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Covid

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Original poster

Self diagnosing colds as a cold and not covid and not testing

82 replies

BlondieD · 02/12/2021 23:25

I'm fuming at my partner. He works in a bar so he's at an increases risk of a covid exposure through his work because of sealing with the public.

Basically he did something idiotic back in October. He has some symptoms of illness/colds including cough. He refused to isolate and test. I came down with the same dose as him back in October and because I had symptoms, I had to isolate and test and thankfully it did actually come back as covid not detected and the cold I had did clesr in a few days. So we got lucky, just that one time, that it wasn't covid.

So yesterday he decided to take me out for breakfast and he didn't tell me until I was sitting in his car with seat belt on that he feels a cold coming on. I observed him over breakfast and it was mild. There was no cough so I was somewhat at ease. It was more sinus related. I was chatting with him today and whatever he had yesterday, has progressed into a more heavier headcold - sinus drip, sore throat. He says he's OK. He doesn't own a thermometer so he can't check fever.

I suggested an antigen test for him and he doesn't want to do a him test. I suggested booking a pcr but he doesn't want to do that either. Basically he's going to be continuing on as normal and not only that his employer will allow him to go into work with symptoms and not test fmand basically putting others and customers at risk.

I'm horrified that all public health guidelines are being ignored by my partner and not only that also from his employer. What if it progresses over the night or the next few more days and what if it is covid - he's passing it around to all and sundry without a care in the world. Needless to say I will be avoiding him and seriously considering a dump.

OP posts:

Heartdogs · 03/12/2021 07:24

He doesn't have any of the symptoms you are supposed to test for.

EvilEdna1 · 03/12/2021 07:24

My daughter in has covid at the moment and her mild symptoms are indistinguishable from a heavy cold. The LFTs were all negative but PCR was positive.

user0176 · 03/12/2021 07:25

I have a cold, I'm not getting a PCR. I don't technically have any of the official symptoms, I've been doing daily LFTs but don't have time to isolate for however long the test takes to come back. It's winter, it's cold season, not everything is Covid.

Vallmo47 · 03/12/2021 07:32

And this clear divide along with government not updating symptoms and not doing enough is why we are in this shit storm.
I missed the fact my daughter had covid because she had a runny nose one morning. That was it. I tested out of courtesy when school messaged there was covid within her classroom. This virus is sneaky and unpredictable and I can understand both sides.
If my partner got a cold he’d be asked to test, I hope your partners work place demand the same thing OP.

Nomorecoco · 03/12/2021 07:36

I wouldn't and haven't either unless I have to.

If I have to, and it comes back positive I don't get paid. I've started a new job recently and in probation so can't take my daughter out of Childcare or have time off.

I'm not risking my bills not being paid for a tiny sniffle.

I have done a pcr 2 days ago cos I've got a mild cough that won't leave, but I probably won't do another cos it's be such a farce. I'm lucky my employer let me take time out to do the test, many work places wouldn't without cutting pay.

ComeAllYeFaithful · 03/12/2021 07:41

My dc started off with a sore throat and sneezing like all colds. Didn’t progress to a cough for a few days. Lfts all negative until the cough started.

Palavah · 03/12/2021 07:47

@BlondieD

My understanding is that covid can start off mild like a cold.

Yes, everyone I know who's had it recently had those symptoms (including me) and and none of the 'classic' 3.

If your partner entered his symptoms on the zoe app they would get him to PCR. He could always lat flow.

If you're worried about the vulnerable people in your life and your partner's displaying that attitude I'd isolate from him for a while and test myself. You can do a lat flow regularly, easily.

Cornishclio · 03/12/2021 07:47

I have a cold and took a LF test yesterday to confirm it isn't Covid. How difficult is that. The symptoms are so similar especially if you are vaccinated that any cold like virus should be tested.

OatyFlapjacks · 03/12/2021 07:58

@Cornishclio

I have a cold and took a LF test yesterday to confirm it isn't Covid. How difficult is that. The symptoms are so similar especially if you are vaccinated that any cold like virus should be tested.

Exactly! Everyone bleating on about not having symptoms to test, just do a lateral flow as Cornish did.

People also seem to be missing that the Government guidance is to do a lateral flow anyway before close contact

Iggly · 03/12/2021 08:05

@Cornishclio

I have a cold and took a LF test yesterday to confirm it isn't Covid. How difficult is that. The symptoms are so similar especially if you are vaccinated that any cold like virus should be tested.

A negative LFT doesn’t mean you don’t have covid - they throw up a lot of false negatives which is why they aren’t used instead of PCRs.

So I would keep an eye on symptoms just in case.

Ugzbugz · 03/12/2021 08:40

Its very difficult to as they've always said 1 in 3 have zero symptoms so many people are around you clueless they have it so wouldn't isolate as don't know.

My son had a cold for about 3 weeks then 2 weeks later has another, it isn't covid.

Original poster

BlondieD · 03/12/2021 10:55

Thanks for all of the replies. We don't live together so I will avoid seeing him for the next 10 days or til he gets a negative pcr, that's if he does.

