Sick people in shops

So he was wearing a mask as well as you?

You should be ok then, what more could he have done except lock himself indoors?

I have bad hayfever that causes a cough (nasal drip) combined with my red eyes and sore nose don't look great, should I lock myself away? (although I try not to cough over anyone, a sneeeze sometimes takes me totally by surprise!!)

I agree with the general statement - if you are sick, stay home

However, like posters shared, it is not all what it seems

Plenty of allergies can make you cough incessantly or sneeze, but are in no way contagious.

It worried you that this person looked and sounded ill, so sensibly you left his vicinity.

I think the pandemic has made a lot of us over-cautious,

You are right to take any and all precautions you find necessary, but wrong in my book to accuse anyone of selfishness when you do not know the true facts.

If a person is coughing due to a chronic condition, they might still have a respiratory infection they could spread to others. Neither they, nor anyone else knows if they have an infection at any particular time, so it makes sense for anyone coughing to at least cover their mouth and nose - with a hanky if they can't wear a mask.

Pre-Covid I was always a bit wary of other people coughing as I seem to be very prone to picking up colds. Being careful not to spread disease is not new - when TB was rampant there were campaigns against spitting and coughing in public places.

Very judgemental, calling someone selfish for coughing is unkind, you do not know his circumstances.

How judgemental. The man might have had Asthma or hey fever, nothing at all to do with being ill. No need to be hysterical.

nanna8

Now that is just silly. Misinterpret all you want. I would be sure you don’t cough all over everyone because you don seem like that sort at all.

I was being fascetious, Nanna.

Your opening post touched a raw nerve, that's all. I'm sure you didn't mean to sound harsh.

I have a chronic cough due to a lung condition. It’s not an infection and not contagious, but I can understand people’s concerns. Usually, I can manage an hour or two without much coughing, but on a day like today, damp and muggy, I tend to stay in, because I know I won’t be able to hold the cough in ?

MayBee70

I think, in the current climate, we all need to be more sensitive to how others may be feeling and how vulnerable some people may be, health wise. For that reason I think it’s inconsiderate for someone to be in a crowded place coughing and spluttering given that coughing is still a main symptom of covid.

We now know, and have done for some time that this virus is going to be around in one form or another for some foreseeable future. Are you suggesting that everyone with a cough locks themselves away. Never mind shopping. What about just living a normal life. You might have chosen to live like this but millions choose not to and live a normal life.

Now that is just silly. Misinterpret all you want. I would be sure you don’t cough all over everyone because you don seem like that sort at all.

I have had a permanent cough for years, due to chronic lung conditions.
I wear a mask in shops etc, if I can. Sometimes I can't, because I am so breathless.
Should I stay at home, permanently, or perhaps wear a badge, stating unclean?

I'm also breathless and wheezy a lot of the time.
It's because my spleen is swollen.

This was a young bloke and I’d be surprised if he any lung disease but I wouldn’t be surprised if he had Covid. A lot of us cough but most of us protect our mouths when we do so and don’t cough all over others. I have had Covid and 4 vaccinations but I still don’t want to be coughed all over, thanks. Nothing to do with Christianity, either. What a nasty comment that was. Oh, and we were both wearing masks .

The man in question could easily have severe asthma or COPD as others have suggested and would the OP been quite so appalled pre-Covid with the man coughing so much?

Also, is the OP 100% sure that everyone in the store had washed their hands after using the loo before embarking on their shopping trips? Is the OP sure that everyone had showered before leaving the house?

Were we really this paranoid before Covid? Probably not.

My philosophy is, the persons most responsible for my health and wellbeing is ME. If I feel uncomfortable in public I wear a face covering.

Why don’t you wear a mask when going out.

I do so agree with Baggs. We have to trust that most of those with a covid-related cough would have the decency to stay at home as we all would.

Oldnproud

MayBee70

I think, in the current climate, we all need to be more sensitive to how others may be feeling and how vulnerable some people may be, health wise. For that reason I think it’s inconsiderate for someone to be in a crowded place coughing and spluttering given that coughing is still a main symptom of covid.

But how is someone with a chronic cough meant to survive without going out food and other essentials?
Asking someone else to get things for you is OK as a temporary measure - assuming that they know someone who iswilling to do that - but it is not reasonable, practical or fair to expect someone who poses no risk to others to be permanently confined to their home.

Exactly. Well said, Old.

People need to stop thinking the worst all the time. That so many do shows some of the collateral damage the covid era has inflicted on society.

MayBee70

I think, in the current climate, we all need to be more sensitive to how others may be feeling and how vulnerable some people may be, health wise. For that reason I think it’s inconsiderate for someone to be in a crowded place coughing and spluttering given that coughing is still a main symptom of covid.

But how is someone with a chronic cough meant to survive without going out food and other essentials?
Asking someone else to get things for you is OK as a temporary measure - assuming that they know someone who iswilling to do that - but it is not reasonable, practical or fair to expect someone who poses no risk to others to be permanently confined to their home.

I think, in the current climate, we all need to be more sensitive to how others may be feeling and how vulnerable some people may be, health wise. For that reason I think it’s inconsiderate for someone to be in a crowded place coughing and spluttering given that coughing is still a main symptom of covid.

My family, not me, have varying degrees of asthma and hay-fever which can produce symptoms at times that include coughing.

If I felt as the OP did and believed that masks work, as we've been told so often, then I'd wear a mask in that sort of situation.

Also, as others have, said, coughs do not always indicate infectiousness.

Tolerance is a good thing.

My mum is another person with lung problems that make her cough badly. That, coupled with her mobility problems, probably make her look unwell and unfit to be mixing in public too.

However, sad though it is, I can understand people's 'fear' of catching something from her - I sometimes even find myself holding my breath and distancing myself from the screen if she starts coughing while we are speaking via WhatsApp. Totally irrational, so all I can think is that this sort of reaction is a natural part of the body's in-built defence mechanism.

Lots of people can have non contagious coughs for varying reasons, including health

I cough a lot (Asthma), can have a really bad bout for no apparent reason. Not at all catching by anyone.

I do wish people were no so judgemental about everyone else