Cold or Covid? How can you tell?

[CuckooCuckooClock]

Or are you supposed to isolate and get a test with every cold this year?
I know I’ll probably be told I’m being thick but I really don’t know what we’re supposed to do.
The app says get a test and isolate for a cough, a temp, or loss of smell and taste.
Well to me two of those are standard cold symptoms and I get plenty of colds every winter that give my a cough and I lose my sense of smell. I don’t get a temp but my small children usually do.
I’ve been sneezing All week and have woken up this morning with a runny nose, sore throat and the usual accompanying cough and loss of smell. Do I need to isolate my whole family and get a test?

You have symptoms that mean you are supposed to get a test. Yes, it may well be a simple cold but it could also be covid. Do you really want to take the risk of spreading it to others? It’s such a pain for all of us, no one wants to stay home and have to test but these are not normal times.

Can you take a few days off because you are ill rather than stress? If you were feeling well you wouldn't need a test in the first place. I would call in sick, and confirm you are having a test and spend the next few days getting better, watching films, drinking orange juice and playing with your children if you feel up to it.

I would use the stress signing off as a last resort personally.

Loss of taste or smell it is, either one.

I don't think I have covid either, but I do have a dry cough. I feel quite silly booking a test and making a fuss until I am reminded most people aren't really ill with this virus, most people have mild symptoms like us.

No I can’t take time off for a cold! I am clearly well enough to work.

Yes you can take time off with a cold, because it could be covid for one thing, and secondly you ARE actually ill. So why wouldn't you?

Being signed off for stress sounds very drastic.

Call and say you are feeling ill, you are having a test and can't work for a few days. In normal times of course you would power on with a cold, but we are not living in normal times are we!

I will need to look after my children if we’re isolating so no films sadly.

I think maybe I’ll ask to move this to staff room. Teachers are not allowed time off for isolating (I thought everyone knew this).

when is the test booked OP? Are you working over the weekend or back on Monday? If the test is today you may have the results back before Monday morning (or soon after).

It's rubbish, it really is but what's the alternative? Covid is awful for some people- I have worked with people with Covid in hospital and it's really really bad. We need to try and stop people from catching it and I can't think of a better way than isolating before test results.

You only have to isolate until the test result is back, this seems to be within 48 hours for most people I know who have taken one recently. Don’t waste any time in ordering one.

What if it is Covid though OP? It might not be likely but imagine you didn't get a test and went in and passed it onto the class and colleagues? I imagine that'd be a disciplinary offence.

I know I have to isolate. I wouldn’t want to put anyone else at risk. I think I’m just at rock bottom and don’t know what to do. The test is tomorrow. I don’t know how long results take so I may only need to be signed off for a few days with a bit of luck.
We are definitely not allowed time off for isolating. My colleagues who have had to isolate are teaching from home but they don’t have small children to look after.

A GP won't sign you off for a few days with stress while you get Covid results. Sorry if I have missed it but are you a single parent?

You don’t need to keep telling me to isolate. I have got the message and am isolating until I get a negative result or if it’s positive, for 10 days.

Hello @CuckooCuckooClock - we're just moving this thread for you now.

I’m not a single parent but dh is currently working overseas

Why are you at rock bottom? Because you have too much going on and this is the final straw?

If you are caring for two young children, are feeling ill with a cold, have no support or help from your dp because he is overseas and you are working full time that is a lot to contend with.

Maybe you are reaching your limits and need to be signed off, in which case you would be better to ask for a week or two. The covid aspect is a separate issue. You sound really stressed

@CuckooCuckooClock

I think maybe I’ll ask to move this to staff room. Teachers are not allowed time off for isolating (I thought everyone knew this).

But you’re not isolating because someone else has symptoms. You’re isolating because you have symptoms.

Hope you feel better soon. I think teachers have a really rough deal at the moment. 💐

Yes teachers are pretty stressed right now. I think for me it’s the thought of trying to teach live lessons from home whilst looking after my dc. I’m fine otherwise but I just can’t do this to my poor dc anymore.

I do have symptoms but I’m not too ill to work. I’ve taught in a much worse state than this!
Setting cover is actually more effort than dragging yourself in an teaching usually anyway!

I don’t have too much going on usually but teaching whilst looking after small children is too much for me. Both activities require my full attention so I can’t see how I can do them both simultaneously.

Do what you need to do to get through it op.

It is not your fault you are in this position, ridiculous not to allow you to isolate, given many teachers will be in the same boat with very young children. They should have made an exception for those with young dependents.

Yes I think there should be flexibility for those with young children but there isn’t. I’ve been on to the Union about it but no joy yet.

Expecting teachers with young children at home, for whatever reason, to be able to teach live lessons, is ridiculous.

Ask your SLT how they expect you to achieve this. Offer to record a short lesson in the evening maybe. Get into your union again.

@CuckooCuckooClock - just as well you got this moved to the staff room. Too many posters elsewhere with an axe to grind with regards teachers. At my school the Head is sending people home if they have a bad cold in order to minimise risks

So do staff not have to teach remotely at your school staffassociation?
We did raise the difficulties those of us with young children were having back in April but were told that was no excuse. We didn’t have to do live lessons then so I was working 8pm-midnight to try and fit as much as I could in. but now we have to be online for the whole school day it’s just not possible.