach it another way as the symptom tracker took me too dead end.

Just say on the symptom checker you had a loss/change in sense of taste

Are you worried you're going to get found out in some way?

I have a cough. Went for a test. As a keyworker in school I booked online for the next day. Negative test came back the next day. I'm still coughing but at least I know it's not Covid.

I can't believe people are saying just go back to work.

I've just had a common cold. I work with vulnerable people. I continued going to work and just wore a mask and went to the toilets each time I needed to blow my nose.

A teacher can't just wander off to the toilet every time they need to blow their nose. They need to stay in the classroom at all times.

I don’t know sandie, I just think my situation should warrant getting a test without having to pretend my sense of taste and smell are still affected!

They didn't ask me any questions about symptoms when I booked. It just let me book!

You’re not pretending. You said you couldn’t taste!

You said yourself you lost your sense of taste!! Get a test and and stop being so dim. I'm a teacher and can't believe you're even contemplating not getting one.

OP you said upthread that you couldn't taste your dinner. That is a recognised symptom of CV. You could/should have got the ball rolling immediately then but as that was only yday evening I completely agree - tick that box and have one done today.

Hope you feel better :)

@TestOrNot

I don’t know sandie, I just think my situation should warrant getting a test without having to pretend my sense of taste and smell are still affected!

You just said above your sense of taste was affected.

You sound like you're making excuses not to get tested for some reason.

If it helps, the COVID app told me to get a test because I was tired. I had to book one.

They don't know I have a toddler!

They actively want as many tests as possible.

Get well soon!

You need to get tested to put your colleagues and children's parents mind at rest. I wouldn't be happy if your taught my child with what appeared to be a heavy cold unless you were able to say it was hay fever.
Government guidelines say all sorts of things that are guidelines and not strict rules. You need to use your common sense.

Just popping in to point out that the false negative rate on the tests is thought to be up to 30%, so even if you get a negative test it's FAR from definitive.

The home tests are a lot more unreliable as they are hard to self administer. You are much better actually going to a test centre.

I got a test last Saturday as I was worried I had a symptom - I booked at 2pm, was at a deserted testing centre by 2.30 and had the results (negative) within 24 hours. Def worth ruling out!