People coming in to work with new coughs

[Whathefisgoingon]

Someone at my workplace had to go home yesterday as they felt unwell and had a bad cough.

Today they are in like nothing has happened, no PCR test has been done, just lateral flows.

This has happened a few times.

Where do I stand? I don’t feel comfortable with it.

A senior member of staff has said they haven’t had a PCR because they’re asthmatic so that’s the reason they were unwell yesterday.

Should this personal information be getting shared with you?

When will people realise that it's not up to them to decide that their new continuous cough is a cold/hay-fever whatever - we are in a pandemic they need a test. Actually I think when self isolation ends people will be more likely to do PCRs, its the disruption of the ten days for the whole family that makes people drag their heels, especially now when the illness is less likely to be deadly for the vaccinated.

@Middlesboroughgirl

If you are unable to work from a fear of germs you should sign off on sick leave and try to get treatment or get a job where you can work in an isolated environment.

It's not fear of germs though, is it. It's a frustration about people not following the very clear guidance and intentionally putting their colleagues at risk. Why should OP lose out on earnings because other people can't behave appropriately?

@Treehaus

Is it the same person that has had a cough and then been back in?

I think the OP has spoken to management about two different people with coughs (if I've understood correctly)

The ethos at my sons school and from parents around the school gate is, if yo ur child has any of the symptoms, SEND them to school. You are deemed an idiot if you dont as thats what they are all doing, plus, the school is starting to fret over attendance the way it always did pre covid.

I'm a person with a new cough... however it's not continuous, no bouts of coughing for over an hour. DD has a cold which I have not been given (thanks kid!) , we know she hasn't got COVID as she has had a PCR after being sent home. I do LFT's twice a week. I reassured all my colleagues of all these points when I arrived with a cough, and wear my mask if I am close to them.

@GoWalkabout

Fair enough .

What about when the symptom list expands (as it’s expected to) to include (eg) headaches. Muscle aches. General cold like symptoms.

Will you expect everyone with chronic headaches, pain conditions etc to isolate and test every time they have a symptom exacerbation? Because every discrete headache or pain flare could be considered a “new example” in theory. And how will you police this? Many of these symptoms and conditions are invisible- the difference for asthmatics is that other people can hear theirs.

Some of these responses are a bit harsh. It’s ok to be uncomfortable if your job is not following the guidelines. Are you in a union? That would be my first port of call informally to find out where you stand. If you can work from home I would ask your line manager could you do this. But I don’t think you are unreasonable to be concerned about your baby. This is how many people are feeling at the moment you are not the only one at all!

When will people realise that it's not up to them to decide that their new continuous cough is a cold/hay-fever whatever - we are in a pandemic they need a test. Actually I think when self isolation ends people will be more likely to do PCRs, its the disruption of the ten days for the whole family that makes people drag their heels, especially now when the illness is less likely to be deadly for the vaccinated.

People are talking about things which are not new for them. I will not ever be isolating for sneezing or runny noses during the summer because it’s ludicrous. I’m not prepared to lose my job (because that’s what would happen if the whole family had to isolate every time I sneezed during grass pollen season) because other people can’t cope with a modicum of risk in their lives.

@GoWalkabout

When will people realise that it's not up to them to decide that their new continuous cough is a cold/hay-fever whatever - we are in a pandemic they need a test. Actually I think when self isolation ends people will be more likely to do PCRs, its the disruption of the ten days for the whole family that makes people drag their heels, especially now when the illness is less likely to be deadly for the vaccinated.

Quite but its up to the person to decide if that cough is new or continuous (as opposed to not new and infrequent like most athsmatics are) and take action accordingly not for others to assess and assume on their behalf

Unless you have athsma you have no idea how bad or irregular coughing can be

[quote VaguelyInteresting]@GoWalkabout

Fair enough .

What about when the symptom list expands (as it’s expected to) to include (eg) headaches. Muscle aches. General cold like symptoms.

Will you expect everyone with chronic headaches, pain conditions etc to isolate and test every time they have a symptom exacerbation? Because every discrete headache or pain flare could be considered a “new example” in theory. And how will you police this? Many of these symptoms and conditions are invisible- the difference for asthmatics is that other people can hear theirs.[/quote]
If the symptoms lust expands like that, I will never physically be at work! Get headaches regularly. Have asthma and hay fever. A light head cold almost always goes into my chest.

I would need be away from the testing centre.

@ginsparkles

I'm a person with a new cough... however it's not continuous, no bouts of coughing for over an hour. DD has a cold which I have not been given (thanks kid!) , we know she hasn't got COVID as she has had a PCR after being sent home. I do LFT's twice a week. I reassured all my colleagues of all these points when I arrived with a cough, and wear my mask if I am close to them.

There's been lots of covid where I live, not one person I know who's had it has been coughing for over an hour - just frequently for short bursts.

