Is this it do you think?

[NotMyUsualNameHere]

For info I'm 48 and I've just started a job as a TA at a large Secondary.

We are all in bubbles and it's working well.

I'm feeling rough, it might be a cold...or not?

I cough occasionally, maybe a few times a day.
Have a slight temperature but I started my period yesterday and my temperature usually goes up at the start of my period.
I'm usually quite fit but I'm out of breath walking up the stairs.
When I was lying in bed last night my breath was making a crackling sound as I breathed in and out.

But I have a slight runny nose too.
It feels more like a grotty cold than flu-like.
I can still smell and taste things.
It's the chest bit that's making me wonder.

If I tell school I think I have Covid, I get a test and I don't have it that will effect my whole bubble. If it isn't Covid and then I do go on to get it I will have used up my one 'lifeline' and I'm worried that they will think that I'm crying wolf and I will lose my job.

What do you think?
If you were a parent and it was a false alarm wouldn't you be angry that your child had been sent home?

Get a test

Surely they won’t send anyone home unless you are confirmed as positive?

School shouldn't be sending pupils home because of someone with symptoms, only for a positive result. Is that definitely what they're doing?

And yes, you definitely need to get a test.

I really don't know what they are doing. One of our academy schools had a case but I'm not sure what happened.

I think they send my bubble home?

I forgot to say we're in the South where rates are still very low, not the North where there is talk of a 2nd lockdown.

Did it come on suddenly or gradually? I had a cold a couple weeks ago, which took about five days to kick in (although I had no temp, I did end up with a post nasal drip that made me cough when I lay down) but i got gradually more poorly over the five days.
Apparently Covid comes on all of a sudden like flu.
What is your temp?

I think only YOU stay at home until the test results, not the whole bubble. It does sound like a cold, but you do need to be tested. Good luck

It came on yesterday.

It feels like a chest cold. I don't know what my temperature is, our thermometer is broken but I feel a bit hot then cold.

Absolutely get a test. I do understand where you're coming from, but with the chest symptoms, it really indicates a need to test.

No, they don’t send your bubble home unless your test is positive. As a parent I’d be angry if a member of staff didn’t get tested when they had symptoms. I definitely wouldn’t be angry if my child was sent home as a precaution!

Your one lifeline?! No, you get tested every time you develop symptoms and every single one of us is going to have to do that more than once.

They won’t send your bubble home unless you test postive.
Tell school what you’ve said here and get a test. They are coming back quickly at moment in general so it won’t be too much of an inconvenience for them

I emailed my manager (she's in another bubble) and she told me to stay in school. My hope was that she would say leave now and get a test. Crap.

The bubble won’t be sent home unless you test positive. Crackly lungs is not good - could be a simple chest infection, but heavens above get a test or you are putting your entire bubble at risk.

Your manager is a fucking idiot. Please leave and get a test.

Get a test. I’m in bed with similar symptoms to you. It was though crackly breathing and cough that worried me. I had a test yesterday just waiting for the results.
Have kept the kids home from school as a precaution just in case it’s positive, the school said this was the right thing to do.

Could be a stinking cold could be COVID, without the test none of us know.

Get tested.

Get a test. Each and every time you have symptoms.
Gov guidance is only to send a bubble home if there is a positive test not just symptoms.
Then it is only if they have been in contact with bubble 48 hours prior to symptoms and not social distances or wore PPE.
One of my colleges has tested positive and he wasn't sure if he should get a test. I am grateful he did so that we are at less risk of catching it from him!
I have had to get my daughter tested twice, both negative so if she has symptoms again she will get tested. It's going to be a long winter but the virus isn't going anywhere soon so we have to try and reduce the spread.

If you have a temp, you get a test. You follow the nhs and government guidelines not what your manager says.

Also, keep a copy of your manager’s email telling you to stay in school so that she can be held accountable if you test positive. I’m shocked by her attitude, surely anyone with any sense would be saying to go home and get tested.

Is there any cases in your school, my daughters school has had more than several now so they are on higher alert and one other school on the town has started to get cases.

Our local test centre has evening appointments if you’re worried it’s worth checking your local testing station and times.

It sounds like a cold but who knows anymore?

What do you mean one lifeline?

No-one in your school should isolate if you have symptoms, only if you test positive. Everyone in your household does though until you get your test results and if negative then you can all carry on as normal.

If you worked at my kids school and I found out you came in with these symptoms I would go to town on the school!
Ignore your manager, get a test and see please

You have something. You have two of the key symptoms. FFS get a test

Oh and your manager is being irresponsible

There haven't been any cases in the town.

One of the other academy schools 15 miles away did have a positive case but I haven't been anywhere much, other than school.

Email manager to say that as you have a cough and a temperature you need to go and get a test. Copy it into other senior staff. They can’t wriggle out of anything then.