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?

Your manager is an idiot. What if you do have it? You go to school, infect god knows how many people, ok they’re young, apparently they get over it really quickly, what about at home, the people they live with, what if they’re not so lucky.

Get tested

Ok, I hear you.
I'm going to call for 1st aid, that's how you get sent home and get a test.

Cross your fingers for me, please.

You have symptoms that could be Covid, so go and get a test.

You probably have something else, but play it safe. You work in a school and could start a local epidemic if you do have it.

"Haven't been anywhere much other than school."

Just get a test for heaven's sake. Your manager sounds irresponsible.

@WilsonMilson

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

And risk losing her job ?

Your school has to have a Covid risk assessment and a process for what happens if a pupil or a member of staff has symptoms. Ours (and many others I have seen) is a flow chart / branch diagram type thing. You should have been sent it and had it explained.

You need to look and that and follow it. It will not say what your manager has said because it will have had to be checked against the national guidance.

You need to isolate and try to get a test, which may well be easier for you if you are in a low-infection area. You stay off until you have a negative result, when you return to work.

No bubbles are considered for shutting unless there is a positive test.

I am in an area with middling level infections at the moment, although rising fast. There is a merry-go -round of people (staff and pupils) in local schools off with symptoms and either managing to test and returning or having to stay off for the 10 days if they can't get the test. Bubbles have also closed and reopened. This is the reality.

@samosamimosa thank you for getting it. That's my quandary.

Get a test for what could be a cold and run the risk of losing my job?

Or stay in school for what probably is a chesty cold.

Yes, my health is more important than my job but I'm in debt because I was made redundant in March with one month's severance, basic only, no commission which was double my wages again. I applied for everything and this was the first and only job I got.

The Covid flow chart says 1st step tell my line manager, which is what I have done. She said to stay at school.

[quote NotMyUsualNameHere]@samosamimosa thank you for getting it. That's my quandary.

Get a test for what could be a cold and run the risk of losing my job?

Or stay in school for what probably is a chesty cold.

Yes, my health is more important than my job but I'm in debt because I was made redundant in March with one month's severance, basic only, no commission which was double my wages again. I applied for everything and this was the first and only job I got.[/quote]
Unfortunately we don't all have a choice to do what the mumsnet massif insist we do

I'm sorry you are 8n this predicament op @NotMyUsualNameHere

Thanks @ssd, it's certainly not your fault though so don't be sorry.

I've been sent home. My test is booked for tomorrow.

I have asked for work, I haven't been given any. It would seem that my line manager is angry with me.

Pity party incoming.
I'm crying. I'm up to my eyeballs in mardy emails from the bank and credit cards. I've applied for every job on Indeed since March. I'm earning less than minimum wage because I'm not paid for holidays. I'm feeling rough and I've just about had enough of life.

Thank you to the people who were kind and understanding

This totally isn’t your fault OP. Your manager is to blame here and isn’t following guidelines.

Your manager is shit, this is nothing you e done, you’re unwell and stressed. Hopefully your results will come through quickly and will be negative

Take care of yourself and feel better soon

I had this exact situation in a new job the week before lockdown in March(so sadly no testing but I’m sure I had it). Your manager is an idiot. I ended up getting an extended probation period because of mine 🙄

Definitely

Hey. People do get angry when you test positive/isolate but that's irrelevant. Stay well. Hope you've got it mild if you've got it

The test was negative.

My GP thinks I have a chest infection, they aren't seeing people unless they really have to.

I'm inhaling, resting and staying hydrated. If it hasn't gone within a week I have to contact my GP again.

Great that it is negative OP. Chest infections are horrible - look after yourself and get well soon

I’m impressed you got your test booked and results back so quickly. Still waiting for my results, been over 48 hours

Glad it’s negative but still rest up and take care

EnjoyingTheSilence sorry that you had to wait so long to get your results back . I replied so late because I've been rough with this infection.

Yes, I took my test the drive up way. It came back the next day. I think
I still have the confirmation that I can post if you're doubting me?

We're in a low incidence area, my car was the only one there when I went for the test. I'm guessing that's why.

Get a test. At our secondary they only inform parents if you were to test positive. Even then only close contacts get sent home, not the whole bubble.

Not doubting you at all @NotMyUsualNameHere, sorry if it came over that way. I had to wait over 3 days for my results, was feeling very grumpy!! I know other people that were tested the same day same and got their results the next day.

Hope you’re feeling better now

@NotMyUsualNameHere

I’ve worked in secondary schools before as a TA and they wouldn’t want to send you home unless you tested positive. That’s because schools are already SO short staffed. You can’t afford to be off unless you have had a positive test result or else you would be off every week. I know my teacher friends have been told this, mumsnet might be up in outrage but the real world ticks on. They’re pretty cut throat environments to work in OP, I would imagine this didn’t go down too well.

I hope you feel better soon.

@EnjoyingTheSilence I know, it's pants. I don't know whether, like me, you remember previous governments discussing the postcode lottery of NHS healthcare at that time. IMO the current pandemic has exposed another postcode lottery, depending how stretched services are in an area.

FWIW I have said that we live in a low Covid area. It's quite rural but because the population is low the number of hospitals and healthcare facilities is low too.

Even though we don't currently have that many cases, although we do now have some at our school, I don't know what the stats are per head of population. To add to this, there is a large population of older people because many people move here to retire, and all power to them. IMO our area should be upgraded from medium to high, in the same way that parts of Derbyshire have, because our local tipping point is close.

Before anyone comes on to say you just want to have time off no, I don't. Besides, I worked remotely all the way through lockdown last time and will do the same again.

My apologies, this has turned into a post that should probably be in the Covid topic.

@Rabbitholebonkers absolutely, I'm not sure that a lot of people realise I certainly didn't until I worked in education how ruthless schools are with staff. Yes, we get 13 weeks holiday but if you're ill during term time when you're more likely to catch something then there is huge pressure, even on TAs to stay at work or get back to work, even if you are still ill and have been signed off by a GP. Even with a chest infection I went back to work as soon as my Covid results were clear. I took 2 days off.