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See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To go to work with a positive test

165 replies

Pleaseletmesleepin · 13/03/2022 11:09

I am a teacher in a secondary school and the Head is very strict about attendance and the work piles up very quickly if you miss any time at all . Today I woke up with a sore throat and a cough . Did a test and it is positive. Technically I feel well enough to work and I am scared to phone in sick but it feels wrong to be so close to all of the pupils . Please help me with the right thing to do .

OP posts:
Ff10n · 13/03/2022 13:37

DfE guidance, which as a teacher you must be aware of, is to stay off for five to ten days, until you get two negative tests.
So the same as before.
They only thing that has changed is to put covid into a similar category to chickenpox or norovirus - that you can't be prosecuted for going out. But it doesn't mean you should or would.

Snowbell99 · 13/03/2022 13:39

I don't think she should ask about remote teaching.

Omicron doesn't come with heavy symptoms most of the time but she has a sore throat and she might make it worse and stay sick even longer if she decides to work from at home and teaches a class. Sore throats don't get better from talking for hours.

When you are positive your body is dealing with it and even though you might not have symptoms is it important to rest as heart muscle inflammations are a rare side effect.

I would treat it like any other illness, stay at home and rest. It is not just a normal cold (even though it might feel that way) as it comes with more severe potential side effects. She should rest.

knittingaddict · 13/03/2022 13:41

@Pleaseletmesleepin

She hasn’t issued any guidance. I am genuinely scared of the backlash of not going in .
What kind of school do you work in which has no guidelines about covid? I find that astonishing.
Hopikins · 13/03/2022 13:42

Teachers are very scarce on the ground. You have Covid, you cannot possibly go in. Time to stand up for yourself. She cannot expect you to go in, if the Education Dept found out, she could be sacked not you.
I would also suggest you contact your Union.

LadyLazarus40 · 13/03/2022 13:43

@Pleaseletmesleepin I work in a secondary school and our head has told us that The government guidance is quite clear and that all staff and students who test positive are expected to isolate for 5 days or longer if not 2 neg LFT. The guidance to schools has not changed the only difference is the legal requirement to isolate has gone. I am surprised your school has not issued guidance to staff and pupils - every school I know has.

Lilac57 · 13/03/2022 13:46

Ah sorry @Watapalava, I think I misunderstood your post. I though you were suggesting the OP did not need to isolate as the legal requirement is no longer there.

Cleothecat75 · 13/03/2022 13:51

We haven’t had any updates From school since the guidance changed over half term. FWIW, I’d stay off in your situation, tell the head that you are too unwell to come in and sit it out at home. They have no proof that you are not well enough. It’s not right to lie, but equally, it’s not right (Despite what the government say) to go in to a crowded place when you have covid. The eyfs states that settings have a duty of care to minimise the spread of infections, surely schools have a similar duty?

LadyLazarus40 · 13/03/2022 13:51

The UK health security agency has also said that schools can refuse entry to pupils if, in their reasonable judgement it is necessary to protect other pupils and staff from COVID.

The government etc very much does not want + staff and pupils in schools!

Wishihadanalgorithm · 13/03/2022 13:55

I think those saying theOP clearly can’t go in have no idea what it is like to work with a bullying boss who thinks they can override common sense! There are more than a few in education. The OP is worrying about a backlash from the head and I totally get that.

In my school we have been told to stay home until the 2 consecutive days of negativeLFTs. If well, we are expected to dial in and teach the lesson or at least set the children up with the task and then be on hand if they are stuck. If we are ill, we set the work on the school portal and stay in bed.

From friends, I know some schools are expecting teachers to come in if they are feeling well enough, especially if they have exam classes.

LaChanticleer · 13/03/2022 13:56

If you have to go to work, double mask.

Equalbutdifferent · 13/03/2022 13:58

I don't think some people have understood that the government is removing legal restrictions on the basis the population will continue to behave safely and follow public health advice to limit transmission?

MolkosTeenageAngst · 13/03/2022 14:00

If you haven’t had an update on the guidance since the government rules changed I would assume that there were no changes to the school guidance. I’m a teacher and our rules haven’t changed at all, all staff still need to wear masks in classrooms, we still need to socially distance in meetings etc, no visitors unless essential and any staff or students with covid need to isolate for the full 5 days and then can only return within 10 days if they have two negative LFTs. Teachers can wfh if they feel well enough to do so following a positive covid test.

