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

@Teateaandmoretea

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.

Even the test centre tests are self administered though, aren't they?

went to the toilets each time I needed to blow my nose.
A teacher can't just walk out of the class to do this. You're lucky if you get time for a wee.

Yeah I’m wrong about that. Absolutely ridiculous

Sandiecheeks, I got tested this week and it was not self administered

I'm struggling to believe you are a teacher tbh.

Making excuses despite the fact your taste WAS affected. What is the point?

If I were in your position, I'd contact the headmaster today to let him or her know that you've come down with possible Covid symptoms. I assume you have out of hours contact details - it's kinder to give advance warning so cover can potentially be thought about on a Saturday rather than first thing on a Monday.

headmaster

It's 2020 not 1950. There are female headteachers too.

(there's always that parent who complains

If a child was sent to school at the moment with the same symptoms, what would happen? Would teachers be happy? Would the child be sent home? Told to get a test?

Just tell the head and let them decide. And try and get a test!
Can't believe you're asking tbh, it's basic common sense. I wouldn't be impressed if my child's teacher was unwell with any related symptoms.
.

It's 2020 not 1950. There are female headteachers too.
Presumably that's why that poster said "Let him or her know".

The word headmaster though

66% of headteachers are female btw.

I’d get a test and tell the head.

Get a test asap you're more likely to have a more accurate test the sooner you get it done.

Well yes, but why say "There are female headteachers too, when the poster had actually said so? In any case, there are definitely still schools with headmasters (and headmistresses)!

To clarify: last night I couldn’t taste my dinner. This morning my sense of taste has returned as my nose is no longer blocked. I have been consistent in explaining this upthread.

The fact remains that according to official guidance, without this ‘symptom’ there is apparently no ‘need’ for me to have a test! I believe that the official stance on this is wrong and that I should be tested.

I have tried to explain my frustration about the mismatch between common sense about what I should do and government guidelines. I believe the guidance needs changing.

Some really valid points have been made by many posters. However, It’s a shame that the point I’m trying to raise about guidance has been reduced by some people to ‘dim teacher won’t get tested’....but that’s MN🤷‍♀️

I’m off to arrange my test now.

IMO I would stay home get tested and then wait for result. It's not worth taking the chance and spreading it if you have it. If you find out you do have it and spread it around it wouldn't be far on more vulnerable people. A few days away and since you are ill anyway is the right thing.

If you don't have it then you will have missed just a couple of days.

Best wishes.

Get a test, those assuming they have colds and going into work still with vulnerable people is astounding.

You had a symptom though

Where does it say if you don't have the symptom that second you press the button you shouldn't get a test?

I would add that if one of my children (returned this week) have a cold I will keep them home and get them tested.

I think personally it is wise for anyone, child, adult, teacher, to get tested even if they think it may be a cold just to be on the safe side.

Get a test,this is what the testing centres are for.

OP in healthcare we recognise that sometimes people have intermittent symptoms.

It doesn't mean we ignore them.

You have had symptoms and clearly meet the criteria for testing. No ambiguity.

Thanks Al1Langdownthecleghole.

@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!

But you wouldn’t be pretending! You couldn’t taste your dinner or chocolate.

The guidelines say ‘loss or change to sense of taste or smell’. Not ‘loss or change to sense of taste or smell where you think it could be explained by something else’.

You have an infection with a change to your sense of taste. You qualify for a test and should be isolating.

I’m not sure why there’s all this faddling about tbh.

Get on the website, book the test, get it done, and isolate until you no longer need to.

OP, you are absolutely right about crap official guidance. If you'd been Matt Hancock posting on here, you'd have been toast!

But now you are posting as you, about your responsibilities, and that is what people are going to focus on. Our communal fury against Matt Hancock doesn't help us when all we can do is advise you.

Whatever the failings of those in charge, we each have a responsibility to behave responsibly despite lack of guidance, and that responsibility lies particularly heavy on those whose professional role involves duty of care. Think about it- how would you expect your pupils to obey you for even a single moment if it wasn't for your teacher persona of "the person who can be relied on to make the right decision"? How could you take them on a school trip if their parents didn't trust you to think for yourself in an emergency?