Colleague and covid

[Motnight]

I went into the office for the first time in over 2 years yesterday. Spent much of the time in a small, non ventilated room with 10 colleagues, at least one of whom is very obviously clinically extremely vulnerable.

One of the men was obviously snotty and coughing a tiny bit. I naively thought that he would have tested for covid already. But no. Today we all get the email that he has tested positive for covid - assume LFT.

Am I reasonable in thinking that he was really selfish not considering others before coming into work? He could have dialled in for the meetings (which is what we were all in work for). He is at a senior level and definitely wouldn't have been worried about having to tell people that he was staying at home, not spending hours on public transport and not attending the meetings in person.

I know that we all have to learn to live with Covid but surely there needs to be sensible decision making around this? Or are we just treating it like a cold now?

Lots of people are treating it like a cold. Its almost being wishful, and I think they're frightened to entertain the alternative that this might be something which requires a longer term change in behaviour. I'm on day 9, and have been out a couple of times with a mask since day 7, but I've nowhere to go other than to see family and obviously won't be doing that so blargh.

I think I would have been encouraged back to work by now (as a teacher) however.

How do you know he didn't test? All of my household (and lots of friends) were testing negative for days and days with cold symptoms before a positive LFT.

This happened to me, felt a bit off on the morning, tested and it was negative..went to work. Once home I did another one as I felt unreasonably tired once I had finally sat down and it was positive..
I didn't do anything wrong.
Maybe the same thing happened to your colleague.

I was feeling unwell for 2 days and testing negative then tested positive the third day having assumed until then it must be a cold.

Thanks for the replies so far.

His email telling us that he had tested positive started with the 'Thought that I had better bite the bullet and test.'

My work situation is odd re returning to the office. Our team is based across the country, plus up until Xmas, we were all asked to stay at home unless we needed to be in the office for health and well-being reasons. Office space was at a real premium with only one fifth of the usual desk space being available.

As others say, that could be the first positive from a number of tests he had done.

I have a couple of colleagues who went for PCR drive through tests as felt a bit snotty, all negative, tested two days later, again negative and only got a positive test on day 6-7 of their symptoms.

Even though he is senior, there’s still an impact on not being physically there for a meeting where 9 others are sat together.

You’re being a bit unfair.

But yes I accept that my colleague may have actually tested previously.

The sick pay rules have changed back so I think this will happen more and more.

I think norms should change around sickness in general where WFH is an option because even if it is "just a cold", I still don't want it!

We have been told we have to go into work if positive and well enough to work. And we don’t have to tell anyone we work with we are positive.

I cannot think of anything polite to say about what I think about that!

@Beekindbeehumble

We have been told we have to go into work if positive and well enough to work. And we don’t have to tell anyone we work with we are positive.

I cannot think of anything polite to say about what I think about that!

That's awful!

A number of my friends work in business that want them in if they are positive. They almost sneer at my work keeping up the 'stay away for 5 days'

People at my work can now come to work knowing they have covid, the company is fine with this

Count yourself lucky your colleague isn't in work still

He wouldn’t have been allowed in my office. Any illness symptoms, even if not Covid, now mean WFH is required.

@Beekindbeehumble

We have been told we have to go into work if positive and well enough to work. And we don’t have to tell anyone we work with we are positive.

I cannot think of anything polite to say about what I think about that!

Depressing.

I Had slight cough Thursday in night friday morning so tested and negative
Got a litlle worse and tired friday so tested sat morning and negative, then sat late afternoon felt a lot worse and tested about 9 pm and positive, probably about 10 hrs between tests

He could've been negative that morning. I had a negative PCR my first day of symptoms ( got my positive the next day so don't think technique was an issue).
Also snotty and a slight cough are my hay fever symptoms. I'm all for testing but not doing it every day for 6 months of the year.

Well I tested negative one morning, went to work feeling not quite right but had to go as my test was negative I felt well enough to work and then sure enough, positive the next morning.

I’m a nurse and we have patient cases as well so no idea if I contracted it from work or if I contracted it then gave it to my patients. Either way it’s been horrendous and I do feel very guilty that I went to work. I’ve been doing this for 2 years though and I can’t stay home with a negative LFT if I am well enough to work which I was😢

If it reassures you, my DH hasn’t got it from me and we have been sleeping in the same bed since I tested positive because it’s a small, full house.