I don’t know of any schools who are letting staff or students who’ve tested positive go to school as normal without isolating, the government guidance is still to isolate/ wfh so it’s unlikely a school is going to want to go against that and risk the backlash should any of its staff or pupils contract covid and be seriously ill with it.

Jessicabrassica · 13/03/2022 14:01

Dh had it and co tinued teaching from home. As long as there is an LSA present for crowd control in the classroom online teaching is a good compromise, surely?

MNHQ
ImaniMumsnet · 13/03/2022 14:18

Hi there OP,
Just to let you know we are moving this to the COVID topic for you!

Mango101 · 13/03/2022 14:25

If you've got an infectious disease, don't go to work.

That way, fewer other people will be infected, miserable and off work, and UK PLC productivity improves !

Doesn't matter if it's Covid, cold or flu',

luckylavender · 13/03/2022 14:25

@Pleaseletmesleepin

Thank you every one . I will email her pic of the test and ask her opinion . I will let you know what she says . I hope she reads her emails on a Sunday .
I'm very surprised at this thread honestly. I know a lot of teachers and they all know the guidance and it's crystal clear to them what they should do in the case of a positive test.
LovePoppy · 13/03/2022 14:26

@Pleaseletmesleepin

She hasn’t issued any guidance. I am genuinely scared of the backlash of not going in .
I’d be scared if parents if you go in and infect their children.
QueenofLouisiana · 13/03/2022 14:26

We aren’t allowed to go in if we test positive. I’d be incredibly pissed off if a colleague came in after a positive test: it’s bad enough watching it sweep through the room again (second big wave this academic year, children who had it before are catching it again).

Junipercrumble · 13/03/2022 14:31

@Mango101

If you've got an infectious disease, don't go to work. That way, fewer other people will be infected, miserable and off work, and UK PLC productivity improves !

Doesn't matter if it's Covid, cold or flu',

Most people dont take time off work for a cold. Unfortunately, I am usually floored by a cold and do whatever i can to avoid them, and much as I wish people who were streaming with a cold could take time off until they were better, this wont happen.
gunnersgold · 13/03/2022 14:33

Pretty sure you'd be in trouble for taking covid in!
Don't be so selfish! Some parents might be Cv ffs!

Mango101 · 13/03/2022 14:48

I think quite lot of people DO take time off for a cold - I've always superciliously thought of them as lazy and feckless and I've never missed a day (except when I'm ICU level sick).

But totally changed my opinion on this following Covid.

Much better stay at home and reduced infection levels.
Asian societies totally got it right - mask up and respect the bugs !

Mango101 · 13/03/2022 14:50

ps why doesn't Mumsnet software allow you to directly reply (quote) to a prior quote ? and why can't you edit your own posts ? or like posts.

In 2022 - reallly ?!!

DelphiniumBlue · 13/03/2022 14:56

If you are going to ask what to do , do it in writing. They can always deny a phone call, and they may well think twice about telling you come in when you actually have Covid if they have to put it formally in writing.

But personally, I don't think you should go in, whatever the rules. You have symptoms, and are clearly unwell with a contagious illness. I know lots of schools are quite worried about potential staffing levels - if you go in, you could infect a lot of people.

Sallydimebar · 13/03/2022 15:24

Not a great idea really going into a school ,one thing having it and not knowing but to even consider going into a school when positive. Spreading it around . I imagine you teach a few different classes of different kids through the day .

Don’t want my kids to keep getting this variant , what ever variant it is now if anyone knows..even mild cases can cause damage we don’t yet know about.

Hopefully the head can sort some work for you to do from home, just because you feel ok today doesn’t mean you will feel the same tomorrow . My dad was ok 1st couple of days then in bed for 2 same with a few others I know .

AnneTwacky · 13/03/2022 16:35

I am in this a similar situation only with the added complication of no sick pay.
I've made the decision I'm going to have to stay off but realise I'm in a privileged position to be able to (just about) afford it.
It should have been kept mandatory to self isolate with financial help if needed. Then everybody with COVID would be able to self isolate and not have the added stress of being put in these impossible positions.