I'm horrified at attitudes from both himself and also his workplace. How they are operating ignoring public health guidelines.

I would be horrified if I went into an establishment and served by sick and possibly infectious people and the possibility of cross contamination onto glasses or plates or foods.

OP posts:

MargaretThursday · 03/12/2021 10:58

I was listening to the chap from the Zoe app and he said currently 1 in 3 "cold symptoms" is covid from their research.

Akire · 03/12/2021 11:01

I’ve had cold symptoms last few days the NHS site says no need worry only test if have temp, constant cough or post smell or taste. However quick google from Zoe App says majority of double jabbed people who have covid have runny
Nose, cough, sore throat. None of
Which are on NhS site. My lateral flow was positive. Waiting for PCR come back now. It’s shocking how all info for double jabbed that is out there is not reflected in NHS pages

Self diagnosing colds as a cold and not covid and not testing

vodkaredbullgirl · 03/12/2021 11:06

I have a cold which I've had for a few days and is going. Have tested daily for a week and all negative. No temp, no loss of taste or smell.

user0176 · 03/12/2021 11:14

I was listening to the chap from the Zoe app and he said currently 1 in 3 "cold symptoms" is covid from their research.

Which still means the majority of colds are just colds so daily LFTs seem a reasonable compromise to me rather than sending everyone with cold symptoms for a PCR.

RichTeaRichTea · 03/12/2021 11:17

The country would come to a standstill if everyone who had cold symptoms (excluding fever, cough, loss of taste/smell) and no positive LFT took a PCR test with associated isolation. That will be one reason why the requirements have not been updated. It may be irresponsible, but it is realistic. With two preschoolers who being a new snotty nose home weekly we would not be able to function as a household and our employers would be pretty pissed off if we were doing PCRs and isolating until we got results each time. The adults do regular LFTs.

Nomorecoco · 03/12/2021 12:23

@RichTeaRichTea

I don't understand how people don't consider this. If every side effect meant we had to test and isolate, the whole world would be isolating. With a teething toddler in childcare. I'm constantly tired and my DD is constantly snotty. And now having the central heating on is causing me to cough constantly.

DontWantTheRivalry · 03/12/2021 12:30

At the end of the day it isn’t reasonable to expect someone to test every time they have a runny nose or other general ‘cold symptoms’. People would be testing either themselves or their children every 2-3 days and it’s just not feasible.

I’m sitting at home now with a runny nose but I certainly wouldn’t consider booking myself in for a PCR test because of it.

Original poster

BlondieD · 03/12/2021 12:39

I am able to see the other side especially for parents of young children who pick up so many bugs and doses from crèche and school. Parents have it hard and they can't be isolating and testing every time a child brings home a bug or dose. Or it doesn't make sense to test everyone in a household. Say for example if a child comes home with a bug and stays of crèche or school and tests but the pcr is negative, its probably nearly safe to say that others in the household will come down with the same dose.

So I can definitely see the other side of the coin, for sure.

Me and my partner have different circumstances though and we don't have any small children going to crèche or school. So that option is out. He's also working in a public facing job. I think it's completely irresponsible what he's doing. The fact is he's in a public serving job and he's likely more at risk serving the public. He's not even considering covid as a possibility. He's putting other people at risk here and also possibly spreading it. What's worse is that he has a pregnant sister in law and he just doesn't care. He has his head buried in the sand and not even considering covid.

OP posts:

Poppy709 · 03/12/2021 12:47

I work in a school and we have 7 staff off at the moment with covid, all double jabbed, all presented as heavy colds and were in school for multiple days with negative lateral flows before they got a positive. I understand where your partner is coming from but it’s hard, I do feel that my school is being irresponsible by not asking staff to test if they have a cold as we obviously have an outbreak now and there are multiple staff with colds and negative lateral flows still in school. It’s such a hard balancing act between being responsible and keeping the world moving.

herestoyoucolinrobinson · 03/12/2021 13:11

Most people with the 3 symptoms on the list seem to just be doing LFTs now anyway. My BIL has refused to speak to me since I said his cough needed a PCR and apparently I am an embarrassment for suggesting it. It was a really bad cough too.

Christmas3143 · 03/12/2021 13:32

He's not the only one op so I wouldn't get too worked up about it. It would be sensible to pcr but you can't make him! Him and thousands of others doing the same!

SummerHouse · 03/12/2021 13:41

My family of four all tested positive on lateral flow. We all followed up with a positive PCR.

None of us had the big three.

Three of four of us had what seemed like a cold with particularly irritated sinuses. One was symptomless.

My takeaway from this is it can be like a cold. If you get any cold like symptoms I can understand why you wouldn't do a PCR but why not do a lateral flow.

Bobholll · 03/12/2021 14:51

I don’t test for cold like symptoms with a PCR. But I would lateral flow every time. It takes a minute to do & 15 minutes to check. No big deal. But PCR’s should be for more obvious symptoms. I’ve had covid recently, it felt different to a cold really. I started feeling freezing & achy. It felt odd. I didn’t have a runny nose, cough or sore throat. I also almost immediately lost my sense of smell.

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