Very worried teacher

[Covidwoes]

Hi all, NC'd for this in case it's outing. I'm a teacher waiting on Covid results (developed symptoms yesterday and got tested later in the day) and I'm pretty sure I have it, as my symptoms match. I'm also pregnant (3rd trimester). I cover planning time, so work in different classes. I've been awake all night worrying about spreading it. While I've tried my very best to distance, hand wash, sanitise etc, it's difficult to maintain 100% Covid secure guidelines in schools, especially with younger children. I'm absolutely terrified that if I test positive, I'll have infected loads of people. I know there's not much I can do, but I'm so worried. The symptoms were not gradual onset at all, and I had been feeling absolutely fine on Friday before waking up yesterday feeling ill. I'm honestly more worried about being a super spreader than feeling ill.

[SansaSnark]

@Covidwoes

Hi all, NC'd for this in case it's outing. I'm a teacher waiting on Covid results (developed symptoms yesterday and got tested later in the day) and I'm pretty sure I have it, as my symptoms match. I'm also pregnant (3rd trimester). I cover planning time, so work in different classes. I've been awake all night worrying about spreading it. While I've tried my very best to distance, hand wash, sanitise etc, it's difficult to maintain 100% Covid secure guidelines in schools, especially with younger children. I'm absolutely terrified that if I test positive, I'll have infected loads of people. I know there's not much I can do, but I'm so worried. The symptoms were not gradual onset at all, and I had been feeling absolutely fine on Friday before waking up yesterday feeling ill. I'm honestly more worried about being a super spreader than feeling ill.

It's not your fault. You have been put in an impossible situation and have done your best.

I hope you are OK, but if you are not, you are NOT to blame for passing it on to anyone else.

[ketchupthebear]

Lots of rest and fluids for you, OP, whether it's Covid or not, please look after yourself and your baby. CBeebies for toddler abd back to bed for you. Do not give school another thought, you're unwell and the best thing you can do for everybody is take care of yourself now.

[SansaSnark]

@loulouljh

And for goodness sake to those who say the Government put you in that position....don't be ridiculous. The OP was doing her job as are the millions of other people in the country that are still lucky to have a job!!!!! The alternative is that everyone stays at home. Everyone. That will stop the spread. On the basis that that is not practical people will get this virus. And deal with it like they have dealt with viruses in the past.

There is another thread on here about a parent who has died after their child brought the illness home.

More could be done to make schools safe.

You post is insensitive as fuck.

[picklemewalnuts]

Unless you caught it at an ilegal rave, or snogging a boyfriend, then it isnt your fault! You concentrate on looking after yourself and your family. Take it easy if you are +ve. Don't rush back as teachers usually do!

[PurpleFlower1983]

Please do not feel guilty. The current union guidance says you should be allowed to work from home after 28 weeks so it’s rubbish you have been put in this position. Concentrate on you and the baby

[Cookiecrisps]

Hope you get your result quickly and that you can switch off the worry about school.

I’ve seen many school staff feel massively guilty and stressed about being off ill in normal times due to worrying about the impact on the other staff and the pupils which then can make the illness feel worse. This doesn’t help anyone.

You worked within the guidelines and got ill. It is not your fault. It is not your fault if others need to isolate either. Put yourself first and take all the time you need to get better even if it’s not Covid and even if that goes beyond the isolation period and / or means that you can’t work from home. Someone once gave me this same advice when I was ill and I ignored it. It took me far longer to get better than it should have done. Put yourself first 💐

[Mistletroll]

Please do not spend any more energy on worrying about what is going on at our school. You are in T3 and need to focus on yourself and baby. I'm surprised that your head even allowed you to be there. in T3 you should have been at home doing work.

[mathanxiety]

You're a far nicer person that me, I'd be focused on myself and baby and how shit it is that I've been put in this position. Hope you recover quickly.
THIS ^^

Please focus only on yourself, your 2 yo, your H and your baby. Do you have any support? Family members nearby who can bring meals/ soup?

It's horrific that you had to work in your third trimester, and without adequate PPE.

[loulouljh]

No it is not insensitive. I have not seen any other post where a parent has died after a child has brought it home and there is no obligation to read every thread before posting on one!!!! I have no doubt that could happen and clearly would feel for everyone involved. But as I said the OP was doing her job and that is the point of this thread.

What is it that teachers want? To be dressed head to toe in PPE so the kids cannot actually hear them or respond to them? That I doubt very much.....

The point of my post was to reassure the OP that actually she has done nothing wrong at all. She was doing her job and good on her. I hope that she is fine which I imagine she will be.

[Glossyrocks]

It's not your fault OP, you have done the responsible thing as soon as you had symptoms, if you could see the future I'm sure you'd have won the lottery by now instead of teaching! Schools here have women in the 3rd trimester working from home in schools though.

[SpillingTheTea]

@loulouljh

No it is not insensitive. I have not seen any other post where a parent has died after a child has brought it home and there is no obligation to read every thread before posting on one!!!! I have no doubt that could happen and clearly would feel for everyone involved. But as I said the OP was doing her job and that is the point of this thread.

What is it that teachers want? To be dressed head to toe in PPE so the kids cannot actually hear them or respond to them? That I doubt very much.....

The point of my post was to reassure the OP that actually she has done nothing wrong at all. She was doing her job and good on her. I hope that she is fine which I imagine she will be.