I haven't read all updates and everyone's posts, but I just wanted to chip in as a seasonal asthmatic - if I PCR tested each time I coughed I might as well camp at the test centre. I don't particularly care that people look at me as though I'm a mass murderer everytime I cough, at least they give me space, but others with lung issues find the judgement distressing.
Your workplace should have a policy of twice weekly LF testing.
All adults have had the opportunity for first vaccine.
Just make sure you wear your mask, use hand sanitisers and distance. Insist your HR enforce this as policy, coupled with twice weekly testing, for all workers.

@OverTheRubicon that may be the case, but I'm testing regularly and my daughter has been tested. The symptoms for a test are a new continuous cough, which this is not.

@GoWalkabout

When will people realise that it's not up to them to decide that their new continuous cough is a cold/hay-fever whatever - we are in a pandemic they need a test. Actually I think when self isolation ends people will be more likely to do PCRs, its the disruption of the ten days for the whole family that makes people drag their heels, especially now when the illness is less likely to be deadly for the vaccinated.

I agree with this. And I'm asthmatic! (just putting it out there in anticipation of people saying "but you don't understand".

I do sit in the bracket of people who have a consistent low level asthmatic cough exacerbated by allergies which is normal for me. I wouldn't test for that (as it's not a new issue).

However. I would certainly test if my cough was worse due to a suspected asthma flare up or illness (most colds I catch tend to cause a cough), as even though I know it's likely to be asthma related given my previous history, I wouldn't be able to be certain!

@Wellbythebloodyhell and how does that work when you work with covid deniers? For those people the symptoms will never be covid. I work with some people like this too.

@Saidtoomuch Their policy is to “strongly encourage” staff to do the LFT. I don’t think there’s much else they can do.

@Saidtoomuch

I haven't read all updates and everyone's posts, but I just wanted to chip in as a seasonal asthmatic - if I PCR tested each time I coughed I might as well camp at the test centre. I don't particularly care that people look at me as though I'm a mass murderer everytime I cough, at least they give me space, but others with lung issues find the judgement distressing. Your workplace should have a policy of twice weekly LF testing. All adults have had the opportunity for first vaccine. Just make sure you wear your mask, use hand sanitisers and distance. Insist your HR enforce this as policy, coupled with twice weekly testing, for all workers.

Not sure I agree with employers wanting 2 tests per week, or if it's widely used out with healthcare, but everyone can order the tests to do at home anyway. So op could test twice per week if they wanted do.

@ginsparkles

Why have you made up your own definition of a continuous cough?

If you are coughing more than usual (eg it's not a one off because you are chocking or something), you have a new continuous cough and are meant to isolate and test.

The NHS definition of a continuous cough:
"a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)"

FFS. I do not understand why all of you who wouldn't err on the side of caution and test are so happy to risk going round infecting loads of others and propagating our case rates further. I for one would really like to avoid another lockdown and PCRs are easy and free.

[quote Whatshouldicallme]@ginsparkles

Why have you made up your own definition of a continuous cough?

If you are coughing more than usual (eg it's not a one off because you are chocking or something), you have a new continuous cough and are meant to isolate and test.

The NHS definition of a continuous cough:
"a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)"

FFS. I do not understand why all of you who wouldn't err on the side of caution and test are so happy to risk going round infecting loads of others and propagating our case rates further. I for one would really like to avoid another lockdown and PCRs are easy and free.[/quote]
Because my private health information is no one else’s business.

@Longestfewdaysupcoming -- assuming you are ginsparkles and have forgotten to NC.

I don't see what that has to do with following the guidelines?

You don't need to tell anyone you have a new continuous cough to follow the guidelines, which are to test if you have a new continuous cough according to the NHS definition above not your own made up definition that requires an hourly cough.

[quote Whatshouldicallme]@ginsparkles

Why have you made up your own definition of a continuous cough?

If you are coughing more than usual (eg it's not a one off because you are chocking or something), you have a new continuous cough and are meant to isolate and test.

The NHS definition of a continuous cough:
"a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)"

FFS. I do not understand why all of you who wouldn't err on the side of caution and test are so happy to risk going round infecting loads of others and propagating our case rates further. I for one would really like to avoid another lockdown and PCRs are easy and free.[/quote]
For many families it's not as simple as that. If you know or are fairly sure your cough is asthma related why would you get tested?

The test may be free, but if you go for a test then everyone in your house is supposed to self isolate. Many just cannot afford to do so, especially if you know it's asthma related. Not everyone can work from home. The results can take up to 48 hours, so potentially 2 days off work every time someone in the house has an asthma flare up. The reality for many is their employer just wouldn't tolerate that kind of absence, especially if the test was continually coming back as negative.

I'm not referring to people who have a regular and ongoing condition with no change to that condition.

I'm referring to responses from people who have decided on their own that they don't meet the criteria despite the fact that they ARE coughing more than is usual for them.

[quote Whatshouldicallme]@Longestfewdaysupcoming -- assuming you are ginsparkles and have forgotten to NC.

I don't see what that has to do with following the guidelines?

You don't need to tell anyone you have a new continuous cough to follow the guidelines, which are to test if you have a new continuous cough according to the NHS definition above not your own made up definition that requires an hourly cough.[/quote]
I’m not @ginsparkles as I’m sure mumsnet will confirm.