I made a mistake and feel so guilty

I don't think we can easily find COVID test kits anymore. When I felt rotten in the summer and was about to have a party I bought test kits (£9 for 5) tested negative and went ahead with the party
Months later I went to my GP as I was still coughing. She said I may have had COVID or one of the variations which don't show on the tests
She also told me that advice to health workers was to stay home if you felt ill but otherwise go to work as usual.
Covid has been downgraded.

mumofmadboys

I understand the current advice to NHS staff is that they should carry on going to work if they test positive for covid

Same advice to staff at the school my daughter works in and I imagine most schools.

This is why some vulnerable people are still very wary of going to hospitals/doctors/crowded places in case they catch something.

Tests are easy enough to buy , I got a pack from Amazon which I have yet to use but I really think OP need not beat themselves up and nor should anybody else.
OP said “the shop was quiet and I kept my distance” TBH I am on my own now and if I needed paracetamol or milk so that I could hunker down for a few days - why should I not?
Not everybody has somebody at home or a friendly neighbour to help out -I would be very stuck (which is why I have industrial quantities of Lemsip !)

Lots of people in workplaces are in with covid 🙄 I would rather they stay home but the rules have changed

My medic dd says they’re not seeing Covid coming through A&E nor is it reflected in hospital admissions. There is flu about, though.

Parsley you are walking amongst Covid flu and colds everytime you walk out your front door
The poor lady needed some medication she’s doing nothing different to 99%of the population now No one is staying at home there are no more rules about testing/ masks or staying in
I can understand some ill people being very cautious but as with colds and all bugs it’s up to each individual to make their own rules not up to you to be harsh to anyone going about their needs

The OP should have waited and done her test at home. Then she, like many others, would not have known she was positive on going in the shop.

No need then to tell the assistant anything, or to feel guilty.

We are all responsible for our own health and safety. I have asthma and have had cancer treatment so I know there could be a risk when I mix with others.
I want to enjoy my life so will not stay at home alone or expect others to curtail their own lives to accommodate my vulnerability although I draw the line at people who are quite obviously ill mixing with others.

I would not worry OP. If the assistant asked me if I was alright, I would have said yes, paid and left without engaging. I certainly would not let her tell me off.
Not all people have people to help them so they need to go out. Hospital staff are being asked yo ho into work with mild covid symptoms.
I know some people on here are vunerable, but some have people to help them, but some don't, what are they supposed to do.

Don’t feel guilty it would have been the same if you had gone into the shop before doing the test and then without knowing wouldn’t have kept your distance

Tested positive for Covid on NYD. DH on 4/1/24. I’m still feeling unwell and coughing. I had it in 2022 when it was a mere sniffle for me. Neither us went out at all until we were both negative which was Wednesday of this week.

I had Covid 4 times last year despite being fully vaccinated! The first time my daughter and I both got it. She did tests as she needed to know if she could go to work and all were negative. As we both had same symptoms and had been together looking after my grandson while his parents had a weekend away we assumed we had toddler lurgy as grandson had been very snotty all weekend, so I didn't test. I even did my normal shift delivering for the foodbank. Then I wanted to go out socially and DD said I shouldn't as I was clearly still unwell, so I tested and got a very bright positive line! I did feel bad that I'd been out and seen people, though all contact had been brief.
The remaining times when I caught it, I tested positive but the lines were very faint, so I assume my viral load was lower - probably some immunity from having it before. We did order groceries online one of the times but one time I chose to go shopping while still positive (after about 5 days of isolating) but went at a quiet time, wore a mask, and just grabbed a few essentials, paid at the self service till and left very quickly. I don't feel guilty as I know lots of people don't test at all and many people are asymptomatic so I just did my best to keep the risk to a minimum. If I feel unwell I try not to go out socially, even if it is just a cold, as I have some very elderly friends who are quite vulnerable.

