Yeah I’d have moved away too. Not because I thought you were a leper but just common sense. If you have CV without knowing or no symptoms your sneezing would have sending the virus flying multiple feet. Whatever the cause.
You could indeed have both hay fever and coronavirus. I am sure you sneezed into a tissue, then gelled your hands. Or at the very least sneezed into the crook of your elbow.
I am sorry you felt like a leper - but TBH I think I would have moved away!!
We went cycling this morning, and went past council workers cutting grass. I haven’t sneezed, but it did set my eyes off itching, and made me wheezy, so spent most of the time coughing. I know it’s hay fever, but understand others may be wary.
As you say OP sneezing isn't a symptom and very much related to hay fever, which is prevalent in my family, so have been well aware of those bouts for a long time. I even do it myself at times and quite violently, although I don't have all the other rather unpleasant things that go with hay fever.
So as not to upset/worry the people near me, I suppressed a sneeze while in B&M just before lockdown which caused a little botty burp to escape. I’ve never been so embarrassed! ??
I sneezed violently in the car on the way to the supermarket and I said to dh that I hoped I didn’t do that in the store or I might get ejected! Luckily, I was fine.
I guess they think that whatever caused the sneeze you will still be spraying droplets. If you had hay fever AND the virus you would be spraying the virus. Understandable. Just use a big hanky to reassure them!
When I got to Sainsbury's this morning the queue to get in was right round the outside of the very large car park. It had to be done so I started queuing. About half way round we were under some trees & I started sneezing as did the lady behind me. Now I KNOW I get very bad hay fever & tree pollen starts me off but the rest of the queue didn't know this. The lady behind & I realised we both had the same problem but I noticed that the queue behind her & in front of me had moved as far away from us as possible. We did then call out that it was OK & we had hay fever but I don't think anyone believed us as they still tried to keep as far away as possible which meant they were actually far too close to the people near them. I felt like a Pariah but at least we were the ones queuing safely. I got hay fever tablets from the Pharmacy while I was in there. I'm sure sneezing is NOT a symptom of Corono Virus but maybe I'm wrong.