Stinking cold, in going to have to stay home

[LegendaryReady]

Aren't I?

Sore throat, headache, very runny/sneezy nose. No temperature or cough or changes to taste/smell so officially I don't have "symptoms". I'm double vaxxed and I had Covid in December, so surely it must just be a cold, but of course I can't know that. I've done LFT which is clear. Will arrange PCR.

I'm only just back from a long absence, I'm dreading telling both my boss and my staff, who won't like it for different reasons. I can do some wfh but not the whole thing. Others are going to have to pick stuff up.

You should really but in this new world you don't have tobit, but it depends on your employers policy. Mine wouldn't want me in.

Can you develop a 'temperature'?

@StarshipsAreMeantToFly

Can you develop a 'temperature'?

Why would I want to do that? If it's reasonable to, I'd rather go in. It just seems antisocial to do so.

Even pre covid it was anti social to go into an office with a heavy cold, but we all did it. I would do a PCR and get back in at the earliest opportunity.

Well I read it as can you 'develop' a temperature so then at least you've definitely got a Covid symptom and no one can really complain.

I agree, I don't think you should go I until you've got PCR results. Even if it is just a cold, if you pass it on, it will disrupt far more work time if more staff have to take time out for test. (I imagine this is the winter ahead!).

This is just my workplace but I would send an email with my boss and direct colleagues working by me explaining the situation with all the stuff you mentioned. Then let someone else write back and tell me they didn't want me in.

There might be a colleague who isn't jabbed who can't be dealing with getting sick right now and will be adamant you don't go in.

If everyone insists you go in then they get sick too. Their choice.

@MaggieFS

Well I read it as can you 'develop' a temperature so then at least you've definitely got a Covid symptom and no one can really complain.

I agree, I don't think you should go I until you've got PCR results. Even if it is just a cold, if you pass it on, it will disrupt far more work time if more staff have to take time out for test. (I imagine this is the winter ahead!).

Yeah that's what I meant. Not fake an illness but as you are already ill with potential covid then by 'having' one of of the 3 main symptoms people might be less likely to see it as unreasonable. Just until you get the PCR test.

Depends on your companies policies, I know of a few that are saying if you're at all unwell don't come in and WFH.

If you are arranging a PCR as you're ill and you think there's a potential you have Covid then it's pretty unreasonable of you to go in in my opinion. If you're just doing one because you've been in contact with someone with it that's a different matter.

@StarshipsAreMeantToFly

If you are arranging a PCR as you're ill and you think there's a potential you have Covid then it's pretty unreasonable of you to go in in my opinion. If you're just doing one because you've been in contact with someone with it that's a different matter.

I don't think I have Covid, I think some people I work with will be very worried about that possibility, but others will be annoyed that I'm not in with a cold. Hard to win.

I have the same symptoms op and feel a bit ropey.

Now social distancing is over we’re all going to get a lot more cold viruses. I’ve done a LFT which was negative. Agree with offering your boss a PCR.

I had a streaming cold & very sore throat but no temperature or aching joints at the weekend. Basically what I would class a summer cold.
I had an outpatient hospital appointment last week. Part of the Covid blurb listed FOUR symptoms to cancel the appointment:
a new sore throat
cough,
temperature
loss of sense of smell/taste.
However on the gov website it doesn't mention the sore throat.
Anyway, umpteen LFTs all negative but am waiting PCR results just in case.

Email work & sort out a PCR for this afternoon.

You've got a cold, you go to work.

Although I'd send an email explaining your symptoms so if someone else wants to tell you to stay home because they're uncomfortable then they can.

I wouldn't be getting a PCR though... you don't have symptoms

The variant of covid I had started like a cold- headache and runny nose were my first symptoms but I think since you had it less that a year ago, having it again is probably relatively unlikely. I would get a PCR for peace of mind though.

We’re in the same boat with DH and youngest DS, both lost their voices over the weekend, both with hacking cough.

DS missed his first day back to school because they said if I sent him in coughing like that they’d send him home. We’ve had negative LFTs all through but I sent them both for a PCR yesterday.

DH and I both double jabbed and had Covid in January.

I know officially I don't have symptoms, but when I did have Covid it started exactly like this. I never had a cough or a temperature and I didn't lose my sense of smell until well into the second week. The headache was the worst.

Then I only took a test because I knew people at work would be anxious if I didn't. I was flabbergasted when it came back positive.

Anyway boss has told be to cancel this morning's appointments (at an office where staff are notoriously anxious) and see how I feel this afternoon. Which doesn't really make any sense but makes the decision for now.

Headache/Sneezing/runny nose are the top 3 symptom for covid if you are double vaccinated.

You have all the symptoms my D's had when he was positive. No temp or cough, just like a cold. And you could well have it again despite having it in December.

PCR asap.

Anyway boss has told be to cancel this morning's appointments (at an office where staff are notoriously anxious) and see how I feel this afternoon. Which doesn't really make any sense but makes the decision for now.

Oh well, at least it's your boss' decision, so you dont have to worry so much about doing the 'right' thing (of which there isn't!). We're going to have a lot of these situations as we head into winter

I had these symptoms OP.

I had a headache, sore throat, runny nose and feeling a bit rubbish. I had tens of lateral flow tests, several PCR tests over a two week period which all came back as negative. I forgot how rubbish you can feel with a cold.

we need to change our mindset about struggling in to work with a germy cold

I wouldn't want you in, and would send you home to get a PCR. If you can do some work from home do that, if you feel well enough.

I'm glad your boss is being sensible. It's not even so much that you might infect everyone - we're likely all going to get it if we're in offices, on public transport etc. But having the whole team off for 10 days because they all got sick at the same time would be so disruptive.

Sore throat and running nose are classic signs of delta variant, exactly what my friend had although her LFT did go positive after 3 tests then PCR confirmed it. The other symptoms came later on.

@WhatsAppening

We’re in the same boat with DH and youngest DS, both lost their voices over the weekend, both with hacking cough.

DS missed his first day back to school because they said if I sent him in coughing like that they’d send him home. We’ve had negative LFTs all through but I sent them both for a PCR yesterday.

DH and I both double jabbed and had Covid in January.

Both negative!

It sounds like it’s not COVID but why would you go in to the workplace? You are clearly infectious with something - I hate it when people carry on going to work and spread their germs everywhere - especially during a global pandemic

Cold symptoms are very typical in double jabbed people. They really need to update their advice. It’s a hard one though, because for lots of people it will be ‘just a cold’ and the cost of people staying off work and getting a PCR each time is obviously high/ equally if people keep thinking ‘it’s just a cold’ and going to work etc with Covid, the spread will just continue… catch 22.