I tink that if any one has covid a cold the flu they should be mind full that other people who may catch it from them could become very sick and have long term after effects i personally have copd even now to stear clear of people and wear a mask if i have to go into a crowded situation like supermarket before christmas as i dont want to have suffer more ill health than i have to so i say anyone with these illnesses even if they feel ok they should remain at home until tested clear for covid or symptoms of a cold or flu have gone

My advice is always carry a mask with you.If one feels unwell but you need to shop etc. , put your mask on. It is courtesy to protect the public, in a small way perhaps, stops guilty feelings. Just to say, I wear a mask whenever I go into public indoor spaces. It gives me so much confidence to try my best not to catch anything and bring home to my husband. Stay healthy everyone.

The advice given now is to carry on even if you have Covid because the current strains aren't mass killers like the original strain. It is considered to be the same as every other virus we meet during the winter months. Of course, the immuno-compromised may find they are more susceptible to harsher effects but that is the case with any virus. My sister is in this situation and catching Covid before Christmas has completely knocked her for six.
For my part, if I had Covid, I would isolate myself but that is easier as I am retired with a husband who would do all that needed to be done to care for me. I wouldn't lose pay for staying at home or be subject to Occ Health looking at my sick record to see if I was swinging the lead. I don't have children that I still have to get to school or take to their various extra-curricular activities. I can also afford the tests to see if I am positive and afford the masks to keep at hand.

I received this email from Greater Glasgow Health Board.

NHSGGC issues advice on Gastroenteritis, COVID-19 and flu to visitors.
Members of the public are being reminded not to visit NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde hospitals if they have symptoms of Gastroenteritis, COVID-19 or flu.

I also read that certain countries and also Nottinghamshire Hospital Trust are re-introducing mask wearing for patients and staff.

It doesn't quite look as if the advice given now is to carry on even if you have Covid.

The person who said the vaccine means you may not get many symptoms is definitely wrong. I was v ill with covid as were all my family and a relative died of covid. All were fully vaccinated. I'm wondering if the vaccine actually does anything at all.

It may have prevented your symptoms being even worse, possibly fatal.

I’m pretty sure the death rate plummeted when people started to be vaccinated. It was a disappointment to realise that the vaccine didn’t prevent infection. I certainly wouldn’t like to be unvaccinated though. As I’ve said before living with it shouldn’t be ignoring it and we haven’t adapted enough.Especially as doing everything we can to prevent covid infection will also reduce the spread of other viruses which will take pressure off the NHS.

You didn't do anything wrong. The shop assistant was unreasonable. At least you tested presumably checking why you felt unwell, most wouldn't have bothered. Hope you recover soon.

My mum was in hospital & my sister visited her, the following day she felt awful & took a test… it was positive. She immediately rang the ward & the Sister said ‘don’t worry, probably half the staff on the ward have it’!
She didn’t visit until she was clear, but she could’ve.

MayBee70

So, what if the shop assistant knew she had covid but was happily continuing to work even though she knew she might infect people? Is it any wonder the covid infection rate is so high at the moment?

There are no isolation rules for Covid now though! So as long as the shop assistant felt ok then she could work so your point is mute!

Relatively few people take a covid test if they feel unwell. Well done for doing so!
However, there is no requirement to covid test. or to isolate if positive .We must surely mix with many probably daily who have covid and do not know ( or care).
You did nothing wrong. Don't beat yourself up for your actions, and get well soon.

Marydoll

I received this email from Greater Glasgow Health Board.

NHSGGC issues advice on Gastroenteritis, COVID-19 and flu to visitors.
Members of the public are being reminded not to visit NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde hospitals if they have symptoms of Gastroenteritis, COVID-19 or flu.

I also read that certain countries and also Nottinghamshire Hospital Trust are re-introducing mask wearing for patients and staff.

It doesn't quite look as if the advice given now is to carry on even if you have Covid.

At the end of Dec, about 12 hospitals had banned visitors who had covid. Accordning to google.