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

(FFS. I used the term headmaster in a gender neutral way because headmistress implies you are head of the school because you're an unmarried spinster and your marital status is irrelevant to the job. I don't typically say headteacher as that implies a lot more teaching than people in that position do - in my experience, a deputy head will still take classes, but the person at the very top doesn't have the same level of interaction with the pupils.)

Back on topic. I'm glad the OP has decided to go for a test. If you turn up with a cold, people are going to panic unless you can definitely say you've gone for a test to prove it's not coronavirus.

As a high risk parent I'd be absolutely furious if my son's teacher came into school with a cold without having been tested for covid. We all have to take responsibility for each other and this would be a massive breach of trust.

I get where the OP is coming from. She said she will get tested now, but the point she is now making is that the onus is on the person to look beyond the official symptom list (which is a load of bollocks).

That's the problem. A lot of people have atypical symptoms and don't have the common sense to look past that. The symptom list needs updating urgently.

My husband just had a runny nose and a bit of wheeziness. He tested positive. He only tested because I had Covid - also with none of the listed official three symptoms.

But all government guidance will tell you it's just hayfever. The worry is these people are popping an antihistamine and carrying on about their business, spreading Covid around like glitter.

I understand what you’re saying op, the list of symptoms should be extended to include more “vague” symptoms now. As they’re quite specific it does lead to confusion but we all know there are atypical and asymptomatic cases. It should include other symptoms where there is no known cause- I’m not requesting a test for my stuffy nose, that’s hayfever or my headache, that’s last nights gin. You did have a symptom though, loss of taste, just because it’s returned now doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.

Just lie and say you've got a fever! Honestly.

One other problem is that testing, if done too early, may give false positives. There was that plane the other day where all passengers tested negative on departure, but 14 tested positive on arrival.

I think our whole country’s attitude to illness now needs to change.

I think STAY ALERT also means stay alert to symptoms as well as staying 2m apart from each other and washing our hands a lot more.

Just as the Government laid it on thick and scared everyone into staying at home, I think in order for us to get back to “new normal “ and function, people need to be told very clearly that if they are even a bit suspicious they have COVID19 to err on the side of caution.

Otherwise this test track trace system is never going to work.

Most other countries have a much longer symptom list than us.

OP I am in a similar but not so obvious to answer situation. I too work in a school. I don't have any Covid symptoms but my neck glands are swollen so I know my body must be fighting some sort of infection. I also spent a lot of last weekend in a hospital. I have logged on to try and arrange a test but the only way I can get a test is if I lie about my symptoms. So I don't know what to do either? I do get hay fever so it could be that, although my glands don't normally swell.

In my local authority school staff and carers are encouraged to get tested without any symptoms. I suspect it's a way to get Matt Hancock's beloved testing numbers up, but apparently they've caught people who are asymptomatic this way too. From what I've seen there are plenty of tests to go around now so don't worry about wasting a test. Good luck!

@corythatwas

One other problem is that testing, if done too early, may give false positives. There was that plane the other day where all passengers tested negative on departure, but 14 tested positive on arrival.

I think you mean false negatives

There’s plenty of tests - we are not short of testing capacity. Get a test.

Arrange a test -to confirm it is not C19 and then make a decision based on that

Get a test. I would lie about symptoms if I were you as you teach in a school. Better to be cautious.

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.

But...there is a need for you to have a test because you had symptoms. You had a loss of taste. This is a potential symptom of Coronavirus. So book a test and get checked. Honestly, it's not that complicated!

Get a test. I would lie about symptoms if I were you as you teach in a school. Better to be cautious.

OP doesn't need to lie.

One other problem is that testing, if done too early, may give false positives. There was that plane the other day where all passengers tested negative on departure, but 14 tested positive on arrival.

I didn't hear about that @corythatwas! That's mad.

There is definitely an argument for regular, compulsory testing for people who are public facing, like teachers.

If you go in you’ll give the cold to everyone and their families and then they will all umm and ahhh about getting tested and many will. You could save the country a lot of time and money by being tested before all that.

Thanks especially to those who have read the whole thread and acknowledged my point about the guidance.

I won’t be on this thread for a few hours as I’m GOING FOR MY TEST!!!!!!!!!

I would not be happy if you were teaching my child with a cold right now. The last thing I want is you to infect my child with the common cold which means in turn I'm likely to get it and will mean I'm not at 100% strength for fighting COVID should I then catch that too (heart condition). Why would anyone be so selfish as to go into work with a cold at the moment?

Glad to hear that you have booked a test, OP. Definitely the right thing to do!

Good luck @TestOrNot hope you feel better soon.

I think you mean false negatives

Yes of course I do Ariadnes

I'm a mental health nurse and last week had a mild cold. My colleagues insisted I test and self isolate until the results came through. It was negative as I knew it would be, but the test was easy to arrange and it only took a couple of days out of my life. Covid19 does not always present as it should.

I thought key workers could request a test without any symptoms anyway. I know a few that have and for their families too

Well done OP.
A family member had a test last Saturday and we had the results in less than 24 hours. hopefully yours will be as quick.