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

[BlondieD]

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.

@BlondieD

Thanks JKDinomum

I never really understood asymptomatic spread. I thought someone would have to have symptoms and expelling infectious fluids through coughing and sneezing.

Your reply clears it up about asymptomatic spread. Thanks you.

@BlondieD you're welcome. It would be really helpful if the messaging from the government made this clear instead of nonsense about being careful if you're with people you don't know well. The virus doesn't know or care what your relationship is with someone and being close friends, family or even partners doesn't give you any more insight into whether they have asymptomatic Covid!!

@RichTeaRichTea

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.

This, I can't understand why people can't see this for themselves.

It's also almost Christmas, budgets are tight for many, the cost of everything is rising noticeably. Can people really not understand that many really can't afford to be off sick. We're extremely comfortable financially, but even we can understand why others need to work even if they feel awful and could potentially be spreading Covid.

Because even if people are not coughing or sneezing they are breathing out microdroplets all the time, and in an unventilated enclosed space that means other people are breathing in the particles the infected person has breathed out.

Which is why cars have the highest transmission rates.

We met friends last weekend . 3 have tested postitive since but one said he's had a cold since Monday. However he's lft and all neg. the others have had positive lft. All have colds, no cough.

This is pretty much everyone I know. It’s infuriating.

This whole “technically, they aren’t symptoms” doesn’t wash with me because we are almost 2 years in and if asymptomatic infection is a thing then you’d better believe “cold like symptoms” are too.

It’s so easy to do a LFT.

I wonder what the comments would be if you posted on Relationships board. I get why he is reluctant to take time off work, but not letting you know he has a cold (let's say) knowing you're in contact with vulnerable people is thoughtless. And how hard it is to do an lft or get a thermometer, even if only to reassure you?

Dp has tested positive after catching it off a colleague, his symptoms are like a cold.

Dd has always had a cold but it is actually just a cold. She caught it at school and pcr negative - twice.

So the two can be very similar! The only way of knowing is testing!

MN skews privileged LoannaJumley, and there are a lot of people here who had the ingredients for an ok lockdown. That's a big part of it.