Need some advice

Former Member

So from about Thursday I’ve had a massive cold, just blocked nose, ears, headache etc. Yesterday I took the day off work and my manager said if I developed a cough or fever I’d have to get tested as I work in a hospital. I have now got a chesty cough and a sore throat which I think is just part of my cold. I also can’t smell or taste things very well, which also could just be cause my nose is blocked. Whilst I’m almost 100% certain it’s a cold as my sister had one earlier this week and tested negative for COVID I just don’t know whether I should get tested to be sure. 

I asked my mum if I can book one and she said no, which means I have no way of getting to a test centre even if I do book one. I’m just not really sure what to do.

Former Member

You can book one. It's the same where I work, even if it's a cold, if the symptoms match covid too, you have to provide a negative test to return to work, or take 14 days off and it's unpaid. You can ring 119 to book a test.
You're manger might tell you similar about not being able to return unless providing a negative test

Former Member

GreenTea said:

You can book one. It's the same where I work, even if it's a cold, if the symptoms match covid too, you have to provide a negative test to return to work, or take 14 days off and it's unpaid. You can ring 119 to book a test.
You're manger might tell you similar about not being able to return unless providing a negative test

Thanks I know I should but if my mum doesn’t agree with me booking one then she won’t take me, the nearest text centre is a half an hour drive away and I can’t drive. 

Former Member

Dandelion said:

GreenTea said:

You can book one. It's the same where I work, even if it's a cold, if the symptoms match covid too, you have to provide a negative test to return to work, or take 14 days off and it's unpaid. You can ring 119 to book a test.
You're manger might tell you similar about not being able to return unless providing a negative test

Thanks I know I should but if my mum doesn’t agree with me booking one then she won’t take me, the nearest text centre is a half an hour drive away and I can’t drive. 

You can get postage tests sent to your address. 

Or can someone else take you and you sit in the back with a mask on?

Former Member

Other thing you can do is get a copy of the covid policy from work and give it to your mum

Former Member

Thanks @GreenTea. I might try asking my sister when she gets back from work 

Former Member

Yh if you go in the car, just windows down, back seat on other side of the car and put a mask on. That's how I had to go by car with my granddad to get a lift home 

independent_

I think it’s difficult to judge at this time of year, but I’d say it’s probably better to be safe than sorry when it comes to Covid and work. 

I believe you can get tests sent to your house? Maybe worth ringing 119 and asking whether that’d be an option for you. 

Or like GreenTea suggested maybe ask someone else who can drive and take all necessary safety precautions  

Former Member

Just spoke to my sister she said she’ll take me if I still feel ill tomorrow 

Former Member

Dandelion said:

Just spoke to my sister she said she’ll take me if I still feel ill tomorrow 

You have to book for a test centre. You can't just turn up, you'll get sent away. You need to ring 119 and get booked. You get sent a code which then you give at the testing centre you go to

Former Member

GreenTea said:

Dandelion said:

Just spoke to my sister she said she’ll take me if I still feel ill tomorrow 

You have to book for a test centre. You can't just turn up, you'll get sent away. You need to ring 119 and get booked. You get sent a code which then you give at the testing centre you go to

Yeah, here it’s never too busy here everyone I know has managed to get a test for the same day. I’m feeling a lot better this morning though and when I did a questionnaire it said I didn’t need to. Might ring 111 and see what they say don’t want to book a test if it’s just a cold. 

Former Member

Understandable, also worth checking with work, I know policies are different, but my work would still want a negative test.
It's worth asking work to

Former Member

GreenTea said:

Understandable, also worth checking with work, I know policies are different, but my work would still want a negative test.
It's worth asking work to

Yeah I’ll text my manager they might want one as I know lots of people have already had it there. But I know someone who was off with a cold last week and they didn’t get one, but I’ll check anyway x 

Former Member

Booked a test for this afternoon and my mums agreed to take me 

Former Member

Hopefully I’ll get the results by tomorrow my sisters really annoyed at me because she might not be able to go to work tomorrow. When my mum got tested they got there back in 12 hours hopefully mine will be the same 

Former Member

Haven’t got my result back yet, which means another day off work 😣

Millie2787

@Dandelion unfortunately it can take a few days as there was a big backlog at one point , I know when I have mine done at work it can take anywhere from 2-7 days to come back 

Former Member

Yeah, I know I should be patient considering I work in a lab and know how busy we are atm. I just hate not knowing things and waiting around for this result is horrible. 

Millie2787

I know it’s horrible me and my mum had an unclear result a few weeks back and it was horrible waiting for the next weeks test results to come back 

hopefully there be with you soon 💜

Former Member

Dandelion said:

So from about Thursday I’ve had a massive cold, just blocked nose, ears, headache etc. Yesterday I took the day off work and my manager said if I developed a cough or fever I’d have to get tested as I work in a hospital. I have now got a chesty cough and a sore throat which I think is just part of my cold. I also can’t smell or taste things very well, which also could just be cause my nose is blocked. Whilst I’m almost 100% certain it’s a cold as my sister had one earlier this week and tested negative for COVID I just don’t know whether I should get tested to be sure. 

I asked my mum if I can book one and she said no, which means I have no way of getting to a test centre even if I do book one. I’m just not really sure what to do.

I very much doubt it’s covid what you’ve told me tells me it isn’t , it’s a cold don’t worry