Are you really this ignorant? Do you walk around with rose tinted glasses? Wake up!

[Perfect28]

Oh poor thing. Your school really should have put you on wfh, when are the government going to take this seriously?

[loulouljh]

Explain why that is ignorant? I have no idea!!!!! Please don't throw out insults without backing them up, That is ignorant. Wake up to what exactly????

[CatteStreet]

FWIW, in the case I am aware of of a teacher testing positive, no pupils, AFAIK, were infected and the school/class reopened pretty quickly.

I hope, if you have it, you can rest up lots and are better very soon.

[Endofmytether2020]

I am really concerned about my kids getting Covid from school and bringing it home, but when there have been cases my first instinct has been sympathy for the person who has it. It’s a virus, it spreads. I’m sure in your third trimester you’ve been as careful as your job has allowed you to be. I hope you feel ok and please don’t feel pressured to rush back to work once your symptoms are over.

[pastandpresent]

You know what you are doing, loulouljh. I found your comment distasteful too. Op is a teacher, she is pregnant. She worries more about spreading the covid to children than her own risk.
You compared her experience to people in other professions, who are not likely to be exposed to so many people/children due to the nature of work environment. Saying everyone else is in the similar position doesn't help teachers who are feeling vulnerable, does it?
I do feel strongly about these topics, because the teachers are heart and soul of education, and I admire them.

[randomer]

You simply MUST look after yourself and get a grip of this worry. Phone a help line or talk to somebody.

[WhatAWonderfulWorldd]

It's not your fault op. In fact you probably caught it yourself from school.

My dd caught it from school, dd was fine, I caught it from dd and had really mild symptoms but like you I was worried about the gossiping from work and that I had passed it on as 4 other colleagues then tested positive.

Just look after yourself and don't worry what anyone else thinks

[BustopherPonsonbyJones]

@loulouljh. The OP might have caught it (Covid or otherwise) anywhere but is considerably more likely to have caught ‘it’ from working in a unsafe working environment. She seems very reasonable, despite the stress she has been placed under at a time when she should be keeping well, both mentally and physically. In answer to your question, yes, I think teachers should wear masks in lessons and, yes, I think children should too. Doing your job should not involve putting yourself at risk, unless that was part of the role you signed up to do and that isn’t in most teaching contracts. Your lack of empathy is really quite astonishing.

Look after yourself, OP. It isn’t your fault and viruses spread in crowded, cramped conditions (like schools).

[Tyranttoddler]

@loulouljh

And for goodness sake to those who say the Government put you in that position....don't be ridiculous. The OP was doing her job as are the millions of other people in the country that are still lucky to have a job!!!!! The alternative is that everyone stays at home. Everyone. That will stop the spread. On the basis that that is not practical people will get this virus. And deal with it like they have dealt with viruses in the past.

The government could have given money to schools for cleaning supplies etc so we don't have to use the supply teacher budget to pay for it 👍

[Butterflystar76]

Try not to worry, if you want to try to distract yourself you could spend some time listing where you have been in school on Thursday and Friday and any close contacts you might have... less than 2 metres for 15 mins or more, less then 1 metre for a minute or actually touching anyone... that would help your head vastly if you get a positive today or tomorrow.
Wishing you well, make sure you ar resting 😊

[Northernsoulgirl45]

@loulouljh I am sorry but I think your post was insensitive and unnecessary.
You seem to be implying that the op is lucky to have a job even though that job has put her in a difficult situation.
Op I hope you and your family are OK. Please just concentrate on yourself, your growing baby and your family. I get that is not easy to do as you clearly are a caring person who cares about the wider school community. No one will blame you though.
Incidentally two of my kids bubbles burst this week. It is especially a worry for us as dh is ecv.
However no one is blaming the positive cases . All they want is for them to get well soon.

[Hugepeppapigfan]

I’m a teacher and SLT. None of this is your fault. Your school are on dodgy ground going against union and RCOG advice by having you work in class past 28 weeks! It’s not possible to social distance in most classrooms and certainly not in the vast majority of primary classrooms. What were they thinking? What did your risk assessment say?

Don’t give one more thought about school. Your health and your baby are important here. Your health and safety has not been prioritised by school so it’s your turn to make sure that you do prioritise it. I sincerely hope that you are well again soon.

[loulouljh]

Yes and I am supportive of the OP!!!!!!! Can you not see that? That was the whole point of posting. I have not criticised her in the least! She sounds like a very sensible conscientious person who is worried about her fellow human beings. She sounds great. I would love her to be the teacher of my children.

What I am critical of is the wider moaning from some teachers which always creeps in...that catching Covid is the Governments fault, that teachers should be protected from any risk etc etc. That I cannot stand. I am not implying that the OP should be grateful for a job but I imagine she may well be. Maybe I am experiencing something different to everyone else here but I know many people amongst close friends who have lost their jobs. They are looking at all other options including teaching and will, if that comes off, be grateful for the opportunity to earn money and to keep their houses. There will be many many more people like that as time goes on. I have no doubt that teaching is a difficult profession. But it is one that is secure and I am sure in time that in itself will become more valued rather than less.

But as I originally said OP you have done nothing wrong. I salute you for teaching our children and wish you a quick recovery if you have Covid.

[pastandpresent]

No, sorry, I couldn't see it, loulouljh. You should have stopped at your original comment. What do you gain from digging into OP who is already under so much stress over getting covid while she is pregnant. Have a heart.