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Original poster

New persistent cough in a hotel

35 replies

Bedroomdilemma · 05/09/2020 21:29

We’ve come to a hotel today to attend a family do tomorrow, it’s about 4 hours drive from home but we came here by public transport. DS has developed a persistent cough, I’ve only noticed it since we came up to our room Tonight but he says he’s had it since we got here but has been coughing discretely into his elbow. He does tend to get a bad chest in winter particularly when he’s lying down in bed (like now) - to the extent his granny thought we should get him assessed for asthma last winter - but what should we do? Isolate in our room if he still has it tomorrow morning when he gets out of bed? Will we have to stay here for a fortnight (min) if he tests positive (will cost a fortune and were down a lot of money because of Covid as it is)? it feels weird to be thinking about this, it really seems to have got worse since he went to bed which I’ve noticed happens to him most winters...hopefully it goes when he gets up in the morning...

OP posts:
Blankblankblank · 05/09/2020 21:36

Book him a test locally. You will have the results pretty quickly then can work out what you need to do. You can’t just hope he’s coughing less in the morning & carry on with your plans, it would be unfair on the poor person coming in to clean the room for a start.

Hopefully it’s just a winter bug but, with a persistent cough, he needs testing.

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 05/09/2020 21:38

Can either you or dh drive? Any way of hiring a car with minimal interaction, driving you all home, then leaving the car unused for a min 72hours before returning (pending negative test results).

Frenchfancy · 05/09/2020 21:40

Could it be an allergy? The fact you came by public transport is irrelevant for Covid purposes as symptoms do not show that quickly.

AldiAisleofCrap · 05/09/2020 21:43

The fact you came by public transport is irrelevant for Covid purposes as symptoms do not show that quickly. am sure the op just means so they can’t drive home.
Op book a local test as pp says, you won’t be able to leave the hotel room ( other than to take the test) until you get a result if negative.

JayDot500 · 05/09/2020 21:45

You need to get him tested. Then, could you borrow a car from a family member to drive home?

Until you are all tested, there's no real other option apart from driving home, then getting tested.

Original poster
Bedroomdilemma · 05/09/2020 21:46

No He wouldn’t have caught it on public transport, it just leaves us a bit stranded. We both drive, I had thought about getting a family member to bring us a rental car with a full tank and getting the hell home, was thinking maybe that’s irresponsible but we could do it with minimal interaction. A few over 70s to be at the thing tomorrow, who think Covid is a bit of a hoax 🙄 I’m sure they’ll think we’re being silly if we pull out but what can we do!

OP posts:
Estrellente · 05/09/2020 21:47

Hire a car and drive home and then spray it liberally with antibac when you drop it off?

Shouldbedoing · 05/09/2020 21:48

Under the circumstances you have to test but my bet is it's mould or house dust mites that's set off his coughing. He should get properly checked out for asthma, too

yearinyearout · 05/09/2020 21:48

Could he be allergic to something at the hotel?

capercaillie · 05/09/2020 21:52

Sounds like you’ll need to test but I’d also be thinking allergy here. Asthma can be worse lying down and at night if it isn’t controlled.

SunInTheSkyYouKnowHowIFeel · 05/09/2020 21:52

What is inside the pillows Op? Is it feathers? Maybe hes allergic to the dust mites in them, you could ask housekeeping to change them to synthetic. Probably clutching at straws but worth a thought.

winterisstillcoming · 05/09/2020 21:53

Go online and book a test ASAP. they're really quick and it's the only way to know.

RoseTintedAtuin · 05/09/2020 22:00

Definitely don’t go. Book the hire car and book a test. It is so much better to be safe than sorry.

whattodo2019 · 05/09/2020 22:05

You need to get tested and you ALL need to isolate.
This is the only way we can stop this virus spreading.
Take it seriously
I can't believe people are Still asking what to do???

thewinkingprawn · 05/09/2020 22:10

If he gets this every year then honestly I wouldn’t bother. I am sure I shall be shouted at it really we can’t go testing for things they get every flippin year. The NHS testing service will then be truly overwhelmed. It sounds standard for him so unless he has other linked symptoms then I really wouldn’t bother.

MrsTerryPratchett · 05/09/2020 22:15

It's not the winter so it's not the same as the cough he gets in the winter. Get tested. Don't attend the wedding.

rookiemere · 05/09/2020 22:16

Does he have a high temperature? I thought it was new persistent cough, plus a high temperature. Therefore get access to a thermometer quickly and check it before doing anything else.

Augustbreeze · 05/09/2020 22:23

@rookiemere it's if you have any of the three main symptoms, you don't need to have all or two of them.

EasterIssland · 05/09/2020 22:23

@Estrellente

Hire a car and drive home and then spray it liberally with antibac when you drop it off?
Which is the point of cleaning it with an antibac if covid is actually a virus and not a bacterial ?
amatsip · 05/09/2020 22:24

I work in car hire and our firm won't obviously hire to anyone with suspected covid, themselves or close family. If they have hired and become positive they have to hold onto vehicle for two weeks. They are not charged for time the car is with them but they have to send photo of mileage so branch can see car hasn't been used since you self isolated, then vehicle when returned is thoroughly sanitized.

amatsip · 05/09/2020 22:27

Family wouldn't be able to hire on your behalf, Branch would need to see driver with their license and bank card.

SidSparrow · 05/09/2020 22:30

1 in 2 million chance of dying with covid... Just sayin'

DianaT1969 · 05/09/2020 22:31

@EasterIsland where have you been since March? People refer to the action of cleaning with wipes, soap and water and bleach as 'antibac' all the time. Anti-virus cleaner doesn't have the same ring. Some antibac wipes actually state they kill the virus too.

im5050 · 05/09/2020 22:36

Could be air con in hotel
I stay in hotels regularly as in 4-7 days twice a month and always got a sore throat cough
Since lockdown I have been working from home and not had a single cough or sore throat
Last week I had to spend two nights in a hotel - sore throat and cough began pretty much straight away
I swear it’s the air con in the hotels that do this to me

ifhedoesntlikeithecanstuffit · 05/09/2020 22:51

This worries me about DD. She is 12 but has regularly had a persistent cough all her life, several times year and lasting several weeks. It's mainly at nights and is a dry sort of cough, but keeps her (and me) awake for hours and is awful to hear. We've tried asthma inhalers of different colours but the eventual view is that it is just her.

Your DS sounds similar. If you recognise the symptoms (and as others say, it might be triggered by a different environment) then it probably isn't covid. Especially if he hasn't a temperature. HOWEVER - I don't think we can take the risk in the current climate - so you do need to miss the do tomorrow and take appropriate actions. Sorry.