Caught Covid outside? :(

[Threelittlegins]

My husband has been working from home for months.
We don’t go to a supermarket we have food delivered and we always wipe it down.

Since lockdown began the only places we have been is for a walk.

I take my DS for a walk to our local park most days. (Only a baby so we don’t use the play area)

On Tuesday I met up with a friend and we went for a walk around a local lake.
It was quite busy but I never had close contact with anyone.
A few runners did run past quite close though.

Me and my friend distanced the whole time.

Before our walk we visited the cafe for a takeaway coffee. It’s all done outside so we didn’t have to go in.

I did drink from a disposable coffee cup but sanitised my hands when I’d finished, washed hands when I got home.

This morning I’ve got a sore throat and a tickly cough. 😖
I’ve ordered a test.

I don't think you can 100% limit exposure to any germs. Your precautions will reduce the risk but not eliminate it, eg you miss a spot when wiping down the food, or someone wearing a mask/gloves has already picked up germs then touched your coffee cup and you inadvertently touched your face shortly after or you sit on a bench and touch something etc.

I understand your worry especially if you have other health conditions but I think it's impossible to tell where you picked up a bug from.

I hope whatever you have isn't covid and is a mild "normal" bug that passes quickly.

Try to stay calm until you know anything different. Don't panic it's covid until you have a test and /or some of the more distinctive symptoms like changes to taste or smell.

The way you've worded your OP, even with the question mark, makes it read like "How could I have caught Covid when I've only been outside?"

FWIW your symptoms sound more likely to be something other than Covid unless you also have a loss of taste/smell.

I understand, you are puzzled why you could catch any virus not just COVID. It’s a good question and I’m sure a virologist could answer. Which isn’t me.

Suffice to say not all viruses act or behave the same way. There are different levels of stability in the open and different ways it can be transmitted. Our current COVID guidance mitigates chances of catching COVID. It might work for other viruses as well but not all.

Of course you can’t rule out COVID. It’s the right thing to do to get a test. But, it’s just as likely to be a cold. It may also be a condition that is exasperated by cold wet air. One you might not even notice in normal winter.

Well first see if the test comes back positive.

It might just be a sore throat and tickle cough (cough for CV19 may be different).

A sore throat is a symptom for many. Many don’t show the three main ones but test positive.

Your friend could have carried a bug or the virus with no symptoms and takeaway cup could have been carrying germs.

Oh god. You’re one of them. You and your friend stood opposite sides of the path, forcing everyone to have to walk / run between you!

@tenlittlecygnets

A sore throat isn't a Covid symptom. Nor is a tickly cough.

Yes it is. Maybe one of the reasons the UK is in such a messed is that you're using a too narrow set of symptoms.

Most common symptoms:

fever.
dry cough.
tiredness.
Less common symptoms:

aches and pains.
sore throat.
diarrhoea.
conjunctivitis.
headache.
loss of taste or smell.
a rash on skin, or discolouration of fingers or toes.
Serious symptoms:

difficulty breathing or shortness of breath.
chest pain or pressure.
loss of speech or movement.

www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_3

🤣

I think the title is misleading op because if it is covid you haven't got it by just standing outside. You've had a takeaway and presumably stood in a queue with others etc. There are any number of ways that cup could have been contaminated with anything.
As you've been wiping everything down and had no contact with any viruses you'll easily pick them up once you do start interacting.
It's good to practice good hand hygiene but you can go too far the other way.

@Whoooootaminute

Mayve just a sore throat? A general winter bug.

How is your friend?

Yes it could be any other bug ..... but if you've been socially distanced enough to avoid covid-19 you would surely also be avoiding all other bugs?

"“While it is not impossible, there is no evidence that COVID-19 has been transmitted when people walk past each other outdoors,” the group of scientists concluded."

Source

So it sounds like you've got a common cold. Way to be dramatic with the thread title.

I have quite a bad sore throat today violins and I haven't considered getting a test!

@SoupDragon

There is nothing wrong with the title. It has a question mark which means it's a question. 🙄

Its an overly dramatic title, the sad face was unnecessary . It hides the question mark and insinuates they already have it

Ridiculous thread title. Could be any other bug. A general cold for eg is easier to catch than covid.

@cookiecrunchh

* if it is covid you haven't got it by just standing outside. You've had a takeaway and presumably stood in a queue with others etc*

There was no que. just me and my friend. As we were leaving another couple arrived but we were no where near them.

This is true, but if she's taking all the precautions to avoid Covid, which is very contagious, how would she catch another virus?

I’ve also been taking all the necessary precautions to avoid Covid, and am on my third cold since august. Tested every time, and negative for Covid. So I can only assume other viruses are more contagious.

@DownWhichOfLate

Oh god. You’re one of them. You and your friend stood opposite sides of the path, forcing everyone to have to walk / run between you!

@DownWhichOfLate

Sorry for being an inconvenience to you by following the rules of socially distancing.

Next time we will rub shoulders, break the rules and potentially pass on Covid to each other, but at least that makes it easier for people like you to pass.

@tenlittlecygnets

A sore throat isn't a Covid symptom. Nor is a tickly cough.

My DS had a rough / sore throat and tickly cough as an early symptom. Plus a bit of a temperature and headache. Verified by a test.

🙄

we cant assume covid with a sore throat working for the NHS, we still need to go by the 3 that we know about

It’s probably just a cold. I’ve had loads of sore throats and sniffles even since the first lockdown. I guess these must be more contagious than Covid.

Also this sounds a really miserable existence you’ve had all these months, are you particularly vulnerable?

Well, you tell me how people are supposed to get past you if you are on opposite sides of the path and they are going the other way?!

i hate this, i walk down the high street and there are people outside the shop, both sides of the path, which means i either have to into the road or walk between them!
although i guess walking between them should not be enough to transmit any virus.

You've spent this whole thread explaining how you've come into no contact with anyone or anything that could have given you covid. So why are you worried that you have covid? I don't understand.
You can get a sore throat from bacteria, and a sore throats lends to a cold. That could come from anything. You have a cold.