Question - What is the current policy on people going into work with "cold symptoms" (if indeed there is one)?
Last year, unhelpfully, the ridiculous idea was floated of "having to learn to distinguish between covid and a cold" - as if anything but a PCR test could actually make that distinction - ; and I have been hearing loads of people self-diagnose in that manner.
Compounded now by the fact that the symptoms of the delta variant, especially in the fully vaccinated, are different from the classic top 3 symptoms. The Zoe app lists the top 5 as headache, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, loss of smell. Yet, afaiu, only the "old top 3" qualify you officially for a PCR test; people with other symptoms are encouraged to take lateral flow tests and only do a confirmatory PCR when a LFT comes up positive. Is that right?
We just had a case at work of someone coming in with "a bit of a cold" on Tuesday following a negative LFT, only for them to test positive on the LFT the following day.
I wouldn't count as a close contact under the very narrow definitions of T&T, but knowing what we know about transmissability, and the time she and I both spent in the same unventilated space, I can't rule out that I could have caught it. Also, I am double-vaccinated, so wouldn't have to properly quarantine even if I was counted as a close contact. But as someone who doesn't want to spread covid around and who thinks that the guidelines around this are a crock of shit, this is still seriously impacting my week. Had to cancel a couple of appointments in my self-employed work, won't be seeing my boyfriend this weekend, and am cancelling meeting my friend tonight.
I am pissed off that that colleague came in, but at the same time recognize that she probably did everything "right".
However, having a quick google just now I hit on this from Gloucestershire County Council from July this year
"If your PCR test result is negative but you still have symptoms,
you may have another virus such as a cold or flu. You should stay at home until you feel well [my bold]. Seek medical attention if you are concerned about your symptoms.
You can stop isolating as long as:
- you are well;
- no-one else in your household has symptoms or has tested positive for COVID-19; and / or
- you have not been advised to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace.
Anyone in your household who is isolating because of your symptoms can also stop isolating."
That seems to say that people with cold symptoms should stay at home until they are well, even if a test is negative? Of course, it might only be talking about about people with the old classic 3 symptoms because people with the main delta symptoms 'shouldn't' get a PCR test in the first place...aaarrrgh!
Basically, I am looking for something that I can show to my work, and say, look, can we not have people coming in with "just colds" all autumn and winter, but instead encourage them to stay at home for a few days no matter what kind of cold. But I guess that's not going to happen, is it.
Don't like the recent findings just how high the viral load of delta can be in vaccinated infected people. It's going to be - it already is - pretty shit and pretty limiting for people who want to not encourage spread and who want to protect more vulnerable friends and family if the current strategy continues. :/
